The market for new turbine aircraft continued its rebound in December 1995 as the worldwide sales total topped 1994's by 2.4 percent on a preliminary basis. Retail deliveries during the first 11 months (revised) showed a climb of more than 16 percent. First reports of U.S. year-end sales of new jets and turboprops were up 9.8 percent-updated delivery figures through November 1995 rose nearly 25 percent, according to Wichita-based AvData. On the international front, the drop in new turbine
A new downtown Tokyo helicopter service from the rooftop of the Japan Aviation Services building can whisk passengers to and from Narita, Sendai and Nagoya. Cost is approximately $1,768 per hour for single-engine helicopters and $2,600 for twins (Air Routing). Meanwhile, the Japan Business Aircraft Association reports that approval for landing slots has been granted for Haneda beginning in late 1996.
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association is circulating among its members a draft copy of a code of ethics for aviation maintenance technicians.
BFGoodrich acquired several deicing product lines from England's Lucas Aerospace. The products, most of which are standard equipment on business and regional aircraft, include regulator/reliever valves, check valves, water separators, timers, and air injector and distributor valves. A BFGoodrich spokesperson in Akron, Ohio told B/CA ``We expect to provide full service and customer support for the products that we acquired from Lucas.''
At the request of ICAO, the U.S. DOT and others, the number of countries that still permit insecticide spraying on aircraft while passengers or crew are aboard has decreased from 25 roughly a year ago to six today (B/CA, March 1995, page 26). Barbados was the latest country to eliminate the requirement. Countries still requiring routine spraying of occupied aircraft are: Argentina, Grenada, India, Kiribati, Madagascar and Trinidad/Tobago.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is offering an Aircraft Selection, Outfitting and Retrofitting seminar on March 8 and 9 at SimuFlite Training International in Dallas. The course will cover proven procedures for getting the right aircraft and outfitting it the right way-and for the right price. The seminar fee is $600 for the first attendee and $499 for each additional attendee from the same company. For further information or to register, contact Embry-Riddle's Division of Continuing Education at (904) 226-6193.
It happened on February 9, 1989. The DC-9 was scheduled to fly from Ogden, Utah to San Antonio with a load of cargo. It was a cold, clear night in the mountain west. The captain and first officer were experienced and had every reason to expect a routine flight.
Beleaguered Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker appeared to be battling for its future as the Dutch Government and Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) deadlocked on how to provide the firm with a much needed cash infusion. As B/CA went to press, Fokker's main shareholders-DASA with a 51% stake, and the Dutch government-were at odds over how to split up the burden of injecting some $1.4 billion into the firm.
FAA has established an Aviation Weather Division at its Washington, D.C. headquarters to strengthen its ability to prevent accidents and reduce delays attributable to weather. (The agency says weather accounts for 73 percent of all delays.) According to the FAA, the new division consolidates the weather experts and programs from FAA offices of Regulation and Certification, and Air Traffic Services into one point of contact for all aviation weather policy and requirements.
Omega Air in Shannon, Ireland acquired the Boeing 707 Super Q Hush Kit Program from San Antonio-based Comtran. Installation of the kit enables B707-100 and -300 and B720B aircraft to meet FAR Part 36, Stage 3 noise levels. Omega Air will handle product support and spare parts for the approximately 180 aircraft equipped with the hush kit, and will market and perform new installations from the company's Shannon facility.
Anticipating an increase of at least 25 percent in commercial and general-aviation aircraft in the Atlanta area during the 1996 Summer Olympics, the FAA has released its ATC and security plans for the airspace and airports in the region, effective July 15-August 9.
Robert L. Butcher was promoted to sales director, with responsibility for sales in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. L.M.
Jary Engels, chief pilot for Honeywell Phoenix flight operations, has devised an effective test to evaluate pilot performance using a head-up display (HUD). He puts you in a strange aircraft equipped with a prototype Honeywell/GEC Marconi HUD 2020 with which you've never flown and says, ``Your first hand-flown approach using the HUD will be a simulated Category II ILS to Williams-Gateway Airport Runway 30 Center.''
