The crash of American Airlines Flight 965 while on approach to Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport (SKCL) in Cali, Colombia has generated calls from the safety boards of Colombia and the United States for reconsideration of the way modern flight management hardware and software store and display database information, as well as the way flightcrews are trained to use these systems.
Aircraft Windows Repairs has opened a facility in North Port, Florida. The facility management team is Herb Brock, Ryan Cupery, Robert Cupery, John Levy and Ray Gregory. In addition to repair of cockpit and cabin windows, the Torrance, California-based company also repairs navigation-light lenses. The firm also received FAA approval of a hardcoating treatment for nav- and landing-light lenses.
Collins Commercial Avionics and France's Dassault Electronique have, for the time being, parted company over joint development of a ground collision avoidance system (GCAS). The split was due to technical reasons, according to Collins, which has shelved the project. In 1995, the two companies announced a plan to jointly develop a GCAS to be based on Collins TCAS technology (B/CA, August 1995, page 20). Collins is the only one of the ``Big Three'' U.S. avionics makers that doesn't offer a ground collision avoidance system.
The maximum range of business airplanes historically has been limited by fuel, and in some cases by oil, oxygen or other mechanical considerations. New business aircraft are now available with such extreme ranges that the human element becomes a significant factor. Just how do you prepare for and conduct a 12-hour flight that will likely require an 18- to 24-hour workday and cross as many as 12 or more time zones?
Now on the selling block is Rolls-Royce Industries Canada's Bristol Aerospace unit, a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based supplier of engine parts, maintenance for transport aircraft and helicopters, and military gear. ``Over a period of time, Bristol Aerospace's products have gradually moved away from the business areas that Rolls-Royce sees as central to its operation in the next century,'' said Stan Todd, president of Rolls-Royce Canada. Among its diverse line of products is a wire-strike protection system for helicopters.
Among positive elements for general aviation in the 1996 FAA Reauthorization Act is an extension of the Airport Improvement Program, with special emphasis on GA facilities. Also, the new law creates a national commission to review long-term FAA funding options, thus delaying the onus of new GA user charges. On the negative side, the aviation excise tax, temporarily renewed in August, will lapse again on December 31.
A recent crew resource management (CRM) workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina emphasized that CRM covers a wide range of skills. The broad-based event that attracted representatives from the industry, government and the military recognized there are those who are into the next generation of CRM (called advanced CRM or ACRM) and others who are still struggling with the basics.
Sue Sommers has been promoted to national marketing director, with increased responsibilities for field service and franchise development for this FBO network.
The Institute for Crisis Management has developed tip sheets to help operators respond properly to workplace emergencies. Tips are included for handling situations ranging from work-related deaths of employees, major accidents and sudden labor disputes to serious financial, legal and management problems. Kits in-clude four-page worksheets, checklists, log sheets and hints for spokespersons. The Sudden Crisis Kit is for major chaotic events, while the Smoldering Crisis Kit is for in-house management problems that are incubating. Price: $185 for each kit.
As of September 30, about 75 percent of the worldwide fleet of corporate jets under 75,000 pounds MTOW complied with FAR Part 36, Stage 3 noise levels, according to B/CA research. The FAA reports that about 70 percent of aircraft weighing 75,000 pounds MTOW or greater are in compliance. By 2000, all aircraft of 75,000 pounds MTOW or greater and operating to or from the United States must be in compliance (B/CA, August, page 80). There is no requirement for jets under this weight to meet Stage 3.
A trio of commercial pilots in Italy is attempting to patent and market an APU-powered device that mounts on the nose landing gear to drive the wheels for taxiing. Because the main engines wouldn't be used to taxi, the inventors see a three-fold advantage: decreasing fuel consumption, reducing pollution and lowering noise. The device can be installed on both single- and dual-wheel landing gears. For more information, contact G. Franco Gritti in Bolzano, Italy. Phone: +39 471 934200; fax: +39 471 935739.
Watch for an FAA notice and advisory circular announcing the expansion of the NASA-run Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to grant the same protections and rights to aircraft maintenance personnel that is provided to pilots and air traffic controllers. Under the ASRS program, pilots, controllers, dispatchers and other FAA certificated persons can anonymously report safety problems without concern that the information might be used by the FAA for civil penalty or certificate action (B/CA, October 1995, page 33).
CharterNet is the internet unit of U.S. Skylink in Charlotte, North Carolina. Phone: (888) DEADLEG or (888) 332-3534 toll-free. CharterNet services, which include allowing air-taxi companies to list their deadhead flight availability status, were incorrectly identified as connected with the Air Charter Guide in the September issue (page 22). The Air Charter Guide is a separate but competitive company based in Cambridge, Massachussets. Phone: (617) 547-5811.
Soloy Corporation will increase the maximum weight of its stretched, Dual Pac twin-engine conversion for Cessna 208Bs to 12,500 pounds. But the additional work will delay certification at least 15 months, to early 1998, says the Olympia, Washington firm. Certification had been scheduled for early 1997 (B/CA, July, 1995, page 30). Soloy plans on exhibiting the upgraded prototype Dual Pac aircraft at the NBAA convention later this month in Orlando.
A completely new executive interior will grace the NBAA convention mockup of the Sino-Swearingen SJ30-2 business jet. The interior, designed by Isaacman Associates and fabricated and installed by Tyler-Jet Completions in Tyler, Texas, features new cabinetry and seat designs, a forward-cabin lavatory and a cockpit equipped with a Honeywell Primus 1000 integrated avionics system. The SJ30-2, a six-place, stretched version of the original SJ30, is scheduled to enter service in 1999.
The decision was due by the end of September. It did not come, but there is very little doubt that the new Fairchild Dornier combo is going to hang a couple of turbofans on the Do 328 high-speed turboprop.
The altitude at which pilots can request more direct routing under the FAA's National Route Program (NRP) was reduced to FL 290 from FL 310. This step completes implementation of the NRP, designed to allow flights to select minimum time/cost routes beyond 200 nm at each end of a trip. In addition, the FAA is considering doing away with the 200 miles at each end of a trip in which ATC procedures are the least flexible. The agency also is looking at eliminating aircraft speed restrictions below 10,000 feet.
MentorPlus is likely to become a more familiar name in the aviation computing world. With the announcement that it has been purchased by Jeppesen, MentorPlus, Incorporated will gain the huge marketing leverage of Jeppesen. And Jeppesen will at last gain a foothold in the DUATS market. MentorPlus had, prior to its purchase, developed a FliteStar-like interface to Cirrus, GTE DUATS' new Windows-based automated DUATS briefing software. (See this month's Observer for more details on Cirrus.).
After two years in gestation, Australia's ruling Labor Party cleared the way for the Aussie federal government to proceed with its plan to lease up to 22 state-owned airports, including the yet-to-be-built Sydney West airfield. Initially, the government is seeking leaseholders for Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth airports. Sale of the airfields is not expected to immediately affect aircraft operations (B/CA, June 1994, page 20).
