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.
North Weald Airfield in Essex, England is the site for the biennial Business and General Aviation Exhibition set for September 5-8. This year's event offers more than 200 exhibitors and a seminar on worldwide business and regional aviation. Tied in with the agenda is an international meteorology exhibition and a related seminar program. For more information, contact MTM International of London. Phone: +44 (0) 181 906 8375; fax: +44 (0) 181 201 1721.
Does your aircraft have enough life rafts? If you think so, you may be suffering from a false sense of security. ``When it comes to the number of life rafts needed on corporate aircraft, the interpretation isn't all that accurate out there,'' said Anthony Adamski, an instructor for HBAcorp's Crewmember Emergency Training (in Olympia, Washington) and a former pilot for Chrysler Corporation. The reason is that the number of required life rafts is governed not only by the operating rules, but also by the aircraft certification rules.
Octagon Process claims its new Octaflo Type I deicing fluid offers ``significant benefits in terms of safety and ease of use.'' The Edgewater, New Jersey company says that in addition to being ``environmentally friendly,'' Octaflo delivers a slightly longer holdover time in water spray and high-humidity conditions, is non-foaming in spray equipment, ``appears'' to be less slippery on tarmac, is ``virtually'' odor free, and is ``easier to pump at low temperatures.''
BAe's Jetstream Aircraft has moved its corporate aircraft marketing activities to JSX Capital Corporation in Washington, D.C., following the announcement of a new regional airliner joint venture with Aerospatiale of France and Alenia of Italy. Jim Burk has been appointed vice president for corporate aircraft sales. JSX is a British Aerospace subsidiary and has worldwide responsibility for leasing and re-marketing Jetstream turboprop aircraft.
In another of its tactics to keep Chicago's Meigs Field open, the NBAA recently sent faxes to nearly 400 members in a four-state area asking them to express to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley their opposition to plans to close the airport in September 1996 (B/CA, February, page 22). The association says Daley claims he is being pressured by a local group, ``Friends of the Park,'' to convert the facility into a park. To date, neither the FAA nor the Illinois DOT has taken a public stand in support of the airport, which handled 16,896 GA operations in 1994.
FAA is evaluating proposed noise-abatement programs for Florida's Fort Meyers International Airport and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The programs were submitted to conform with FAR Part 150 requirements, and comments from the public are being requested. The FAA is scheduled to approve or disapprove the programs on or about November 28. For more information, contact the FAA Airport District Office in Orlando. Phone: (407) 648-6583.
MovinCool is not only the name of this product, but also describes the way to use it. Just roll it whenever or wherever needed, and Nippodenso's portable air-conditioning unit will provide refrigerated air with no installation required. Choose from eight models offering per-hour cooling capacity from 10,000 BTUs ($2,600) to 60,000 BTUs ($8,600). Extension ducts enable the air to be directed to ground crews, cabin or cockpit. Nippodenso of Los Angeles, 3900 Via Oro Ave., Long Beach, CA 90810. (310) 834-6352.
NTSB's ``Most-Wanted'' list of safety improvements has grown to 17 items with the addition of a proposal that commuter-airline rules be upgraded to the same safety standards as major carriers'. The Safety Board dropped two aviation issues from the list: brake-wear limits on transport aircraft and structural-fatigue testing. Besides commuter-airline safety, the ``Most-Wanted'' list also calls for improving flight data recorders and reducing runway incursions.
Jetstream Aircraft, BAe's regional turboprop manufacturer, has received U.K. certification of the Jetstream 61. The 70-passenger aircraft is an improved derivative of the ATP airliner (originally certificated in 1988), with uprated engines, increased payload/range and a new interior design and layout. U.S. operators' interest will determine the pursuit of FAA certification.
AlliedSignal Engines has recently introduced an auxiliary power unit designed for small- to medium-size business airplanes and helicopters. The Phoenix-based company says its RE100 APU weighs less than 75 pounds, is rated at 135 (equivalent) shp, and is capable of starting and operating in excess of 35,000 feet. The APU's first customer installation remained undisclosed at press time.
One of the latest ``limited-time only'' incentive programs to help sell aircraft comes from Raytheon. Until September 30, a new Beechjet 400A comes with five years (or 1,000 hours) of free maintenance, fixed monthly payments of $49,950 for 36 months (after a five-percent down payment), a 6.9-percent fixed interest rate for 36 months (followed by the balance at prime rate plus 0.5 percent), and 10-year amortization. The B/CA-equipped price for a Beechjet 400A is $5.7 million.
Aviation Supplies&Academics has introduced Flightlight, a new pocket-size flashlight. Flightlight uses Krypton bulbs for optimum brightness, comes with both white and red lenses and carries an extra bulb inside its housing. Made of black machined aluminum, Flightlight is reportedly corrosion resistant and watertight. Two AA batteries are included, and a clicking on/off switch safeguards against accidental activation. Price: $14.95. Size: 6.5 inches long by 3/4-inch wide. ASA, 7005 132nd Pl. SE, Newcastle, WA 98059. (206) 235-1500.
Honeywell and Trimble have signed an agreement to cooperate in the development of GPS-based products. The two companies will collaborate in areas such as technology development and application, joint product development and marketing, and the supply of products to each other. Separately, Honeywell expects certification in January 1996 for the first installation of the Honeywell/Pelorus SLS-2000 GPS Satellite Landing System and the Honeywell vehicle-tracking system, TracLink (B/CA, April, page 24). The initial site for the SLS-2000 and TracLink is Minneapolis/St.
Federal agencies are a little schizophrenic when it comes to fractional ownership. Under its auspices, the FAA says the increasingly popular programs are essentially non-commercial FAR Part 91 operations-basically just like owning your own aircraft. However, the Internal Revenue Service sees fractional ownership differently. To the tax collector, it looks like a Part 135 operation, and is, therefore, subject to federal excise taxes.
Israviation's ST-50 will be the first aircraft to feature a new deicing technology from Innovative Dynamics. The Ithaca, New York company's system provides the pilot with an advisory of ice buildup, uses electromechanically induced impulses inside the leading edges of the airfoils to remove ice and does not require pneumatic boots. Flight-testing of the ST-50, a composite, single-engine turboprop, is taking place in Israel (B/CA, May, page 65). Innovative Dynamics also is developing rotorblade deicing technology.
Long Island Sound, the 100-mile-long Atlantic Ocean tongue that separates New York's Long Island from the State of Connecticut, is ringed by small community airports, including Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR) at Bridgeport, Connecticut. The presence of this large body of water provides Sikorsky Memorial's runways with several unobstructed approaches. But it also provides the moisture for fog banks that drift on and off the shore-side runways on many spring nights. April 27, 1994 was just such a night.
Results of an independently conducted late spring survey of NBAA members provide a statistical showcase of the operating, maintenance and training activity of the U.S. business aviation industry. The survey, which obtained information in more than 50 primary subject areas, was conducted in June by Association Research Incorporated of Washington, D.C. Mailed to 1,017 flight departments operating 2,201 aircraft, the survey drew an impressive response rate of 42.4 percent: 637 respondents.
