The implementation on August 17 of increased IFR separation standards for ``small'' aircraft in-trail behind Boeing 757s also encompassed the re-classification of 57 types of aircraft, including most business jets, from the category of ``large'' to ``small.''
The former Midway Island Naval Air Facility has reopened as a mid-Pacific fuel stop after being closed to military and civil aircraft since 1992. Through an agreement with the U.S. government, Mercury Phoenix Corporation is providing 24-hour fueling, overnight accommodations, food facilities, limited maintenance, and other aircraft, crew and passenger services. Available activities include fishing as well as guided historic and ecology tours. A landing fee of $350 applies to aircraft up to 80,000 pounds MTOW, and advance permission to use Midway is required.
Saab Aircraft delivered its 400th Model 340 to AMR Eagle in late August. It was number 115 for Eagle, the world's Saab 340 fleet leader. The airplane was the last of a 25-plane package announced at last year's Paris Air Show, but it may not be the carrier's last Saab order.
Following the successes of its presence on the CompuServe Information System, The McGraw-Hill Companies' Aviation Week Group has opened a site on the Internet's World Wide Web at http://www. awgnet.com
We had planned the trip for a year. On Thanksgiving morning of 1977, the Manninghams would fly from White Plains, New York to Columbus, Ohio for a holiday weekend with my sister and her family. We had done it several years in a row, and everyone was excited about flying across country in a borrowed Cessna 310, and about visiting with my terrific sister, the beloved ``Aunt Natalie.''
Installations of a recently developed fiber-optic lighting system have started, said Avtec, Incorporated, the St. Louis-based repair and completion facility that received FAA approval of the system earlier this year (B/CA, May, page 14). The system emits light from a high-intensity lamp or ``illuminator'' through one or more bundles of flexible polymer fibers. Avtec claims fiber optics are safer, cheaper, lighter and more durable than fluorescent systems, and installations can be made virtually anywhere in the cabin.
The latest version of the FAA's GPS transition plan reaffirms the target date of 2110 for completing the changeover from land-based navaids to full reliance on GPS. The plan also restates that it will progressively discontinue support for a large number of ground-based systems, such as VORs, DMEs and ILSes. The FAA plans to terminate support of Omega by the end of 1997 and, despite efforts by thousands of Loran-C users to retain the system, the U.S. is set to end Loran-C funding by 2000 (B/CA, May 1995, page 16).
Ever wonder what the business aviation community did to President Bill Clinton to turn him into our number-one nemesis? It seems, at least monthly, the tireless folks at the NBAA, GAMA and the other Washington-based alphabet organizations have to pound down yet another silly aviation-penalizing idea from the Clinton administration or its friends on Capitol Hill. This time it's a $225 per-flight fee on turbine business aircraft to help fund the President's campaign promise to wipe out illiteracy.
Bombardier directors have authorized their Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division (BRAD) to ``offer'' airlines the 70-passenger CRJ-X, but there will not be an official launch of the project until at least the end of November. BRAD President Pierre Lortie said his sales team has authority to offer customers firm pricing, guaranteed range and performance, a detailed type specification and delivery dates.
An aggressive competitor with a sharp pencil on the bottom line, Mesa founder Larry Risley, a former A&P mechanic, launched an expansion program ranging from the West Coast to the East Coast and from Arizona to New England. Today Mesa calls itself the nation's number one independent regional airline, operating six airline units-Air Midwest, Desert Sun, Florida-Gulf, Liberty Express, Mountain West and WestAir-that serve 170 communities in 28 states with a fleet of 173 aircraft. That in itself draws a lot of attention.
Aviation Supplies&Academics (ASA's) solution to a disorderly cockpit is four new products. The NOS Flip Binder ($9.95), crafted of black plastic, has one-inch steel rings and flips over to provide a full-plate view. The new chart wallets come in two styles: The accordion-fold style ($9.95) features 10 map pockets, while the book-style ($12.95) contains six double-sided pockets to hold up to 12 maps. Also available from ASA are sheets of white-on-clear, self-adhesive ap-proach chart area labels for binders, in either NOS or Jeppesen style ($1.95 per sheet).
Tom Appleton, the long-time and very successful executive vice president of Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division (BRAD), recently received an offer he couldn't refuse. He is now president of the Canadair Amphibious Aircraft Division. Appleton has been an icon of regional airline sales and marketing, both at de Havilland Aircraft of Canada and Canadair, and both when de Havilland was acquired by Bombardier. And as such, he was at the center of the earlier debate over the high-speed turboprop versus the regional jet.
An Englewood, Colorado company is working to bring new meaning to the term motion-base simulator. TechniFlite is developing an FAA Level B, full flight simulator that will be mounted on a custom trailer that will be towed by a semi.
