The National Weather Service has a good “go to” website for access to weather cameras. For my locality it brings up SLC as the regional center (www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc). When I click on the “Weather Cameras” link on the left side of the screen I get an abundance of choices of weather cameras and viewing directions; some are “looped” or animated. (It is useful to watch the trend over the last 30 min.) Also, pilots might find the Weather Underground website useful since it lists an extraordinary number of weather collection stations (www.wunderground.com).
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, appointed Luiz Sandler regional vice president of sales for South America. He replaces Bill Arrazola, who recently retired.
Avantair's future is looking grim. Some creditors of the Piaggio P-180 fractional operator, grounded since June, have filed an involuntary petition for its liquidation. The company had until mid-August to respond. Avantair faces repossession of its 56 aircraft from lessors, Midsouth Services and Clear Aircraft, and lawsuits from fractional owners claiming the company “did not adequately service participants” who suffered because of the operator's failure to identify an elevator problem, maintain a sufficient number of aircraft or pilots.
Key Air, Oxford, Conn., appointed 40-year aviation veteran Jim Bennett as its vice president of Flight Operations and Bill Ekstrom as its new manager of Business Operations.
In 1990, Congress adopted sweeping noise legislation that called for the phaseout of Stage 2 airliners by Dec. 31, 1999. The business aviation community strongly objected to any similarly timed phaseout for business jets, because hushkits either weren't available for many models and a number of the aircraft were still too young to put out to pasture. Objectors also argued that aircraft weighing less than 75,000 lb. were inherently quieter than their larger counterparts.
Not long from now, it is likely you will receive an instruction like this from the control tower of a U.S. civil airport: "You are number two to land, Runway Two-Seven Right, behind the UAV on short final. Say contact.”
Macquarie has launched Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing, a helicopter operating leasing business that will focus on the growing worldwide demand for commercial helicopters servicing offshore oil and gas, medical transport search and rescue, and the executive transport markets. Jeffrey Pino, 35, is the CEO. He most recently served as president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. James Clarke is COO, Steve Estill is the chief marketing officer and Greg A'slinger was named chief technical officer.
The FAA has certified the Gulfstream G280's Enhanced Vision System (EVS) II and Head-Up Display (HUD) II. The systems enable pilots to see terrain, runways, taxiways and possible obstructions in low-visibility conditions and provide operational credit, enabling the super-midsize aircraft to land in weather conditions prohibitive for non-equipped aircraft.
Flight Display Systems, Alpharetta, Ga., appointed Aria Bahawdory technical sales consultant. He aviation background includes a four-year tour with the U.S. Navy conducting search and rescue operation; Imagine Air Jet Services and most recently he owned Mid Air Aerial Photography. Joyce Reeves has been promoted to inside sales coordinator and will serve as the main interface for all customers calling the Alpharetta sales office.
Flexjet is reporting a 96% growth of new fractional and jet card sales when comparing January to June 2013 to the same period in 2012. Fractional shares increased 112% and new jet card sales grew at 68% for the first six months of this year. The company is celebrating its 18th anniversary having taken delivery of over 225 Bombardier aircraft since its inception.
If pond scum is a problem in your life, I've a suggestion: Crank up a pair of Wright R-1820 Cyclones fitted with fat Ham Standard paddles. The green goo doesn't stand a chance. Nor does any other aquatic thing less than a Grumman Albatross, which boasts just such a mechanical hurricane.
To no one's surprise, Richard Santulli is a major force in aviation once again. Before founding NetJets, the former Goldman Sachs wunderkind had begun RTS Helicopter Services, a leasing operation that grew to become among the largest such organizations in the world. RTS wound down as Santulli turned his focus to NetJets, but after severing relations with the fractional operation in 2009, the following year he founded Milestone Aviation Group.
August 4 — About 1155 EDT, a Beechcraft A36 (N1831W) was destroyed when it hit trees and terrain near Alma, Ga. VFR conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The Bonanza departed Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB), Fernandina Beach, Fla., around 1115, with the intended destination of Gwinnett County Airport-Briscoe Field (LZU), Lawrenceville, Ga. Witnesses reported hearing a “low flying” airplane and soon after, the sound of impact.
While the FAA refused to provide an executive-level employee for BCA to interview on unmanned aircraft integration, its Public Affairs office invited us to submit questions. Here are the FAA's responses to some of those queries: BCA: Does the FAA have any idea how many UASes, both civil and military, are being operated right now in the NAS? How many COAs has the FAA awarded to operators?
Cessna Aircraft, Wichita, named Lannie O'Bannion as its regional vice president of Sales for the Midwestern U.S. and Canada. He will report to Kriya Shortt, senior vice president of Sales, and will be responsible for representing the broad range of Citation products to customers.
The founders of Marquis Jet have struck a potential $1.4 billion deal with Beechcraft to launch new “private membership” venture, Wheels Up, which will be anchored around a fleet of King Air 350i's. The agreement includes firm orders and maintenance for 35 aircraft, with options for up to 70 more. Deliveries will begin this year with the remaining firm orders to be delivered at a rate of 1-1.5 per month, running through 2015. The options would then continue over the next few years.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), among the nation's largest charter and management companies, is undergoing a management shake-up with three of its top executives believed to have recently departed the NetJets subsidiary. Among those out the exits is President Robert Garrymore, who had served with EJM and NetJets since 1998. Garrymore became president of EJM in 2009. Others include Ronald Silverman, senior vice president of aircraft management, and Jim Lewis, senior vice president of aircraft maintenance, sales and acquisitions.
The grudge match is on. The upgraded Citation X completed its first flight recently with the clear intention of reclaiming the crown as the world's fastest civilian production aircraft. The Cessna speedy jet had assumed the title once the last Concorde was retired, but Gulfstream's G650 subsequently nosed it out with an Mmo of Mach 0.925, which is Mach 0.01 faster. The upgraded Citation X has a target redline of Mach 0.935. The new X is equipped with Garmin's G5000 platform with an auto-throttle system and two 7,034-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce AE 3007C2 turbofans.
Pilatus has teamed with Beijing Tian Xing Jian Yu Science Co. to produce components and assemble PC-12 and PC-6 Porter single-engine turboprops in Chongqing, China, with China the intended market. The facility opened in August. Pilatus, which has initially committed to supplying 50 aircraft, notes that only civilian aircraft will be assembled at the facility, and the company has no plans to build components or assemble its PC-7 MkII, PC-9M and PC-21 military trainers there.
Cessna Aircraft Co. selected Aviation Occupant Safety's (AOS) inflatable side-facing passenger protection system as standard for the side-facing seating configuration on the new midsize Citation Latitude business jet. AOS is a joint venture between two global safety restraint industry leaders: Aircraft Belts, Inc. (ABI) and Key Safety Systems (KSS).
Steven J. Twist (Vice President and General Counsel Services Group of America Scottsdale, Ariz. )
Your article “Command Presence” (Cause & Circumstance, June 2013) is grossly one-sided, is contradicted by every single eyewitness, omits reference to critical physical evidence, and as a result, has done a disservice to your readers. We trust in the future if you write about this horrific tragedy, you will attempt to be fair and balanced out of respect to the victims. Vice President and General Counsel Services Group of America Scottsdale, Ariz.
