WHEN YOU LOOK AT the current FAA-DOT relationship you have to shake your head and hope things will get better after the election. Nominally in charge of the FAA these days is Bobby Sturgell, a man with superior aviation credentials, a law degree and five years of on-the-job training as deputy administrator while Marion Blakey was administrator.
Since its introduction in July 1964, the Beechcraft (now Hawker Beechcraft) King Air has been an institution for business and personal transportation. As with many breakthrough aircraft, this one evolved from a new engine, namely the PT-6 developed by Pratt & Whitney's Canadian subsidiary outside Montreal. The combination of a Beech-made pressurized aircraft with a small, durable, prop-driving turbine proved ideal for the burgeoning business aviation market.
At about 10 p.m. on the night of Sept. 12, 2007, flames were spotted coming from an FBO hangar at the Danbury Municipal Airport (KDXR), in Danbury, Conn. The flames spread rapidly, and local fire departments responded from several nearby towns, but the hangar and all of the nine aircraft within, including two business jets, were completely destroyed. Some 15 aircraft parked on the ramp were damaged by the heat and flames as well. However, the edifice and the aircraft weren't the only things that got burned.
The NTSB recommended that the main rotor blades on thousands of Robinson helicopters be inspected at intervals of less than 600 hours because of four incidences of rotor blade skin debonding.
Excellent update on what once was called the blood priority (i.e. nothing would change until some blood was spilled). Unfortunately, in addition to the issues cited in the article ("Tombstone Mentality," June, page 70), many flight organizations are not willing to adequately address proactive risk analysis.
Schubach Aviation placed a new Cessna Citation Bravo on its charter certificate. The eight-passenger Bravo joins a fleet that also includes two Bombardier Challenger 601s, four King Airs, five other Citations and five Hawkers. Founded in 1992, Schubach employs 66 workers at its base at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif.
Cessna Aircraft recently handed Rockwell Collins two pieces of good news, selecting its HGS-6000 Head Up Guidance System for the new Citation Columbus business jet and expanding entertainment options on the new Citation CJ4 business jet by adding Rockwell Collins' iPod docking solution to the Venue cabin management system. Cessna had previously selected Rockwell Collins' Pro Line Fusion cockpit to equip the Columbus.
Dallas Airmotive, a unit of BBA Aviation's Engine Repair and Overhaul division, has added 16 new engine models to its existing authorizations on Pratt & Whitney Canada engines -- eight new models of the PT6A, seven models of the PW100 and one PW500 model. "Dallas Airmotive has been a Distributor and Designated Overhaul Facility (DDOF) for the PT6A since 1967," said BBA Aviation's president of ERO, Hugh McElroy, in a May 19 announcement at EBACE in Geneva.
Most of the important happenings in business aviation over the past 50 years have taken place far away from Washington, out in the real world where dreamers, designers, engineers and test pilots do their thing.
FlightSafety International announced a new phased recurrent training program option designed specifically for customers who train at the company's London Farnborough and Paris-Le Bourget Training Centers. Pilots who select this option will attend phased recurrent training twice per year over a three-year period. Each phase includes two full flight simulator sessions and classroom instruction on aircraft systems, performance and incidents/service bulletins and CRM.
AME Symposium, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Central AME Association presented Richard Komarniski, president of Grey Owl Aviation Consultants, Inc., with the NAASCO Outstanding AME Award, which is awarded annually to an AME who has shown outstanding achievement in aviation maintenance.
Most of San Antonio's aerospace industry owes it success to Durrell Unger "Dee" Howard, a former U.S. Air Force mechanic and later a civilian pilot who opened up a small modifications shop at San Antonio's Stinson Field after World War II. He later developed one of the largest aircraft conversion and completion facilities in the United States at the then-new San Antonio International Airport. In the process, Howard's company created demand for hundreds of new products and services that spawned the development of dozens of new enterprises in the San Antonio area.
Your article "The Greening of Business Aviation, Part I" (May, page 72) accused T&E of distorting "aviation's scientifically derived emissions statistics." We beg to differ. Our report, Clearing the Air, which was quoted in your article, was based on independent research by CE Delft and others. It showed that aviation is the most climate-intensive of all transport modes. We do not say, and have never said, that aviation is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions overall than other modes. That suggestion is wrong.
Project Phoenix, Dubai, UAE, appointed Andrew Johnston as vice president-commercial, responsible for all commercial elements relating to the conversion of CRJ-200 regional jets to executive business aircraft.
The news that Jerry Schlesinger passed away was more than sad; Jerry was 17 years younger than I am. I met Jerry and Mike Waterman in 1970 when I was thinking about starting an FBO. They were very impressive. Their facility at Westchester County Airport was a model for all FBOs. They knew the industry inside out and didn't mind sharing their knowledge, even with a novice in the industry. Jerry's quiet, laid-back manner belied a vast amount of knowledge. Those who took the time to listen to him could learn a lot.
Aug. 31, 1986 -- Just before noon a Piper Archer departed Torrance, Calif., on a VFR flight to nearby Big Bear. After takeoff, the pilot turned east, with his transponder squawking 1200. Meanwhile, Aeromexico Flight 498, a Douglas DC-9, was being vectored for an ILS approach to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). ATC directed the Douglas to descend from 7,000 feet to 6,000 feet and the crew complied, reducing to 190 knots.
FlightSafety International has introduced a "Green from the Beginning" campaign. The company says its customers' use of simulator training and technology reduces carbon emissions and saves energy while enhancing safety. While the aviation industry increasingly focuses on finding effective responses to growing international concerns about climate change, FlightSafety customers have been helping to reduce environmental impacts since the company was founded in 1951," said Bruce Whitman, FSI president and CEO.
Intelligence | 23 * VistaJet Buys Bombardier's Skyjet * NTSB Revives 14-Year-Old Turbocharger Recommendation * Jet Aviation, Airod Sign MOU to Team at Kuala Lumpur * Pilatus Delivers First PC-12 NG * CAE Buys Sabena Training Edited by James E. Swickard Commentary 9 | Viewpoint By William Garvey Long Live the King 18 | Business & Commercial Aviation 1958, a Year in Review 111 | Cause & Circumstance
MEDEX Global Group announced that it acquired ASI Group - formerly Air Security International. The May 15 announcement said the acquisition creates North America's largest provider of both medical travel assistance and risk management services. Based in Baltimore, MEDEX provides 24/7/365 support for business and individual travelers, including pre-trip intelligence, contingency planning, real-time medical case monitoring, and complex emergency evacuations.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., has promoted Eric Dixon to assistant manager of the FSI Learning Center in Atlanta. He will continue to serve as program manager, HondaJet training.
The Sabreliner was developed by Los Angeles-based North American Aviation in the mid-1950s to satisfy the U.S. Air Force's requirement for a twinjet trainer and utility transport. Designated T-39 by the Air Force, the aircraft resembled North American's F-86 Sabre jet fighter and featured a swept wing and fuselage that each were 44 feet long. Power was provided by two aft-mounted 3,000-pound-thrust Pratt & Whitney JT12 turbojets, and the aircraft was easily identified by its distinctive, high-visibility upper and side cockpit windows.
For transportation, and particularly for air transport, the primary tool in combating global warming happens to be the same one prized by designers and manufacturers from the outset -- efficiency.
International Communications Group moved to bolster its Iridium communication systems (ICS) by integrating them with Universal Avionics' UniLink UL-70x, a popular communications management unit (CMU) for business aircraft, and introducing an interface between the ICG NxtLink ICS and Tempus, a remote medical monitoring device made by RDT, a U.K. company.
