AT&T's Aviation Communications Division and AlliedSignal's Commercial Avionics unit have joined in an effort to develop a device that will allow one handset to be used for both North American terrestrial system (NATS) and satellite communications. The venture got under way in January, and the companies plan to roll out the system in the second quarter of 1997 at a target price of under $10,000.
Jeppesen's recent acquisition of MentorPlus, an Aurora, Oregon supplier of aviation software, will enhance the Denver-based company's line of computer-related products including the new JeppView, a CD-ROM electronic chart service. (See article on page 116.) Among the former MentorPlus products that will now be marketed and supported under the Jeppesen name are FliteStar Corporate flight-planning software, FliteMap moving-map software and the FliteLog pilot logbook (B/CA, November 1995, page 62).
Photograph: Principles of Helicopter Flight should appeal to the new helicopter pilot. NEW HELICOPTER TEXTS To many--both inside and outside aviation--the dynamics that keep a helicopter in the air can be perplexing. Two new books aim to dispel the confusion: The Art and Science of Flying Helicopters (Iowa State University Press, $32.95, 225 pages) is one of the best helicopter books we've read.
In July, Cessna delivered on a promise made several years ago--that it would return to building single-engine recips if a general aviation product liability bill was enacted. That bill was signed into law on August 17, 1994 and on July 4, the company opened its new single-engine production facility in Independence, Kansas. Customer shipments of new-production Model 172s are scheduled to begin in January 1997.
The Corporate Angel Network recently celebrated its 8,000th flight. The White Plains, New York-based organization has been arranging for cancer patients to fly to and from treatment centers on corporate aircraft since 1981. Today, some 500 companies participate through CAN to provide this free transportation.
The National Air Transportation Association will convene a special conference at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport on September 19 and 20 to address operational issues affecting FAR Part 135 on-demand air-charter operators. Presenters at the event will explain the proper way to conduct flights into Mexico, including a clarification of Mexican aviation requirements and customs rules. The conference also will cover drug and alcohol testing rules, FAA enforcement issues and new Part 135 training rules. Registration is $199 for NATA members and $399 for non-members.
Are engine overhauls expenses or capital expenditures? The U.S. Internal Revenue Service thinks the latter. The theory only represents an IRS opinion in only a single case, but it could easily be applied broadly throughout the industry with multi-million-dollar consequences.
A possible merger of some of Raytheon's and McDonnell Douglas' defense and space businesses apparently would have little or no effect on Raytheon Aircraft's operations. Published reports say McDonnell Douglas also has studied a purchase of Textron's Bell Helicopter unit. McDonnell Douglas tried to shed its helicopter unit a few years ago, but found no suitors. However, its interest in Bell is believed to be one-sided; Textron describes Bell as a ``core'' unit, and said it is ``absolutely not for sale.'' Bell has been the most successful U.S.
Most people dreaded the traffic jams that were expected to paralyze Atlanta during the Olympics. But George Bartol of Petroleum Helicopters Incorporated couldn't wait for them.
The owners of Stuart Jet Center at Florida's Witham Field plan to build an Exxon Avitat FBO at Boca Raton Airport. Phase one of the new facility, scheduled to open in 1997, will feature a 7,000-square-foot terminal and a 24,000-square-foot storage hangar. Also included will be a maintenance facility, 50 tie-down spots and a 300,000-square-foot ramp. In addition to refueling and maintenance, Boca Jet Center will provide charter, training and aircraft sales. (561) 220-6802.
Duncan Aviation recently premiered this drop-down weather door panel covering for Hawker 700 aircraft. The curtain, made of one-quarter-inch thick composite material, seals the entrance door and staves off cold air, rain and snow from the cabin. ``Ultra leather'' is sewn on the reverse side to match the aircraft's interior. While the aircraft is flying, the curtain is designed to dampen noise. When not in use, the curtain can be stashed in the headliner. Price: $14,000 to $18,000, depending on the ultra leather preferred and the scope of the job.
Air-taxi interests have asked the FAA to revoke the requirement in the new FAR Part 119 for the name of the certificate holder to be displayed on the outside of the aircraft. The FAA claims this information will assist inspectors during ramp checks, but the National Air Transportation Association sees it as a compromise to a passenger's security and privacy. The industry is asking the FAA to require only the operating certificate number to be displayed on the aircraft.
