Canadian manufacturer Bombardier selected the new P&WC PW150 to power its proposed 70-passenger, de Havilland Dash 8-400 regional airliner. The PW150, a derivative of the PW100 turboprop family, is scheduled for certification in mid 1998, but at press time, Bombardier had not yet made a go decision for the aircraft. The Dash 8-400 has been in on-and-off development since the mid 1980s and had an original launch date of late 1989 (B/CA, May 1989, page 99).
Upon first glance, the cockpit of the Falcon 50EX easily could be mistaken for that of a Falcon 2000. The newest Falcon trijet, similar to the Falcon 2000, has a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics suite with four 7.25-inch-square EFIS CRTs that dominate the instrument panel. Above the instrument panel is a newly designed glareshield control panel that houses display and flight-guidance system controls, including lateral and vertical navigation functions.
Anyone would find it hard to imagine any product or service bearing the name Garrett as being new to corporate aviation. The name's been a part of the business literally since its inception. In fact, Cliff Garrett did one of the first corporate completions on a surplus C-47 following World War II, and some say his accomplishment marked the birth of modern corporate aviation.
Photograph: Loretta Cook, president of Women Employed in Corporate Aviation Network (WECAN), and pilot for the Gannett newspaper chain. 100 FLIGHTS FOR LIFESAVING TREATMENT On March 27, Carolyn King of Washington, Michigan, a lung cancer patient, celebrated her 100th flight coordinated by the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) of White Plains, New York. CAN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding transportation aboard corporate aircraft to and from treatment centers for cancer patients.
Dan Manningham, United Airlines pilot and long-time B/CA special features contributor, has received an honor from the Flight Safety Foundation. Manningham was presented with the Foundation's Business Aviation Meritorious Award at an awards luncheon at the FSF's 40th annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar in Vancouver on April 27.
Development of low-octane unleaded avgas has been boosted by Cessna's decision to equip its new singles with engines that can run on unleaded 82 octane, even though efforts to produce high-octane unleaded avgas to replace 100LL have been unsuccessful to date (B/CA, February 1993, page 20). Phillips 66 expects to receive FAA approval for an 82UL avgas later this year. Meanwhile, Cessna has started flight testing a prototype of the updated Model 172 that it intends to start manufacturing in 1996--exactly a decade after production was suspended.
The Washington, D.C. think tank called the Heritage Foundation has proposed yet another solution to the much-debated future of ATC and the FAA: shut down the DOT and most of its agencies, including the FAA. The Foundation maintains that many of the former DOT functions, such as ATC, should eventually be privatized. Already under consideration, of course, are President Clinton's idea of consolidating the DOT and spinning off ATC, and general aviation's push for the FAA (with ATC) to remain a government agency--but independent of the DOT.
``Nav Canada'' is the private corporation being formed to take over the country's Air Navigation System from the Canadian government on or about April 1, 1996. Nav Canada is to be a nonprofit corporation, with funds coming from user fees--many of them to be increased. A 15-person board of directors will have four representatives from commercial aviation, one from GA, three from the federal government, two from unions and four from such professions as law, accounting and engineering. The board will appoint a CEO (B/CA, November 1994, page 58).
At its Facilitation Division meeting held in Montreal in April, ICAO proposed the adoption of a U.S.-requested ``recommended practice'' to stop the spraying of insecticide on aircraft while passengers are on board. The only exception would be for aircraft operations originating in or operating via a nation considered to pose a threat to public health or the agricultural industry. The full ICAO Council is expected to adopt this recommended practice by summer's end. About 20 countries still require spraying (B/CA, March, page 26).
In an effort to maintain closer contact with Learjet customers, the Learjet Advisory Panel has established an electronic bulletin board system (BBS). Panel members are representatives from manufacturers and FlightSafety International, operators and others. To access the system, users need a 386 or higher PC, a modem (set to N-8-1) and a communications program. After registering with the system's main menu at (915) 949-5517, users also will be given access to other areas in the system, including bulletins, libraries, message areas and e-mail.
The FAA's proposed ``Commuter Safety Rule'' will add about $1 million to the price of a 19-passenger airplane. The cost of proximity floor lighting alone will cost $50,000 per airplane. That is what some regional airlines are being told by their aircraft suppliers. If that is true, it could challenge the economic viability of the 19-passenger airplane and mean the loss of air service to many small communities that simply cannot support larger equipment.
