At this juncture, the government has just reopened, having been shut down for nearly a week and affecting 800,000 workers who labor for Uncle Sam. The irony of the situation is that all these folks will be paid for their enforced vacation, so they might just as well have stayed on the job. Part of the blame can be affixed on House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Returning aboard Air Force One from the funeral services for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he was relegated to the coach section and enjoined not to use the forward lav.
GAMA (Washington, DC)-The Association's Board of Directors elected Horst A. Bergmann, president and CEO of Jeppesen, as chairman of the board for this year. Fred A. Breidenbach, president and COO of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, is the new vice chairman.
``More than 75 million served. No, not hamburgers-people.'' That is the way the AMR Eagle press release announced the carrier's 75 millionth passenger in 11 years of operation. The actual number was 75.25 million, which roughly equals one-third of the U.S. population.
United Express carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines has secured a $20-million line of credit with Shawmut Capital Corporation of Boston. The Washington-Dulles-based carrier will use the funds to finance its outstanding receivables, the company said. The three-year arrangement replaces the airline's existing credit line. It will reduce ACA's annual interest expense and other related costs while improving the terms of the carrier's receivable financing, it added.
A Stow, Massachusetts-based company-Cockpit Management Resources (CMR)-takes crew resource management (CRM) a step beyond the one-seminar approach. The company, established in 1979, contracts with corporations to give individualized, year-long training-correspondence-course style-to pilots. ``We don't believe you can change behavior in a short workshop,'' said Bob Mudge, who is a co-president and founder of CMR, along with his son, Gordon.
FAA ceased funding on December 31, 1995 for the continued operation of the control towers at seven low-activity airports, citing the results of an ``exhaustive'' cost versus benefit study. Airports affected are: Wheeling-Ohio County (HLG), Shreveport Downtown (DTN), Monroe County (BMG), Delaware County (MIE), Lake Tahoe (TVL), Greenbriar Valley (LWB) and Cape Girardeau (CGI). The agency said it will work with the airport authorities if they decide to operate control towers themselves. About 35 U.S. cities now operate non-federal towers.
At press time, the FAA gave no indication of when it would re-impose a rule requiring that transponders installed in transport-category aircraft after a certain date be capable of replying to Mode S interrogations. Nearly four years ago, the FAA rescinded such a requirement saying that Mode S ground sensors are not expected to be fully operational until late 1995 and, therefore, it ``will not require Mode S transponders before that time'' (B/CA, July 1992, page 17).
FAA is reviewing an NTSB recommendation to permit turbine-powered, single-engine aircraft to provide revenue passenger service under IFR in Alaska. The recommendation is one of 23 issued as part of an NTSB study of aviation safety in Alaska. Proponents of allowing commercial-passenger operations under IFR in single-engine turbine aircraft are hoping the NTSB's position may spur the FAA to propose a rule allowing such operations throughout the United States. Canada eased single-engine IFR operations early in 1993 (B/CA, July 1995, page 11).
A near-production version of the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter MD 600N, scheduled to enter service in the third quarter, now is in flight test. The No. 2 flight-test aircraft is powered by a single derated 790-shp Allison 250-C47 equipped with a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) and a six-blade main rotor system. McDonnell Douglas is promising direct operating costs of about $234 per hour. The MD 600N features a NOTAR anti-torque system and a maximum cruise speed of 137 knots. Approximate price is in the ``one-million-dollar range.''
Saab 5123L, confirm that you are a turboprop,'' inquired a Washington Center controller on the day we flew the Saab 2000. His inflection was unmistakable: ``Aren't you actually a jet?'' We imagined that he thumped his aging computer console a couple of times, trying to clear its digital cobwebs, as he watched us climb out of Dulles at 240 KIAS. At 37,000 pounds, the Saab 2000 admittedly was well below its 50,260 pounds MTOW, with only a few passengers on board. The relatively light weight, however, doesn't discount the Saab 2000's performance accomplishments.
Universal Weather&Aviation (Houston)-Fred Towers joined the company as manager of business development. His responsibilities include arranging and marketing domestic and international charter services.
On December 14, 1995, FAR Part 135 commuter airlines operating turbine aircraft with 10 to 30 passenger seats got their first look at the new rule-NPRM 95-5-that requires them to comply with the same regulations that cover Part 121 carriers. Formerly, Part 121 extended only to scheduled flights of aircraft with 31 or more passenger seats. The Regional Airline Association expected the final rule to contain most of the elements of the original proposal, and said it did not object to most of the proposal's contents.
FAA has created an office to coordinate the agency's new initiatives against unapproved parts (B/CA, December 1995, page 17). To help aircraft owners and parts suppliers understand the FAA's intentions with the new office, the National Air Transportation Association is supplying interested parties with copies of the FAA's Unapproved Parts Program Plan that served as the blueprint of the new office. To obtain a copy, contact NATA at (703) 845-9000.
