The fruit of the labors of RTCA Special Committee 173, the working group that has studied radomes, is DO-213, the first industry standard for radome performance and repair. Although the FAA has no immediate plans to generate a TSO for radomes, DO-213 does provide the aircraft industry with much needed guidance regarding transmissivity, side lobe intensity and post-repair testing.
The Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) has been around for five years, yet, so far, only airline pilots--and relatively few at that--have been able to take advantage of what most agree is a revolution in the way pilots train. But that's about to change.
Recent introductions from Digifly are two moving-map display screens, the DU7 and DU8. These instruments are true map depictions, not moving plotters. The DU7 ($1,599) has a screen resolution of 320 by 460 pixels, and it can interface with any external GPS receiver that has an NMEA 0183 external port. The DU8 ($1,995) has a built-in GPS, a 640-by-480-pixel screen and an 8-inch backlit LCD. Both units provide mapping features such as highways, railroads, lakes and rivers, a-long with Jeppesen NavData for VFR flight.
Changes to flight-plan suffixes went into effect on March 28. Henceforth, the letter ``G'' will only classify GPS with oceanic, en route, terminal or approach capabilities. New suffix ``E'' will classify FMSes and VNAVs that have oceanic as well as en route, terminal and approach capabilities. And new suffix ``F'' will classify FMSes and VNAVs that have en route, terminal and approach capabilities, but do not have oceanic capability.
The following 1996 airframe manufacturer-sponsored maintenance and operations meetings have been scheduled: Canadair Challenger, Montreal, May 22-23; Cessna Citation, Wichita, April 29-May 1; Dassault Falcon Jet, Boca Raton, Florida, June 3-4; Gulfstream, Savannah, May 21-23; Learjet, Tucson, May 1-3; Raytheon Beechjet, San Antonio, May 5-7; and Sabreliner, St. Louis, April 11-12. Raytheon is holding M&O meetings for Hawker Jet operators April 15 in Philadelphia and April 17 in St. Louis.
Garmin International has introduced the hand-held GPS 38 Personal Navigator. The system features a redesigned moving map for a larger presentation of navigation information, a rotating compass dial display, a backtracking capability that allows users to retrace their course based on their track- log history, 11 different grid and position formats, and ``improved screen readability.'' The nine-ounce unit stores up to 250 waypoints and 20 routes. Price: $299.99. Garmin International, 1200 E. 151st St., Olathe, KS 66062. (913) 397-8200.
FAA is expected to adopt a rule that will open the ranks of FAR Part 121 and Part 135 simulator instructors to experienced pilots who no longer are able to maintain medical qualification. The proposed rule would permit airmen who do not hold a current medical certificate to check or instruct in simulators and flight-training devices. Currently, all flight instructors and check airmen conducting Part 121 and Part 135 training must hold a medical certificate.
April is a time for new beginnings, and FAA Administrator David R. Hinson and his management team at 800 Independence Avenue have a unique opportunity this spring to usher in a new era of streamlined procurement practices and invigorated personnel management systems at their often embattled agency.
Up to 33 helicopter accidents a year could have been avoided if the aircraft involved had been equipped with the McDonnell Douglas NOTAR anti-torque system, according to a study by Advanced Aviation Concepts (AAC) of Melbourne, Florida. The McDonnell Douglas-commissioned study also concluded that the severity of accidents and associated insurance claims would have been significantly reduced for NOTAR-equipped helicopters. To date, no accidents involving NOTAR helicopters have occurred.
AlliedSignal plans to invest $15 million in an effort to cut the unscheduled removal rate of LT101-series helicopter engines from 1.5 times per 1,000 hours to 0.4 times per 1,000 hours. AlliedSignal inherited the LT101 with the purchase of Textron Lycoming's turbine-engine business in 1995. The company has designed a ``solid rivet'' to counter shifting of power turbine blades. Another fix is a new gas-producer nozzle with improved cooling that should counter heat-induced distortion of the old nozzle.
Startup California regional Sierra Expressway has shut down after just under six months in operation. The Oakland-based carrier had played the public relations card perhaps more than any other carrier of its size. It began service from Oakland with a publicity blitz, and kept it up through most of its existence.
