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.
Thirty-six U.S. airports in the lower 48 states are in danger of losing all local air service. Another 110 airports have a ``high potential'' of losing local air service, according to a study by Aviation Systems Research Corp. (ASRC) of Golden, Colo.
The first Internet site from a major U.S. aviation fuel supplier. Pilots can access information on all Phillips 66 branded dealers, news releases and event announcements. Users can also apply for a Phillips 66 credit card.
It now looks like 1996 couldn't quite keep the new-plane pace of its prior-year page on the calendar, even after the small backlog of previously unrecorded November new-plane shipments came to light.
Boeing Commercial Airplane Group (BCAG) added its contribution to Seattle's 1996 holiday festivities when on December 8 it rolled out a Christmas present to the local economy-the first variant of its modernized 737 series, the -700.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer is looking to stretch the range of its new EMB-145 regional jet to 1,600 nm, even as the first four airplanes were being delivered to Continental Express. The company also is looking at a smaller regional jet in the 35- to 37-seat range.
Garrett Aviation signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to be a Spey and Tay engine-service center. The service center will be located at Garrett's Van Nuys, Calif. facility
The latest active noise-canceling headset from the David Clark Company is the Model H20-10X for fixed-wing and helicopter pilots. The 20-ounce unit features electronic noise-canceling technology, state-of-the-art composite materials, a patented custom-comfort system and stereo compatibility. Several models are available: The H20-10XL ($715) with a portable battery power pack and standard aviation dual plugs, and the H20-10XP ($770) with a panel-mount module. For helicopter pilots, Model H20-10HXL ($730) is the battery-pack version and H20-HXP ($785) is for panel-mount.
Cessna is developing a modification to the stall warning system on Citation 560s (Citation Vs and Ultras) that will increase the speed at which a stall warning is activated. The FAA says the system may not compensate for increased stall speeds that result from ice accumulation. An AD issued in December 1996 requires using increased approach and landing speeds in icing conditions, as well as applying performance corrections for landing weight and distance.
With a stated purpose to ``improve customer follow-up'' as well as to consolidate its U.S. presence, French manufacturer Socata Aircraft recently set up shop at Florida's North Perry Airport. By midyear, the company says, it will have its own repair station, increase its spares inventory and eliminate delays in updating technical publications and the processing of warranty claims. Socata builds the TBM-700 turboprop and piston-engine aircraft. A TBM operators conference is scheduled for the second quarter.
Disparities regarding display symbology requirements of the FAA and the JAA have put off U.S. certification of a Flight Dynamics head-up display in Falcon 2000s until the second quarter, said a Falcon Jet spokesman. JAA certification was received on September 5, 1996, and FAA approval was expected shortly thereafter (B/CA, October 1996, page 20).
Well, here we go again. Following on the heels of his 49 percent ``mandate'' from the voters, President Bill Clinton surveyed the nation in search of candidates for his second-term Cabinet. Knowing he never has to face another election, Clinton could have opted for the best and the brightest the nation had to offer, without worrying about quotas and attempting to please particular constituencies.
Executive Aircraft Corporation recently completed the purchase of the former Air Capital Modification Center adjacent to EAC at Mid-Continent Airport. The acquisition expands EAC's services to include painting and refurbishing of corporate jets up to the size of Challengers. Phone: (316) 946-4990; fax: (316) 946-4955.
