The United States and Canada are expected to start using new ICAO Meteorological Aviation Weather Report (METAR) codes on July 1, about six months later than nearly all other ICAO member-countries. The delay was attributed to the high volume of traffic within and between the United States and Canada. For an FAA booklet explaining the METAR codes, submit $1 per copy (to cover postage and handling) to B/CA, 4 International Dr., Rye Brook, NY 10573. Or, contact the FAA at (202) 267-7770; fax: (202) 366-7083.
Avcon Industries of Newton, Kansas has received certification for its empennage-mounted fins on Learjet 35s and 36s. The installation, designed to improve low-speed stability and handling, does not require major trim modifications that the company initially thought would be required (B/CA, March, page 20). The fins' installed price is $89,500, but a necessary update of the stabilizer trim actuator will add ``from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars,'' depending on which model actuator is in the aircraft.
Astra Jet, Incorporated, the Princeton, New Jersey company that Israel Aircraft Industries set up in 1987 to market Westwind and Astra business jets, is looking to a new president and a partnership with a new company to improve sales and service. The new company might be run by former Learjet president Brian Barents. Roy Bergstrom, who headed Astra Jet since its establishment, stepped down as president on May 31, and Wayne Oedewaldt, Astra Jet's West Coast Sales Manager, was named interim president.
TURBINE BUSINESS AIRCRAFT SALES (JANUARY 1996-APRIL 1996) Worldwide retail sales of new and used turbine aircraft lagged 16.3 percent behind last year, the drag largely generated by a 50-percent-plus slump in overseas deliveries. Yet news for general aviation continues to be upbeat as U.S. deliveries of new turbine aircraft surged 15.2 percent ahead of those during the first four months of 1995.
Corporate Jet Management, a new aviation service organization, recently was launched in London, England. The company hopes to sell shares in aircraft and to offer other strategies for aircraft ownership, charter and management as well as engage in aircraft sales. Meanwhile, JetAir Leasing, headquartered in West Sussex, England, has teamed with Minneapolis-based Adcom Express to form JetAir Charter and Leasing USA.
An American Eagle Simmons captain, who has flown the ATR out of Chicago all winter, told B/CA he had mixed feelings about the AD that prohibits operation of the aircraft in icing conditions. ``On the one hand, it eliminates arguments with the company. They have no choice but to ground the aircraft, and the pilot no longer has to defend a decision based on his/her perception that the flight conditions are unsafe.
Aviall has signed a definitive agreement to sell its engine and component repair operations to Greenwich Air Services of Miami. The agreement follows a letter of intent signed earlier (B/CA, March, page 26), and the sale would make Greenwich one of the largest independent aircraft engine repair facilities. After the sale, Aviall's only remaining business will be its parts-distribution services. Dallas-based Aviall has been shedding business units since it spun off from Ryder System in mid 1993.
Crossings Aviation of Tacoma, Washington, has acquired 100 percent of the stock and assets of Harbor Airlines, including the latter's 54-acre airport facility located at Oak Harbor, Washington.
Sino Swearingen selected Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics for its SJ30-2 business jet. The Primus configuration in the SJ30-2 will feature a two-tube, eight-by-seven-inch EFIS, dual integrated avionics computers, a micro air-data computer, Primus II digital radios and a Primus 650 color weather radar. FAA certification and initial deliveries of the SJ30-2 are expected in late 1998, although the aircraft program's schedule frequently has slipped. A production facility is being built in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Aviation has settled on the dates for this year's Sundstrand Auxiliary Power Unit Training. Three-day maintenance training sessions for the T62T-40C/39 Series will be held July 30 to August 1 in Appleton, Wisconsin; October 15 to 17 in Westfield, Massachusetts and December 10 to 12 in Dallas. The fee is $850. The training agenda will cover the various Sundstrand APU models and their installations, APU hot-section inspection, electrical-interface-systems troubleshooting using the latest test equipment and APU test stand runs with an operational APU.
As many as 600 of the 4,500 ATC controllers who went on strike in 1981 and were subsequently fired could be re-hired over the next two years. President Clinton directed the FAA to hire 100 controllers this year and as many as 500 in 1997, most of whom he expects to be former PATCO members. The FAA said it will give ``fair consideration'' to former PATCO members, but ``every job will be evaluated on an objective criteria. . . .'' The President lifted the ban on hiring former PATCO members in 1993.
