Strong indications had surfaced at B/CA press time that British Aerospace unit Avro Aerospace, which produces the RJ series of quadjets, may join with BAe unit Jetstream Aircraft in its joint venture with Avions de Transport Regional (ATR). At press time, the announcement of a link-up between the Franco/Italian partnership and Jetstream was believed to be imminent. Avro would bring its line of jets to the party and speculation holds that a goal would be to develop a twin-engine version of the aircraft.
Operators approved for flight in North Atlantic Minimum Navigation Performance Specification (MNPS) airspace are reminded that additional maintenance requirements for flights between FL 290 and FL 410 within the Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) airspace may be required. Operators may have to reapply for approval based on height-keeping as well as navigational performance.
The ``Large Executive Flight Case'' from Sporty's Pilot Shop is fashioned from a single piece of Grade A saddle leather, meaning no seams at the bottom to pull loose. Hand-sewn and lock-stitched with waxed thread, the case has a brass combination lock, rounded corners and a collapsible handle. Other features include two inside pockets and six brass ``feet'' on the case bottom to protect the product from scuffing. Each case, in a choice of brown or black, comes with a brass nameplate suitable for engraving a name, home base or N-number. Price: $315.
A joint industry/FAA safety effort has resulted in the publication of a rejected-takeoff training manual. The Takeoff Safety Training Aid contains an overview for managers, a pilot guide to takeoff safety, and classroom and simulator training modules. The manual is available at $56 per copy from the National Technical Information Service in Springfield, Virginia. Phone: (703) 487-4650. Refer to NTIS reference PB93780013.
Most of the aviation community is charging headlong into satellite navigation because, in the future, it promises to offer virtual chock-to-chock navigation guidance: taxi out, takeoff, departure, en route, arrival, approach and taxi in. However, questions now have been raised about the ability of GPS, even with many added enhancements, to provide certifiable Category II and III precision-approach capabilities within the next decade.
The FAA in mid-January modified the prohibition against flying the ATR-42/72 in icing conditions. The aircraft had been grounded as a result of icing simulations by the manufacturer following the October 31, 1994 crash of an American Eagle ATR-72 at Roselawn, Indiana that killed all 68 on board (Flight 4184 from Indianapolis to Chicago O'Hare). At the same time, there were reports that some of the affected operators were preparing claims against both Avions de Transport Regional and the FAA for costs incurred because of the flight restrictions.
Several companies have teamed up to develop differential GPS local-area augmentation systems. These ground-based systems are designed to calculate corrections to basic airborne GPS signals and transmit the corrections to aircraft on final approach. Collaborating to compete in this market are two pairs of companies, each developing a joint product: E-Systems of Salt Lake City and Annapolis, Maryland-based ARINC, as well as Interstate Electronics of Anaheim, California and Airport Systems International of Overland Park, Kansas.
The overwhelming Republican victory in November 1994 and the free-falling Clinton presidency have people wondering what will happen during the next two years. For aviation, some intriguing possibilities for positive change are coming to the fore. The electorate's rebellion against expensive federal mandates could limit costly new environmental initiatives, such as the so-called Federal Implementation Plan in southern California that threatens draconian limits on aircraft use.
Accident investigators are still searching for the cause of the fatal crash of a civil-registered U.S. National Guard Learjet 35 in mid-December 1994. Trouble with both engines was reported by the crew moments before the aircraft crashed in Fresno, California. Pilots Richard Anderson and Brad Sexton, the only persons aboard, where killed. The aircraft, owned by Phoenix Air of Cartersville, Georgia, had been serving as a target in war games.
It is often said that trends in the regional airline business start in the Northeast. Provincetown-Boston Airline was the first to make seasonal ``migrations'' from New England to Florida in the winter, and it grew to be the nation's largest regional prior to its demise. The former Executive and Pilgrim Airlines introduced the first modern turboprop aircraft into service with Beech 99s and de Havilland Twin Otters, respectively.
It is rare indeed that virtually all of Washington's aviation-related alphabet organizations agree on anything; but fear is a great motivator, and these groups believe we all have much to fear from a quick and dirty ``reform'' of the FAA.
With a ``more business-like operation'' in mind, FAA Administrator David Hinson has reorganized the agency along the lines of key functions: regulation and certification, air traffic services, research and acquisitions, airports, civil aviation security and administration. Each of the six functional areas is headed by an ``associate administrator.'' Hinson said, ``We must meet increased customer needs with decreasing financial resources, and we need to move beyond business as usual.''
NBAA reports that the government of Venezuela dropped a proposed 30-percent luxury tax on imported and domestic sales of U.S.-registered aircraft as well as a plan to confiscate such aircraft if they remained in the country for more than six months. The association said it received assurances from the U.S. Trade Representative's Office in Washington, D.C. that it will continue to monitor the situation if similar actions are proposed or implemented.
