FAA's Air Traffic Rules and Procedures Service is considering whether to proceed with a formal change proposal to replace the FAA flight plan form with the more lengthy International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) form. The FAA claims that a standardized form would make it easier for pilots to file from anywhere in the world, and it would reduce software costs for data-link equipment, DUATS and FSSes.
When modern aircraft come to grief, more often than not it's people, rather than systems, who are to blame. The human element continues to be implicated as the primary cause of about three-quarters of aircraft accidents and incidents. And when it comes to human error, pilots are not the only offenders.
In October, an FAA special task force is scheduled to complete a 60-day review of the agency's efforts to prevent the use of unapproved aircraft parts. The task force was established shortly after the issue came to a head at a Senate government affairs subcommittee meeting in early summer. The FAA said the problem is not serious and has never been identified as a cause of an accident. But DOT Inspector General Mary Schiavo asserted the FAA was not doing enough to prevent the proliferation of bogus parts (B/CA, July, page 11).
CompuServe's aviation lineup includes access to the following areas: -- AOPA Online (Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association) provides the association's members with news and information about this organization. Also, it carries the latest about the AOPA's Air Safety Foundation, government information and legislative news.
Bob Martens, president of AMR Eagle since June 1987 and an 18-year American Airlines veteran, has departed the company on rather short notice ``to pursue other opportunities.'' His replacement is Dan Garton, another American veteran who has spent the last two years as vice president and chief financial officer at Continental. AMR Eagle operates four wholly owned carriers-Executive Airlines at San Juan and Miami; Flagship Airlines at Nashville, Miami and New York; Simmons Airlines at Chicago and Dallas; and Wings West at Los Angeles and Dallas.
The medical disqualification case of famed air-show pilot Bob Hoover will get special treatment from the FAA. David Hinson, FAA administrator, said, ``I'm as anxious as anyone else'' to see Hoover's health issues resolved. To that end, Hinson has directed the federal air surgeon to personally work with Hoover to close this issue. In addition, an independent team of medical experts, who have no ties to either the FAA or Hoover, is reviewing Hoover's medical tests.
A federal judge in Birmingham, Alabama dismissed a $25-million product-liability lawsuit brought by the estate of race-car driver Davey Allison against McDonnell Douglas Helicopter. Allison died from injuries sustained in the crash of an MD 500 he piloted on July 12, 1993. The judge said Allison would have survived had he been wearing a shoulder harness. (The aircraft was originally equipped with shoulder harnesses, but evidence showed the harnesses had later been removed.)
A new group is being formed to represent managers of general aviation airports. Spearheading the effort is Michael Stephens, former senior airports director at the AOPA and director of security with the Airports Council International-North America. The General Aviation Airports Association is needed to ``stem the tide of diminishing public-use airports and to provide representation for managers of general-aviation airports before regulatory and legislative bodies,'' Stephens said. For more information, contact Stephens in Virginia at (703) 802-9189.
Greenwich Aircraft Corporation of Sausalito, California is developing an STC program to replace the Falcon 20's 4,500-pounds-thrust GE CF700 turbofans with 4,750-pounds-thrust P&WC PW305s. Once the STC is obtained-scheduled for 1997-the approximately $4-million retrofit will be offered by authorized Dassault Falcon Jet service center Bizjet International of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greenwich project has no relationship to the PW305 Falcon 20 conversion program attempted several years ago by the now-defunct Volpar Aircraft (B/CA, August 1991, page 22).
The no-rider Model 800 Airtug will handle most lightweight to medium-weight, single nosewheel aircraft, such as Cessna Caravans through Citations, Learjets 25 through 36, Beech King Airs, Piper through Cheyennes, nosewheel helicopters and more. The unit is powered by an 8-hp electric-start engine and a shift-free hydrostratic drive transmission. A single control (no tow bars) governs direction of movement, tug speed and hydraulic braking. This walk-behind tug enables ``faster and safer spotting of aircraft in tight quarters,'' the company says.
Recently published revisions to the rules covering civil use of U.S. Air Force airfields do not change the fundamental requirements. Civil aircraft are still not permitted to use USAF bases except in emergency situations or when they are operating in support of ``official government business.'' Prior approval for other civil-aircraft operations will be made only for ``exceptional circumstances.''
