Duncan Aviation is expanding its service capabilities with the addition of a tenth Rapid Response engine location in Portland, Ore., and increased accessory shop space at its facility in Lincoln, Neb. The new Rapid Response unit will provide mobile engine services such AOG emergency services, and many scheduled and unscheduled events, including engine changes. The Portland area formerly was served by Duncan Aviation's response team in Seattle. Duncan also refurbished and expanded its service area in Lincoln, providing an additional 6,300 sq. ft.
To learn more about IS-BAO, visit the International Business Aviation Council's website — www.ibac.org. There you will find information about the work that IBAC does and how to go about becoming IS-BAO registered. There is also helpful information and links to other safety related topics.
The political math is not complicated. The U.S. government and most of the states are broke. Most people don't own aircraft. So, there won't be a populist revolt if in their quest for more revenue the IRS and counterparts at the state level target business aircraft for audits.
Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), Alexandria, Va., has selected Greg Kinsella, president and CEO of Key Air, to the ACSF Board of Governors. American Eurocopter, Grand Prairie, Texas, named Samuel Adcock to the post of vice president-general manager of the company's helicopter production plant in Columbus, Miss.
Garmin International announced a premium GPS watch designed specifically for aviators. The D2 features Garmin's signature direct-to and nearest navigation functions, as well as a built-in altimeter with adjustable baro setting, altitude alerting capabilities, display of both local and Zulu/UTC time, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with the Garmin Pilot app, VIRB action camera, and many more functions. The price of the D2 is $449.00 and it should be available this month,
These included: Ensure that unstabilized approach and go-around policies are clear, concise and unambiguous, including follow-up procedures for non-compliance. Emphasize the importance of good monitoring by both pilots since that can affect the safe execution of a go-around. Operations manuals must contain a strongly worded policy statement that no punitive action will follow a go-around.
ADB Airfield Solutions has introduced AD-light Low Protrusion Taxiway Lights. The improved lights overcome drawbacks of older versions wherein no part of the prism is located below the surface of the ground, avoiding loss of photometry. They can be used in CAT I, II and III, as taxiway centerline lights, in straight and curved runway sections, on rapid exit taxiways, as stop bars and intermediate holding position lights, among other applications.
Awards and Honors Actor and accomplished pilot Harrison Ford received this year's NBAA's Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership. In addition to his extensive work as an outspoken champion for general aviation, Ford regularly files missions in support of humanitarian and philanthropic causes. He has participated in the Citation Special Olympics Airlift and works with the Corporate Angel Network.
I've never taken the time to write back on an article before, but having read “Checking the Descent” (Viewpoint, August 2013) I wanted to share an in-the-trenches view from someone who is trying to start a flight school and get more people into aviation on a day-to-day basis. In my opinion, the biggest issues (behind the declining pilot population) are not what you mention. They're symptoms and not the cause. There is only one reason: Cost. General aviation has become too expensive.
Universal Avionics announced its Control Display Unit (CDU) emulator iPad application for the Flight Management System (FMS) Trainer software. It's available for the iPad and supports life-size touch-sensitive emulation of Universal's 4-in. CDU, 5-in. CDU and Multi-function CDU. The app sends the FMS trainer CDU display screen to the iPad, and key pushes from the simulated CDU are then sent back to the FMS Trainer via a wireless network. The CDU emulator app allows operators to experience realistic, hands-on training in FMS operations.
With the emergence of a new generation of large-cabin, long-haul business aircraft, the industry could be witnessing a sea change in the traditional chicken-and-egg trade-off between airframe and engine makers. Unlike previous and current generations, which use engines derived from existing families, at least some of the new wave of large business jets will be powered by purpose-designed engines derived from the same all-new cores in development for the next-generation of single and widebody airliners.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new facility at its Belfast location that will be dedicated to wing manufacturing and assembly. Bombardier had already expanded its Northern Ireland site with the hiring of nearly 1,000 employees over the past two years, and expects to add at least 250 more over the next year at the new wing manufacturing and assembly facility. The 600,000-sq.-ft. site is making wings for the CSeries. The opening follows the recent ground-breaking of Bombardier's planned 150,000-sq.-ft.
