The United States' top 1995 regional-airline city-pair would be a high-speed rail market in most other parts of the world. At only 129 miles apart, Seattle-Portland, generated nearly 600,000 passengers during the year, a 22-percent increase over 1994 and more than any other domestic city-pair.
CAL Corporation is teaming with Airshow Incorporated to introduce systems that will provide satellite-based communications capability for uplinking data to the cockpit and the cabin. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada-based CAL will design and build the satcom portion, while Airshow of Tustin, California will provide the system for displaying the information. The development effort is expected to take approximately six to eight months.
Sino-Swearingen started flying the first prototype of the SJ30-2 twin-engine, entry-level business jet from San Antonio in early November 1996. Serial Number 001 is scheduled to be joined by two other flight-test prototypes later this year. Two non-flying airframes will be built and used for structural testing. Initial flight tests are being conducted using 1,900-pounds-thrust William-Rolls FJ44-1A turbofans. The aircraft will be refitted with 2,300-pounds-thrust FL44-2As when that engine becomes available later this quarter.
FAA is discussing the process for selecting five airports for privatization, but the agency believes it will be some time before it receives an application. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 1996 authorizes privatizing one large hub, three smaller hubs or non-hubs and one general aviation airport through sale or lease.
Non-OEM aircraft vendors-including repair stations, PMA manufacturers and parts distributors-have formed a national association known as the Non-OEM Vendors Association (NOVA). The group held its first formal meeting on November 21 in Orlando. NOVA's stated mission is: to educate the aviation industry about the benefits of using non-OEM vendors, to establish organized representation of issues unique to its members, and to promote the integrity of all aviation vendors. An estimated 100 companies would initially qualify for membership in NOVA.
RVR distances now are available as part of AAI Corporation's Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) II. Produced by the company's subsidiary, Systems Management Incorporated, the ASOS II is an international version of the FAA-certificated NEXWOS (Next Generation Weather Observing System). The Hunt Valley, Maryland company says its ASOS II has many unique features, such as plug-in expandability (allowing users to add specialized sensors as they are developed or needed), self-diagnostics and remote maintenance monitoring.
If operating an ``airline-size'' transport is a possibility for your flight department, you would do well to familiarize yourself with Daniel Systems Incorporated (DSI) of Opa Locka, Florida. The company's low profile in the maintenance management business belies the scope of its capabilities. Daniel Systems has been providing its aviation asset management software support to airlines, fleet operators and aircraft repair centers since 1968, and currently provides operators its services in two versions: COMPS and DSIS.
During fiscal year 1995-96, the FAA received just two requests for heliport development, even though Airport Improvement Program funds can be used for that purpose. Arizona's Wickenburg Municipal Airport netted $250,000 in AIP funds, mostly earmarked for heliport construction. Buffalo received an FAA grant for $99,000 to conduct a master plan study for a downtown heliport. Separately, the city of Chicago, which closed Meigs Field in the fall, has leased the Bank of America's downtown helipad and will make it available for public use on a per-request basis.
FAA is reviewing a noise-compatibility plan proposed under FAR Part 150 for Ohio's Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. The agency is scheduled to approve or disapprove the plan on or before March 18, 1997. Interested parties can comment on the proposal. Earlier, the FAA determined that noise-exposure maps previously submitted are in compliance with applicable requirements. For more information, contact Lawrence C. King, FAA Detroit Airports District Office, 8820 Beck Rd., Belleville, MI 4811.
Has the FAA's low-level wind-shear alert system (LLWAS) at New York's La Guardia Airport been working improperly for two years and, therefore, has ATC been ignoring LLWAS advisories? Controllers are making those claims to the NTSB during its investigation into the non-fatal crash landing of a Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 on October 19, according to Aviation Week&Space Technology magazine. Between 1976 and 1992, LLWAS was installed at 110 U.S. airports, and there has been a long-standing plan to improve its capabilities (B/CA, January 1992, page 28).
Soloy Corporation, the Olympia, Washington firm noted for its turbine engine conversion programs for helicopters, is breaking new ground for its Dual-Pac modification (two turboprop engines spinning a single propeller) by incorporating it into a fixed wing aircraft-a stretched version of the Cessna 208B. The company is calling the modified airplane the Pathfinder 21 (standing for two engines, one propeller and the 21st century).
The FAA product-certification process has always suffered a backlog, and senior FAA officials are providing little consolation to manufacturers. To those who have been grousing about what they say are excessive delays, past FAA administrator David Hinson blames part of the problem on an agency work force that has been cut by 5,000.
American Eagle and South African Airways have begun code-sharing on flights between Johannesburg and three major northeastern cities via New York's JFK Airport. It is the first code-sharing agreement with a foreign airline for the AMR regional group. Eagle Senior Vice President of Planning Pete Pappas has said in the past that the carrier would code-share with both foreign and domestic carriers at Kennedy and Los Angeles. The first domestic agreement was announced recently with Reno Air at Los Angeles.
Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska received what it said was the first primary-means STC for the installation of AlliedSignal's GNS-XLS FMS with fault detection and exclusion (FDE) software. The system was installed in a Citation VII. Duncan says the FDE software is necessary for primary-means oceanic and remote airspace approval, ``thus qualifying the aircraft to fly overwater with navigation predicated on GPS only.''
Fire behaves differently in an aircraft than in most other ``structures.'' It moves faster, it burns hotter, it generates more toxic fumes, and, ultimately, it kills quicker. Fortunately, it is rare. Unfortunately, it still happens, and, therefore, we must think about it-constructively if not altogether dispassionately.
Now available from JMCO Publishing is the METAR&TAF Study Guide and Quick Reference Manual to help pilots interpret the new weather formats. The 63-page softcover manual contains over 250 alphabetized METAR and TAF terms and their meanings. A glossary of unfamiliar weather terms is included. Pilots will find a handy list of recently revised NOTAM contractions. Price: $17.95. JMCO Publishing, RR2, Box 725-A7, Montoursville, PA 17754. (717) 326-6614.
Delta Connection SkyWest is celebrating 10 years of inflight service for its passengers, which coincides with its introduction of the 30-passenger Embraer Brasilia in early January 1987 between Palm Springs and Los Angeles. The St. George, Utah-based carrier graduated its first class of 24 flight attendants in early December 1986.
