Even though we practice the “high dive” in reaction to a sudden loss of pressurization every six months in the simulator, I’ve wondered about the value of that training. After all, just how often does this malfunction happen in the real world? Well, a little research turned up the answer.
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) signed a contract with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) during the Middle East Business Aviation show in Dubai in November to train ADA’s Bell 412 helicopter pilots over three years at ECFT in Dubai. “By training our more than 100 pilots in the CAE-built Bell 412 full-flight simulator at Emirates-CAE Flight Training, we will significantly reduce our fuel costs, maximize the time we use our helicopters for operational needs and at the same time increase safety,” said Nadir Al Hammadi, ADA’s managing director.
Scheduled jet service is now under way between New York and Florida. National Airlines is flying Boeing 707s leased from Pan American on twice daily flights. The jetliners are flown by National pilots, but bear Pan Am markings; Pan Am is not approved to fly domestically.
The NTSB wants the FAA to require operators to activate deice boots as soon as any airplane so equipped enters icing conditions. It noted that there’s “a widely held, but incorrect, belief that activation of deice boots be delayed rather than started immediately upon entering icing conditions.”
The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Hawker Beechcraft Corp. a contract for 23 special mission Beechcraft King Air 350ERs (for extended range). The contract is worth an estimated $171 million. Deliveries will take place this year. Destined for special intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the aircraft will be modified with military required equipment. The King Air 350ER can provide over eight hours of endurance and has the flexibility to loiter low and slow or cruise at 300 knots and 35,000 feet.
Plastek, LLC has introduced an acrylic detailing, repair and restoration product line for business jets. The new kit is part of a family of EZclear core products that restore clarity quicker and more effectively with their proprietary two-step system. The customized Fleet Kit (EZ9000) provides FBOs, OEM and MRO facilities with an added acrylic aircraft window repair and polishing capability, according to the company. It will repair and polish about two corporate aircraft, depending on size and condition.
Reader Plates LLC now offers downloadable FAA/NACO terminal approach procedures formatted for exceptional readability and ease of use on electronic book readers. With Reader Plates a pilot can carry every FAA/NACO arrival, departure and approach plate for every airport in the United States in a portable electronic book reader for $299. The plates are specifically formatted for use on the Sony PRS-505, which provides a high-resolution sunlight-readable screen.
XOJET has launched its Fleet Exchange Membership Program that enables clients to create a custom solution that provides the best value for their specific needs, including the choice of whether to own an aircraft. Because members only pay for what they actually need, travel costs can be reduced by up to 25 percent, according to the company. To customize the program, XOJET works with each member to assess travel patterns and financial priorities. Considerations include member preferences for aircraft ownership, length of commitment and the number of hours actually needed.
A 99-day strike by potash mine workers in Canada could result in a severe shortage of a runway deicing fluid that uses potassium acetate that comes from the mines. The strike ended in November, but manufacturer Cryotech said it would be able to produce only two million to three million gallons of the fluid this winter, compared to nine million last winter. “It is possible that runways may not be able to be maintained to the same level as previous years during winter storms,” the FAA warned in a memo to airlines.
For well under $15 million, you can buy a first-generation Gulfstream IV that can fly eight passengers 4,150 nm at 0.80 Mach and land with 200-nm NBAA IFR reserves. This veteran flagship of the Business Week 100 fleet introduced business aircraft operators to dozens of innovative features when serial number 1000 first entered service in 1987, including high bypass ratio Rolls-Royce Tay turbofan engines with a greatly reduced noise signature, a virtually all-glass cockpit and brake-by-wire (BBW).
Maldivian Air Taxi (MAT), whose fleet of 24 DHC-6s makes it the largest Twin Otter seaplane operator in the world, is adding a pair of new Viking Series 400 Twin Otters to its stable. The carrier has over a decade of experience operating the type in the Indian Ocean. Viking Air, the Victoria, British Columbia-based manufacturer of the reincarnated aircraft, expects to begin delivery of the type this summer. The float-equipped prototype made its first flight Oct. 1.
Thrane & Thrane has received Inmarsat type approval for its Aero-SB Lite system. This approval will enable Aero-SB to take full advantage of the Inmarsat SwiftBroadband service allowing Thrane & Thrane to start the first installation and certification on U.S.-registered aircraft. The system is a total cabin solution that exceeds the ongoing requirement to provide a true office in the sky by harnessing the Internet, VPN, e-mail, fax and telephone in one compact and lightweight package, according to the manufacturer.
