Barken International, a Utah-based maintenance, management and charter company, is one of the latest firms to introduce a fractional ownership program (B/CA, January, page 60). Called Interjets, the program offers buyers a 25-percent interest in Learjet 35s. Interjets is similar to other fractional ownership programs in that there is a monthly management fee, a discount rate for a minimum number of charter hours and a guarantee of aircraft availability. For more information, contact Interjets of Salt Lake City at (801) 539-7700.
NBAA's 1995 Business Aviation Fact Book contains an overview of the business aviation industry, including economic performance comparisons between companies that operate business aircraft and those that do not, the size and composition of the worldwide fleet of business aircraft, noise-level comparisons of business jets, fuel and safety statistics, flying activity, ATC and airport operations, aircraft sales and more. Single copies of the 36-page publication are available at no charge from the NBAA in Washington, D.C. Phone: (202) 783-9286.
There is a ``youth movement'' going on at Saab Aircraft of America (SAAI) with two ``thirty-somethings'' now holding the two top management positions and former President Ove Dahlen back to provide the oversight. The new president and CEO is Henrik Schruder, 39, a Swede and the son of retired Harald Schruder, former general manager of the Saab Aircraft Division and executive vice president of Saab-Scania. He replaces Jack Faherty, 65, who took the top spot with the early retirement of Dahlen, 61, in 1993.
The first quarter of 1995 saw worldwide sales of new and previously owned turbines drop 27 percent from first-quarter 1994 totals. Much of the decline continues to be attributable to especially weak overseas markets. Monthly declines, however, can be expected to narrow throughout the year if the last two years' trends continue.
The increasingly integrated avionics suites found in modern business aircraft come in a variety of sizes--mostly industry-standard boxes. Deciding which to choose depends on the aircraft and the complexity of the avionics installed. The large format display tubes found in the integrated cockpit systems of high-end aircraft are replacing many electromechanical instruments. Standard-size cutouts for Collins Pro Line 4 display tubes are 7.0 by 6.0 inches or 7.25 by 7.25 inches.
DOT's revised Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) rates for the six-month period from January 1 through June 30 increased slightly over the second half of 1994. The current per-mile rates are: 0-500 sm--$0.1724; 501-1,500 sm--$0.1315; and over 1,500 sm--$0.1264. The terminal charge is $31.52. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service requires SIFL rates to be used when computing the cost of transportation of non-business travelers aboard employer-provided aircraft.
Legislation has been introduced in Congress to repeal a 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax increase on jet fuel used in commercial operations. The tax, scheduled to go into effect October 1, was included in the Budget Act of 1993 and immediately applied to all operators except air taxis and airlines, which were given an exemption for two years (B/CA, October 1993, page 21). The legislation in its current form would not repeal the tax on commercial use of avgas.
Unless you regularly receive FAR Parts 135 or 121 check rides and don't do any instructing, you'll be taking a Biennial Flight Review sometime in the near future.
If the high-tech baggage system at the new Denver International Airport acts up and drives you to smoke, note that the airport's two Aviation Club lounges, in the Jeppesen Terminal Building and in Concourse B, are DEN's only public indoor smoking facilities. The lounges offer a full menu and bar service, and, of course, ashtrays.
The word ``more'' seems to characterize what's on deck for this year's National Air Transportation Association's Annual Convention and Trade Show to be held May 10-12 in New Orleans. ``This year we're exceeding the number of 1994 exhibitors by 10 percent, and we're offering 20 percent more seminars,'' said James K. Coyne, president of NATA. ``Our members will learn new ways to expand their businesses and how better to do business in this industry.''
Bombardier selected a new General Electric turbofan to power the proposed Canadair CRJ-X, a 76-passenger version of the current GE-powered, 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jet. The 13,000-pound-thrust CF34-8C engine, now under development, is an upgraded version of the 9,220-pound-thrust CF34-3A1 on the RJ 100 and 100ER.
The General Aviation Association of Australia was kind enough to send us a copy of the latest revised edition of Weather for General Aviation. The 22-page booklet, published by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, is a guide to understanding aviation weather forecasting and reporting services available in Australia. This second edition is an update of the 1991 issue and encompasses changes which have occurred during the past three years, such as electronic access to meteorological information and changes to aeronautical codes.
