Seattle/Tacoma-Spokane jumped to the top spot among regional-airline passenger markets in the United States during 1994, eclipsing Seattle/ Tacoma-Portland, the previous year's leader. Could it be? ``The introduction of Southwest service in the market produced stronger traffic for all regional airlines, which saw their activity increase by 33.6 percent year-over-year,'' said airline analyst Doug Abbey of Washington, D.C.-based AvStat Associates, developer of the market statistics.
GPS-receiver-manufacturer Magellan Systems and satellite-communications-equipment- maker Racal Avionics jointly will develop and produce an integrated, satellite-based navigation and communications system. The hybrid unit, to be marketed by Racal, will, among other things, provide access to ARINC's GlobaLink worldwide two-way datalink service. Linking VHF digital messaging with satcom will provide ``uninterrupted'' communications, the companies claim. Racal is based in London, England and Magellan is headquartered in San Dimas, California.
Raytheon Aircraft Services' new fuel-purchase discount program, called MaxPower, does not assess a ramp fee charge to customers who do not purchase fuel, as is the case with some other FBO networks, such as Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support (B/CA, November, page 30). MaxPower, which is available at all 18 Raytheon (formerly United Beechcraft) FBOs, provides discounts of up to 40 cents per gallon to avgas customers and up to 55 cents per gallon for jet-fuel customers, based on the quantity of fuel they purchase annually.
KC Aviation has notified approximately 200 operators about potential problems with wood veneers used in their aircraft cabins. KC has begun re-testing and will pay for any required reworking. The company said some veneers might not be fire blocked, and test results for others were not properly recorded. Aircraft that were completed or refurbished in Dallas between April 1987 and May 1995, and in Appleton, Wisconsin between early 1981 and September 1995, are potentially affected. KC discovered the problem in July, and reported it to the FAA.
Joint Aviation Regulations (JAR) Part 145 repair-station privileges have been granted to Manchester, New Hampshire-based Stead Aviation, a provider of STCed avionics and other maintenance and retrofit services. Alliance Engines, a newly FAA-certificated engine maintenance facility in Maryville, Tennessee, also received JAR Part 145 acceptance. JAR Part 145 approval allows companies to perform repairs, inspections and modifications to European-registered aircraft.
AMR Chairman Robert Crandall is a master of the press conference-especially the teleconference press conference in which reporters can call an 800 number and ask the chairman questions. Bryan Bedford, the new young-tiger president of Northwest Airlink Mesaba, and formerly president of Business Express and financial chief at Phoenix Airline Services (d.b.a. Express Airlines I and II), thinks along the same lines. It was the first such teleconference this reporter can recall among regional airline bosses. And, it was very effective.
The agency announced these appointments to the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee: Sarah H. MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, as ARAC chairperson; and Steven J. Brown, senior vice president of government and technical affairs for the AOPA, as vice chairperson.
This FBO announced two senior promotions: Francois Chaurette to vice president of operations and Jerry Sosontovich to director of sales and marketing for Innotech/Execaire Aviation Group.
SimCom International said it will open a training center in Scottsdale, Arizona on or about December 11. The new facility will be the first remote operation for the five-year-old, Orlando-based company. The Scottsdale center first will provide initial and recurrent proficiency training for pilots of the Cessna 300/400 series and the King Air 90/100/200 series in two SimCom-built flight-training devices featuring widescreen, visual-motion technology.
Teledyne Controls in Los Angeles is developing a system to provide digital datalink messaging between business and commuter aircraft and ground networks. The new Telelink unit can be used for digital communications with ATC, flight planning and weather services, GPS-based position reporting and custom messaging, and can be integrated with FMSes. Teledyne says Telelink will provide messages through VHF, ARINC Communications Addressing and Reporting System, satellites and Mode S.
Under an accord announced in February of this year, the United States and Canada agreed in principle to ease requirements for passing between the two countries. For customs-weary pilots, the announcement seemed too good to be true-and for the foreseeable future, it is. While Canada acted quickly and adopted a trial program called CANPASS in July, the U.S. effort has been stymied, primarily because of opposition from the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents customs inspectors.
Upstart TriStar Airlines is rapidly expanding its operations base to increase the utilization of its three leased BAe 146s and perhaps get a jump-start over a potential competitor. The Las Vegas-based carrier was established earlier this year on the premise of hauling Asian tourists from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Executive Aircraft Corporation has started renovating its FBO at Mid-Continent Airport. Initial work includes a redesign of its line service area, customer lounge and eating area. Future plans call for an additional hangar. Also, the company recently expanded its parts department for Challengers, JetStars and Sabreliners. (316) 946-4990.
Corporate Aviation Management, written by former corporate pilot Raoul Castro, is the latest aviation title published by Southern Illinois University. The 349-page hardcover book discusses the history and function of business aviation, aircraft selection and cost/benefit analysis, key management factors and future trends. Also included is an index, bibliography and many illustrations. To order the book, priced at $37.95, phone (800) 346-2680 or fax (800) 346-2681.
The ICAO Council has conferred its highest honor in civil aviation-the Edward Warner Award-to Captain Elrey B. Jeppesen, founder of the Jeppesen Company and publisher of the Jeppesen airway manuals. He was honored for his ``eminent contribution to the development of international civil aviation,'' particularly air navigation.
The Saab 2000 corporate shuttle displayed its long legs and speed during a nonstop flight from the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas in September to Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport. Specifically, N5123L-the first of three Saab 2000s that will be operated by General Motors Worldwide Travel Service-covered the 1,516-nm great-circle distance in 4+03 hours, burning 7,750 pounds of fuel in the process.
Primus 2000 avionics are now found in a number of business and regional aircraft, but the Citation X's package is one of the best. The panel has five, eight-inch-by-seven-inch displays, including left- and right-side primary flight displays (PFDs) and multifunction displays (MFDs), plus a full EICAS display in the center-a first for a Cessna aircraft.
Telectro-Mek's newest addition to its line of aviation fuel testers is the Accumetric II-a portable, digital electronic unit. The company claims a quick setup time and test results for both particulate and free water within 10 minutes. The 16-inch by 12-inch by six-inch unit is self- contained and weighs 10 pounds. Operator training takes an hour or less, says Telectro-Mek. Price: $3,500, including compact fiberglass case, battery, AC charger/ adapter, cigarette lighter adapter, five monitor capsules, 100 sampling pads, 50 free-water pads and other accessories.
The NoiseBuster headphone from Noise Cancellation Technologies electronically reduces aircraft-engine noise for air travelers. To soften the drone, a battery-powered controller ``senses'' the noise and produces an equal but opposite sound wave, or ``anti-noise,'' to selectively reduce only low-frequency noise. Desired sounds, such as music or speech, are audible. The unit can be used in conjunction with portable audio and inflight entertainment systems. Music and movie volume need not be cranked up, but can be enjoyed ``at a more reasonable volume level.'' Price: $99.
A ban on corporate aircraft activities during the daytime at Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH) was lifted, but this does not guarantee a landing slot. Plans for using VHHH should be made early. Also in effect: Only FAR Part 36, Stage 3 aircraft are allowed to operate at VHHH (Baseops International).
