In recent months, we've taken on the media over the general lack of understanding about aviation that is exhibited in the wake of airplane crashes. Sometimes, the rush to find the ``cause'' of a crash, or to judge who is responsible can be both infuriating and embarrassing. Witness the ValuJet accident and the more recent crash of TWA Flight 800.
On October 10, the FAA will institute the largest-ever airspace modification. The changes affect all airspace and procedures within 150 nm of DFW. Among the changes: Four vortacs will be decommissioned, and six new ones will go on line. Twenty-four low-altitude en route airways will be realigned, two high-altitude jet routes--J66 and J181--will be modified, and a third one will be added. More than 140 intersections will be dropped, and 275 new ones will take their place. Eleven new STARs and nine new SIDs will be added, and 158 new approach procedures will be implemented.
Orlando-based Signature Flight Support and its 36 U.S. FBOs soon will be completely owned by BBA Group. The Britain-based company, which currently holds 68 percent of Signature, completed an agreement in August to purchase the remaining 32 percent from New York-based Acadia Partners. Separately, Signature expects to close a deal soon in which it will acquire all four of International Aviation's FBO locations--Santa Fe, New Mexico; Teterboro; West Palm Beach, Florida; and White Plains, New York (B/CA, June, page 24).
Full-service maintenance capability has come to Sacramento's Mather Airport as the result of Rancho Murieta Aviation moving its operations from Rancho Murieta Airport. Rancho Murieta provides service for Astras, Cessnas, Falcons, Hawkers, King Airs and Learjets. (916) 364-4711
British-born Sir Frank Whittle, the man credited with inventing the jet engine, died in August at age 89. He had been living in the United States since 1976. His invention was patented in 1930 and, therefore, the British could have been the first to fly a jet aircraft. But the government rejected the idea--until Germany made the first jet flight in 1939. And it was 1947 before Britain's first jet became operational (B/CA, June 1987, page 34).
Al Smith, former governor of New York State and loser, in 1932, in the presidential race against Herbert Hoover, once said, ``What this world needs is a good five-cent cigar.''
Brazilian regional airline TAM, prevented by government regulators from expanding internationally, is doing so anyway, through the acquisition of Paraguayan flag carrier Lineas Aereas Paraguayas (Lapsa). The So Paulo-based carrier reportedly is paying $23 million for 80 percent of the carrier from Ecuadorian flag carrier Saeta. The Paraguayan government will retain its 20 percent in the carrier.
One of the most current and complete sources of U.S. general aviation activity information is the 1996 General Aviation Statistical Databook from GAMA. The 28-page publication contains statistics on new GA airframe shipments (from 1946 through 1995), aircraft fleet activity, the pilot population, safety trends, airports and ATC facilities. In addition, there is a section forecasting GA activity all the way to 2007. Copies of the booklet are available for $10 each from GAMA, 1400 K St. NW, Ste. 801, Washington, DC 20005-2485. Phone: (202) 393-1500; fax 202-842-4063.
An advanced automated cockpit weather information system (CWIN) designed to give pilots real-time data is being flight-tested through September 30 on a United Airlines DC-10 in a project sponsored by NASA's Langley Research Center. The CWIN integrates data from communication satellites and GPS satellites, ground radar images and airport observations, and displays the information on a CRT in the cockpit. The data are updated every 15 minutes and a touch-screen menu allows the pilot to select various types of data.
Remember when Atlantic Southeast was having public relations problems with the city of Columbus, Georgia? Seems local civic leaders were concerned about poor ASA reliability with the Olympics' women's fast-pitch softball competition coming to town (B/CA, August 1996, page C3). Well, the Delta Connection carrier has decided to correct the problem of delays and cancellations at the source. Effective October 1, it will remove its two daily BAe 146 roundtrips from Atlanta. The 88-passenger quadjets will be replaced with 66-passenger ATR 72s.
With the new FAR Part 67 airmen medical regulations scheduled to take effect on September 16, the FAA is expected to have a fully rewritten guidebook for AMEs to assist in the medical certification process. The last revision of the guide was in 1992.
Effective November 4, U.S. Customs will start allowing pre-registered aircraft operators reentering the United States from Canada to clear customs via telephone and, thereafter, to land at any U.S. public-use airport. Under the General Aviation Telephonic Entry (GATE) program, customs agents will meet selected flights for random inspections. To apply for participation in GATE, operators must submit Customs Form 442 to the U.S. Customs port of entry nearest the applicant's most frequently used airport of arrival.
Two VFR-only GPS receiver systems from England's Skyforce Avionics will be marketed and supported throughout North America by The K Group of Viewtown, Virginia. The two systems are: the Skymap II with a built-in GPS receiver and moving-map display, and the Tracker II, which provides a moving-map display for aircraft already equipped with a GPS unit. The Skymap II will sell for about $1,700, and the Tracker II for roughly $1,200.
Western Pacific Airlines, the Colorado Springs-based, low-fare start-up, has selected the Dornier Do 328 for its new feeder airline, Mountain Air Express (MAX). First deliveries are scheduled for this month, and the wholly owned subsidiary plans to launch operations December 4.
On May 31, when the 900EX was DGAC certified, you could almost hear the congratulatory cheers over the noise of champagne corks popping that Friday evening at Dassault's Vaucresson headquarters. Almost 10 years after deliveries of Dassault's drag-cheating, large-cabin business aircraft first began, the company's relentless pursuit of performance finally paid off in a big way. (FAA certification was in July). The lithe and lean Falcon 900EX now has become a heavy-iron-class, long-range champion for those looking to spend less than $30 million for such an aircraft.
Early in 1997, Dassault Falcon Jet plans to offer a CD-ROM to operators to assist them in ``quickly'' diagnosing and correcting malfunctions. The software, called CATS (Computer Assisted Troubleshooting System), is presently being used in-house by Dassault to support its ``Help Desk'' operation. CATS functions as a database utilizing thousands of maintenance reports submitted by service centers and operators. Dassault will demonstrate customer versions of CATS at the NBAA convention in November in Orlando.
Two officers have been elected to the Foundation's Corporate Advisory Committee. The new chairman is Edward R. Williams, vice president of safety and engineering and director of flight operations for Associated Aviation Underwriters. Peter V. Agur, Jr., president of the VanAllen Group, was named vice chairman.
The DOT and the Interior Department banded together to propose more restrictions on flight operations over the Grand Canyon, heating up an already contentious and emotional issue for scenic-tour operators. Under the rule, 87 percent of the park would be off-limits to aircraft--up from 45 percent today--and there would be flight-free periods and/or a cap on commercial sightseeing air activities. The National Air Transportation Association reacted angrily to the proposal.
Birmingham International Airport (BHX) in England was the arrival point for a Western European Foreign and Defense Ministers conference in May. Top diplomats came from 27 countries, from as far as Iceland, Finland, Spain and Turkey, including eight delegations from within the former Soviet Bloc. The resident FBO, Execair Aviation Services, together with personnel from Birmingham International Airport, the British Foreign Office and various security agencies, were responsible for the smooth running of the event.
``We're on our way. We're taking a bold first step,'' enthused Ron Bauer. The marketing manager for Jeppesen was referring to the introduction this summer of the company's JeppView CD-ROM chart service, ``the first step in the evolution from paper to electronic charts,'' he explained.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is the initial sponsor of the newly formed National Aviation Research Institute (NARI), a not-for-profit group ``formed to advance the art and science of aviation and air traffic control.'' NARI's objectives include developing ``consensus on future aviation systems and procedures.'' The group seems to be aimed at ensuring that NATCA--the controllers union--has a voice as the future free-flight system is developed.
