Diabetes--The FAA is considering a change in policy to allow insulin-using diabetics to obtain an airman medical certification (March 1995, page 16). Medicals--The FAA is proposing a broad revision of airman medical certification standards--FAR Parts 61 and 67 (December 1994, page 34).
Moscow city government officials and the Russian National Aeroclub plan to convert Tushino military airfield in northwest Moscow into an airport for general aviation. The facility also is slated to have a business center, a hotel and a flying school. A four-year construction project is scheduled to begin in 1996. Tushino is reportedly hosting a business aviation show in June. For more information, contact Igor Marinichev, director of Moscow's Foreign Investment Department. Phone: +7-(0)95-229-0934; fax: +7-(0)95-209-5220.
The Italian government is expected to rule this month on a reorganization plan for Piaggio Aircraft, according to an official of this company that builds the Avanti turboprop. If approved, the plan would be a first step toward getting Piaggio back on a firm financial footing. Piaggio has been operating under Italy's equivalent of Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy laws since late 1994.
Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer made good on his promise and announced plans to resume production of Model 172s, 182s and 206s once the General Aviation Revitalization Act was signed into law. The centerpiece of the law is an 18-year statute of repose limiting aircraft and component manufacturers' exposure to product liability lawsuits.
Litton Special Devices acquired the assets of Aeronetics from AAR Manufacturing and relocated the company to Litton's headquarters plant in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Formerly based in Carol Stream, Illinois, Aeronetics produces nav displays, gyros, control panels and data converters. In addition to nav displays, Litton Special Devices builds electromechanical actuator systems. For inquiries as to continued product support, contact Litton at (610) 328-4016.
A new self-serve fueling station, a rebuilt terminal, a runway extended to 5,000 feet and a resurfacing of the runway and taxiway are several major projects now complete at Texas' Weslaco Mid Valley Airport. Weslaco Aviation, a city owned and operated FBO, provides computerized flight planning, catering, rental cars and maintenance, and is open from 0700 to 1900 hours daily.
British Aerospace and ATR partners Aerospatiale of France and Alenia of Italy plan to form a European regional aircraft company. The new joint venture would provide sales and customer support services for the companies' respective products, and would be headquartered in Toulouse, France. Establishment of the company is pending government approvals to ensure it doesn't create a monopoly.
A team led by Wilcox Electric received the lucrative FAA contract to develop the Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS), a network of ground reference stations and communications satellites designed to enhance the accuracy of GPS satellite navigation signals (B/CA, August 1994, page 42). Development of WAAS could be deferred, however, if any of the competing teams' leaders--Harris Corporation, Loral Corporation, Raytheon Company and Rockwell International--officially protest the awarding of the $500-million contract to Wilcox.
Although normally closed to corporate aircraft, Wake Air Force Base (PWAK) can accept aircraft in emergencies on a 24-hour basis. Emergency crews will be available, and VORTAC transmission will be turned on when emergency notification is received (Air Routing).
FAA and Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) have reduced the number of questions from the original questionnaire sent to operators using TCAS II with software upgrade version 6.04A. It's hoped that the shorter questionnaire will increase the response rate as to the effectiveness of 6.04A. Initial feedback shows it has been ``very positive'' in reducing the number of unnecessary RAs, said the FAA's TCAS Transition Program Office (TTP), but officials noted more input from operators is ``essential'' to an analysis of 6.04A performance.
To support the FAA's efforts to reduce accidents caused by wake turbulence, NASA is conducting telephone interviews with pilots who submit wake turbulence incident data through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). After receiving an ASRS report, NASA officials will contact the pilot via phone or letter to determine the individual's willingness to participate in a 45-minute telephone interview. For details, contact the ASRS office at (415) 969-3969.
AMR Combs and Mexico's Servicios Aereos del Centro SA (SACSA) have teamed up and opened FBOs at Adolfo Lopez Mateos International Airport in Toluca and Los Cabos International Airport in Los Cabos on the Baja peninsula's southern tip. The newly built facilities offer maintenance, storage and complete transient aircraft services. Mateos Airport is open 24 hours a day, while Los Cabos normally operates from 0700 to 1800 hours with off-hours by prior arrangement. For Mateos, phone +52 72 73 06 72; for Los Cabos, phone +52 114 240 00.
Production line productivity! Not exactly familiar language in the world of airline economics, but it will be. ``The core part of the `production line'--where airlines and aviation produce their product--is the movement of the aircraft,'' declares a study published recently by RMB Associates and Aviation Systems Research Corporation (ASRC), two Denver-area aviation consulting firms.
