Charter customers may shop around for an operator and book an aircraft from their computer terminals via the Air Charter Net. The site also provides fees for a proposed itinerary.
An interesting idea is taking shape within the Washington aviation community. The underpinnings of this idea are these thoughts: -- The U.S. ATC system has been stretched to its limits and must be rejuvenated to take advantage of new technologies before it collapses. -- The FAA must be restructured to ensure its effectiveness in meeting its mandate to provide a safe and efficient aviation infrastructure.
American Airlines affiliate American Eagle has opened a major maintenance, repair and overhaul center to service ATR 42 and 72 regional airliners operated both by American Eagle and other airlines. The new facility, known as AMR Eagle Regional Aircraft Maintenance Center (RAMC), is located at the former site of Sawyer Air Force Base in Gwinn, Mich. More than 400 of the French/Italian built twin-turboprops are in operation worldwide.
Feasibility research on good aircraft prospects is nothing more than determining whether or not a company can afford to own and operate an aircraft. There is an extensive amount of information available on how to go about producing a feasibility study. (The NBAA and B/CA are good resources.) Compiling a list of likely prospects is a first step. As a follow-on, you'll need to be ready to help with an actual feasibility study.
The acquisition of FlightSafety International by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the Omaha-based company that is a parent to a number of diverse business activities, is not expected to affect the day-to-day operations of the Flushing, N.Y.-based pilot training company. Berkshire completed the purchase of FSI in December 1996. Al Ueltschi, the 76-year-old former Pan Am pilot who founded FSI in 1951, is expected to remain chairman and CEO of the firm.
It is no secret that inflight icing compromises the function of airfoils. In all cases, ice accumulation reduces the efficiency of an airfoil so that its ability to produce lift is decreased and its stall speed is increased. Ice is a detractor to all airfoils at all times and has serious safety implications.
The Lynton Group, an aircraft services and management firm, is launching a helicopter fractional-ownership program. Called HeliShare, the program is headed by Jeff Bulmer, Lynton's new senior vice president and sales director based at its Morristown, N.J., facility. Bulmer said that HeliShare costs associated with a one-quarter share of a Eurocopter 355N include a $600,000 buy-in price, a $5,000 monthly fee to cover all fixed-costs and a $600 per-flight-hour charge for 100 hours annually.
Hanging over the burgeoning helicopter marketplace like incipient ground fog is the prospect of heliports and special landing sites not being able to keep up with the needs of corporate helicopter users. According to the FAA, the total number of heliports in the United States is 4,792, down from 4,799 in 1995. Of these, about 180 are strictly public use, with 90 on airport locations. Some corporations have been able to establish heliports near their plant or office locations.
Should twin-engine business jets be required to adhere to the same ETOPS criteria as airliners? Aviation authorities in the European Union believe they should, if they're operated on charter certificates. U.S. and European operators want to know what's coming next. Is the JAA camel sticking its nose into business aviation's tent?
Many corporate helicopters operate as part of a larger flight department that also includes fixed-wing aircraft. As departments are continually challenged to do more with less, the issues involved with the cross-training of pilots continue to receive considerable attention.
The Air Charter Guide 10th anniversary edition was recently published. In a revised format, the Guide has trimmed several sections so that aircraft are not duplicated. The Aircraft Locator section has been reinstated to provide a worldwide index of all turbine equipment by category and type being used in charter operations. This an-niversary Guide includes over 3,000 aircraft operators, and 16,000 airplanes and helicopters, along with prices, descriptions and locations. Price: $95 per edition. The Air Charter Guide, 104 Mount Auburn St., 4th Fl., Cambridge, Mass. 02138.
What's good enough for the president of Boeing apparently is good enough for its employees, at least when it comes to flying. According to officials for GA Team 2000, an industry effort to increase the student-pilot population, Boeing offers cash incentives for employees to learn to fly. ``It all began after Boeing Commercial Airplane Group President Ron Woodard took flying lessons,'' said a GA Team 2000 spokesperson. Boeing gives employees $500 for soloing and $1,000 upon receiving their private-pilot ticket.
BUCHair Helicopters 1996/ 7 lists every known civil helicopter now operating worldwide, a total of 26,911 rotary-wing aircraft in 156 countries, by registration. New col-umns in the book's main section include year of manufacture and previous registration. A new section lists all operators with worldwide fleets of more than 10 helicopters and shows which aircraft they own. Another section is a compilation of helicopter Web sites. Price: $31.95.BUCHair USA Inc., P.O. Box 75055, New York, N.Y. 11375. (718) 263-8748.
This charter operator has made the following staffing changes: Gilbert T. Wolin was named president and COO. He will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the aircraft charter, management and maintenance services. Founder Gwendolyn O. Mayo, Ph.D. will continue as chairman, and William J. Mayo III will become CEO after 10 years as vice president of operations.
The whereabouts of a presumably crashed Learjet 35A and its occupants remained a mystery at press time in mid January. The aircraft disappeared from ATC radar moments after making a missed approach in rain and fog to Lebanon Municipal Airport in New Hampshire on Christmas Eve. The only people aboard were reported to be the pilots, Johan Schwartz and Pat Hayes. The jet, N388LS, is operated by Aircraft Charter Group of Stratford, Conn.
DOT, in concert with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, is striving to meet a February 21 contractual deadline for determining a second frequency for GPS navigation. Such a frequency will ``provide frequency redundancy and a range of additional user opportunities,'' said Joe Canny, DOT deputy assistant secretary for policy. The GPS Interagency Advisory Council seeks comments on the project. Phone (703) 313-5900.
Aircraft Technical Publishers has introduced ATP Maintenance Director Level 1, an electronic maintenance logbook system that enables the user torecord maintenance and generate maintenance schedules. This PC-based, networkable maintenance tool also will track ADs and Service Bulletins, record times and cycles of engines and airframes, and track life-limited parts. The software runs on Microsoft Windows 3.1 and 95 and works with up to 50 aircraft.
David Dittemore was appointed as president of the company's Commercial Avionics Systems unit, a supplier of equipment and systems for general aviation, commercial and regional aircraft.