In two years, Germany's Frankfurt Airport plans to introduce a fee structure related to the cost of runway and slot time, and airport marketing and planning officials say their objective is to deter use of the airport by general aviation aircraft. Although passenger airlines wishing to use Germany's Frankfurt Main Airport will always be free to do so, the aim of airport authorities is to increase the Frankfurt facility's role as a leading European air cargo hub.
Commuter Air Technology now makes the CATPASS Exhaust System for the King Air 200/B200. The new exhausts are built from coated stainless steel that is claimed to greatly reduce the sooting associated with OEM stacks, and virtually eliminate cracking. Other declared benefits are increased speed (7.5 knots average), improved fuel efficiency (two to five percent) and lower maintenance and overhaul costs. However, at equal horsepower, the CAT exhausts back-pressure the engine, which may cause a required increase in ITT.
303 Protectant, from 303 Products Incorporated, is formulated for use on deicing boots, pressure door seals and aircraft interiors. The protectant is said to provide ultraviolet screening, ozone protection, enhanced ice-shedding properties and shine. It acts as a restorative for instrument panels, vinyl, plastic or leather, and as a conditioner for door seals to prevent drying and cracking. Non-toxic and biodegradable, 303 Protectant contains no silicones or petroleum-based chemicals. Price: About $12 per quart. Free sample kit is available. 303 Products, Inc., P.O.
ACR Electronics' new Forever Light is designed as an emergency flashlight. Activated by pouring almost any water-based solution, such as salt water, into the case of the unit, the product has an operating life of five continuous hours or 12 hours of intermittent use. According to the manufacturer, the unused flashlight will last for more than 25 years of dry storage without losing battery power. The product measures 7.13 inches long by 2.25 inches in diameter and weighs 4.6 ounces. Price: $16.95. ACR Electronics, 5757 Ravenswood Rd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
First flight of the prototype of the Embraer EMB-145 regional jet is on tap for May. Certification testing of the 50-passenger, Allison-powered EMB-145 will include three pre-production aircraft in addition to the single prototype. Deliveries of the $13-million aircraft are scheduled to start in the second half of 1996. At press time, Embraer said it had 10 orders for the aircraft, four purchase options and 132 letters of intent placed by 17 airlines.
March 1--Duty times: Deadline for compliance with flight attendant duty times and minimum rest requirements for operations under FAR Parts 121 and 135 on-demand and scheduled certificate holders. June 21--ELTs: Newly installed ELTs must meet TSO C91a. July 1--Alcohol testing: FAR Part 135 operators with 11 to 50 employees to whom alcohol-testing rules are applicable will have to be in compliance. December 31--TCAS: Turbine-powered FAR Part 135 aircraft
Near-collisions on the North Atlantic are rare, even though losses of procedural separation are common. Only three or four near-collisions have been reported in this busy, non-radar environment in the last decade. The most notorious of these occurred when a Lockheed L-1011, whose crew had mis-programmed the inertial navigation system, came within 100 feet of a Boeing 747 at FL 350.
The PC-12 is Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG's newest, largest, most powerful and most sophisticated single-engine aircraft certified for civil use. The ``12'' stands for 1,200 shp, giving this single-engine aircraft the weight-to-power ratio at takeoff of a twin-engine turboprop.
The FAA has issued an AD that makes mandatory the modification of up to 5,000 Terra Model 250 transponders. The modification is necessary so that the units will respond to interrogations by Mode S ground stations and airborne TCAS equipment. To date, Terra has modified several hundred units. Modification costs about $400 per transponder, and the mod must be incorporated by August 6. For details, contact Terra Corporation in Albuquerque at (505) 884-2662.
Business jet manufacturers have plans in place for this year's maintenance and operations (M&O) meetings. Meetings scheduled are as follows: Cessna Citation, Wichita, May 1-3; Gulfstream, Savannah, June 5-8; Israel Aircraft Industries Astra and Westwind, San Diego, April 23-26; Raytheon Beechjet, Wichita, March 20-22 and Raytheon Hawker Jet North American Operators Conference, Captiva Island, Florida, May 22-24. Canadair will hold regional M&O meetings for the Challenger starting March 20 in Cincinnati.
In the United States, more than 650 airports now have some form of airport-access restriction based on aircraft noise. That number has grown from 593 airports in 1993 and 400 in 1988. The most severe restrictions include nighttime curfews and maximum-decibel levels or other noise levels. Many airports also can impose fines and can ban aircraft that do not operate within the guidelines.
A groundbreaking ceremony in December 1994 launched the conversion of Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin to a civil facility to be named Bergstrom-Austin International Airport. The conversion project includes the construction of a full-service FBO and other business aircraft facilities, plus an airline terminal, a 7,000-foot runway and a new ATC tower. Cargo operations are scheduled to begin in 1996, with full operations to follow in 1998.