The EVAC-U8 Emergency Escape Smoke Hood from Brookdale filters carbon monoxide, toxic gases and smoke particulates through a multi-stage, chemical catalytic air-purifying filter. See-through, listen-through EVAC-U8 can be quickly donned by passengers, says the manufacturer, and it provides up to 20 minutes of filtered air. The user twists the lid off the beverage-can-size canister, pulls the hood on and breathes through the mouthpiece. All of the materials in the unit are heat and flame resistant. Price: $69.95.
It doesn't matter how professional you are, if you have the right stuff, how motivated you are or how big your paycheck is. Those things don't matter when you are faced with your physiology hitting the wall. When you hit that wall, your brain will shut you down, and you will sleep, regardless of what you are doing.''
Wing vertical up-gust testing on Embraer EMB-145 prototype No. 802 has been completed in the Brazilian manufacturer's static test rig. The tests-considered the most severe wing tests on the way to full certification this year-have been underway since January.
In August, Gulfstream Aerospace filed for an initial public offering (IPO) of 28 million shares of stock--about one third of its equity--at $23 per share. Forstmann Little paid the equivalent of about $4 a share when it purchased the Savannah-based manufacturer from Chrysler six years ago. The planned sale comes four years after Forstmann withdrew a planned IPO (B/CA, May 1992, page 16). At that time, Gulfstream was in a negative earnings situation.
Canadian Marconi and Denmark's Thrane&Thrane will join AlliedSignal to develop an Aero-I satellite communications system. Aero-I service, intended for regional airliners and smaller corporate jets, is scheduled to be introduced in mid 1997 by Inmarsat, the European-based satellite operating consortium (B/CA, January, page 20). Canadian Marconi will provide the antenna; Thrane&Thrane will be responsible for the satellite data unit; and AlliedSignal will handle the amplifier and market the final product.
Robotic Vision Systems' ID-1H ice-detection system received FAA approval as an alternative means of compliance with airline pre-takeoff ice inspection requirements. Instead of visual or tactile methods, the ID-1H uses an electro-optic system to detect ice and frost on wings or other critical surfaces, even through water or deicing fluid. The Hauppauge, New York company says the hand-held ID-1H sensor/controller also can ``see'' ice in darkness or during storms (B/CA, January 1995, page 12).
New FV-2000 head-up displays from Flight Visions now include a processor that updates flight information 10 times faster, a 25-degree field of view, larger display characters, a runway overlay symbol and a runway roll-out command. The Sugar Grove, Illinois firm also announced that total FV-2000 system weight has been cut to 21 pounds. Except for the reduced weight, all the upgrades are available as a no-cost software upgrade for current systems. The price for new units remains at $78,000.
Nearly complete is a program to allow all flights conducted within the contiguous United States at and above FL 290 to select minimum time/cost routes beyond 200 nm of a departure/destination. To date, eight of 10 phases of the FAA's National Route Program (NRP) have been implemented. To participate in the NRP, operators must ensure the selected route contains at least one navaid or waypoint in each ATC Center segment in which the route traverses. For details on the NRP, see Advisory Circular 90-91A.
Jet Aviation has assumed the management of The Eagle Group's recently renovated FBO on McCarran International Airport (B/CA, April, page 22). The three-year-old facility, previously known as the Las Vegas Executive Air Terminal, encompasses ramp parking for up to 200 aircraft and a 24-hour full-service terminal building that includes a large wing-shaped canopy over the entrance to protect arriving and departing passengers from the elements.
Owners of the newly dubbed Executive Jet Center, the former ATC Jet Center FBO at Florida's Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, recently opened renovated facilities. Open 24 hours, the redesigned operation offers traditional line services, on-site rental cars and crew loaner cars, free membership to a nearby gym, shower and snooze rooms, private phones and modem hookups. Other features are WSI flight planning, crew and passenger lounges, ``gourmet catering,'' hangar parking and a large-screen TV with satellite programming.
Airline passengers who first glance at Embraer's new EMB-145 from a distance initially might mistake it for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft's latest MD-80 variant. The long, lean fuselage; the moderately swept wing; and, most notably, the large aft-mounted turbofan engines elevate Embraer's latest regional airliner to the class of equipment once exclusively flown by the majors-the jetliners.
Less than a month after Fairchild Aircraft took over 80 percent of German aircraft manufacturer Dornier, it revived plans to develop a stretched version of the 32-passenger Do-328 twin turboprop regional airliner with 50 seats. Meanwhile, Fairchild is expected to make a decision soon on whether to launch a stand-up version of the company's 19-passenger Metro. A mockup of the aircraft has a 71-inch aisle height and a 14-inch aisle width at the floor. The cross section is 62 inches.