Mounting losses have prompted Mesa Air Group's Mountain West Airlines to pull out of Columbus, Ohio effective June 1. The carrier has operated as America West Express, serving Baltimore, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Indianapolis, Louisville, Kentucky, Toledo and Milwaukee.
Rotorcraft standards--An NPRM offers revisions that will make FARs and JARs covering standards for both normal- and transport-category rotorcraft virtually uniform. The NPRM also introduces safety improvements, clarifies existing regulations and proposes other changes (February 1995, page 18).
Ever since Gulfstream threw down the gauntlet and announced it would join the fight to capture the very-long-range business jet market, Canadair and Gulfstream have been locked in a competition for what many believe is a small corner of the business aircraft marketplace.
Proposed changes to FAR Part 23 small airplane airworthiness standards would allow airplanes to be certified with alternative methods (other than a fuel-pressure indicator) of providing pilots with advance warning of fuel-system problems. The proposal says the FAA may approve fuel-flow indicators or other types of monitors that would provide the pilot with advance warning of engine failure. For details, contact the FAA in Kansas City at (816) 426-5688.
On April 1, the U.S. Navy transferred authority to use the Naval Air Station (NAS) Agana in Guam to Ted Ybarra, Executive Manager, Guam Airport Authority, P.O. Box 8770, Tamuning, Guam 96931. Phone: (671) 646-0300. On June 1, the Navy is scheduled to transfer authority to use the NAS in Bermuda to the Government of Bermuda, c/o Airport General Manager, Bermuda Air Terminal Bldg., 2 Kindley Field Rd., Saint George's CE CX, Bermuda. Phone: (809) 293-1640.
GPS receivers from Trimble Navigation Limited of Sunnyvale, California now are FAA approved to TSO C129 (A1) specifications, allowing them to be used for stand-alone, non-precision approaches. Certification is standard to Trimble's new panel-mount 2000 Approach and 2101 Approach receivers. For a fee, older Trimble GPS receivers can be upgraded to C129 (A1) certification. The Trimble 2000 series is compatible with the FAA's Wide-Area Augmentation System.
Piedmont Aviation Services recently relocated its Winston-Salem, North Carolina FBO to the company's remodeled corporate headquarters building. The new location offers a ``state-of-the-art'' weather and flight planning center, crew snooze rooms, a kitchen and vending area, and a passenger lounge three times the size of the previous one. Rental and courtesy cars still are available.
Continued progress with new business aircraft designs, enthusiasm in the civil helicopter market and questions cropping up from consolidation in the regional sector define the emerging aircraft story this year. This section lists available information about future programs that have progressed far enough to yield preliminary performance data. Some aircraft previously included, like the Canadair Challenger 604 and the Bell 430, have progressed to the point that they are now included in the appropriate aircraft charts.
The total of U.S. general aviation accidents in 1994 (1,989), fatal accidents (392) and fatalities (706) were the lowest since the compiling of such statistics began in 1958, NTSB data show. In fact, the 1994 total dropped below 2,000 for the first time since the compiling of such statistics. But due to an apparent decrease in general aviation flight hours in 1994, the rate (the number of accidents per 100,000 hours) increased slightly. The total accident rate went from 9.09 in 1993 to 9.47 in 1994, while the fatal accident rate changed from 1.78 to 1.87.
U.S. corporate aircraft charter operators are seeing a sharp increase in business, according to James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association. Speaking at the FAA General Aviation Forecast Conference in March, Coyne said charters of GA aircraft were up 10 to 20 percent in 1994. Also, the association has completed a seven-minute videotape promoting charter. For further details, contact NATA at (703) 845-9000.
In its final report, the NTSB cited four probable causes of the crash of a USAir DC-9 on July 2, 1994 at Charlotte, North Carolina. They were (1) the pilots' decision to continue an approach into ``severe convective activity'' conducive to microburst, (2) their failure to recognize a wind-shear situation in a timely manner, (3) their failure to establish an appropriate attitude and thrust setting necessary to escape the wind shear and (4) a lack of real-time weather and wind-shear hazard information dissemination from ATC.
Dassault will introduce a Falcon 50 derivative in late 1996. The Falcon 50EX, an upgraded replacement for the Falcon 50, will feature a Collins Pro Line IV avionics suite similar to that installed in the Falcon 2000. AlliedSignal's new TFE731-40 turbofans will power the 50EX, providing better climb, cruise, range and fuel specifics. The new aircraft will be priced at about $15.4 million.