A satellite communications system designed to give aviators more timely and detailed weather broadcasts is being phased in worldwide. World Area Forecast System (WAFS) broadcasts, a cooperative effort between the World Meteorological Organization, several U.S. agencies and ICAO, now reaches all countries in the Americas. Broadcasts originating in the United Kingdom reach Europe, Africa and Asia. In October, WAFS broadcasts are slated to reach countries in the Pacific.
A call for ``free and fair access to airports'' topped the list of resolutions adopted by the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations at its recent annual meeting in Tokyo. Specifically, the IAOPA adopted resolutions as follows: -- For ICAO and all member-states to be encouraged to adopt as policy ``that all aircraft, including general aviation encompassing business and aerial work aircraft, have the right of access to public airports on fair and reasonable terms without unjust discrimination. . . .''
A personal computer equipped with a CD-ROM reader can be a real advantage to anyone in aviation who frequently has to look up regulations, ADs, Service Bulletins and other documents. Aircraft Technical Publishers of Brisbane, California has introduced a CD that could be indispensable to many business aviation flight departments.
The FAA effort to develop new and improved airport signs started in 1991. Although all FAR Part 139 airports were supposed to have new signs in place by the beginning of this year, about 40 airports had not finished installing them by the end of April.
After taking 77-year-old Allison private from General Motors in a management buyout, the Indianapolis-based engine manufacturer's leadership surprised the aviation community late in 1994 when it abruptly sold out to British engine builder Rolls-Royce for $525 million. The U.S. government approved the merger in March.
Cyril E. King International Airport in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands will soon have its first full-service FBO since 1992, when the airport was expanded and recommissioned. The board of directors of the U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority selected Sr. Croix-based Bohlke International Airways to operate a full-time, full-service FBO at St. Thomas. Line services will expand gradually as the company begins in January 1996 to build toward full-service capability.
Cessna's awesomely quick Citation X mid-size business jet was not the AE 3007's launch customer. That distinction went to Embraer with its EMB-145 jet airliner. But so far in the Allison Engines development and certification program, the Citation X has done nearly all the flying. (And what it didn't do was flown by a Citation VII engineering test bed.)
Pilots flying within 300 nm of White Sands, New Mexico should be alert to possibly unreliable GPS signals until July 15. For the next month and half, the White Sands Missile Range is conducting signal-jamming tests of GPS to determine what effect electronic interference might have on signal reliability. The FAA reportedly has no objection to such tests as long as they will be ``highly restricted'' once GPS is approved as a primary means of navigation.
Netherlands-based Fokker Aircraft has received certification from the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority for its F70 twin-jet. The aircraft received Dutch and U.S. certification in September 1994, and the first production unit, a 48-seat corporate shuttle, was delivered to Ford Motor Company in October. Fokker hopes to receive certification for autoland capability later this year (B/CA, December 1994, page 28). Meanwhile, Fokker is implementing a major restructuring plan aimed at returning the company to financial stability.
As part of Israel Aircraft Industries' ongoing process to privatize several of its units, including the business jet line, the company disclosed it is looking for additional risk-sharing partners. IAI says this search for partners is being ``conducted in parallel'' with development of the Galaxy and the Astra SPX programs. Despite reports to the contrary, IAI says the search for a partner ``is not a prerequisite to the programs and by no means should it affect the original development and production schedules.'' IAI ``is committed'' to the programs.
Representative James Oberstar (D-MN) introduced legislation to make some or all FAR Part 139 certification requirements applicable to all airports served by scheduled aircraft with 10 to 30 passenger seats. Part 139 standards currently apply to airports serving airline aircraft designed to carry 31 or more passengers. The Oberstar bill (H.R.1545) is virtually identical to Senate bill S.682 that Senator Wendell Ford (D-KY) introduced earlier this year.
U.S. Coast Guard is proceeding with plans to stop operating Loran-C ground stations by 2000, despite efforts by thousands of Loran-C users to retain the system (B/CA, June 1994, page 15). The original Loran-C termination date was 2015. The Coast Guard cites a lean budget and the availability of GPS as reasons for an early phaseout. About 120,000 Loran navigation receivers are in aviation use. The FAA has yet to comment on the Coast Guard's stance.
The following companies provide ground-side communications access to satcom-equipped business aircraft: Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC) 2551 Riva Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 266-2329 Avicom Japan Ltd. Business Coordination Department Kenchiku-Kaikan 5-26-20 Shiba Minatoku, Tokyo 108 Japan +81 3 5443-9291 Comsat/KDD Consortium Comsat Aeronautical Services Comsat Corp. 22300 Comsat Dr.
