Gerry Roberts, former president and chief executive of National Airmotive, has assumed like positions at Superior Air Parts. Roberts replaced David Sisson, who resigned after six years with the company. Sisson's departure came two months after the Dallas-based company announced its intention to sell its Superior Turbine unit, a parts manufacturer for Allison 250 helicopter engines. The sale is being effected so the company can return to its core business as a piston aircraft engine component provider.
The NBAA recently published an ``Alert Bulletin'' listing the following cautions for those using an FMS to shoot a GPS or GPS-overlay approach: -- Pilots should be aware that FMS and GPS databases often do not code step-down fixes in the final approach segment. -- When using FMS/GPS as the primary navigation display during an overlay approach, it is possible for discrepancies to exist between displayed FMS/GPS distance to an active waypoint versus the charted DME distance to the same fix.
TURBINE AIRCRAFT SALES (January 1996 - May 1996) During the first five months of 1996, worldwide turbine aircraft deliveries fell 10.8 percent below the same period last year. A total of 118 new business jets and turboprops were delivered to retail customers between January and May 1996, only six fewer than in 1995-a dip of 4.8 per-cent. Global resales dropped 11.6 percent comparing five-month figures, 814 aircraft this year compared to 921 in 1995.
Operators of Falcon 900s and 2000s now can opt for a radome made from quartz, instead of Kevlar or fiberglass. The new radomes are offered through a joint program from Dassault Falcon Jet and Norton Performance Plastics. Norton claims quartz radomes have up to 30 percent better radar transmission efficiency than conventional materials, and only need servicing half as often. Besides its approval on the Falcons, the Norton radome is approved on Challengers, Hawkers and Learjet 60s.
At press time, the FAA had not announced its decision regarding the protest from Wilcox Electric over the agency's award of the Wide Area Augmentation System to Hughes Aircraft Company, but the agency did express an opinion.
After January 1, 1997, com transmitters must meet a frequency stability tolerance of 30 parts per million. In addition, after January 1, unrestricted IFR operations throughout the U.S. ATC system will require using transceivers that have 25-kHz channel spacing (760 channel radios). The 30-ppm tolerance is necessary for full implementation of 25-kHz spacing. There is no requirement to replace 360-channel or 720-channel radios, as has been incorrectly reported elsewhere.
Regional airline enplanements grew at a marginal 0.2 percent during 1995, according to RAA statistics published recently. Total enplanements were up from 57.1 million in 1994 to 57.2 million in 1995.
Dassault's Falcon 900EX three-engine business jet, which received certification from the French aviation regulatory agency DGAC on May 31, was expected to get FAA certification in June. The $27.5-million aircraft (B/CA-equipped) has a nonstop range of 4,500 nm with eight passengers and NBAA IFR reserves-an increase of about 700 nm over the $25-million Falcon 900B, which currently remains in production. The Falcon 900EX is the first aircraft to use AlliedSignal TFE731-60 turbine engines (B/CA, July 1995, page 16).
Germany's decision to develop existing Schunefeld Airport into the main airport for Berlin, which is taking over from Bonn as the country's capital, will result in the eventual closure of Berlin's Tegel and Tempelhof airports. The development project will expand greatly the airport's size and capacity. The converted facility will be known as Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport. Schunefeld, also the site of the Berlin Air Show, was picked over a former Russian base 30 miles south in Sperenberg.
Athletes will not be the only ones proving themselves during the July 20-August 4 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. In a joint program, the FAA and the helicopter industry hope to prove the feasibility of an intermodal transportation network designed for the Olympics but adaptable for urban use worldwide. A fleet of up to 50 helicopters using special low-altitude air routes and equipped with GPS receivers and VHF datalink will provide transportation for essential personnel and material during the Games.
Pilots flying into San Diego during the Republican National Convention-August 12-15-or to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention-August 26-29-should expect the same kind of special ATC procedures and FBO plans as they would for any other dog and pony (or is that donkey and elephant?) show. In the San Diego environs, expect IFR slot allocations, limited arrivals each hour and parking fees at most airports, says Lisa Leblanc-Hutchings, senior airport supervisor for the San Diego Unified Port District.
Typically, an FAR Part 91 operator that doesn't have an operations manual justifies the decision by saying: ``We only fly one aircraft and have a couple of pilots, so why do we need to put things in writing? I always fly with Joe or Tom. We know each other's piloting habits well. The FARs and the AFM are the only documents we need. Besides, a manual could restrict our options when flying the airplane.''
Canadair says it is reorganizing its spare parts distribution network in order to ``improve parts availability'' for Challenger business jets worldwide. The company will review bids from potential distributors in Europe, Asia and North America. The new network, to be independently managed by a third party, is set to begin operating in September. Meanwhile, Canadair recently appointed Execujet Maintenance Proprietary Limited in Johannesburg, South Africa as an authorized service facility for Challengers.
