Who will speak for the general aviation manufacturers? That was the question the 12 members of the Utility Airplane Council (UAC), a small group within the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), were asking themselves in late 1969.
Safety concerns over a helicopter short-haul transport system to be ready in time for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta have been settled, according to the Helicopter Association International. ``We believe questions about how the system would operate and how the helicopters would be controlled have been answered,'' said an HAI official. The system, to be used primarily for small-package deliveries between area businesses, would entail about 50 rotorcraft flying from as many as 19 helipads.
Beech Aircraft Corporation has long had a reputation for high-quality aircraft, but being short on the future. As former export-department employee Alex Kvassay put it in his autobiography, Alex In Wonderland, the company was known for ``50 years of quality, uninterrupted by progress.''
Let me assure you and your readers that a coalition of U.S. aviation organizations heartily supports the effort to achieve harmonization of standards and practices between the FAA and the 23 nations of the European Joint Aviation Authorities [JAA]. We intend to go at this tooth and nail.''
Ashanti Goldfields Company of Ghana, West Africa is now operating the first corporate version of the Beech 1900D. The aircraft is fitted with eight airline-type seats forward, a six-seat club aft, a galley and a lavatory.
Brian Barents, Learjet's president and CEO, doesn't pull any punches when answering questions about the Learjet 60's early production-model problems. ``The good news is that we've already addressed the problems operators have identified.'' Barents said that the firm delivered 22 Learjet 60 aircraft in 1994, and he expects to exceed that number this year. One of the reasons for his confidence is Learjet's aggressive stance on product improvement. Specifically, Learjet now offers these upgrades: Group I (No Cost)
A draft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to allow passenger-carrying IFR flights in primarily single-engine turbine airplanes (such as the Cessna Caravan, Socata TBM-700 and Pilatus PC-12) was recently completed by the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee of FAA/industry representatives. The draft is similar to a Canadian rule adopted two years ago (B/CA, July 1993, page 22). A publication date for an NPRM was unknown as of press time.
Raytheon Aircraft says it will unveil a ``revolutionary'' new light business jet at the NBAA annual meeting in September in Las Vegas. The aircraft will incorporate new technologies, such as a fly-by-light control system for the engines and other systems and manufacturing processes that involve advanced use of composites at ``significantly'' reduced costs. The aircraft is expected to be the precursor of a new family of jets, including a regional airliner.
An Oklahoma judge dismissed claims of negligence in a class-action lawsuit that the Twin Commander Owners Association filed against Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation, Gulfstream Aerospace, Rockwell International and ALCOA. The Chicago-based group sought to recover damages for alleged negligence in the production of Twin Commanders (B/CA, April 1993, page 22). The lawsuit was based on costs of compliance with mandated wing-spar corrosion inspections and repairs (B/CA, June 1991, page 24). The association may appeal the decision.
With FAA certification for its patented Dual Pac combining gearbox imminent, Soloy Corporation has officially re-launched development of its long-planned, twin-turbine/single-propeller conversion for the Cessna 208 Caravan-a program that's been in the works for five years (B/CA, August 1990, page 24). Development of the Dual Pac Caravan had been delayed because the company couldn't afford to purchase a Caravan (B/CA, December 1994, page 30).
Mark Morro, former president of Wings West and senior Fairchild executive, is in the process of starting a new, low-fare jet airline-Air 21. The carrier, based at Fresno, California, plans to operate DC-9s from Fresno, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as other western markets. Operations are scheduled to begin in mid summer.
Alitalia has placed an order for 15 Fokker 70s, giving that program a substantial boost. Two each will be delivered in October and November, followed by six in 1996 and the remainder in 1997.
Dassault's Falcon 900EX tri-engine business jet made its maiden flight on June 1, just 10 days prior to the start of the Paris Air Show, where it was scheduled to be on static display and in flight demonstrations. The $25.95-million aircraft will have a range of 4,500 nm with eight passengers and NBAA IFR reserves, an increase of about 700 nm over the $23.95-million 900B, which Dassault says will remain in production. The 900EX represents the first application of the recently certified AlliedSignal TFE731-60 turbine engines.
The news from Cessna at Paris is an internal training program aimed at making Citation Service Center employees more responsive to customer expectations in such areas as ``on-time delivery, fair treatment, fast response, no surprises and getting work done right the first time.'' The ``Sensible Service People'' program includes sending out an evaluation form with each invoice inviting customers to provide Cessna with comments on the quality of the service.