A recent NOTAM regarding eastbound altitude restrictions canceled some of those restrictions. However, they will still apply until clear of certain heavy-traffic routes that cross G583 (Air Routing).
Contrary to its announcement at the 1995 Helicopter Association International annual meeting, Bell Helicopter plans to develop a new light twin-engine helicopter rather than produce a twin version of the Model 407 (B/CA, March 1995, page 20). The new light twin will feature ``substantial'' improvements over what the 407T would have offered, said Bell, but it won't be available until about a year later than when the 407T was slated to emerge. More details about the new light twin were expected to be announced at the Asian Aerospace show in Singapore early this month.
Transport Canada recently certificated Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet for Category IIIa approaches. FAA and European Joint Airworthiness Authority approvals were pending at press time. Under the approval, RJs equipped with a Flight Dynamics HGS 2100 Head-Up Guidance System and an appropriately trained crew can be hand-flown to the Category IIIa limit of a 700-foot runway visual range. Bombardier's de Havilland Dash 8 received Category IIIa certification in late 1994.
Two appointments were announced by the company's Canadair Business Aircraft Division. They are: C. Richard Beine, sales director, and Matthew F. Hartnett, vice president of used aircraft sales.
The crash of two Cessna Citation business jets-in Florida and Wisconsin-in December claimed four pilots and marked the only fatal accidents in 1995 involving turbine airplanes operating under FAR Part 91, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates. Both accidents occurred on approaches following positioning flights, and fog was present in both places. Worldwide, the Boca Raton, Florida firm said 27 business jet accidents occurred in 1995, including 10 fatal accidents with 53 lives lost.
Phoenix-based Garrett Aviation Services is marketing an STCed flight-manual change that enables Lockheed JetStar IIs and Model 731 JetStars to meet FAR Part 36, Stage 3 noise levels at slightly reduced takeoff weights and with a thrust cutback on takeoff. To meet Stage 3 levels, the noise-limited takeoff weights are 44,500 pounds for the JetStar II and 44,250 pounds for the 731 JetStar. Maximum landing weight is 36,000 pounds for both. The STC, available for $24,500 per aircraft, includes documentation certifying that the aircraft meet Stage 3.
After a year of serving customers from trailers, Martin Aviation opened this new terminal in January at California's John Wayne/Orange County Airport. The two-story structure houses hangars in addition to two conference rooms, a baggage-storage area, kitchenette, refreshment area and pilot supply store. Crew amenities include a lounge, flight-planning room, showers, quiet rooms and private offices.
Houston-based international handling agent Air Routing has developed an individualized international operations and procedures course based on a customer's aircraft, avionics, destinations and other special requirements. Lloyd Babcock, recently retired manager of flight projects for United Parcel Service, teaches the course on-site at customers' facilities. The cost and length of the course vary, depending on the requested topics to be covered. For more details, contact Tim Maystrik at Air Routing (713) 977-1020.
Available from Emergency Beacon Corporation is the new Model EBC-502H emergency locator transmitter for helicopters. Like the company's other ELTs, it's designed to be installed in the cockpit or cabin of an aircraft, to survive a crash and to sound an audible alert. Able to withstand up to 1,000 g's of shock, the transmitter weighs 2.75 pounds and measures 2.5 inches by 8.5 inches by 2.0 inches. A special activation system and audible alert reduces false alarms.
In a continuation of its relationship with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, FlightSafety International will be the authorized training company for pilots of the new EMB-145 regional jet. FlightSafety Simulation in Tulsa will build an FAA Level D simulator and other training equipment for a FlightSafety Embraer Learning Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. FlightSafety currently trains pilots for the EMB-120 regional airliner. The EMB-145 is slated to enter service early in 1997.
