Clay Lacy Aviation, working with Envoy Aerospace, is hoping to secure certification next year for a Universal Avionics package that would enable Gulfstream IV and IVSP aircraft to meet new equipment requirements for North Atlantic crossings. Clay Lacy plans to begin installation of the package — which includes FANS 1/A+, CPDLC, Link 2000+ and ADS-B — in January. The package initially will be installed on a G-IVSP, with certification expected to follow in April.
Sabreliner is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the certification of the original Sabreliner business jet, the Model 40. The aircraft's roots began as the Air Force T-39 aircraft and incorporated many of the design standards to become the 40. Sabreliner subsequently delivered four additional models — the 60, 75, 75A/80 and 65. Production of the Sabreliners ended in 1982 after 631 were built. Of those, 232 are still in service, include 42 Sabre 40s. Sabreliner Corp., which has facilities in Perryville and Ste.
One of the first common screening tests used to determine if a patient is suffering from sleep apnea is done in bed using a blood oxygen sensor attached to one of your fingers. This “Overnight Oximetry on Room Air” records your pulse and blood oxygen saturation level throughout the night. The automated data analysis subsequently reports how many times your blood oxygen saturation level fell below certain levels. It is an easy and convenient test to take, and the advantage is that you get to sleep in your own home.
General Dymanics, Falls Church, Va., announced the Robert E. Smith has been appointed president of Jet Aviation report to Joseph T. Lombardo, executive vice president of the company's Aerospace group. Smith succeeds Daniel G. Glare, who has been appointed CFO of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.
Cessna commemorated the 20th anniversary of its Greensboro Citation Service Center in December. Located at Piedmont Triad International Airport, N.C., the facility is one of the busiest in the network of company-owned service centers, handling approximately 2,500 service orders for aircrft operating in or traveling through the mid-Atlantic U.S.in 2013. Greensboro is one of 15 company-owned service centers offering maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, avionics upgrades and other specialized services for the line of Citation business jets.
Climbing through 10,000 ft., we both began to get the restless, uneasy feeling that emerges when you're not quite sure of your location. We double-checked our position using dual independent GPS. There was no doubt we were precisely where we were supposed to be, but given the surrounding mountainous terrain, the margin of error was zero. In the distance, we saw a bright flash of light, and we both knew we had arrived at our destination.
By the time you read this, Beechcraft may have completed the sale of its shuttered Hawker 4000 and Premier aircraft lines, along with tooling and associated facilities. The company had been weighing bids and in negotiations for the sale since last July and hoped to close the deal by year-end. CEO Bill Boisture said earlier that it would be unlikely that production of those aircraft would restart under new ownership, but rather that a support company would acquire all rights to maintain the existing fleet of 400 Premiers and Hawkers 4000s.
Ross Detwiler has been bringing a lot to the B&CA table for a long time and always demonstrates a profoundly circumspect awareness of the eccentricities of the game. However, I can't quite wrap my head around his thoughts on SVS in the final 100 ft. to TDZ (“Thumbs Down for Head Up,” October 2013). There's a reason they call it “synthetic” after all. Still, my admiration for Ross's dedication to the game and his analytical intelligence continues unabated. Well done.
Boston JetSearch, Bedford, Mass., announced that Russ Piggott has joined the company to help manage the aircraft search and acquisition process for clients.
You're 25 times more likely to suffer a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) crash if you're flying a circling approach rather than a straight-in procedure, according to accident statistics compiled by the Flight Safety Foundation. As such, IFR circling approaches are among the highest risk maneuvers attempted by pilots.
I am an owner-pilot who previously operated a Citation Bravo but currently own and operate a CJ4. I have enjoyed reading your editorials for years and find your magazine's articles very informative and educational. Keep up the great work. Hamilton, Ont.
Turbomeca and China's Avic Engine have completed the first test bench runs of the new Ardiden 3C turboshaft that is destined for use on the Chinese version of the Eurocopter EC175. The tests, completed at Turbomeca's Bordes facility in France, confirmed what the company called “good aeromechanical behavior and performance,” and allow the manufacturer to proceed to the test and certification phase of the engine's development program. The trial is a major milestone in the development of the Ardiden 3C, which will be called the WZ16 by Avic.
TWC Aviation, Los Angeles, announced the Jason Berg has joined the company as chief aviation officer. He will oversee TWC's flight operations, safety and maintenance departments, and play a key role in the firm's new environmental initiative.
Despite news of a resurging U.S. manufacturing industry, U.S. export competitiveness in manufacturing continues to decline, according to a new report by the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation. In 2000, Europe and the U.S. remained atop the world's exporters, with Japan trailing the U.S. by a little more than one-third the total exports. Since that time, China has leapfrogged both the U.S. and Europe. U.S. exports, in terms of dollar value, have grown 70% since 2000, marking the third slowest growth among the world's top 11 exporters.
Swiss-based Vertis Aviation will open a new Dubai branch of its aviation charter business this month. Located in the Free Zone at Dubai World Central. Catherine Buchanan will serve as the general manager. Vertis will market a Global 6000, two Airbus A319 corporate jets, two Global XRS aircraft, a Global Express and a Falcon 7X.
Kafko International's new Clear Vision concentrated windshield wash solution provides and eco-friendly alternative to traditional wash fluids, according to the company. The product features unique plant by-product chemistry, free of petrochemicals. The solution easily removes bugs, bid dropping tree sap, traffic film and road grime. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, non-corrosive and contains no methanol, and does not lower freeze point. Clear Vision is available in a 5-gal. bucket and 55-gal. drum.
FltPlan is offering its free Weight & Balance program via its website and mobile apps for over 400 makes and models of aircraft in its database. The program is available on the full website, on the Android app or on the iPad app. The Android and iPad apps' Weight & Balance features integrate with a users online information. It can be imported direction to an app, with no need to re-enter the aircraft parameters. The data can be used offline when no Internet is available.
West Star Aviation, East Alton, Ill., named Debi Cunningham vice president of Marketing and Interior Design. She started her career in business aviation in 1983 and has been with West Star since 2002.
To many professional pilots the six-month visit to the aviation medical examiner (AME) is an event full of fret, which is relieved only by award of a fresh medical certificate, allowing continued employment for another half year. It's no secret that some keep medical secrets from the FAA and others simply won't admit to themselves that they have a physical or mental problem that negatively affects their quality of life, health and cockpit performance.
The autothrottle system provides automatic thrust control from the start of takeoff through climb, cruise, descent, approach and go-around or landing. In normal operation, the flight management computer provides the A/T system with engine N1 limit values. The A/T moves the thrust levers with a separate servomotor on each thrust lever. Following manual positioning, the A/T may reposition the thrust levers to comply with computed thrust requirements except while in the THR HLD and ARM modes.
Rockwell Collins announced a series of enhancements to its Pro Line Fusion avionics. The primary update is Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) 0.3. This enhancement provides obstacle clearance and clearly defined fight paths in congested airspace and at terrain-challenged airports.
Earlier this year on a red-eye flight from China, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a highly intoxicated and unusually talkative German. As the sun rose and breakfast was served, the flight attendant cheerfully passed him another Guinness. He was happy. She was happy. I was not. Was the FAA?
The crash of a Hawker 800 at Owatonna, Minn., on July 31, 2008, that killed all eight persons aboard involved acute sleep loss, cumulative sleep debt and early start time for both the captain and first officer. The captain's health required excessive sleep and the first officer was suffering from insomnia, as well as self-medicating with prescriptive medicines for sleep.
