With regards to Ross Detwiler's articlepointing out the shortcomings of HUDs (“Thumbs Down for Head Up,” October 2013, page 62), there are a couple of things that should be noted. First, in vintage HUDs the eyebox is definitely too small and requires flying “at attention.” Current generation HUDs (C130J, Kollsman AT-HUD) have a larger eyebox, allow for much more head movement and are easier to fly.
ARGUS International, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, announced that Justin Roberts has joined the company as marketing manager, based in the Cincinnati office. His background is in strategic multimedia management, website development and optimization, marketing research, and project and budget execution. He is an air defense officer in the Ohio Army National Guard.
Jetex Flight Support in collaboration with Honeywell launched MyJETEX, an app for Apple platforms that provides operators with flight support solutions. Operators can plan and manage their worldwide trips via the app with flight planning, aircraft datalink, flight following and international trip support services. The app is one of a suite of tools used jointly by Jetex and Honeywell to expand Honeywell's Global Data Center's Flight Sentinel services worldwide.
Securaplane, Tucson, Az., appointed George DeClue regional sales manager who will be based in New York. Manuel Herrero will be the European account executive and Christian Fredericks is marketing manager.
Dr. Perry Inhofe, the son of Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), was killed Nov. 10 when the Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 he was piloting crashed on approach to Tulsa, Okla., International Airport. The 52-year-old orthopedic surgeon was the only person aboard. The aircraft, which Dr. Inhofe had recently acquired, was en route from Salina, Kan., when the accident occurred. Weather was not believed to be a factor. However, initial reports indicated the aircraft lost an engine in flight, and NTSB did find the left engine propeller in the feathered position.
2002—Steven F. Santo, an attorney, pilot and former prosecutor, conceives Avantair, a fractional aircraft ownership program based solely on the Piaggio P180 Avanti turboprop. Service launches following year. 2005 – Having moved from New Jersey to Clearwater, Fla., Avantair operates 16 Avantis for 100 shareowners and announces plans to add another 20 aircraft within a year. The publicly traded firm adds charter card program. 2008 — Employs some 400 people; takes delivery of its 50th P180; announces 58 more Avanti IIs on order.
Becker Avionics introduced its DVC6100 digital Voice Communication System for business and commuter aircraft — particularly the Beechcraft King Air 200 and 350 series. It provides flight phone service, intercom and cabin/passenger address capabilities and is offered as a retrofit or upgrade by several completion centers. The DVC6100 includes microphone/oxygen mask switching, audio output for CVR/DVR recording, flight crew satphone over headsets, and chime and warning tone generation.
The making of light aircraft is about to undergo a complete rethinking. The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly approved bill — likely signed into law by now by President Obama — that calls on FAA to adopt new Part 23 certification standards by the end of 2015. The move is an endorsement of recommendations from the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee and centers on the concept of “consensus standards.” The ARC's goal was to double general aviation safety while cutting the costs of certification in half.
Two-year-old CAEA Aviation of Beijing, exclusive distributor for mainland China, has signed a contract for up to 10 extended-range Piaggio P180 Avanti II turboprops. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2014. The eight options are destined for SR Jet, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Sparkle Roll Investment Holdings LTD. Piaggio is fitting the aircraft with a removable 400-lb.-capacity auxiliary fuel tank that mounts on one side of the lavatory. The extra fuel extends four-passenger range by 210 nm.
Banyan Air Service recently completed MagnaStar digital phone upgrades on a Challenger, Hawker and Citation, in advance of the system's phase-out this month. “With over 1,100 aircraft operating with the MagnaStar system, operators need to plan their upgrades very soon, as time is running out and the number of qualified shops and available equipment will reach capacity,” warns Brian Wilson, Banyan's director of avionics.
In 2014, Eurocopter will upgrade its American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Miss., to become a final assembly and test center for AS350s. Production will start in 4Q 2014 and is expected to total 60 helicopters annually by 2016. The plan has two main objectives: offsetting the impact of reduced production of UH-72A Lakotas for the U.S. Army at the site, and boosting AS350 sales in the U.S. market, especially with government and law enforcement agencies.