French and Portuguese partners have developed a satellite-based system for managing airport ground traffic. Funded by Eureka, an intergovernmental initiative designed to spur European competitiveness, the “Safedrive” project uses signals from EGNOS, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, satellite system to provide position information to vehicle drivers and airport authorities.
Embraer’s Phenom 100, Brazil’s first purpose-built business jet, won certification Dec. 9 from Brazil’s ANAC and U.S. FAA certification on Dec. 12. FAA published special certification conditions in the Federal Register Nov. 28 but is not holding up certification waiting for comments. Those special conditions, according to the FAA, resulted from the fact that the entry-level jet had some “novel or unusual design features” not envisioned in Part 23.
At a Dec. 5 online press conference, Cirrus Design CEO Alan Klapmeier and senior executives gave an update on the status of the Cirrus Vision single-engine personal jet program, announcing that the company will begin the process of applying for an FAA Type Certificate for the aircraft. Notably, the company will not apply for European certification until the FAA and EASA reach an accommodation acceptable to Cirrus on the imposition and amount of certification and operator user fees. The production Vision will weigh in the vicinity of 6,000 pounds.
Universal Weather & Aviation, Inc. has released a redesigned and enhanced version of its UVflightplanner.com online flight planning software. Users can now accomplish multiple tasks without having to go to another application and can get a fuel quote, schedule handling, and view UVTripPlanner airport data, weather maps and leg requirements all from within one window.
Thank you for your two excellent articles on pilot medical certification issues (“The Doctor Is In” and “Disability and the Corporate Pilot,” November 2008). Both highlight one of the top fears of a professional pilot: loss of license due to medical factors. The first article noted that FAR Part 67 lists 15 disqualifying diagnoses, yet FAA policy and the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners lists several hundred other disqualifying conditions for pilots.
Sandel Avionics prevailed for the third and final round in Delaware Federal Court, responding to allegations of infringing on TAWS patents by Honeywell International. The weeklong trial concluded Dec. 5, when a jury ruled in favor of Sandel. Gerry Block, president and CEO of Sandel, said his company “has paid a great price with respect to these repeated, baseless lawsuits by Honeywell, who has been trying to preclude legitimate competition over aircraft terrain warning systems.
The first delivery of a Sierra Industries’ Super II took place in November with an inaugural nonstop flight from San Antonio to Northern California. After climbing straight to FL 430 in 27 minutes at maximum takeoff weight, the flight arrived in California with 1.5 hours of fuel still remaining, despite a 50-knot headwind. General Manager Steve Guzek of San Antonio-based FlighTime Business Jets stated that the Sierra Super II will join their fleet of managed and charter aircraft.
Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland have joined in the Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC). The grouping is by far Europe’s largest and most complicated owing to its high air traffic density since it includes Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Paris. Europe is creating nine such blocks, which should be operational by 2012, in an effort to streamline air traffic management operations short of creating a single European sky. The FABEC agreement comes with a commitment from associated air navigation service providers to cooperate.
It was a late August afternoon and we’d gathered at the Y for the summer day camp awards ceremony. There were medals for loudest laughter, most hot dogs downed, grubbiest T-shirt. The awards were always good, silly fun. Most of the camp kids were locals, like me. That made it tough for outsiders, and there were always a few. One I remember well was a quiet, gawky kid, unsure of himself, and always just outside the circle. He was nice enough, though, and happy to talk whenever anyone bothered.
Noting that terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the attacks on the bus and subway system in London happened shortly after new administrations came into power, the AOPA is urging pilots to report any suspicious activity around airports. “This is a time for all Americans to exercise heightened vigilance,” said Craig Spence, AOPA vice president of security. “General aviation pilots already have a program in place that they can follow — AOPA’s Airport Watch” (www.aopa.org).
Control Vision Corp.’s ATC is a special version of the HP iPAQ 310. It’s convenient and capable, including among its talents the patented “cones of safety” glide calculator, high-resolution terrain, flight planning, and obstacle and terrain warnings. Options include XM Weather and Pocket Plates approach plates that provide the features and safety margin available on modern panel-mounted units.
