The DOT: Secretary needed to oversee 150,000 employees-no experience necessary. This huge conglomerate oversees the complex affairs and problems of land, sea and air. Specifically, the awesome responsibilities of the secretary include the FAA, Federal Transit (including highways), the Maritime Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and, while you're resting, throw in National Highway Traffic Safety and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Scotland-Newly renovated facilities at Wick Airport (EGPC) are suitable for corporate aircraft, and are offering full services without a service charge when fuel is purchased. The FBO's name is Far North.
For years, used turbine aircraft sales have helped buoy retail figures, but as August's sales updates show, the used market is struggling and new-plane sales are the growth area. According to figures compiled by Aviation Data Service of Wichita, January through August deliveries of new turbines are up 2.8 percent from last year's figures, lifted into the positive column on a nearly 16-percent surge in domestic retail sales and despite the 12.4-percent lag in resales during the same period.
Ask corporate pilots about their experiences with computer-based training, and their responses almost always are negative. ``Been there; done that; didn't like it,'' is a pretty fair summation of the prevailing sentiment toward CBT. Those attitudes may not be entirely fair in light of advancing computer technology, however. And many pilots argue that more creative use of CBT can increase proficiency and standardization, and save money.
Raytheon Aircraft reported the only August new-turboprop sale to an overseas customer-a King Air C90B. There were two new jetprop sales recorded in August 1994. The month's total included three resales, compared to 23 during August last year. Late reports added three resales to July's total, bringing the number to four. There still were no new-sale reports for the month. International customers have purchased a total of 14 new and 101 used propjets so far during the first eight months of the year.
Downtown Airpark (Oklahoma City)-Adriano Davila has joined this repair station as director of international sales. Greg Groves was named interior department manager, replacing Ed Smith, who retired.
Minneapolis-based Great Lakes Aviation has signed a code-sharing agreement to feed Midway Airlines at its new Raleigh/Durham hub. Midway took over at Raleigh/Durham when American and American Eagle left Great Lakes, which operates as United Express in the Midwest, will fly the livery of Midway in North Carolina, using the name Midway Connection. Service was scheduled to begin October 1, but the carrier had not announced specific markets at B/CA press time. The regional said it would operate 19-passenger Beech 1900s and 30-passenger Brasilias at the new hub.
So far, the only August sale listed outside the United States was one new Israeli Aircraft Astra SP. No used sales of business jets have been posted so far for the month. In August 1994, there were four new jets sales and 21 resales recorded. Generally, information on overseas transactions takes longer to filter through official channels than do domestic transactions, and international data are therefore often subject to significant revision.
A major political battle, with important ramifications for aviation and the rest of the transportation industry, is shaping up on Capitol Hill. At issue is whether the federal government will be allowed to keep using the transportation trust funds as its personal piggy bank, or whether those funds will be fenced off and restricted to paying only for specified transportation projects.
Child booster seats and vest- and harness-type child restraint systems will be banned, if the FAA adopts a recent proposal to withdraw its approval of these systems. The rule would not affect use of other types of FAA-approved child restraint systems, such as certain forward- and rear-facing safety seats. In addition, the proposal emphasizes the existing FAA prohibition against the use of lap-held child restraints (including ``belly belts''). For more information on the proposal, contact Donell Pollard at the FAA. Phone: (202) 267-3735.
The Department of Transportation has officially adopted ``upgraded'' regulations for Essential Air Service, while dropping procedures for retroactive establishment of final subsidy rates. The department also established a three-member panel and special procedures for handling EAS-determination appeals. The formal regulations to upgrade EAS service came nearly eight years after ordered by Congress, and four years after being informally implemented by the department. The upgrades consist of: -- Service with 15-passenger or larger aircraft;
U.S. Geological Survey has published a map designed to help pilots avoid areas of potentially harmful volcanic ash (B/CA, December 1990, page 90). The map, prepared in cooperation with Jeppesen Sanderson, Incorporated, shows the locations of 564 currently active volcanoes, and their distance and direction to the nearest navaid. A list of indications that an aircraft has entered an ash cloud is followed by recommended pilot actions. Copies are available for $7.50 each from the U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225.
Flight Safety Foundation has taken the unprecedented step of suggesting specific flight/duty time limits for corporate aircraft operators. FSF says off-duty time should be at least 10 hours within each 24-hour period and should include an eight-hour sleep opportunity. The off-duty time per week should include at least 36 hours with two consecutive nights in a seven-day period. The duty period per each 24 hours should not exceed 14 hours. And flight time should not exceed 10 hours within a 24-hour period.
Sierra Expressway principles (l. to r.) Michael J. Forster, Daniel Brumlik and Scott Bekemeyer would like you to do just that-fly. This start-up airline will serve Oakland, Sacramento, Monterey and Eureka, California, with British Aerospace Jetstream Super 31 19-passenger turboprop aircraft. Sierra features ticketless service. Passengers receive a confirmation number and show identification at the gate. The carrier claims it will add several new destinations in the future. The airline is based at Oakland, Gate 18.
Newly privatized Brazilian manufacturer Embraer rolled out its prototype regional jet in late August to the promise of government financial support from President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.
A wind-shear training program specifically tailored to regional and corporate aircraft is available-for real now. In 1994, the FAA prematurely announced availability of the program, which was developed by the Flight Safety Foundation (B/CA, June 1994, page 28). The package includes a video, CD-ROM, slides, study booklets, self-teaching guides, and a ground school and simulator training kit. The $300 program can be ordered (refer to order number AVA19756KK00) from the National Technical Information Service in Maryland. Phone: (703) 487-4650.
Many members of the business aviation community may not be aware that Byron Elliott, a pioneer in the design of long-range navigation systems for corporate jets, died earlier this year at the age of 62. Elliott was a founder and president of Global Navigation, Incorporated (which developed the GNS1000 navigation system). Later, he founded Vandling Corporation (which developed the NDB-2 long-range navigation database). Both companies were later purchased by Sundstrand, and Vandling Corporation continues today as a separate Sundstrand division.
Alliance Engines in Maryville, Tennessee, the joint venture between Duncan Aviation and KC Aviation, activated its first work orders on August 30-a day after receiving its FAA Repair Station Certificate. The company is offering repair and rework of AlliedSignal TPE331 and TFE731 engine components. Still under construction are three engine test cells: one for 331s, one for APUs and a turbofan test cell capable of handling engines up to 30,000 pounds of thrust.
FAA is reviewing proposed FAR Part 150 noise compatibility programs submitted for Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Westover Metropolitan Airport in Chicopee, Massachusetts. The FAA is scheduled to approve the plans by February 1996. Interested parties may submit comments. For details, contact John Silva in the FAA's New England Region at (617) 238-7602.
How many times have you heard the words ``cockpit resource management'' or, the newest term, ``crew resource management'' and its acronym ``CRM?'' Many times, I'm sure. It's the current buzz phrase in the aviation industry. Several NTSB reports target poor crew coordination and a lack of CRM as contributing factors in aircraft accidents. The Safety Board has repeatedly emphasized developing a team concept and an environment that encourages active dialogue between all crewmembers.
Dallas-based SimuFlite Training International and Gulfstream Aerospace have formed a customer training advisory board to ``foster improvements in pilot and maintenance technician training'' for Gulfstream business jet operators. The 21-member board, co-chaired by SimuFlite's Dick Holland, consists of Gulfstream managers and training specialists in addition to its nine corporate flight department representatives. SimuFlite currently provides training for G-II/G-III operators. Plans call for Gulfstream IV-SP training to be available in early 1996.