William B. Reynard, 53, head of NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, died April 10 due to kidney transplant complications. He became the first employee of the ASRS in 1976. He served as director of the program since 1980 despite increasingly debilitating medical problems. A commercial pilot with an instrument rating, Reynard received undergraduate and law degrees from Ohio State University and served in the U.S. Army.
Unless there is another postponement, ``Nav Canada,'' the corporation being formed to take over the country's ATC system from the Canadian government, is scheduled to take effect later this year. Nav Canada was targeted for activation on April 1 as a nonprofit organization, with funds coming from current user fees-many of them to be increased. A board of directors will have representatives from commercial aviation, general aviation, the federal government, unions and other industry professionals.
Golden, Colorado-based 3X Jet, Incorporated continues efforts to get its unusually configured twin-engine business jet off the ground. In early 1994, the company started showing its design in which one engine is significantly more powerful than the other. Both tail-mounted engines would run for takeoff and landing, the less powerful one would be shut down for cruise, and the more powerful one would be off for taxi. 3X claims its design improves performance while substantially reducing fuel and maintenance costs.
The following is the revised list of mandatory denials, which means even a history of any of these disorders requires a denial. However, all of these de-nials can be certificated through the special issuance process if it can be proven that the disorder is an acceptable risk in flight. (1) A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts. (2) A psychosis. (3) A bipolar disorder. (4) Substance dependence. (5) Substance abuse. (6) Epilepsy.
It took 15 years, hundreds of petitions and a notice of proposed rulemaking, but the FAA finally adopted a rule that grants permanent authorization for FAR Part 135 pilots to remove and reinstall cabin seats, stretchers, medical oxygen bottles, panel-mounted avionics and other items in aircraft with nine or fewer passenger seats. Previously, only certificated maintenance technicians were authorized to perform those tasks.
Despite a sudden switch in the primary contractor, FAA insiders claim the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is ``back on budget'' and will be up and running by the end of 1998. Less than a week after the FAA took the WAAS contract away from Wilcox Electric, the agency gave it to Hughes Aircraft Company of Fullerton, California on an interim basis. A final contract is expected to be awarded to Hughes before October. WAAS is vital to establishing primary-means, GPS-based precision approaches.
Most of our readers are already familiar with the work of staffers Perry Bradley and Linda Martin. Perry has been appointed senior editor and Linda has been named features editor. Perry joined B/CA in August 1994 as a staff editor and has concentrated on technology and operational articles. He is an active pilot and holds instrument and multiengine ratings. Perry graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in journalism, and went on to report for a daily newspaper before combining interests in writing and
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Helijet Airways finalized its previously announced agreement to buy Vancouver Helicopters (B/CA, May, page 16). The purchase increases the helicopter fleet operated by Helijet to 12, including five Sikorsky S-76s used in scheduled services. Helijet also takes over existing arrangements with Vancouver Helicopters for additional aircraft used in contract and charter services throughout western Canada.
At the end of the Cold War, the concept of converting military airports to civilian use took on a new sense of urgency as local communities sought to mitigate the economic ripple effects of a downsized military. Over the years, the conversion of war surplus assets has been particularly important to the growth of business aviation. The availability of cheap, excess military aircraft that could be modified for what was then called ``industrial aid'' flying helped spur the growth of corporate aviation after World War II.
The sun is setting on the days of wide-open, blue-skies flying over the Pacific. Increasing air traffic density in the Pacific Oceanic Track System will require much tighter navigation tolerances, as well as upgrades to communications and surveillance capabilities.
Raytheon has selected an electromagnetic deicing system for the horizontal stabilizer of its new Premier I light business jet (B/CA, October 1995, page 50 and March 1996, page 22). According to its developers, Cox&Company of New York City and Innovative Dynamics of Ithaca, New York, the system uses relatively little electrical power-about 75 watts compared to nearly 6,000 watts for the more typical electrothermal systems.
Respondents to B/CA's operator survey were divided into four categories based according to fleet structure: Category I. Companies operating heavy jets or two or more jets of any type. -- Category II. Companies not included in the above category which operate at least one light or medium jet. -- Category III. Turboprop operators (namely, companies with at least one turboprop and no jets). -- IV. Helicopter operators (or companies that operate at least one helicopter).
Following two successful operational trials, a Buffalo-area company is convinced it has developed a better way to fend off Ol' Man Winter. Process Technologies says its InfraTek infrared heating system can be used to quickly and efficiently deice aircraft. The InfraTek system in-cludes a semi-permanent, tent-like structure and an array of natural gas or propane-powered heaters, which the company calls ``energy process units.''
