An analysis by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute of 4,500 ATC/pilot communications transmissions revealed that 40 percent contained at least one controller-com- munications error and 59 percent contained at least one pilot error.
This year's European Business Air Show moves back to London's Stan-sted Airport on May 13-15 after touchdowns in Cannes, Munich and Lyon in recent years.
Portuglia and British Regional have placed orders for a combined nine Embraer EMB-145 regional jets. Portuglia, which also placed two options, represents the first Portuguese aircraft order of any kind from the former Brazilian colony. The regional carrier will receive the aircraft in May, June, October and November and will operate them from Lisbon, Porto and Faro, to Barcelona, Bilbao, Majorca, Tenerife, Valencia and Madrid, in Spain. The 50-passenger 145s will join a fleet of six Fokker 100s.
Merger fever is running hot in business aviation maintenance, with Garrett Aviation Services being swept up in two separate transactions in less than a month. In mid February, Garrett parent company UNC announced plans to merge with Miami-based Greenwich Air Services in a transaction valued at about $700 million. But before the ink on that proposal even had time to dry, General Electric stepped in and on March 10 announced it will buy Greenwich as well as rights to complete the proposed Garrett deal.
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association's 26th annual Symposium and Trade Show heads for Texas turf--Fort Worth's Convention Center--on May 20-22. Gisele Richardson, founder of Richardson Management Associates of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is the invited keynote speaker.
Despite the recent flap over separation incidents between civil and military aircraft, the number of near mid-airs is declining, according to the FAA. The agency says reported near mid-air collisions between civil aircraft fell from 348 in 1991 to 202 in 1996. Close calls between military and civil aircraft dropped from 23 in 1991 to eight in 1996.
When the 70-passenger de Havilland Dash 8-400 high-speed turboprop is certificated in 1999, followed by its Canadair CRJ-700 pure-jet counterpart the following year, Bombardier will have six regional aircraft in the marketplace ranging from 37 to as many as 78 passenger seats. ``We are one of the few companies certifying a new product every year,'' said Bombardier Aerospace President Bob Brown.
We haven't seen GAMA this upbeat in years. And judging from the association's annual state-of-the-industry report, there is reason to be. In 1996, U.S. general aviation manufacturers had their best year in history for total billings: $3.1 billion. Edward M. Bolen, GAMA's new president, is looking forward to close to 2,000 shipments this year. ``If we can reach that goal, this will be the best year for general aviation shipments since 1985,'' he said.
The ninth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, to be held at Ohio State University in Columbus from April 27 through May 1, will focus on human factors issues. Fourteen different workshops are being organized on topics such as culture and CRM, pilot selection, check airmen error management, and the fatigued pilot and lost situational awareness. Each workshop will last four hours and will allow for ``a generous portion of'' audience participation.
National Air Transportation Association wants the FAA and Congress to reject an NTSB movement toward recommending TCAS in cargo aircraft, at least in air taxi operations. NATA said that because FAR Part 135 on-demand cargo aircraft operate during night and in uncongested airspace, TCAS would add unnecessary weight and cost without providing any safety increase. The trade association also asserts that TCAS provides only a ``minimal'' safety increase for passenger aircraft in congested airspace during daytime.
Galaxy Aerospace (Princeton, N.J.)--The business jet manufacturer has made the following senior-level appointments: Roger D. Sperry to executive vice president of sales and marketing, David Brant to vice president of operations, Michael G. Wuebbling to vice president of customer service and product support and Jeff Miller, to vice president of corporate communications.
The Saab Group, including Saab Aircraft AB, reported a before-tax operating loss of $130 million for fiscal 1996. Included was an extraordinary write-down of $175 million to support the ``repositioning'' of the Saab 2000. What that means is a major shift in marketing strategy. The marketing and sales organization has been working hard in recent months to develop
All CFIT accidents occur because the crews involved have lost track of where the ground is relative to their aircraft. But sometimes the errors that lead to this condition can be terribly subtle. Such was the case involving the loss of a Canada Jet Charters Ltd. Learjet 35. This report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reached us through the Flight Safety Foundation, which has been conducting a campaign to raise flightcrew awareness of the insidious nature of CFIT. It's worth your consideration.
