Avfuel is expanding its international reach with two more fixed-base operators joining its network. Rizon Jet at London Biggin Hill in the U.K. and Air Service Basel at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse Airport in Switzerland both have partnered with Avfuel. The FBOs will offer Avfuel’s contract Fuel and Avtrip Reward Points programs. They will also have access to various Avfuel operational systems and training.
"Under Pressure” (June 2014, page 45) was a great article on tires, but your Learjet 60 accident synopsis gives the reader the impression that this was a typical accident for a post-V1 abort. It was not. You wrote that the thrust reversers were activated but omitted that the TRs subsequently stowed (damaged squat switches) and caused the airplane to accelerate as the engines spooled up above the N1 limit for reverse.
Recently I was again reminded that time is passing and that different lives can be lived, well, unevenly. The confirmation arrived in an email my brother sent to all family members announcing that, after 28 years on the job, he’s retiring. He’s not the first of the seven siblings to punch out, but he’s the youngest by far.
There is something strangely prehistoric about the way many of us continue to fly what we grew up calling a “non-precision” instrument approach. After flying across continents and oceans with navigational precision measured in decimals, we push the nose over a thousand feet per minute “or so” and wait for the minimum descent altitude (MDA). That altitude is measured with an altimeter accurate to plus or minus 75 ft., plus whatever temperature tolerances may exist, and based on an altimeter setting that may be an hour or more old.
L-3 Aviation Products has been selected to provide its GH-3900 electronic standby instrument system (ESIS) for new production Viking Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft. Canadian-based Viking holds the type certificates for seven legacy de Havilland aircraft — DHC-1 through DHC-7 — and manufactures the 400 Twin Otter. The GH-3900 ESIS is designed to Level A software and hardware standards and can be customized to fit a range of primary systems.
Dart Aerospace, Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada, named Rick Golob as director of Aftermarket Support and Services responsible for aligning and managing Dart’s repair and overhaul network.
Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., named John Liotta, director of Product Support Sales for the East Coast of the U.S. He is responsible for maintenance sales to Gulfstream operators and reports to Mike West, vice president, Product Support and New Business Development. Tony Swift is the company’s first field service representative in Africa and will be based in South Africa.
Cabin Innovations, Lewisville, Texas, named Gary Stephens Engineering manager. He will be responsible for leading the engineering team and advancing the design and development capabilities for VIP galleys and interiors.
Universal Avionics, Tucson, Ariz., announced the Corey Wilkinson has been appointed to the newly created position of sales manager for the Latin America sales region. He will be responsible for developing the business aviation market for the company in Latin American, including Mexico. He will be based in St. Louis, Mo.
Air BP, Sunbury on Thames, U.K., announced the appointment of Norbert Kamp as Global Sales and Marketing director. He will report to Air BP CEO David Gilmour. The appointment follows the retirement of Peter O’Callahan earlier this year.
Aviation Management Systems (AMS), Portsmouth, N.H., announced that Jeffrey J. Troccolo has joined the company as senior vice president. He will be based in Connecticut.
Supercooling fog so it disperses as snow, increasing visibility, has been tried with some success at Orly Airport, France. One problem is the reaction of nearby residents to the resulting light snow fall.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., announced that Otto Gambrel has been promoted to assistant manager of the West Palm Beach, Fla., Learning Center. Paul Statskey succeeds Gambrel as program manager of FSI’s Hong Kong Learning Center.