Rockwell Collins has opened a new customer support center with increased staffing levels, expanded hours and enhanced technology that will provide commercial aviation customers with a higher level of service through a single point of contact. The center is staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, 365 days a year, and has staff on-call for after-hours support. Customer calls are answered by an expanded team of product support managers with specialized training tools and are equipped to answer questions immediately with a goal of resolution within 24 hr.
TrueNorth Avionics has introduced the Stylus Wi-Fi handset. It's cradle fits into both TrueNorth's Simphone legacy and Stylus corded handset cut-outs offering a simplified upgrade path. The handset charges in the cradle via Power over Ethernet (PoE) or 28V power. The handset has Nickel-metal Hydride (MiMH) batteries to make certification easier and uses smart power management technology. Smart technology allows the handset to configure itself when placed in the cradle, retaining passenger preferences, regardless of the handset's location in the cabin before takeoff.
Chicago Jet Group, a Universal Avionics authorized dealer, received the first Future Air Navigation System (FANS) retrofit certification on a Dassault Falcon 50 with the UniLink UL-801 Communication Management Unit (CMU) with an internal VHF VDL Mode 2 receiver. It's interfaced with dual UNS-1Lw FMSes and International Communications Group's (ICG) NxtLink ICS-220A Iridium Satcom. Universal's CVR-120A was also installed for required FANS datalink message recording.
I found “NOTAMs in Transition” (January 2013) to be an excellent article. As a member of the FAA's NOTAM working group we have been pushing for NOTAM improvements for many years, in fact since 2000. Your last paragraph captures the problem perfectly: Stop-and-Go Funding. I would love to see more articles on NOTAMS particularly from the dispatcher's perspective or more importantly explaining the role of the dispatcher. Manager Dispatch Operations
How easily we forget. “Night VFR in the Mountains” was an excellent report on a CFIT accident by Richard Aarons (Cause & Circumstance, October 2013). B&CA published an article on how a common old, low-tech radar can be used to prevent that type of tragedy, way back in March, 1996. The procedure has been picked up by a few operators around the world, but obviously too few. You would perform a major safety service by repeating advice from the mythical “Capt. Lightning” several times each year.
A key characteristic in business aviation is the crew's direct contact with the folks in back. We can't hide behind a locked cockpit door if we botch a landing. Likewise, we also can't hide from today's flight-savvy passengers who are monitoring the flight's progress via GPS displays. So, if something goes amiss, it's likely that we'll have to explain our actions afterward to unhappy passengers.
Flush with new funding, Mooney Aircraft is stepping out of its years-long malaise and reports it will return its swift piston singles — specifically, the Acclaim Type S, Ovation 2GX and Ovation 3 series — to production by January, 2014. It's a new day for Mooney. And with a new investment group that is committed to the future, we're expecting to make a strong move in the industry,” noted Barry Hodkin, CFO for the company.
As winter approaches, flight crews are gearing up for the heart of the icing season. Virtually all of them are aware of the potentially lethal consequences of attempting to take off with airframe ice contamination. But some pilots think that minor ice contamination has little, if any, effect on aircraft performance.
Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) is offering a video series targeted at aircraft appraisers and the aircraft finance market that provides an in-depth look at critical maintenance issues for engines and airframes, and how they directly relate to the valuation of business jet aircraft. It's divided into five one-hour modules and is available at www.jetsupport.com.
FreeFlight Systems has developed an ADS-B Out upgrade for Garmin's GTX 330 Mode S transponder. FreeFlight, which signed a technology licensing agreement with Garmin, is interfacing its Model 1201 WAAS/GPS sensor with the GTX 330 to provide an additional 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (1090ES) ADS-B Out upgrade. The system, tested during the FAA's ADS-B Capstone Program, meets ADS-B and RNP accuracy, integrity and availability requirements worldwide.
Airborne is re-entering the fixed-base operation business with a facility at Stewart International Airport in New York. Airborne created a new subsidiary, Airborne Aviation Services, to run the FBO. Jeff Madtes, who serves as president of Airborne's charter and management subsidiary, FirstFlight, will also serve as president of the FBO. The FBO initially will be housed in facilities at the intersection of Runway 9/27 and 16/34, with the company planning future development of a hangar.
