The Las Vegas Hilton recently installed a TCAS that is supposed to shut off the hotel's laser show when it detects an aircraft in a laser beam's path. But, the system is not completely reliable below 1,200 feet.
Alpha Flying took delivery of two of the five Pilatus PC-12s it purchased for its fractional-ownership program called PlaneSense. To date, the Norwood, Massachusetts company has sold three one-quarter shares in one aircraft to two owners. Quarter shares in the new, single-engine turboprop cost $635,000. Monthly management fees are $4,700 per quarter share, and owners are allotted 175 occupied flight hours per quarter share per year at $510 per hour. Alpha is guaranteeing a six-hour response time.
Arthur Stewart and his company, Gary Aerospace Corporation of Hindo, Texas, and Jose L. Mendiola and his company, JLM Aviation International of Naperville, Illinois, were convicted of manufacturing and marketing counterfeit slat track roller-bolt assemblies for Boeing 727 wings. The bogus parts were marketed to domestic purchasers as well as to Mexicana Airlines. The U.S. Department of Justice, which prosecuted the case, said that sentencing is scheduled for March 12.
Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, New York recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its continuous operation of a corporate aircraft. The purchase in 1945 of the company's first airplane-a military surplus C-47 version of the DC-3-had been encouraged by Kodak vice president Edward Peck as a ``means of being more responsive in the post-World War II boom economy,'' said Kodak officials. Kodak employees were wasting far too much time waiting for trains and commercial flights at a time when civil aviation was in its infancy.
Three new Raytheon turboprops were delivered in December-two King Air C90B's and one King Air B200. Thirteen sales were listed in December 1994. There were 22 resales in December, compared to 71 listed in December of last year. Raytheon listed sales of six used Beech models and there were six Piper resales. Gulfstream and Cessna each posted three resales. Preliminary figures also included two Mitsubishi and one Swearingen model.
FlightSafety International has purchased Dalfort Flight Training's Boeing aircraft simulator training centers. The facility at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is equipped with two B727-200 simulators and one B737-200 simulator, while the center at Standiford Field in Louisville, Kentucky contains a B747-200 simulator. All four training devices are FAA Level C approved. Meanwhile, FSI is offering Maintenance Resource Management training at eight different locations starting February 20-21 in San Francisco and ending June 18-20 in White Plains.
Owners of the aircraft broker Aero Toy Store have purchased the former ATC Jet Center at Florida's Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and changed its name to Executive Jet Center. At press time, the FBO was undergoing a complete renovation. In addition to traditional line services, the operation offers on-site rental cars and crew loaner cars, free membership to a nearby gym, shower and snooze rooms, private phone and modem communication facilities, WSI flight planning, separate crew and passenger lounges and large-screen TV with satellite programming.
An increase of at least 25 percent in aircraft operations is expected in the Atlanta area during the 1996 Summer Olympics. To prepare for the onslaught, the FAA has released its ATC and security plans for the airspace and airports in the region, effective July 15-august 9. During the Games, slot reservations will be required for landings and takeoffs at 11 airports, and temporary towers will be installed at six usually uncontrolled airports in and around Atlanta. (See this issue's Observer for more details.)
''Education Taking Flight'' is the theme of the 1996 International Women in Aviation Conference, March 7-9 in Minneapolis. Invited general-session speakers are retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Chuck Yeager, chairperson of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program; Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), ranking Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee; FAA Administrator David Hinson; B. Steadman, president of the International Women's Air and Space Museum; and Wally Funk, Mercury 13 astronaut candidate.
The Air Line Pilots Association asked for it . . . and got it. The RAA, which, ``has to work in this town,'' applauded on cue. DOT Secretary Federico Pena issued the new ``Commuter Safety Rule,'' one year to the day after his famous ``smoking-wreckage'' speech of December 14, 1994 at Raleigh/Durham that followed the crash of an American Eagle Jetstream 31 claiming the lives of 15 persons. ``One level of safety'' was the long-standing ALPA message, and it had been embraced by President Clinton appointee Pena.
New from IntelliVox is IntelliTimer, a digital-audio timer that counts out loud-in a human voice-either up or down. The device can time procedure turns, approaches and holds. In a countdown, the timer beeps at 10-second intervals and an-nounces the minutes yet to go. When fewer than 30 seconds re-main, it announces how much time is left every 10 seconds. The timer operates on a nine-volt battery and plugs in between the pilot's headset and the phone jack. A ``disable'' switch is included. Price: $199. IntelliVox, P.O. Box 9961, Trenton, NJ 08650. (908) 792-1913.
