Honeywell's Primus 2000 integrated avionics system made its debut in the Dornier 328 in 1993, and revolutionized the cockpit of the 30-seat regional aircraft. The system immediately became the most sophisticated avionics suite in this class of aircraft. Dornier departed from the traditional mix-and-match sets of analog and digital avionics that have been fitted to previous 30-seaters. Instead, the firm opted for five of the latest generation, large-format CRT displays, complemented by integrated radio control heads and factory-standard FMS.
-- FlightSafety International and Mitsubishi are cosponsoring-free of charge-four MU-2 Pilot's Review of Proficiency Seminars this year. For the convenience of charter operators, weekend dates were chosen. The dates and locations are as follows: March 29-30, Tampa; April 19-20, Cleveland; April 26-27, San Diego; and May 3-4, Houston. The agenda includes such topics as crew resource management, icing conditions, autopilot/flight control systems and operating tips. FSI's Houston Learning Center asks for a pre-registration from those interested. Phone: (800) 926-1521.
In addition to designing engines to perform economically, manufacturers are working to improve overall operating economics by designing new engines and variants of older designs with maintenance in mind.
In 1995, U.S. general-aviation manufacturers delivered the highest number of new aircraft since 1990 and reached the highest billings since 1981, according to GAMA. ``The industry is entering 1996 in better shape than in any recent year,'' Ed Stimpson, president of GAMA, said at the organization's annual State of the Industry address in January. ``Today's market is stable and more predictable.''
The follow-on to the Hawker 1000 business jet will have ``substantial composite content,'' says Raytheon Aircraft. The new business jet ``would make extensive use of advanced design, construction and production techniques developed for the company's new composite-fuselage Premier I light jet,'' says Roy Norris, Raytheon Aircraft's president. The new Hawker, which Norris said could fly before 2000, will be ``a considerably larger and faster aircraft than the Hawker 1000,'' and will have transcontinental range.
Plans are going forward to equip the FlightSafety Training Center in Cincinnati with a full-flight simulator of the Canadair Regional Jet airliner. The FAA Level D system, scheduled to be operational by June 1997, will be manufactured by FlightSafety Simulation of Tulsa. FlightSafety says the instructor operating station (IOS) will incorporate ``enhanced technology.'' The three touch-screen control panels of the IOS ``permit more rapid organization of the simulated flight.''
Altair Avionics is marketing its recently certificated CrossCheck health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) for the Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A engine. CrossCheck monitors such performance indicators as turbine outlet temperature, torque, and turbine and compressor speeds. The data can be downloaded to a PC using Windows-based software. The three-pound CrossCheck can be mounted on an engine in less than three hours. Price: $6,000 per engine. Altair Avionics Corp., 106 Access Rd., Norwood, MA 02062. (617) 762-8600.
FAA's Civil Tiltrotor Development Advisory Committee was disbanded, following its submission of a final report to Congress. The committee was formed in mid 1994 to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of civil tilt-rotor aircraft and the viability of a national infrastructure to support tilt-rotor operations (B/CA, June 1994, page 20). The report was not available for review at press time.
Late on the evening of August 26, 1994, a Dassault Falcon 200 with seven people on board started its takeoff roll on Runway 36L at New Orleans-Lakefront Airport. The co- pilot called V1 at 124 KIAS, signifying an accelerate-go takeoff, followed by ``rotate.'' One second later, as the aircraft was accelerating through 125 KIAS, an amber caution light caught the attention of the copilot, who then noticed a fluctuation on one of the N1 fan rpm gauges. He immediately notified the captain, but the airplane didn't start to slow down for almost six seconds.
National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado is evaluating an experimental system designed to accurately measure snowfall rates and moisture content. If it succeeds, the system will give airport operators better information to determine whether snow on an aircraft will actually turn to ice. A trial run of the system was conducted this winter at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Several gauges were placed around the airport to continuously measure snowfall rate and water content.