In a case that could provide a boost to opponents of the Age 60 rule, a federal court jury sided with a corporate pilot forced to retire from his job with International Paper when he reached age 60. The decision was the first in an Age 60 case to date; others have all been settled out of court. An International Paper spokeswoman said the company has a strong commitment to safety and continues to believe mandatory retirement for its pilots at age 60 is appropriate.
Comments are due September 18 on an FAA proposal to permit pilots to perform simple maintenance tasks that currently require written exemptions. The proposal applies to pilots of FAR Part 135 aircraft with fewer than 10 seats and would permit removing and installing seats, stretchers, medical oxygen bottles and some panel-mounted avionics. The FAA said it has granted hundreds of exemptions, and no accidents have been attributed to pilots reconfiguring cabins.
If you are in the market for a helicopter-from a single-engine two-seater to a heavy turbine ``North Sea Workhorse''-new PC software guarantees to eliminate the guesswork involved in the final selection. Hummingbird, a new DOS-based database, is a listing and a compilation of data for helicopters available from manufacturers around the globe.
Russia has closed several ATC centers this year, leaving two areas of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (C.I.S.) air zones uncovered. Economically, this action has proven to be disastrous, since both domestic and international airline flights are unable to provide service to these areas.
While GP Express takes its leave of Denver, meanwhile, no fewer than three new start-ups are trying to get off the blocks with service to nearby Aspen: Jet Aspen, Peak International and Maverick Airways. They would like to join United Express Air Wisconsin in the lucrative ski-resort market.
White Plains, New York's Westchester County Airport, one of the busiest U.S. corporate aircraft facilities, did not benefit from millions of dollars in revenues it generated, claims the DOT Office of the Inspector General (IG). From 1990 through 1993, concluded the IG, about $24 million in airport revenue was diverted to the county's general fund for non-airport-related purposes.
Operators flying from the United States into Canada now can obtain a customs clearance via a phone call. Aircraft pre-registered with a CANPASS permit can use the phone to obtain a clearance to land at any of seven designated airports any time they are open. Unregistered aircraft also can obtain a clearance by phone, but can land only during normal customs hours. The clearance phone number is (800) 265-6233. To register aircraft with CANPASS, phone (905) 371-1477.
Raytheon Aircraft's latest variant of the Hawker business jet, the 800XP, received certification from the FAA and the United Kingdom's CAA. The 800XP (Extended Performance) is powered by two 4,660-pounds-thrust AlliedSignal TFE731-5BR engines, enabling a 14-knot gain in cruise speed, shorter field performance and longer range. Also, design weights have been increased, the interior enhanced and various systems improved. The B/CA-equipped price is $9.95 million.
Friday, June 10 marked a watershed event in the history of the Canadair Challenger. A conforming prototype of the new Model 604, with a B/CA editor on board, flew nonstop from Wichita Mid-Continent Airport to Paris' Le Bourget-a distance of 4,242 nm over the Earth, or 4,011 miles equivalent still air distance, accounting for the winds aloft. This was the longest distance ever flown by a Canadair Challenger.
A well-traveled Bryan Bedford is on the road again-this time to the chilly climes of Minneapolis to become president and chief executive officer of Mesaba Aviation. It will be his third Northwest Airlink assignment. Gary Ellmer becomes president in addition to his current duties as chief operating officer of BixEx. In addition, Ellmer will be elected to the board of directors.
The Falcon 900EX's Pri-mus 2000 avionics package-plus related sys- tems-was still early in the development cycle when we flew the aircraft in mid June. However, the new instrument panel configuration said plenty about basic design philosophy. Compared to the Falcon 900B, the instrument panel of the 900EX is less cluttered, and it provides more and easier-to-use information.
James Robinson is the new president of Phoenix-based AlliedSignal Engines. Robinson previously was president of the Garrett Engine Division, and most recently held the title of vice president of regional and business aviation propulsion at AlliedSignal Engines. He replaces Robert Choulet, who was named senior vice president of business strategy for AlliedSignal Aerospace, the Torrance, California-based parent of the engine division.
GPWS: All air taxi and commuter turboprops equipped with previously approved advisory systems and having 10 or more passenger seats have until April 20, 1996 to replace those systems with TSOed GPWS units.