Aviation Research Group/U.S. (Cincinnati, OH)-Joseph J. Lopinto, Jr. was named director of consulting services for this business aviation information and market research firm.
The launch of the Gulfstream V into flight test in November 1995 also marked the initial flight of the its BMW/RR BR710 powerplants. The flight-test program will involve three additional aircraft. Flight-test aircraft No. 2 and No. 3, originally set to fly in mid-December 1995 and January 1996, respectively, now are scheduled to take to the air later this quarter. Test aircraft No. 4 remains on schedule for its flight debut in the second quarter (B/CA, June 1995, page 26).
Next generation radar (NEXRAD) weather graphics is the newest feature of GTE's DUATS Golden Eagle weather and flight-planning services. NEXRAD charts, which are updated every 15 minutes, cost $2 each, including 90 seconds of connect time. Additional connect time is 20 cents per minute. There is no charge for basic DUATS. For more information, contact GTE in Chantilly, Virginia.
For its engine trend-monitoring customers, Turbine Trend Analysis has introduced a Data Collector Unit to reduce chances of human error in recording inflight information. The hand-held DCU features an alphanumeric keypad, backlit display, re-chargeable battery with 20-hour life and an auto-off function. Weighing 13 ounces, the DCU requires no operator programming. An on-screen checklist guides the crew through the data-collection and transmittal process. Data are sent to TTA via the DCU's companion modem.
Latvia's new flag carrier, Riga-based Air Baltic, has entered into a lease agreement for one used Saab 340A. In the interim prior to delivery, the carrier is wet-leasing a 340 from Swedish regional Skyways, which also is providing technical support for the new carrier. Air Baltic replaces Latvia, Latvian Airlines and Baltic International as the designated Latvian carrier. Major shareholders include the Latvian state, Baltic International USA, SAS, the Scandinavian financial institution Swedfund, and the Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe.
Macau International Airport (VMMC), a possible Hong Kong alternate, is now open. Corporate arrivals are handled at temporary gates in the main terminal. Visas are not required for U.S. passengers and crew. High-speed ferry service (a five-minute drive from the airport) can carry passengers on a one-hour trip to Hong Kong. Or, helicopter flights can ferry passengers to Hong Kong in about 20 minutes. Train service to Hong Kong also is available.
We've all heard that accidents usually befall us not because of a single catastrophic event, but rather as the culmination of the unidirectional alignment of a long series of relatively benign events. There is no better example of this phenomenon than the loss of USAir Flight 1016 in a wind-shear encounter on July 2, 1994 at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina.
New top managers are in place at Textron subsidiaries Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft. Lloyd Shoppa has been appointed president of Bell, succeeding Webb Joiner. Joiner, who became president in 1991, is now chairman. At Cessna, David G. Assard, who had been executive vice president, was named to the newly created post of president. Gary W. Hay was promoted to vice chairman from executive vice president, and Charles B. Johnson was moved up from senior vice president to executive vice president. Russell Meyer remains Cessna chairman and CEO.
This twofer from Jeppesen includes a kneeboard to keep vital information readily accessible and a metal clipboard that contains key information for VFR and IFR flight needs. The kneeboard holds charts, computers, plotters, flashlight, pen, pilot notes and more. A Velcro closure straps it in place. An additional strap is included to enable the pilot to use the clipboard separately from the kneeboard. Price: $34.95. Jeppesen Sanderson, 55 Inverness Dr. E, Englewood, CO 80112. (303) 784-4274.
It wasn't so long ago that mention of Jet Support Services, Incorporated would most likely have met with a resounding, ``Who?'' Not so these days. Since its launch in 1989, JSSI of Chicago has steadily added customers and says its portfolio of powerplants in the Engine Maintenance Systems (EMS) program-the only independent engine-maintenance program in the corporate marketplace-will top 500 in the first quarter of this year.
On October 9, 1969, United Airlines Flight 74 operated as a DC-8 from Las Vegas to New York. Fred Edwards was the captain, Tom Greene was second officer (Flight Engineer) and I was in the copilot seat. It was a typical ``Vegas'' trip, being nearly full with a crowd of New Yorkers on their way home from the tables. In the front lounge, four passengers were playing poker. These were four rough-looking guys. Tough, mean, angry. Definitely not the types you would expect to see at an arts festival or the garden club.
Later this month, Flight Center at Boeing Field will complete all major exterior renovations, including a raised door on the main hangar. By early spring, the FBO is scheduled to complete interior improvements, including a remodeled terminal, new flight-planning area, new crew lounge (with an indoor putting green) and a new catering kitchen. A new executive conference room was completed last summer. (206) 768-0800.