Dassault Falcon Jet (Teterboro)--Roy Pickens is the new vice president of industrial operations at the company's plant in Little Rock, Ark., with responsibility for new aircraft completions and the operation of the Jet Center, a company-owned major maintenance facility. Larry Dean was appointed regional sales manager for the far western United States.
Intertec Publishing now is offering its updated 1997 version of the AC-U-KWIK Jet FBOs Directory. The pocket-size book lists U.S. and Canadian airports that sell jet fuel and that have hard-surface runways at least 3,500-feet long. Also contained in the directory is airport and FBO information and a listing of charter, catering and limousine services. Price: $11.95. Intertec Publishing, P.O. Box 12901, Overland Park, Kan. 66282. (913) 967-1719; fax: (913) 967-1901.
Western Aircraft (Boise, Idaho)--Doug Hart is the new CEO of this 24-hour FBO and FAA-certified aircraft repair station that is a Pilatus PC-12 sales center, a Hawker service center, a Cessna service station and an AlliedSignal TFE 731 line service center.
FAA proposed a series of ``technical amendments'' to several FAR parts. Among the proposed changes: Under Part 135.21, maintenance manuals could be kept in electronic form, as well as in paper form; Part 119.3 definitions of ``on-demand operation,'' ``scheduled operation'' and ``supplemental operation'' would be clarified; and other sections of Part 119 pertaining to commuter operations would be revised or clarified.
Beginning in 1999, the FAA will launch the Ha-laska Demonstration, a two-year evaluation of new air-traffic procedures and technologies in Alaska and Hawaii to help accelerate the ``free flight'' concept.
Foxtronics' new TSOed digital battery temperature indicator--the DBTI 2000--uses the latest sub-miniature components and weighs 3.25 ounces. Digital circuitry provides pilots with an alphanumeric display of NiCd battery temperatures, plus distinct warning lights at critical heat points. To simplify the upgrade from the BTI-600 metered units, the unit is contained in the standard round 1.94-by-3.5-inch can, and no wiring changes are required. Kit price: $1,660 for single-battery DBTI 2001, $1,695 for double-battery DBTI 2002. Foxtronics, 3448 W.
An uncontained engine failure and subsequent penetration of the fuselage of a Falcon 20 by fan blades has led to a proposed AD. The AD would require installing new, improved fan guards on approximately 414 General Electric CF700 fanjet engines on Falcon 20s and Sabreliner 265s. Operators would have up to two years to replace the fans, which the FAA estimates carry an installed cost of about $50,000 per engine. For more information, contact the FAA in Burlington, Mass. at (617) 238-7139.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. purchased the helicopter composite panel repair unit from the Nordam Group and set up Acadian Composites in Lafayette, La. to run the new business. Nordam Group chairman Ray H. Siegfried II said the company sold the unit to concentrate on its core work of providing composite repairs to the airlines.
With a list of charges in hand, the FAA revoked the air carrier certificate of Aero Flight Service of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The agency cited evidence that AFS, an air-taxi, air-ambulance and cargo-flight operator, ``improperly converted'' four Hawker business jets from passenger to cargo configuration,'' and then operated these aircraft, which ``were not airworthy.'' Further, the FAA said that AFS operated two Learjets on cargo flights when the aircraft had not been approved for cargo operations.
Raytheon Aircraft has established a new subsidiary to improve parts distribution. Called RAPID (for Raytheon Aircraft Parts Inventory and Distribution), the new division's goals are to deliver parts domestically within four hours and internationally within 18 hours. RAPID also will consolidate the Beech, Hawker and Raytheon spares activities.
Trimble Navigation (Sunnyvale, Calif.)--Michael P. Gagaliardi has come aboard as vice president and general manager of this GPS receiver manufacturer's Aerospace Business Unit in Austin.
SimuFlite Training International (Dallas)--Walter M. Slazyk has been appointed senior manager of technical operations for this provider of advanced aviation training.