Mesa Air Group continues to ponder the return of its two Fokker 70s in light of less-than-anticipated results with the aircraft and the manufacturer's precarious financial situation. The company has been operating the two 78-passenger jets since June and July 1995 as America West Express on routes from Phoenix to Des Moines, Iowa, and Phoenix to Spokane, Washington. In addition, it operated a late-night flight from Des Moines to Las Vegas on Thursdays through Sundays, but that service was terminated in February.
FAA and Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities have reached agreement on rules for the certification of small airplanes. The rules, bringing FAR Part 23 and JAR Part 23 into harmonization, provide certification standards for all airplanes weighing less than 12,500 pounds and for which a type certificate is applied after March 11. The new rules include requirements for stronger windshields, wing flap-setting warnings on takeoff, and additional cabin fireproofing materials.
United States Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) and Bell Helicopter have introduced an insurance program that could potentially stabilize premiums, and could even lead to lowering them over the long term for operators of Bell helicopters. To qualify for the program, operators must fly Bell helicopters, pilots must be salaried, and training must be Bell-approved. All helicopter seats must have shoulder harnesses. All maintenance must be done by Bell-trained technicians. And, all critical parts must be purchased from Bell or Bell-authorized sources.
A stern warning against unauthorized flight operations in Cuban territorial airspace was issued by the FAA in the wake of the shooting down of two civilian Cessna 337s by Cuban fighter aircraft. The FAA said unauthorized operations in Cuban airspace have occurred, despite the fact that existing regulations prohibit such activity. The agency warned that violators will be subject to ``immediate revocation of pilot certificate, maximum civil penalties [and] seizure of aircraft.''
As a follow-up to its display of the XV-15 tilt-rotor aircraft in corporate livery at the Paris Air Show in June 1995, Bell Helicopter conducted demonstration flights of the hybrid aircraft daily from the rooftop heliport at the HAI convention in Dallas in February. Bell is shooting for a 275-knot, nine-passenger aircraft that would sell for less than $9 million. The aircraft would be pressurized, have full IFR approval, and be capable of 800-nm range. Bell anticipates making a production decision this year.
What do CitationJet operators, the Vatican's College of Cardinals and India's Gurkha soldiers all have in common? It's certainly not language, uniforms or marital status. It's remarkably fierce loyalty.
Airborne weather radar is a pilot's first line of defense against clearly hazardous, potentially fatal encounters with violent weather. Similar to a torero facing a raging bull in a small arena, a pilot must skillfully maneuver around furious storms to avoid being upended in flight, gored by hail or swatted into the ground.
The only type of helicopter operation to experience no accidents in 1994 or 1995 was corporate/executive, said the Helicopter Association International. HAI reports 162 helicopter accidents in 1995 compared to 207 in 1994. Fatal accidents dropped from 48 in 1994 to 26 in 1995, and the number of fatalities fell to 46 in 1995 from 84 the previous year.
Users of the new Magellan CNS-12 integrated communication, navigation and surveillance avionics will have access to the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) as a result of a recent agreement between ARINC Incorporated and AlliedSignal. Previously, to use ACARS, an operator had to install an airborne flight information system (AFIS) unit that incorporated a VHF transceiver and an FMS. The CNS-12 is priced at $10,000. Magellan, based in San Dimas, California, expects to receive a TSO for its GPS navigation feature by December.
For the most part, FAA aircraft certification requirements leave plenty of margin for variations in pilot technique. However, such is not the case for engine-out takeoffs in four-engine aircraft. A flightcrew attempting such a takeoff must have a full understanding of minimum control speeds both on the ground (Vmcg) and in the air (Vmca).
California's San Jose City Council recently voted to ``unequivocally support'' the continued operation of Reid-Hillview Airport, a decision that overturns a six-year opposing stance (B/CA, August 1990, page 26). After the vote, the Council and San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer called on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors ``to cease all efforts to close Reid-Hillview.'' The changed attitude is a victory for the AOPA and other groups that have fought to keep the airport open. Reid-Hillview is the site for the AOPA's 1996 convention.
