Robert R. Ropelewski, a journalist for 18 years at B/CA's sister publication, Aviation Week&Space Technology, died of an apparent heart attack in early April at the age of 54. He recently had joined the FAA public affairs office. Ropelewski, a former U.S. Marine Corps aviator, was one of only two journalists ever allowed to fly the SR-71 Blackbird.
Things are looking good--no, make that great--for business aviation avionics. The industry-wide shift to satellite-based communication/navigation/surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) continues to unfold, and it promises to become even more exciting as new capabilities and certifications are achieved with every passing month.
AOPA's Air Safety Foundation has released a pamphlet on guidelines for operating at uncontrolled airports. The 16-page publication contains diagrams, descriptions, entry and departure procedures, and safety tips for each leg of a traffic pattern. It also discusses communications, and IFR as well as VFR procedures. For a copy of the pamphlet, send a large, self-addressed, stamped (78 cents) envelope to Operations at Nontowered Airports, AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Md. 21701.
Perry Bradley Photocaptions: EBAA CEO Fernand Franois (left) and Brian Humphries, chairman.
A Canadair Challenger 601A operator on March 27 became the first business jet operator to receive RVSM approval. Canadian Pacific Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada was approved for RVSM operations after a review by Transport Canada. The approval came on the first day of reduced vertical separation minimum standards implementation in parts of the Minimum Navigation Performance Specification (MNPS) airspace over the North Atlantic.
There is lots of activity among manufacturers working toward their first-ever certification. Because of the difficulties and expense involved in moving from the design phase, through certification and finally into production, we've separated this group into its own category. Developmental activity breaks down into three categories. Aircraft aimed at the business market that have already flown in prototype configuration, new single-engine piston models and conceptual designs.
For a limited time, operators of Bombardier business jets who schedule a 300/600-hour or six/12-month inspection with a factory service center may enroll free in the company's Laser or Laser Link for Windows computerized maintenance tracking program. Originally set to expire earlier this year, free enrollment has been extended to January 31, 1998.
Thirty-three of 39 regional air carriers successfully made the transition from FAR Part 135 to Part 121 in time for the March 21 deadline, according to the FAA. Now, all carriers with aircraft of 10 or more passenger seats must operate under the more-stringent rule. The FAA said the six remaining carriers were continuing to work with the agency to certificate a total of 13 aircraft under the higher standards. However, three carriers phased out their 10- to 19-seat aircraft, and three more went out of business.
Now much money will the FAA need each year to perform its missions, and where will that money come from? Those are two of the very important questions for corporate aviation that may be answered in Washington this year.
Business aircraft sales were up for the third consecutive year in 1996. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reports that sales of new aircraft reached $3.1 billion, fueled largely by a resurgence in the turboprop market and continued strength in the export market. This was an increase of more than 10 percent from 1995.
Fairchild Dornier has dropped its plans for a new Metro with true standup headroom to compete with the Raytheon 1900D. The new cabin configuration was unveiled with a mock-up of the twin-turboprop aircraft a year ago at the Regional Airline Association convention. The company's priorities have shifted to the Do 328 and 328JET.
Leasing continues to be a popular vehicle for enjoying the benefits of business aircraft without the attendant tax exposure, and 1996 proved to be another growth year for the equipment leasing industry. New business volume was up, and lessors taking possession of aircraft at lease terminations experienced better-than-anticipated residuals due to a brisk resale market. One major lease/finance company claimed it increased its business aircraft portfolio by 20 percent.
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, Germany's aviation authority, has awarded Public Transport Category approval to Raytheon's Beechjet 400A. The first German company to operate the 400A for charter is Augusta Air, based in Augsburg. The 400A is one of four corporate aircraft in Augusta's charter fleet.
Three regionals are de-merging from the Airlines of Britain Holdings (ABH) to strengthen their links with British Airways. ABH also owns British Midland, which is seeking to link up with German flag-carrier Lufthansa, which may include the taking over of some secondary routes between London Heathrow and Germany.