Aviation Communications Incorporated has introduced its AC-900 Headset, and says the real news is its flexible boom. The boom's adjustability allows the pilot to position the mike as preferred, including right or left positioning. Two styles of ear seals are available (acoustic foam and gel), along with cloth ear covers. Other features include mono/stereo switch, dual volume controls, adjustable stainless steel headband with ``thumb nut'' adjustment knob and a soft ``pillow'' headpad. Price: $219.95. Aviation Communications Inc., 1025 W.
Some industry groups are concerned that the FAA might abuse its authority granted by a recent change in the agency's rulemaking process. Under the ``direct final rulemaking'' policy, the agency can go from a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to a final rule on matters it determines are not controversial. The National Air Transportation Association, for example, is worried that the FAA might determine a significant NPRM to be non-controversial and might adopt it without seeking public comments.
This Metal Polishing System from Jet Stream Aviation Products puts the shine on aluminum and stainless steel. Step one is Metal Polish to add luster and clean the aircraft. The polish, which is approved for AMS 1650 B type II metal, does not leave a trail of corrosive elements. Step two is Mirror Image Swirl Remover, a brightwork finisher used to rub out swirls caused by machine buffing. Price: $42.50 for one pound of Metal Polish; $15.90 for a one-ounce roll of Mirror Image. Jet Stream, 7515 Lemmon Ave., Bldg. J, Dallas, TX 75209. (214) 351-3400.
Audie W. Davis, M.D., a man whose name appears on hundreds of airmen medical certificates and application approvals, retired in September after more than 37 years as manager of the FAA's aeromedical certification division in Oklahoma City. In that role, Dr. Davis was responsible for the medical certification of hundreds of thousands of pilots. Until a replacement is named, Melchor J. Antunano, M.D. will serve as interim manager.
The FAA's TCAS Program Office is concerned about the number of Resolution Advisories (RAs) that are not being followed. Data gathered by the office indicate that between 32 and 50 percent of RAs are being ignored because of (in order of frequency): -- Visual contact with the intruder; -- Followed ATC clearance instead; -- RA occurred during a parallel approach; -- Would have reversed the existing vertical speed; and -- Aural annunciation was not understood.
France's Sogerma, a unit of Aerospatiale, will build the fuselage and the empennage for Israel Aircraft Industries' Galaxy business jet. The contract is a boost for the Galaxy program, which has been shaky since a co-production deal with Russia's Yakovlev Design Bureau fell apart (B/CA, September 1995, page 24). Meanwhile, an agreement draws nearer for the formation of a company to take over the marketing, completion and support roles for the Astra SPX and Galaxy from Astra Jet Corporation.
``Order season'' is here, and it could not have arrived at a better time. August and September ended a long drought in significant regional-aircraft orders, with some bumps for both jet and turboprop programs.
National Airways Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa plans to start its ``Jet.Time'' fractional ownership program in the second quarter of 1997 with four new Hawker 800XPs and four King Air B200s. Jet.Time will offer African companies shares in multiples of 25 percent, with each quarter-share entitling the owner to 200 hours of flying annually during the five-year term of the contract. At least six hours notice will be required to guarantee aircraft availability.
Whatever the outcome of President Bill Clinton's proposed $225 fee on each flight of a turbine business aircraft-and that outcome depends on the results of the elections next month-it's likely the first shot in a renewed volley of proposed user fees for aviation that no doubt will pour forth from Washington, regardless of who sits in the White House and who on the Hill. (See Viewpoint on page 5 for more on the proposal.)
On the eve of the first flight of the Global Express, Bombardier Aerospace announced the appointment of Michael Graff as president of the new Business Aircraft Division. Graff previously was a partner in McKinsey&Company, an international consulting firm. The new unit will oversee the operations of Canadair and Learjet as well as Bombardier Aviation Services. Meanwhile, in preparation for the 18-month Global Express flight-test program, Bombardier is doubling the size of its Wichita flight-test center.
AAR of Elk Grove Village, Illinois purchased the parts inventory of Hamilton Standard . . . Inventory Locator Service is now providing free access on the Internet to a database on stolen aircraft parts. See http://www.go-ils.com. ILS is also developing a data-base of companies that have Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) . . . Middle Tennessee State University introduced an Aviation Administration Master of Science degree program . . . Jet Professionals, Inc.
Raytheon finalized the sale of five of its 18 FBOs to Mercury Air Group of Los Angeles (B/CA, May, page 11). The sale increases the number of FBOs operated by Mercury from five to 11. The former Raytheon FBOs now carrying the Mercury sign are located at California's Ontario International Airport, Hartfield and Peachtree airports in Atlanta, and Corpus Christi and Addison airports in Texas. Mercury's acquisition of the Raytheon FBO at Bedford, Massachusetts' Hanscom Field was pending at press time.
