*Dec. 3-14: Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) course, University of Southern California (USC), 6033 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 920, Los Angeles, CA 90045. (310) 342-1345. *Dec. 10: American Association of Airport Executives, Seventh Annual Aviation Security Summit, DoubleTree Hotel Crystal City, Arlington, Va. www.aaae.org *Dec. 14: Wright Memorial Dinner, Aero Club of Washington, Washington, D.C. www.aeroclub.org --2008--
The AOPA, which has strongly supported the overall concept for the NextGen ATC system, said it plans to thoroughly examine the 100-page proposal, but said the FAA still needed to answer a number of technical questions. The association noted that the proposal would enable the FAA to move away from its aging ground radar and that the money this saves should be considered in calculating future aviation fuel taxes. GAMA agreed, adding technical specifications still need to be set in concrete before manufacturers are comfortable with a full-scale ramp-up of ADS-B equipment.
Also at NBAA 2007, NBAA posthumously presented the Platinum Wing Award to the late David W. Ewald and announced that the award will be renamed the David W. Ewald Platinum Wing Award for Lifetime Achievement and Excellence in Journalism. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen recognized Ewald as "someone who devoted over 50 years to aviation journalism." He also said, "It has often been noted that Dave was a publishing genius."
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has won the 2007 Airport Safety Award from the Flight Safety Foundation as a result of its leadership in developing innovative safety initiatives, including perimeter taxiways, area navigation (RNAV) procedures and a surface movement guidance system. The RNAV procedures were introduced in cooperation with NASA and the FAA.
Rockwell Collins has announced a new line of Software Programmable Switch Panels that will provide business jet passengers with more user friendly control over their cabin environment, while giving aircraft manufacturers an efficient, standard part that serves many applications. The switch panels offer an icon-based means for passengers to access and control a full range of cabin amenities and services and, when accompanied by Rockwell Collins' Media Center Device with Moving Map, offer integrated real-time flight information, such as time to destination and ground speed.
NAT Seattle Inc., a Cobham Avionics & Surveillance company, offers an airborne server allowing users to make and receive phone calls on their personal cell phones inflight. This solution is available for most hybrid cell/Wi-Fi phones, according to the company. The phone must be used in "flight mode," with wireless LAN enabled. The company claims that the technology is easily certifiable on aircraft because it uses existing wireless LANs.
*Dassault Falcon 50, 900, 900EX, 2000 and 2000EX airplanes - Verify the correct assembly of the flap rotating rods and associated retaining brackets installed in the left-hand and right-hand wing root compartment and in the left-hand and right-hand main landing gear compartment. Also, inspect the rods for damage. If damage is found, replace any damaged rods prior to further flight. In addition, check to ensure that the rod orientation and bracket positioning is correct, and take corrective actions, if necessary, before the next flight.
The U.S. Homeland Security Department says GE Security's shoe scanner does not meet minimum detection standards for widespread use at U.S. airports and has halted use of a prototype scanner at Orlando International Airport. "While significant improvements were made," the TSA says, following tests this summer, "the shoe scanner still does not meet standards to ensure detection of explosives." The news was a blow to GE partner Clear, which hoped the scanner would be a market differentiater among companies offering Registered Traveler services and at FBOs.
Infinity Aviation Group, Nashua, N.H., has acquired the assets of Keyson Airways and Keyson Enterprises, a full-service FBO located at the Nashua Airport.
CAN was presented with a $28,000 check during a ceremony held at Chevron Global Aviation's exhibit during the NBAA's 60th Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta. Tom Henricks, president of McGraw-Hill's AVIATION WEEK, presented the check for the net proceeds of the Corporate Angel Award program to Peter Fleiss, CAN's executive director.
Forecast International of Newtown, Conn., a provider of market data, recently released a study analyzing the projected delivery of 14,200 rotorcraft in the years 2007 through 2016. Of those, 7,311 aircraft will be turboshaft powered; of those, twin engines are expected to make up a slim majority of 3,708 compared to 3,603 single-engine rotorcraft.