Jetphone, a cellular air-to-ground telephone network destined to serve all of Europe, was scheduled to begin operation in June. Jetphone is the product of a joint venture between the United Kingdom's BT (formerly British Telecom) and FCR (a subsidiary of France Telecom). Initially, the network is to be made up of 15 ground stations, but will eventually comprise more than 40 stations, each with a 160-nm range. Jetphone officials say the network will cover all of western Europe by the end of 1996. For details, phone +(44) 171 379 34 04.
A spokesman for Sino-Swearingen LP confirmed that the joint venture established to build the SJ30 business jet received $48 million from Taiwanese investors. And, the program's representative said Lockheed Martin, which is contributing $10 million and management know-how to the SJ30 program, was to begin hiring personnel for the program in June. Sino-Swearingen, a joint venture of San Antonio-based Swearingen Aircraft and Taiwan Aerospace, plans to build the SJ30 in Martinsburg, West Virginia and deliver the first SJ30 in 1996.
The facts of this accident were pretty uncomplicated. On June 18, 1994, at about 0625 hours, a Transportes Aeros Ejecutivos, S.A. (TAESA) Learjet 25D (XA-BBA) crashed 0.8-nm south of the threshold of Runway 1R at Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Chantilly, Virginia, during an ILS approach in Category III-level IMC. Two crewmembers and all 10 passengers were killed. The airplane was destroyed by impact.
Almost from the moment Orville and Wilbur first fired up the hand-built piston engine mounted on the lower wing of their Flyer biplane, pilots and mechanics have longed to know what was going on inside their aircraft's powerplants and systems.
Jeppesen's new book, Aviation Weather, by meteorology scholar Peter Lester, Ph.D., has more than 500 full-color illustrations depicting weather conditions such as wind shear, turbulence and icing. Each chapter contains FAA questions, key terms and recommended readings. An instructor's guide is available to make the book adaptable to the classroom. Price: $39.95. Jeppesen, 55 Inverness Dr. E, Englewood, CO 80112. (303) 799-9090.
Rockwell International's Collins Commercial Avionics division of Cedar Rapids, Iowa has introduced a fixed-cost avionics maintenance program for regional airlines. For a monthly fee, based on the number of flight hours per month, customers in the ``Collins Dispatch Plus'' program receive repair services and avionics spares support with a guaranteed 10-day turnaround. The repaired item is placed in the airline's support stock, ready for use when needed.
The need to learn Level I, II and III functions varies from aircraft to aircraft, and we offer this breakdown of basic, intermediate and advanced features for illustration purposes only. If the FMS is added as an option, for example, then only Level I knowledge would be needed for the first flight after installation-provided you were already rated to fly the specific aircraft type.
Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream Aerospace has scheduled service and product-support area meetings in August and November as follows: Dates in August are Singapore, 14th; Van Nuys, California, 18th; Detroit, 29th; Chicago, 30th; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, 31st. November dates are Washington, D.C., 8th; New Jersey, 9th; and White Plains, 10th. For further information, phone (912) 965-4414.
An influx of flux in your aircraft can be removed with the BrushClean System from Chemtronics, the company says. The flux-removal system includes a cleaning brush, a spray nozzle, an extension tube and a five-ounce aerosol container of the cleaning agent CFC Free Flux Off 2000. Users can apply the solvent to loosen and remove R, RMA, RA, synthetic and no-clean fluxes. The product dries ``quickly, leaving no residue and offers excellent material compatibility,'' according to Chemtronics. Recommended applications include SMD pads, plugs, sockets and printed circuit boards.
Bombardier and the Canadian Export Development Corporation (EDC) have joined in a new leasing venture to boost sales of the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ). CRJ Capital Corporation (CRJCC) is being formed on a risk-shared basis, with Bombardier and EDC each providing equal amounts of equity. Other private-sector partners also may join in. CRJCC will then provide financing on commercial terms for the CRJ aircraft.
Bombardier became the first aircraft manufacturer to directly involve itself in shared ownership when it launched a joint venture earlier this year with AMR Combs (B/CA, June, page 26). Called Business JetSolutions, the new company initially will offer shared ownership of Learjet 31As, Learjet 60s and Canadair Challengers through a program called FlexJet. Eventually, the program will be expanded to include the new Bombardier Global Express and, possibly, corporate versions of the Canadair Regional Jet.
