Three King Airs were among the 24 U.S.-registered aircraft stolen in 1996, reports the Aviation Crime Prevention Institute of Frederick, Md. The pilfered total was a new low compared to the previous year's 27. Significantly, the value of those aircraft totaled $6.5 million compared to the $9.3 million value of 1995 thefts. Thieves preferred Cessnas in 1996-14 of the total of 24. Aircraft burglaries slid to 110 from 125 in 1995.
Tom Harvell, a pioneer in the aircraft financing community, succumbed to a heart attack on December 12, 1996. He was 65. A founder of the National Aircraft Finance Association, Harvell started the aircraft loan program at Montclair National Bank in the early 1960s. Most recently, he formed National Aircraft Finance Company in Fort Meyers, Fla.
A Treasury Department miscalculation that could leave the aviation trust fund empty by the end of this month strengthened the impact of calls by general aviation operators to reinstate the off-again, on-again federal excise taxes. The FAA originally estimated that there were sufficient monies in the fund to last until July (B/CA, February, page 11).
Bryan T. Moss, vice chairman of Gulfstream Aircraft, is one of the lowest profile top executives in the business aircraft industry. He's so soft spoken, self-effacing and unabashedly honest, that he's the perfect match for Gulfstream. The historically conservative firm, until recently, was known for its low-key approach to promoting its heavy-iron business aircraft.
HAS Corp. and SFIM, Inc. have received STC approval of a three-axis autopilot for Bell 407s. The primary components of the system are an AlliedSignal AFCS, flight director, EFS-40 EFIS, Silver Crown avionics and an attitude heading reference system (AHRS).
AAI Systems Management in Hunt Valley, Md. says that out of 740 civil automated service observing stations (ASOS) installed as of January 1, the FAA and the NWS have commissioned 349.
Honeywell (Minneapolis)-Giannantonio Ferrari was named president and chief operating officer of this producer of navigation, flight management and instrumentation systems. Previously, he was president of Honeywell Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Aircraft operators in Europe now have until January 1, 1999-a year later than originally planned-before Eurocontrol begins mandatory implementation of 8.33-kHz VHF com frequency spacing, according to the agency (B/CA, February 1996, page 26).
Galaxy Aerospace Corp., the new marketing and support arm for Israel Aircraft Industries business jets, is expected to decide on a headquarters site in the second quarter. Within a year, the company says it will have a completion facility, factory service center and parts depot at the site. Galaxy Aerospace is currently based in Princeton, N.J., the location of the former Astra Jet Corp. (B/CA, February, page 28).
Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, N.Y. is wrapping up certification of its improved Model 330 turbine helicopter and hopes to raise production rates to about one per month this year. Just 19 Model 330s have been sold since the aircraft was introduced in 1993 (B/CA, October 1992, page 30). A 17-knot speed increase and a 20-percent gain in range is attributable mostly to a modified rotor head and new main-rotor blades.
Certification of the MD 600N twin-turbine helicopter was delayed again and is now likely to come late this month, some six months after McDonnell Douglas originally planned (B/CA, January 1996, page 22). The first delays followed two separate non-fatal accidents of test aircraft in 1996. The company said this latest postponement was necessary to carry out additional testing in order to broaden performance specifications.
Connecticut's Chandler Evans Control Systems has developed a ``Generic FADEC'' that the company claims fits ``most helicopter and small engines at a fraction of the cost of developing a new FADEC'' for each aircraft model. The product, now in use on the Bell 430, the Bell 407 and the Eurocopter EC 135, is to be applied to the McDonnell Douglas MD 600N.
Garrett Aviation Services' Van Nuys, Calif. facility-The Jet Center-signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce Canada to provide light- to medium-maintenance for Spey and Tay turbofan engines. Seen here at the signing are (left to right) David Hewitt, head of marketing for Rolls-Royce Canada; Bob Mays, president of The Jet Center; Douglas Cribbes, vice president of aero engines for Rolls-Royce Canada; and Malcolm Pollock, marketing manager at Rolls-Royce Canada.
The number of twin-turbine helicopter fatal accidents in 1996 increased from 1995, while the number of fatal accidents for single-turbine helicopters decreased in 1996 compared to 1995, according to figures from Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. Of the 13 total accidents by U.S.-registered twin-turbine helicopters in 1996, seven were fatal and 19 persons were killed, said Breiling. Breiling's figures show 12 accidents in 1995, of which three were fatal and eight persons died.
Camp Systems (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.)-Wayne G. Hoppner was promoted to president of this aviation management software firm. He succeeded Daniel Ryan who became chairman of the company's board.
The two main antagonists in the Business Express Chapter 11 bankruptcy have agreed to a combined reorganization plan for the financially troubled airline, even though Saab would take a $10 million beating on the deal. Saab forced BizEx into Chapter 11 in January 1996 after the carrier had failed to meet its lease payments for several months running.
Of the NBAA convention attendees tested, 49 percent had cholesterol levels in the ``desirable range,'' slightly better than the national average of 45 percent, according to Phoenix-based MedAir, which conducted the tests.
Most corporate pilots have received training on emergency egress procedures-opening cabin doors and hatches. Some have gone through specialized training courses that include actual egress practice in which smoke generators and special lighting techniques are used to create an extra measure of realism.
Bombardier's Business Jet Aircraft Division sold five corporate jetliners (a business aircraft version of the RJ) to the Chinese government for $155 million (Canadian).
Pratt&Whitney Canada and China National South Aeroengine and Machinery Co. (SAEC) agreed on a long-term partnership to manufacture and market small gas-turbine engines for aviation. The collaboration will be centered around a China-based, joint-venture company.
Bombardier estimated that implementation costs for its reduced vertical separation minimum data package range from $62,500 to $247,500 for Challenger 600s and 601-1As. Estimated cost is between $17,500 and $32,500 for -3As and -3Rs. There is no charge for Challenger 604s. Early this year, Bombardier became the first business jet builder to receive approval of an RVSM data package (B/CA, February, page 11).
Laptop computers are about to become as ubiquitous on business aircraft as chart cases filled to overflowing with charts and approach plates. On new airplane designs such as the Citation X, Global Express and Gulfstream V, laptops will be standard equipment. Other manufacturers also are taking advantage of PCs to assist in making the maintenance technician's job easier and quicker.
General aviation interests are livid over the Clinton administration's proposal to levy $400 million in user fees to help fund the FAA. Of that amount, $100 million would stem from international overflight fees, while the remaining $300 million would come from domestic U.S. operations. But the government has yet to determine the composition of those fees.