Aero International (Regional) officially opened for business January 1 as the Airbus Industrie for the European regional aircraft manufacturers. AI(R) was announced at 1995's Paris Air Show following years of positioning and negotiations over who would build what and where.
With a target of January 1, 1998, Eurocontrol is coordinating the implementation of 8.33 kHz spacing in airspace above FL 200 in the core area over Europe. The effects of the gradual saturation of the VHF band in Europe have been problematic, and the European Business Aviation Association says reducing channel spacing from the current 25 kHz to 8.33 kHz would increase the number of channels available from 760 to 2,280. But the EBAA believes the deadline allows insufficient time for manufacturing the necessary avionics and for equipping aircraft.
NBAA International Operators Conference was rescheduled for February 26-29 in Orlando. Presenters will discuss topics such as Eurocontrol, long-haul operations and reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM). Updates will be given regarding advancements in security, flight planning, cabotage, and airport and airspace access in various regions of the world. To register, phone (202) 783-9284. The registration fee is $500 for NBAA members and $575 for non-members.
Current potassium-based deicing/anti-icing fluids that meet specification AMS 1426B and AMS 1432 are being phased out. In their place, the FAA has approved AMS 1435, a generic fluid. To allow for ample production of the newer fluids, the FAA has set June 1 as the cutoff for use of deicing fluids other than those meeting AMS 1435. Until then, any one of the previously mentioned types can be used.
February 12 is the deadline for the FAA to receive comments on the proposed revision of FAR Parts 1, 61, 141 and 143 airman and training certification rules (B/CA, November 1995, page 32). Separately, on January 31, the FAA adopted new security regulations requiring 10-year employment history background checks of individuals applying for positions that will authorize them to have unescorted access to secure areas at airports. Also, an applicant's job history will have to be reviewed for ``unexplained gaps'' in employment (B/CA, November 1995, page 16).
NBAA is currently accepting nominations for the 1996 Jack Doswell Award and the Award for Meritorious Service. The Doswell award honors lifelong achievement on behalf of business aviation. Past recipients include Preston Parish, Janice Barden, Priscilla Blum, Jay Weinberg, David Woodrow and Don Baldwin. The Award for Meritorious Service is presented for an outstanding contribution to the use of aircraft as a business tool. Previous recipients include Russ Meyer, Allen Paulson, Dee Howard, Jim Taylor and Al Ueltschi. Nominations for both awards are due March 8.
Shipments of U.S.-built general aviation airplanes in 1995 improved considerably over 1994, according to preliminary figures from the Aerospace Industries Association. The 1,020 airplanes shipped last year represented a 9.9 percent increase over the 928 airplanes delivered in 1994. Helicopter shipments, however, did not show a similar increase. The AIA reports 314 civil helicopters shipped in 1995, a less than two percent increase over the 308 rotorcraft delivered in 1994.
Nearly 5,000 veteran air traffic controllers involved in the illegal walkout of 1981 continue to seek reinstatement. But only about 40 have been re-hired to date since President Clinton lifted the Ronald Reagan-imposed ban on re-hiring former members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO). The current union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), long has insisted that many key ATC facilities remain understaffed. The FAA maintains it fulfills staffing requirements.
Aircraft manufacturer Saab Aircraft of Sweden received FAA certification of an extended wing-tip modification for the Model 340B regional turboprop. The mod lengthens each wing by 2.1 feet. Saab claims the extension, also approved by Transport Canada, provides improved airfield performance as well as additional range capability. Transport Canada also certificated a gravel protection kit for the 340B. The kit contains protective measures for the landing gear, fuselage, propellers, ram air inlets, underside antennas and lower beacon light.
FAA officials say they are keeping January 1, 1997 as the date for implementing Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) for flights over the North Atlantic. The decision was made despite the fact that many corporate aircraft operators regularly transiting the North Atlantic may not be able to obtain, install or get FAA approval of avionics to meet the RVSM standards. The NBAA and others want RVSM implementation delayed for at least a year (B/CA, December 1995, page 86).
When American Airlines Flight 965, a Boeing 757, crashed into mountains on approach to Cali, Colombia on December 20, 1995, the aviation industry was at once saddened and astonished.
FAA said the 1996 annual random drug-testing rate will remain at 25 percent of covered employees, even though 1995 is the fifth straight year that the random drug-testing-positive rate continued to be below 1.0 percent. Since alcohol testing only started in January 1995, the FAA says there are ``insufficient data'' to modify the current testing rate of 25 percent. The industry repeatedly has called on the FAA to lower the drug-testing rate to 10 percent. The agency lowered the rate from 50 percent to 25 percent in January 1995 (B/CA, December 1994, page 17).
