FAA in mid July granted an STC for the Collins Pro Line 4 avionics package for the Falcon 50EX, which paves the way for certification of the business jet this fall. The STC also will enable Dassault's Little Rock, Arkansas completion center to offer the package as a retrofit for the approximately 250 existing Falcon 50s. In addition to the new avionics suite, the 50EX is powered by new AlliedSignal TFE731-40s.
Members of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America have proposed adopting restrictions on soliciting legal business from relatives of people killed in disasters. After taking heat for the behavior of attorneys following recent airline crashes, the group is considering a ban on face-to-face and direct-mail solicitation. The proposal was made at the group's annual convention in Boston. A subcommittee was tasked with developing standards that will be put to a vote of the membership.
Fargo Jet Center has opened at Hector International Airport. The new FBO provides 24-hour services, including charter, maintenance, sales, leasing, training and fuel sales. Fargo's facility includes a 12,000-square-foot hangar for maintenance and aircraft storage. (701) 235-3600.
One of the newest shared-aircraft ownership programs to sprout up and serve a regional area is Corporate AirShare from Atlanta-based Hill Aircraft. The program, designed to cover transportation requirements throughout the southeastern United States, involves 25-percent ownership shares in King Air B200s. The program entitles each owner to 200 hours of flight time per year for the five-year contract period. In addition to the acquisition cost, owners pay a fixed monthly fee and an hourly flight-time fee.
Most powerful of the second-generation, TFE731 turbofan engines, the -60 produces 5,000 pounds of takeoff thrust and is flat-rated to a sea-level ISA+17C day, corresponding to a density altitude of 1,900 feet. It's equipped with an N1 fan rpm referenced, digital electronic engine control (DEEC) that provides most of the functionality of a FADEC.
A survey of wages and benefits for 30 different job classifications in the FBO and air-taxi industries has been published by the National Air Transportation Association. Based on the responses from NATA member-companies, ``The 1996 NATA Compensation Survey'' details pay and benefits reported for pilots, mechanics, technicians, administrative personnel, dispatchers and top executives. Copies of the survey are available for $99 to NATA members and $150 to non-members. Phone (800) 808-6282 to order.
Shipments of new U.S.-built general aviation aircraft in the first six months of 1996 were up 10.3 percent to 503 units worth some $1.25 billion, compared to 456 aircraft worth $1.27 billion in the like period in 1995, according to Washington, D.C.-based GAMA. Turboprop deliveries jumped 26 percent to 135 units, while piston aircraft shipments climbed by 12 percent, for a total of 273 aircraft. However, business jet deliveries were off about 10 percent, dropping from 105 units in the first half of 1995 to 95 aircraft this year.
In July, the MD Explorer became the first U.S. helicopter to undergo certification validation by Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities, according to McDonnell Douglas. Following the review of U.S. certification data, the JAA recommended that its 27 member-nations issue type certificates for the eight-place, twin-turbine rotorcraft. The Explorer was certificated by the FAA in December 1994, and four Explorers currently are operating in Europe. The $3.2-million Explorer has a NOTAR anti-torque system and is among the most quiet of all helicopter models.
Pennzoil is marketing an R-12 freon replacement that holds promise for retrofitting freon air-conditioning systems in already fielded aircraft. In December 1995, manufacturing of ozone-depleting R-12 stopped, under Environmental Protection Agency rules. While existing stocks can still be used, prices have tripled (by some accounts) over the last six months, and supplies can be hard to come by.
Carl Albert, this airframe builder's chairman and CEO, was appointed chairman of the management board and managing director of Dornier GmbH. Fairchild, the producer of the Metro 23 airliner, acquired the majority share of Dornier on June 5.
Bear Paws from Dart Aerospace Limited are fitted to helicopter skids to permit the aircraft to land on virtually any soft terrain. Bear Paws are made of Tyvar, a strong, lightweight (less than eight pounds) and wear-resistant material. The pro-duct is sold in pairs for a variety of light helicopters. A set of Bear Paws is priced at $1,298 for the JetRanger and MD 500; $1,498 for the LongRanger, the AStar and the MD 520; $3,599 for the Bell 204, 205, 212, 214 and 412; and $3,600 for the MD 900. Dart Aerospace Ltd., 2071 Malaview Ave., Sidney, BC V8L 5X6 Canada.
McDonnell Douglas says it is on track to deliver 14 of its new, eight-seat MD 600Ns this year, despite a delay in flight-testing following the crash of one of two test aircraft. Flight-testing has resumed, and a production aircraft was pressed into service to bring the test fleet back to two aircraft. Certification is expected in early December. In May, a test aircraft made a hard landing following an autorotation after a tail-boom strike and separation. The aircraft was destroyed by a fire that broke out when exhaust components ignited dry brush.