The Hawker Horizon, the first new aircraft to come out of the Hawker organization since it was purchased by Raytheon and moved to Wichita, offers a blend of corporate cultures. The new aircraft has the size and comfort for which Hawkers are known, but will be manufactured using processes similar to those employed on the Premier I, which Raytheon says will enable it to bring the Horizon to market for $14.5 million.
The final report of the Flight Safety Foundation's Fatigue Countermeasures Task Force recommends that cumulative duty for corporate pilots in a 24-hour period be limited to 14 hours, including a 10-hour limit on flight time. With the addition of more flightcrew members, the guidelines bend, stating duty periods could be increased-with specified restrictions-since the augmented crew would allow a fatigued pilot to leave the flight deck and get some sleep.
FAA lawyers and counsel for a Boeing 737 captain continue to spar in an Arizona federal court over the agency's authority to suspend the pilot's airman certificate. The case involves Timothy Frye, former chief pilot for Tucson-based Viscount Air Services. In October 1996, Frye repossessed a Viscount 737 at Pittsburgh that was subleased to Nation's Air.
The much-anticipated launch of the 70-seat follow-on to the 50-passenger Canadair CRJ regional jet came in February with 67 orders and options, including four firm for launch customer Brit air of Morlaix, France.
Allison Engine Co.'s highly regarded 10-year helicopter market forecast predicts total civil sales of approximately 500 helicopters this year, with increases to follow in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, when it predicts total sales of 650 helicopters. Sales are predicted to top the 600 mark through 2004. Driving that growth, Allison said, is a trend toward replacing existing helicopters, more than half of which are at least 20 years old.
Six months after signing a Tay engine support agreement with Rolls-Royce, Airwork says it's ready to accept powerplants for their first mid-life inspections. In addition to employing Rolls-Royce-trained technicians, Airwork says its Millville, N.J. facility has field troubleshooters at the ready, rental engines available and 24-hour AOG service. Meanwhile, Airwork and its sister company, Garrett Aviation, are in the process of being purchased by General Electric (April, page 25).
After a regulatory review program that lasted 11 years, the FAA released its rewrite of pilot certification requirements of FAR Part 61 and the training rules of Parts 141 and 143 (August 1988, page 21). The new rules go into effect August 4, but the FAA is accepting comments until June 3. At first look, the changes appear to be mostly positive for business aviation. In one of the major revisions, the new rules eliminate the requirement for six hours of instrument flight in six months to maintain instrument currency.
Saab Aircraft has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus Industrie that could lead to its becoming a risk-sharing partner in the 550-passenger A3XX jetliner. The MOU is only for the concept phase of the proj-ect, during which Saab will assign engineers to the design team for about one year. Saab could build ``selected areas of the main fuselage'' if the project continues.
Everything being tickety-boo at Chez Luigi, it was no longer resistible to fling to Florida for a long-awaited reunion with old friends living hard by the Atlantic in an enclave of Ft. Likkerdale named Lighthouse Point.
In a letter to Texas Governor George Bush and several members of the state legislature, the National Air Transportation Association warned that imposing a planned 10-cents-per-gallon fuel tax and lifting exemptions on sales taxes for aircraft parts and repairs equipment would drive many general aviation service companies to move their facilities to neighboring, ``more tax-friendly states.'' The FBO trade group said the proposed tax changes could cost aviation businesses more than $300 million a year.
April 23, 1998: Pacific routes--By this date, ICAO hopes to replace the existing NorPac and Hawaiian composite route structures, reducing lateral separation from 100 to 50 nm and longitudinal separation from 10 to seven minutes, with four minutes as an ultimate goal. December 31, 1998: Fuel storage tanks--Underground fuel storage tanks installed before December 31, 1988 must be modified or replaced to ensure corrosion, overfill and spill prevention.
