ICAO and the FAA have scheduled a seminar on August 28 and 29 in Washington, D.C. to discuss changes in operational requirements that will occur due to implementation of 1,000-foot, vertical-separation minimums between FL 290 and FL 410 in the North Atlantic Track Region. Those minimums are scheduled to be in effect by January 1, 1997 (B/CA, June, page 43). For details of the seminar program, contact the FAA's Carl Bowlin in Washington, D.C. Phone: (202) 233-5172.
Operational trials of a satellite-based communications, navigation and surveillance system for flights over oceanic and other remote areas are now under way. Known as the Future Air Navigation System (FANS), the technology uses two-way satellite datalink communications to provide accurate, timely and direct pilot-to-controller contact over remote areas. Today, controllers rely on position reports radioed from pilots and relayed by ground-based systems.
Turboprop engines manufactured by AlliedSignal and Pratt&Whitney Canada are slated to power new commuter aircraft from Russia. AlliedSignal TPE331-14s made their debut in June on the first flight of the Antonov AN-38 customer demonstrator. The 27-passenger aircraft is scheduled to be certificated in early 1996. Meanwhile, Ilyushin Aircraft Design selected the P&WC PW127C to power the 64-seat IL-114PC, an upgraded version of the IL-114. First flight of the IL-114PC is targeted for late 1996, with certification in 1997.
Stark Survival Training of Panama City, Florida has introduced water-ditching training specific to helicopter type, and water-survival training for corporate helicopter crews and passengers. If a swimming pool or other body of water is available, the program can include helicopter underwater egress training on Stark's mobile helicopter-ditching simulator. The program fee is $2,000 (plus expenses) for up to 20 students. Phone: (904) 871-4730.
DOT will not abolish or revise the high-density traffic rule that sets IFR landing and takeoff slot limitations at four airports: Chicago's O'Hare (with 10 slots for GA), New York's Kennedy (with two GA slots) and La Guardia (with six), and Washington National (with 12 GA slots). Based on a study started in early 1994 (B/CA, May 1994, page 11), the DOT said the projected costs of eliminating or modifying the rule ``currently outweigh the benefits.''
The top two executives of Satellite Aero, an FBO at Wyoming's Jackson Hole Airport, signed an agreement in early June to purchase Western Aircraft, an FBO at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho that is one of several divisions that financially troubled Morrison Knudsen Corporation has put up for sale. Besides providing line and maintenance services, Western Aircraft is an installation center for Saunders spar straps and Aviadesign hydraulic landing gear for Beech King Airs.
David Wolf, flight department manager for Rocky Mount, North Carolina-based Hardee's Food Systems, is typical of some of the operators who are going beyond the limits of their management avcomps. Wolf's flight department uses a popular DOS-based business aviation management system. He has recently begun manually transferring data from his management system to a Lotus spreadsheet to generate other types of information for use within the flight department and to provide information for Hardee's CEO and CFO.
It has been a long time coming-the 70-passenger de Havilland Dash 8-400 high-speed turboprop. The announcement of its official launch at the Paris Air Show in June could only be called anti-climactic. The selection of an engine that manufacturer Pratt&Whitney Canada said would never be built had been made. The market and engineering studies started by previous de Havilland owner Boeing needed only to be updated.
Avcon Industries, holder of 92 Learjet STCs, expected certification in July for its empennage-mounted Avcon Fins on Learjet 35s and 36s. The fins, designed to improve low-speed stability and handling, are virtually identical to Learjet's Delta Fins on the Model 31 series. The Avcon Fins are being introduced at a price of $77,000 installed. Avcon Industries, based in Newton, Kansas, plans to display a fin-equipped aircraft at the NBAA convention in September.
One of B/CA's editors was invited to fly on a Canadair Challenger 604 for a 4,242-nm, nonstop record-attempting flight to Le Bourget Airport from Wichita during the Paris Air Show in June. Engineering test pilot E. Bruce Robinson and production test pilot W. Craig Kennedy were at the controls of the aircraft for the Paris flight, assisted by flight-test engineer James W. Brown. Our editor occupied the jump seat to chronicle the event.
A rule setting minimum experience levels for two pilots flying together under FAR Part 121 takes effect August 25. The rule increases the flight time pilots need in order to meet ``initial operating experience.'' Also, pilots will no longer earn experience credit for observing another pilot who is training. And, the PIC must perform takeoffs and landings during certain weather conditions and at particular airports if the copilot has less than 100 hours in type.