Mention the term ``ramp check'' to a group of pilots, and most will grimace as though they're anticipating a kick to the stomach. Such apprehension is not unfounded, according to one aviation lawyer with whom we spoke. Sandra McDunna, an attorney based in Stratford, Connecticut, claims, ``There are some FAA inspectors who lurk at the ramp. A few relish the opportunity to find violations.''
Stevens Aviation of Greenville, South Carolina has ordered 140 Orenda 600-hp V8 piston engines for retrofitting Beech King Air C90s. While pricing has not been firmly established, Stevens President Kurt Herwald said it looks as if the package will cost between $250,000 and $300,000, depending on the condition of the exchanged powerplants. The engine installation will include a gross weight increase for the aircraft, which is expected to have a max cruise speed of 300 knots.
Optimum'' is the magic word. For a given gross weight, each airplane has an optimum altitude and airspeed at which the direct operating costs are at their lowest level for any given ambient conditions. Sophisticated and expensive flight management systems (FMSes) provide these optimum performance data automatically.
The Eurocopter EC 135 twin-turbine helicopter received FAA certification in August, on the heels of certification of the eight-passenger helicopter in Germany and in France (B/CA, August, page 28). All the certifications to date apply to both options of the aircraft--with a 700-shp Turbomeca Arrius 2B engine and the option powered by a 731-shp P&WC 206B powerplant.
A settlement has been reached in a 12-year-old lawsuit between Bombardier, the manufacturer of the Challenger business jet, and members of the family of Bill Lear who were involved in the design of the Challenger. The agreement calls for Bombardier to make a cash payment to the Lear family for the purchase of all remaining rights to the Challenger and its derivatives.
FlightSafety International has formed alliances with Microsoft and Interactive Learning International Corporation (ILINC) that could expand the availability of training. Using ILINC's LearnLinc software, FSI will be able to develop virtual, instructor-led classrooms that will enable pilots to ``attend'' FSI courses using a PC. Under the alliance with Microsoft, FSI is participating in development of a desktop flight simulator for Windows 95.
Western Pacific Airlines became the first regional airline to purchase aircraft from the newly established Fairchild Dornier. The Colorado Springs-based carrier placed a firm order for 12 Dornier 328-120s, with an option for an additional 12. The order is the first for the aircraft since San Antonio-based Fairchild purchased most of Dornier from Deutsche Aerospace in June. The -120 version is powered by a pair of Pratt&Whitney Canada PW-119Cs, providing five percent more power than the 2,150-shp 119Bs on the 328-110.
Glance at the published takeoff field lengths in the approved flight manual of virtually any turbine-powered transport-category aircraft. You'll find relatively long distances in spite of the relatively healthy power-to-weight or thrust-to-weight ratios of these aircraft. The reason? Nowhere in the AFM will you find the all-engine-operating takeoff distance or initial climb performance.
Despite the protests of those who conduct 50,000 annual operations into the utilitarian little airport on the edge of Lake Michigan, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has decided the property will cease to be an airport. Instead, when the city's lease expires, the land will revert to the Chicago Park Board, and $30 million of taxpayers' money will be spent to build yet another park in Chicago, which has one of the most extensive park systems of any city in the nation.
Photograph: With the reverser stowed, Calcor's variable exhaust nozzle system maintained aerodynamic and geometric conformity to the standard nozzle in early testing. CALCOR TESTING VARIABLE NOZZLES Whittier, California-based Calcor recently completed initial tests of a combined thrust reverser and variable exhaust nozzle system (REVEN) that could improve fuel burn and thrust at altitude. The company has been developing the system since 1994 (B/CA, November 1995, page 18).
J. Steven McConnell has been appointed president of AAR Aircraft Turbine Center, a source for the purchase, sale and lease of engine parts, inventory management and component repairs.
Rockwell's Collins avionics units in Cedar Rapids, Iowa are not included in Boeing's acquisition of Rockwell's aerospace and defense interests--a deal that is expected to close later this year. Rockwell Chairman Donald Beall said the agreement furthers the company's strategy of focusing on electronics, with emphasis on commercial and international business. Collins avionics units will be organized under a ``new'' Rockwell company that includes communications and automotive-component businesses.
FAA has proposed requiring nearly 6,000 aircraft used in scheduled service to have their flight data recorders upgraded to increase the amount of data they can collect, but the rule will not apply to on-demand aircraft. Also exempt are older 10- to 19-seat aircraft used in scheduled service. In addition, the FAA will give the airlines three years to incorporate FDRs with 57 parameters and five years to add those with the full 88 parameters into new aircraft.
