Aero Charter, St. Louis, Mo., hired Dustin Stephenson as a charter pilot. He has been a pilot for over eight years and worked as a professional pilot for six. He has experience operating 47 aircraft types.
After filing for bankruptcy protection, Hawker Beechcraft is currently in a 45-day period of court-authorized “exclusive negotiations” with a Chinese company, Superior Aviation Beijing Co., 40% privately owned and 60% backed by the city of Beijing. HBC formally sought court clearance to begin the negotiations after receiving a $1.79 billion proposal from the Chinese firm for all but the defense business. Despite concerns expressed by the machinists union, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of N.Y. approved the company's motion July 17.
Holland's ECA Program B.V. has finished the initial design review for an Airbus narrow-body VVIP jet conversion. The fractionally-owned aircraft fleet, configured for 19 passengers, will consist of three A319 aircraft and four A320 jets. The A320 is to be used for regional flights of less than 8 hr. and the A319 for intercontinental flights. The service will be operated by a new entity, operating under Dutch certification and regulations. The aircraft will operate globally with the main focus being Russia and the Middle Eastern markets.
A new chapter has been added to the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. “Runway Incursion Avoidance,” in Appendix 1, provides information on which pilots will be tested and checked in the Private Pilot and Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards, effective June 1, and also in the soon to be released CFI and ATP PTSes, which include a required Runway Incursion Avoidance task to be incorporated in pilot training and testing.
View Operating Planning Guide Charts Aircraft operating costs are presented in a format that separates the data into seven separate areas: Mission Costs, Variable Costs, Fixed Annual Costs, Periodic Costs, Personnel Costs, Training Costs and Facilities Costs.
Landmark Aviation's charter department added a Gulfstream IV, a Hawker 400XP and a Falcon 7X to its managed fleet. The Gulfstream IV is based in Conroe, Texas (CXO) and can seat up to 14 passengers. The eight-passenger Hawker 400XP is based in Frederick, Md. (FDK). The DuPage, Ill. (DPA) based Falcon 7X also seats 14 and is one of only five available for charter in the U.S.
Honeywell aims to be the first avionics manufacturer to offer an advanced technology head-down display system that will enable operators to fly instrument approaches down to lower weather minimums than what's permitted with conventional primary flight instruments.
Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics, with three or four CRTs, originally were installed in the Beechjet/Hawker 400. Both Nextant and Hawker Beechcraft are offering complete three- and four-screen, 8- by 10-in. Pro Line 21 cockpit upgrades that will provide much more than cosmetic improvements and new display functions.
The FAA is mandating an offshore noise-abating route for helicopter traffic near Long Island, N.Y. — with exceptions for safety and weather — in an action that opponents contend will unjustifiably expand the agency's authority to become involved in aircraft noise disputes. Various groups representing helicopter and general aviation operators argue that, historically, the FAA addresses noise abatement issues that are initiated by an airport sponsor as it applies to takeoffs and landings, not the en route operation of aircraft.
Bombardier Aerospace announced July 2 that it has received firm orders for three Global 6000 and five Global 8000 jets from an undisclosed customer. The transaction is valued at approximately $507 million based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft.
Sikorsky's LifePort received a subcontract from L-3 Platform Integration in support of a Boeing 747-8 head-of-state completion project. LifePort will equip the upper deck of the aircraft with customized cabinets, partitions and a lavatory.
AIA says the effect of sequestration on the FAA could amount to $1 billion in cuts, which would cripple NextGen initiatives, says Richard Efford, a legal affairs chief at the Aerospace Industries Association. “AIA believes that as a result of sequestration, NextGen could lose 30-50% of its funding, not the 8% many believe,” Efford said.
I have been a subscriber to BCA for a relatively short time, but I have been greatly impressed with the depth and quantity of the very fine articles — all researched and written extremely well. I never cease to be pleasantly surprised at just how jam-packed each issue is with information I need, one article after the next. This is just a short note to say “Well done!” Pass it along to your staff and writers. They are making you look very, very good!
June 24 — About 1155 EDT, a Universal Stinson 108 (N39443), operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged while ditching in the Atlantic Ocean, following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Portland, Maine. The private pilot was fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed Twitchell Airport (3B5), Turner, Maine, about 1030 in VFR conditions. According to preliminary data from the FAA, the airplane was in radio and radar contact with Portland International Jetport (PWM) Approach Control. About 10 mi.
Hawker Beechcraft used July's Farnborough Airshow to gauge the market for an ISR-configured Baron G58. The company displayed a model of its Beechcraft Baron airframe outfitted with mockups of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, including an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera and data link, at its chalet during the airshow. The aircraft's basic surveillance package includes an EO/IR camera package with a 9-in. or 10-in.
BBA Aviation, an aviation support and aftermarket services provider, announced that its Signature Flight Support subsidiary has committed to a seven-year lease extension and expansion of its downtown Orlando, Fla., corporate headquarters offices to accommodate anticipated growth. Signature Flight Support and Aircraft Service Group International (ASIG), together with their parent company BBA Aviation, collectively have more than 1,000 employees in 12 Florida cities.
The U.S. Senate has passed the Pilot's Bill of Rights sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and a bipartisan group of 65 cosponsors. The legislation contains a number of provisions that would make the FAA and NTSB appeals process more transparent, including NTSB review of FAA enforcement actions and provide for federal district courts to review appeals from the NTSB. The provision requires that the FAA undertake a NOTAM improvement program and a mandatory GAO review of the airman medical certification process. The measure now goes to the House of Representatives.
It seems that every few months or so, the scientific or medical community discovers that a particular chemical, compound or food item that was once considered perfectly healthy actually poses a threat to our health and thus should be avoided. In aviation maintenance, we technicians have more than our share of exposure to dangerous substances and need to be cautious and take preventive measures to prevent long-term health problems.
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