Intelligence | 15 * NTSB Wants Operators to Calculate 15% Runway Distance Margin * AMI Jet's Certificate Pulled * ADS-B Mandatory by 2020 * 'Green' Debate Could Flare Up Quickly in U.S., Experts Warn Edited by James E. Swickard Commentary 9 | Viewpoint By William Garvey Emitting Credibility 88 |Washington By David Collogan The Airlines' Big Lie 90 |Point of Law By Kent S. Jackson Voluntary Disclosure Programs
Deliveries of the B200 Super XPR, Blackhawk Modifications' new engine upgrade for the King Air B200, began in October. Blackhawk of Waco, Texas installed factory-new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-61 engines and the Raisbeck's EPIC Performance Package into the B200. The package increases the aircraft's takeoff, climb and cruise performance, giving the twin turboprop the ability to cruise at speeds up to 305 knots.
Paul Lowe of Aviation International News was presented the NBAA Gold Wing Award, which recognizes insightful reporting on the most important issues and trends impacting business aviation. Lowe is noted for his thorough and well-researched series of articles on the aviation user fee issue - one of the most pressing issues facing the general aviation industry. His coverage is credited with helping readers to understand the implications of user fees and the threat posed to their businesses.
NBAA by the Numbers: The NBAA's annual convention in Atlanta in September attracted more than 32,000 visitors, down slightly from the 33,088 at the 2006 show in Orlando. The convention sold 5,200 booth spaces to a record 1,152 exhibitors. The static display at Fulton County Airport drew 115 aircraft. The association reports its gathering is now the seventh largest (in display space) convention in the United States.
In the first nine months of 2007, the U.S. business and turboprop fleet together experienced 40 accidents, 12 of them fatal, which resulted in 33 passenger and crew fatalities during routine operations, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla. Overall, this is five fewer jet and turboprop accidents than during the same period in 2006. The combined total of fatal accidents was also down slightly, with 12 fatals reported in the first nine months of this year vs. 15 in the same period in 2006.
A Short Brothers SC-7 operated by Arctic Circle Air Service, Inc., of Fairbanks, Alaska, collided with trees during takeoff and initial climb from a remote airstrip about 82 miles east-northeast of McGrath, Alaska. The director of operations for Arctic Circle Air reported that the pilot was planning to fly the airplane to the company maintenance facility in Anchorage from the Mystic Lake Lodge. The gravel surface airstrip is oriented north/south and is about 1,100 feet long and about 40 feet wide.
According to the NTSB's interim factual report, on Jan. 2, 2006, an American Eagle Saab 340B+ departed from the San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP) in California with 25 passengers aboard for a 1:26 hour flight to LAX. The captain opted to fly the initial departure and transferred control to the first officer at about 2,500 feet msl with the airplane's autopilot engaged.
At about 1510 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 206, N80230Z, operated by Scenic Mountain Air of Moose Pass, was seriously damaged during a forced landing when it collided with terrain following a loss of power during cruise flight, about 77 miles north of McGrath, Alaska. It was VFR. The pilot reported vibration in cruise flight and heard a loud bang and then the propeller stopped. He noted that the underside of the engine cowling had a dent near the oil dipstick inspection door.
ARINC Direct has added wireless mobile flight planning to its portfolio of services for business jet operators. The new service, ARINC Direct Mobile, is designed for pilots and flight departments who want to create and submit flight plans using Blackberries or other personal wireless devices. The service is available immediately and offers most of the features of ARINC's standard Web- enabled flight planning service.
International Water-Guard Industries Inc. recently introduced the IWG-A4, the first of a new generation of "intelligent" water treatment units. Lighter in weight than its predecessor, the new unit is electronically and physically more robust, according to the company. Ease of maintenance was a key design feature and is addressed through a new modular design. The IWG-A4 is equipped with enhanced self-monitoring capability.