A cargo version of the Aerospatiale TBM 700 now is available, but a stretched model of the single-engine turboprop ``remains in research and development.'' The TBM 700C features a 3.9-foot by 3.5-foot cargo door and an increase in cargo capacity to 1,820 pounds. Previously, Aerospatiale said it had hoped to fly the TBM 700S, a stretched TBM 700 with a 3.5-foot plug for up to nine seats, by early 1996 (B/CA, November 1994, page 20). That date will not be met.
Landing permission for Tribbuvan Airport (VNKT) requires pilots to show proof of a successful simulated approach, familiarity with all SIDs and STARs, and a copy of their pilot licenses (Air Routing).
Security measures aimed at safeguarding business-aviation operations have continued to proliferate, although the number of recorded threats and attacks against those operations have been mercifully small during the last decade. Today an active and resourceful aircraft-security industry provides corporate operators with a variety of onboard security alarm and alerting systems and offers security seminars, executive protection services, consultants and international handlers-all in the interest of protecting domestic and international flights.
One of Jeppesen's newest publications is a guide to complying with the rules and procedures of the European Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU). The guide, packaged in a three-ring binder, outlines the flight-planning and traffic-flow management procedures enforced throughout European airspace. The contents of the guide costs $103.50 annually, including revisions. The binder is sold separately for $21.40.
The new Canadair Special Edition (SE) is a transatlantic corporate version of the Canadair Regional Jetliner offering a full-fuel, non-stop range of 3,000 nm. Canadair says the aircraft can carry five passengers and a crew of three from Jeddah to London, or eight passengers from Jeddah to Stockholm. The SE features a maximum gross weight of 53,000 pounds to enable the aircraft to incorporate an additional 4,000 pounds of fuel stored in two new auxiliary tanks located aft. The tanks are designed and installed by PATS, Incorporated of Columbia, Maryland.
The formation of Aero International Regional (AIR) has inalterably changed the architecture of regional aircraft manufacturing. Pending approval by the European Commission and the U.S. Justice Department-which is considered likely-the ATR partnership of France's Aerospatiale and Italy's Alenia, and British Aerospace units Avro Aerospace and Jetstream Aircraft, will become one.
The Astra, since it was certificated in 1985, has earned a position as a performance star in the mid-size business-jet class (although sales have not been stellar). Indeed, it set 22 world records, clearly demonstrating Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) engineering prowess. IAI now has an even higher performance Astra, the SPX, that is slated for certification in late September, less than 14 months after its first flight in August 1994. (The current Astra SP will remain in production.)
Awhile back, Hersch, a German corporate pilot wrote to B/CA pointing out that he enjoyed this column, but certain words or expressions employed in it were not to be found in his personal Funk&Wagnall's. Hence, for purposes of illumination, I proffer a partial list of a few of the terms more frequently used: -- Muckets: Instruments, switches and levers usually located on the control panel. -- Maypop: A smooth tire. -- Redeye: Storm-avoidance radar. -- Training wheel: The one up front on a tri-gear Beech 18.
TAB/Aero's version of a book containing the latest FARs as well as the most current Aeronautical Information Manual is contained in the 600-page, fully-indexed AIM/FAR 1995. The volume also includes an ASOS/AWOS update, a ``Flight Forum'' feature on government interpretation of the FARs, page headings to assist the user in finding data, a table of contents for each FAR part and shading on text revisions since the last issue. Price: $24.95 for hardcover; $12.95 for paperback. TAB/Aero, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294. (717) 794-2191.
Available from DB Systems is the Model 700/800 series digital audio-control panel. The company says digital control of cockpit audio offers ``improved performance with immunity to noise and interference'' compared with analog-type panels. Also, this digital system has fewer wires to install. Input capability is up to five comms and 10 receivers. Individual volume controls are available with each input. Outputs include headphone, cockpit speaker, pilot-selected comm audio and cockpit voice recorder.
A book detailing how the aviation industry can implement international quality- assurance standards known as ISO 9000 now is available. The 337-page volume features chapters on integrating ISO standards with FARs, examples of ISO 9000 recordkeeping forms and other required documents, training criteria, worker responsibilities, quality control and inspection methods, and more. Copies of Aviation Industry Quality Systems: ISO 9000 and the Federal Aviation Regulations are available for $66.25 each from Quality Press, P.O. Box 3005, Milwaukee, WI 53201.
Contrary to industry jest, ``cabotage'' is not the garden vegetable that still holds its vitamin C content when boiled. (You know, one of the cruciferous greens we should eat more of.) Rather, cabotage refers to trade or transportation between two points within a foreign country.