The devastating blizzard that pulverized the Northeast in early January stranded thousands of airline passengers when it closed down airports in the Northeast corridor from Boston to Washington, D.C. But one facility in the area did not close at all during the entire storm: New Jersey's Teterboro Airport.
Tridair Helicopters has reached its ultimate goal: FAA approval to shut down an engine in flight as a normal operating procedure. OEI flight offers major direct-operating-cost advantages, claims the Costa Mesa, California company. The OEI milestone was achieved after a six-year effort, during which the company developed and certificated the Gemini ST twin-engine conversion of the Bell 206L helicopter series. Tridair also is seeking single-pilot IFR approval during two-engine operations. Engine start in flight is not FAA approved (nor was this approval sought).
General Electric now provides 100 percent coverage of engine parts and labor for the first 2,000 hours of operation of the CF34-3B turbofan on the Canadair Challenger 604. GE also is offering 100 percent coverage on spares for 1,000 hours, and for troubleshooting, removal and installation, transportation and daily lease charges associated with unscheduled removal of engine modules or LRUs. Additional engine parts are covered on a prorated basis for up to 2,500 hours of operation.
The recent completion of a new executive terminal at Million Air Tulsa caps two and a half years of development that started with the acquisition of the former Signature Flight Support FBO. In 1995, the FBO doubled its size. Included in the renovation is an on-site restaurant, a ``crew concierge'' and a Sony satellite ``pilots' theater,'' in addition to the customary amenities of a full-service operation.
NBAA (Washington, DC)-Kathleen Hull has been promoted to vice president of conventions and seminars from her former position as senior manager of convention services.
Universal Weather and Aviation (Houston)-Ralph Vasami is this aviation service management company's new vice president, and Dave Diulus has been promoted to sales manager.
As soon as we settled into the left seat of the fourth-ever-built Do 328, a pre-production veteran of the flight-test program, we were immediately impressed with the excellent outside visibility, roominess in the cockpit and clean design layout. There is plenty of storage space for chart binders, manuals and checklists. The pilot-in-command, occupying the right seat, was Meinhardt Feuersenger, Dornier's chief test pilot.
Airports in Alaska, particularly Anchorage International (PANC), have become the primary launch points for corporate-aircraft flights from North America to Japan, Korea, Russia, China and other Pacific Rim destinations.
The reference stall speed for transport aircraft will be 1-g instead of the minimum speed obtained in a stalling maneuver, if the FAA adopts a proposed rule. As currently defined, the agency says that Vs can be less than the lowest speed at which aerodynamic lift supports the airplane's weight. Applying multiple factors, such as 1.3 times Vs to get a landing reference speed, may not provide as large a speed margin as the FAA intended. The proposal also would harmonize the rule with those proposed by Europe's Joint Aviation Requirements Part 25. Comments are due May 17.
In this issue, Product Previews on page 86 includes an item titled ``Weather Super Highway.'' At the press time, the manufacturer, Airshow Incorporated, changed the name of the product from Genesys to The Airshow Network. In April, the system will serve other graphical information besides weather. In addition, pricing now starts at $18,000.
An increasing number of corporate operators are using Seattle as the starting point of their Pacific Rim flights, particularly if the destination is Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan or a point farther south. The rationale is: Overnight in Seattle, and start the long legs of the trip the next day.
European business travelers traditionally have high expectations when they climb aboard an aircraft, be it powered by turbofans or turboprops. Those expectations may be dampened, however, as airlines face the economic realities of a deregulated environment.
New York City officials have decided to open a new heliport on Manhattan's west side within the next two years instead of establishing a floating heliport on a surplus U.S. Navy aircraft carrier moored further north on the Hudson River (B/CA, September 1995, page 32). The land-based facility, which would be located on Pier 76 at 38th Street and 12th Avenue, currently is the site for the city's pound for towed cars. Once the new heliport opens, New York plans to close the West 30th Street Heliport and reduce operations by 50 percent at the East 34th Street Heliport.