Zenith Aviation, Fredericksburg, Va., named Bryan Shelton director, Field Operations. Shelton recently ended a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps where he retired as senior manager, Aviation Maintenance Operations for the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (Executive Division).
China business aviation insiders are seeing a slowdown in the pace of growth there, driven by tremors in the economy but also by the recent change in government. Nextant Aerospace's China business development director, Jing Wei, notes that the new administration of Xi Jinping has promoted a policy of austerity that has left many previous aircraft charter customers less willing — and able — to hire private aircraft.
Not entirely unexpected — in view of the fact that they are already in the pipeline for Boeing 737 airliners — was the recent announcement from Aviation Partners' that their new Split Scimitar winglets will be available for fitment and retrofit to BBJs following their certification in about three months. Joe Clark, AP's chairman, noted that his company's winglets are now providing performance benefits to 5,000 Boeing 737/BBJs, mainly new-build but including 773 retrofits.
Even though an aircraft is just a collection of metal parts (and composites these days), pilots and maintenance technicians often form a close bond to their machine. During World War II, pilots and aircrews would name their aircraft and personalize them with nose art. Some gave their airplane names to remind them of loved ones back home, while others gave them unique monikers to represent the machines' unique personality.
The Learjet 75's Honeywell TFE731-40BR engines have essentially the same internal parts as the -20BRs that power the Model 45XR. To boost the -40BR's thrust to 3,850 lb. from 3,500 lb., virtually all that was needed was a 10% throttle push involving a software change inside the -20BR's digital electronic engine control. The -20BR already had the -40BR's 4,700-lb. thrust thermodynamic rating. That's what gave the -20BR such wide flat-rating margins.
Embraer Executive Jets President Ernest Edwards is planning to hand over the reins of the organization he helped build into one of the largest business jet manufacturers to longtime employee Marco Tulio Pellegrini. Edwards announced here that he was planning to retire at the end of the year and put his suitcases in a place where he wouldn't have to move them for a long time. Pellegrini currently is the senior vice president and COO for Executive Jets.
Bombardier is increasing the maintenance intervals across all its business jet programs and, at the same time, is launching the Challenger 605 MAX upgrade program to improve reliability. The interval evolution is based on experience and “strictly on findings as we inspect the airplanes,” says Bombardier Customer Services Vice President Andy Nureddin. The changes to the maintenance programs and all associated documents will be applied to the Learjet 40, 45, Challenger 300, 604, 605 and Global programs.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., announced that Ron Ladnier was promoted to vice president of Flight Safety Services Corp., a division of FSI that provides military training, advanced technology devices and support.
ARINC Direct recently announced Vector SMS, a web-based quality and Safety Management System (SMS) that facilitates compliance with SMS requirements, improves operational effectiveness and enhances flight safety. When integrated with ARINC Direct's flight operations services, the new software from Polaris Aero, LLC, enables customers to implement all of the critical components of a safety management system. Vector SMS is a subscription-based service designed to meet the needs of any size flight department. ARINC Direct
A little more than a decade ago, then Chicago Mayor Richard Daley shocked the aviation community and his own city by ordering backhoes out to Meigs Field (CGX) in the dark of night to carve giant Xs, measuring two-foot-deep, along the close-in airport's 3,899-ft. runway. That March 31, 2003, assault destroyed the 55-year-old general aviation airport and took place without warning to the FAA, the FBO (Signature Flight Support) and the owners of about 16 aircraft temporarily stranded there.
Williams International has bundled many features into a new engine maintenance program called TAP Blue that it says offers “an unprecedented level of coverage.” Under the program Williams is expanding the coverage of its Total Assurance Program (TAP) to include virtually every natural and unnatural event that might occur over the life of its family of FJ33 and FJ44 engines.
Questions for Scott Smith First among mayors, he sees general aviation as part of the nation's character, and a sometimes awesome way to cover long distances quickly. You have an overfull agenda. Why did you agree to join the Alliance board as well?
