FlightSafety International's newest Challenger 601-3A/3R full-flight simulator has received FAA Level D certification. The device launches training activities at the FSI/Bombardier Business Aircraft Training Center at Tucson International Airport.
Standard Aero, a Winnipeg, Canada-based company, expanded its engine overhaul and repair services with the opening of a P&WC PT6A maintenance operation in Europe. The PT6A work will be collocated with the company's existing PW100 facility in Tilburg, Netherlands. The facility will provide PT6A power section and gas generator repairs, hot-section inspections, and parts support as well as field technical support.
Eurocopter is now flight testing the AS 350-B3, the successor to the -B2. The new helicopter, which will be powered by a single, electronically-controlled, 847-shp Arriel 2B, will offer more power, greater payload capability, higher cruise speed and better hot-and-high performance than its predecessor. French certification is scheduled for November.
A recently published notice proposes to reshape the Phoenix Class B Airspace by altering the lateral boundaries of several areas, creating new areas and raising and/or lowering the floors of several existing areas. Meanwhile, the FAA has asked for user comments on reshaping the Washington-Baltimore Class B Airspace by, among other things, lowering the floors of several areas.
Operators of BO-105C and -105S helicopters could be hit with a $14,317-per-aircraft parts bill on top of a 14-hour labor requirement, if the FAA enacts a proposed AD calling for replacing the voltage regulator and modifying the cockpit switch panel. The proposal is based on a single report of a BO-105 that experienced a generator over-voltage incident. The FAA estimates that 100 aircraft of U.S. registry would be affected. Comments on the proposal are due April 14. For more information, contact the FAA's Lance Gant in Fort Worth at (817) 222-5114.
Honeywell (Phoenix)--Bill Bouchard has been named director of operations for the company's Business and Commuter Aviation Systems division in Glendale, Ariz.
The former International Aviation FBOs at Teterboro, West Palm Beach and White Plains are now part of Signature Flight Support. But, as a condition for acquiring International's operation at West Palm Beach, the Department of Justice is requiring Signature to sell its existing facility there. For competitive purposes, the DOJ wants the airport to retain at least three FBOs. Signature dropped its plans to acquire the remaining International FBO, in Santa Fe, N.M. (B/CA, June 1996, page 24). The acquisition brings the total number of Signature FBOs to 41.
Cabin air quality was the subject of a special report in the January issue of the Aerospace Medical Association's (AsMA) journal Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine. The association's passenger health subcommittee addressed several issues and made recommendations. Although the article focused on airline passenger cabins, the same conditions exist in the cabins of any pressurized aircraft.
Oriental Falcon Jet Service, a joint venture between Dassault Falcon Jet, China Xinhua Airlines and Avion Pacific Ltd., is scheduled to begin Falcon 50 charter operations in China this spring. China Xinhua will operate the aircraft with Chinese and expatriate pilots trained by FlightSafety International. The new company is based in Beijing.
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.