Those who tell you there's no water in their aviation fuel are mistaken. As a hydrocarbon, fuel has an irrepressible affinity for water. Therefore, the question with either avgas or jet fuel isn't whether there's water in it, but rather how much water it contains.
First- and second-year regional-airline copilots continue their lowly financial state into 1995--as low as a mere $10,080 in the first year, as high as $24,996 in the second.
FAA has launched a crusade to ``aggressively enforce'' regulations governing replacement parts approvals. To bring non-complying companies to heel, the agency says they must apply by May 30 for approval to manufacture parts, and none of the application information will be used as evidence in any enforcement investigation for violation of the rules. The crackdown also covers a range of enforcement actions--from administrative to substantial civil penalties.
In July, an international airport is scheduled to open in Macau, an autonomous city/state perched on a peninsula at the mouth of the Canton River about 70 miles south of Hong Kong. The new airport has an 11,000-foot runway and will operate around the clock. At press time, details were sketchy on the extent and costs of provisions, if any, for corporate aircraft. International handling agents should have more details as the airport's opening draws nearer.
Effective May 16, Sweden's Saab-Scania Group is expected to be divided into two separate companies--Saab AB and Scania AB. The change is organizational only and will not affect operations of Saab Aircraft in any way, according to officials at Saab Aircraft of America. Separately, an FAA Level C flight simulator for the Saab 340 twin turboprop is now in operation at FlightSafety International's La Guardia Airport facility. The simulator's VITAL visual system provides scenes from a database that includes a variety of U.S. airports.
AlliedSignal Canada and Aerospace Safety Technologies are independently developing nickel-coated, carbon fiber deice/anti-ice fibrous mat heaters. When electrically energized, these mat heaters protect airfoils and other surfaces from ice accretion. AST's NO-ICE and Allied-Signal's electrothermal ice protection system are attached directly to the exposed surfaces prior to applying primer and finish paint. The heating mats are sandwiched between thin layers of other materials, resulting in a total thickness of less than 0.010 inch.
The Environmental Protection Agency dropped its proposal to require takeoff fees for GA aircraft in certain parts of California (B/CA, April 1994, page 18), but new proposals under the EPA's Federal Implementation Program affect refueling and other ground services. FBOs are questioning requirements for making a transition to electric ground service equipment and minimizing the use of APUs, and whether existing equipment or operations will be grandfathered.
NTSB wants the FAA to require pilots to read back runway assignments when more than one runway is in operation, and for controllers to confirm that readback. The Board is asking the FAA to ``move ahead immediately'' on implementing the Airport Movement Area Safety System that has been in development and in live-traffic testing for several years. The NTSB's move stems from its ongoing investigation into the November 1994 collision of a Cessna Conquest 441 and an MD-80 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (B/CA, January, page 12).
Avions de Transport Regional will offer active noise control (ANC) as an option on the new ATR42-500, scheduled for certification in mid-May. The -500 is a 50-passenger, ``hot-and-high'' derivative of the -300, boasting 2,400-shaft-horsepower Pratt&Whitney Canada PW127E turboprops. Testing has confirmed a 305-knot cruising speed and a range of 1,000 nm (1,150 sm), according to ATR. Two hundred hours of a planned 300-hour flight-test program have been completed.
Cessna said it is increasing the maximum operating speed for the Citation X business jet to 0.92 Mach. Cessna also reports that additional FAA requirements caused certification of the Citation X to slip from August to late November. However, first customer deliveries are still scheduled to begin in spring 1996. Meanwhile, Allison received FAA approval of the Citation X engine, the AE3007C.
Proposed noise abatement programs under FAR Part 150 have been submitted to the FAA for Wisconsin's Austin Straubel International Airport, Illinois' Greater Rockford Airport and California's Palm Springs Regional Airport. The FAA is expected to approve or disapprove the programs in July. Under FAR Part 150, interested parties have the right to comment on the proposals. For more information, contact the local FAA airport district offices.
Dennis Newton's book, Severe Weather Flying, provides a wealth of information on aircraft icing. What follows is a capsulized version of some of his major points.
Daimler-Benz Aerospace of Munich, Germany and Rockwell International have agreed to establish a joint-venture company to develop and market satellite-based flight guidance systems and other advanced avionics products. Rockwell and Daimler-Benz will each hold 50 percent ownership in the new company, which will be based in Ulm, Germany. At press time, there were no details on specific products to be offered or a timetable when these products would be available.