Steps to harmonize the FAA's helicopter type certification airworthiness standards with the Joint Aviation Authorities' (JAA) helicopter standards are under way. The FAA adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking that-effective August 8-makes virtually uniform the FARs and JARs covering standards for both normal- and transport-category rotorcraft. The revisions also introduce some safety improvements, clarify existing regulations and standardize terminology (B/CA, March 1995, page 22).
As the time draws closer for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta (July 19 to August 6), the FAA has firmed up its special air traffic management procedures. The agency's procedures, along with a high level of security procedures, are in place until August 9.
FAA certification of the $15.3-million Cessna Citation X was received on May 31, and the first aircraft was delivered to golfer Arnold Palmer in June. Work to improve the aircraft's performance, including increasing the maximum takeoff weight to permit a full-fuel payload of 1,400 pounds, forced the delay from the original certification target date of August 1995. At its 35,300-pound MTOW, Cessna says the Citation X will carry seven passengers coast-to-coast at speeds up to 0.90 Mach with NBAA IFR reserves.
Corporate and personal aircraft operations, in addition to commercial, training and ferrying flights, are included in an FAA emergency notice banning the transportation of oxygen generators in passenger-carrying aircraft. The notice results from the ongoing investigation into the May crash of a ValuJet DC-9 in Florida in which oxygen generators being carried as cargo might have contributed to the severity of the accident. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $25,000 for each violation.
The latest development from BFGoodrich Aero-space Avionics is the WX-950 Stormscope Thunderstorm Detection System. Newly TSOed, the system has the distinguishing characteristic of two modes of operation: a cell mode and a strike mode. In cell mode, the system maps thunderstorms in views up to 200 nm and indicates a path to avoid them. In strike mode, the WX-950 records and displays initial strikes that may herald an incubating storm.
Garmin announces the marriage of its GPS 90 with a 760-channel VHF transceiver, and the resulting new product-the hand-held GPSCOM 190. The 22-ounce unit is a 12-parallel-channel receiver with continuous carrier phase tracking that can be used as a stand-alone GPS, stand-alone com or a dual-function system. The TracBack feature enables users to retrace their courses according to their established track logs. The nav has 250 user waypoints with 20 re-versible routes of 30 waypoints each; the com has 30 user memory channels. Price: $1,399. Garmin International, 1200 E.
San Antonio-based Fairchild Aircraft closed a deal to acquire 80 percent of Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH from Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA). The remaining 20 percent goes to a new company, Dornier GmbH, which will retain certain assets (B/CA, June, page 22). The deal allows Fairchild to add the 30-passenger Do-328 twin-turboprop regional airliner to its product line and permits DASA to shed another of its money-strapped companies. (Bankrupt Fokker Aircraft was also a DASA company.) Fairchild intends to keep Do-328 production in Germany at least through 1999.
The fifth in Mexico's series of annual ``Aero'' aviation trade shows took place recently in Toluca, the event's new permanent home. Aero was relocated from Guadalajara to Toluca ``to take advantage of the significantly larger potential customer base'' that exists in that business-aviation-friendly city.
Dallas-James Pratt has com-pleted the purchase of Jet East from Triton Industries. Jet East is a full-service FBO at Love Field. Von Rodman was appointed president of Jet East. (214) 350-8523. Jackson, WY-Jackson Hole Airport will soon have just one FBO. The owners of Satellite Aero and Jackson Hole Aviation will merge their companies. The new company will retain the name Jackson Hole Aviation and will be affiliated with Western Aircraft of Boise, Idaho. (307) 733-4767.
A new videotape training aid is available to assist operators in using Collins TWR-850 turbulence weather radar. Three-dimensional graphics demonstrate tilt and range management. All modes and features are shown, including how the radar uses the Doppler principle to detect turbulence. The video concludes with a typical flight scenario explaining the radar's operation. Copies of the tape are available for $75 each from Collins Service Parts. Phone: (800) 327-0854; fax: (800) 621-7422.
Undoubtedly, the folks who use Ma Bell and siblings the most are the chaps oozing charm from every pore who, calling from the boiler rooms on Wall Street each evening as you are digging into a grilled filet, say, ``Hello, is this Phil Canarsie?'' ``Yes, this is Mr. Canarsie.'' ``Hello, Phil. How are you tonight?'' ``Who's calling?'' ``This is Larson Whipsnade from the brokerage firm of Findum and Cheatham. You've heard of us, of course.'' Smart airmen will say, ``One, don't call me by my first name; two, I never heard of you; and, three, goodbye!''
