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.
EADS Socata is constructing a new industrial center for its Moroccan subsidiary Socaero at Casablanca-Mohammed V International Airport. The 54,000-square-foot facility will house subassembly work for Socata along with the company’s aerostructures customers, including elements for the Airbus A320 and A340, Eurocopter AS 350/355, Dassault Falcon 7X and Socata TBM 850. Socaero, which currently employs 90 workers, opened last year in the Aeropôle zone near Casablanca airport.
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.
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.
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.
That’s in Looosiana, y’all. There’s a roof over 10,000 square feet of lobby and offices, with conference rooms and pilots’ amenities: complimentary beverages, flight planning/weather, lounge, luxury crew vehicles and Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. Lafayette (KLFT) could lay claim to be the capital of Cajun and Creole country, and it’s rated among the highest U.S. cities in restaurants per capita, Million Air says. Pass the crawfish etouffee, please! Call Unicom 122.95.
Controllers at Airports Authority of India (AAI) have asked their management to urgently address “major” problems affecting air traffic management that could cause a “serious threat” to air safety, the Press Trust of India reported recently. In a memorandum to AAI Chairman K. Ramalingam, the Airports Authority Officers’ Association (AAOA) asserted that many Indian navaids and surveillance systems were not calibrated properly. “At present, the majority of the navigational equipment in India are not calibrated and they are overdue for calibration.
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.
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.
On Dec. 4, 2008, the FAA issued AD 2008-24-07 which limits the maximum operating altitude of the Eclipse 500 to 37,000 feet due to the potential for accumulation of carbon deposits on the high-pressure turbine inlet guide vanes of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F turbofan that can cause engine surging. The problem stems from excessive bleed air being tapped off the engine for cabin heating during prolonged high-altitude cruise, resulting in a richer-than-optimum fuel mixture being burned in the combustor. This can lead to carbon deposits.
Preferred Jet Center owner Larry Thompson flew the first takeoff and landing from the Marietta, Ga., airport’s newly paved 6,305-foot runway (originally lengthened in 2006), now widened to 100 feet. The project, which experienced weather delays, was started last June, and in addition to the enlarging of the runway, new high-intensity lighting and improved drainage were added. Preferred Jet says the runway becomes one of the largest in the greater Atlanta metro area.
— A Cessna 170B (N8387N), sustained substantial damage following a forced landing in mountainous terrain about 12 nm northwest of Hanna, Utah. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, the second passenger died. The VFR flight departed Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah, about 0930. Its destination was reported to be Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ole Henriksen (Virtual Flight Surgeons, Inc.), Guernsey, British Channel Islands (Virtual Flight Surgeons, Inc.)
Richard Aarons ended his October Cause & Circumstance (“Flying by the Numbers,” page 140) with an invitation to readers to let him know what they think, and since this is a subject close to my own heart, I will. First a few words on my background: UK PPL 1989; IR 1991; US ATP (MEL) 2001; 3,500 hours total in worldwide operations, mainly in Aero Commanders. I was director of the European Association for Instrument Rated GA Pilots (PPL/IR Europe, www.pplir.org) until retiring from flying in 2006 due to the escalating demands on general aviation in Europe.
Used business jet inventories were up again in November, “the 10th consecutive month of increases, reaching 12.3 percent of the active fleet, the highest level since our data set began in December 1995,” a JPMorgan analysis said. Inventories were up in all aircraft categories.
Because of the recent investigation into the compliance issues raised by the SWA Airworthiness Directive compliance issue, the FAA plans to step up efforts at improving AD language and safety reporting. The FAA has a dedicated Web site where you can learn more about ADs and related issues: www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/continued_operation/ad/ Also, you can download the following documents from www.faa.gov: Airworthiness Directives Manual FAA-IR-M-8040.1B AC 39-7C, Airworthiness Directives
The first Avro Business Jet (ABJ) fitted with a corporate interior has been completed by Inflite Engineering, a business aircraft completion and service provider based at London-Stansted Airport.
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.
Aircell, Broomfield, Colo., announced that John Wade has joined the company as senior vice president and general manager, Business Aviation Services. Aspen Avionics, Albuquerque, has named Linda Pepper as manager, Customer Services. Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), Alexandria, Va., named Kerin McKinnon, executive vice president of Atlas Travel International, as its U.S. Regional chair responsible for developing the Regional Champion program.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
