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.
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.
Air Routing International has updated its Flight Manger application. A new front page enables users to link to other information services, and an in-house Card Program allows clients to view their invoice statements on a weekly basis online through Flight Manager. Clients also can directly determine and configure the number of users who have access to Flight Manager and the ability to edit information online. The new front page is part of an Air Routing upgrade to a Web 2.0 program that now enables users to link to ASI Group for their events and to its HotSpots.
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.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., announced that Todd Duncan assumed his new position as chairman as current Chairman Robert Duncan retired, becoming chairman emeritus.
Rockwell Collins' STC for the installation of its Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System (IDS) in Dassault Falcon 50s is now available to dealers. This STC offering is part of a broader program to make more STCs available to dealers, ultimately lowering operators' installation costs. Other Pro Line 21 IDS STCs owned by Rockwell Collins include ones for the Piaggio P-180 and Hawker 800A. Pending STCs include installations for the Hawker Beechcraft King Air 200 and C90.
As a reader of B&CA since it started, I am absolutely appalled that you would grace the pages of this revered publication with a name the likes of F. Lee Bailey (Fast Five, September, page 36). If I were an advertiser, my account would be history. Let me relate a quick F. Lee lawsuit story from the 1980s.
Aero Toy Store, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced that retired Sara Lee Corp. chairman and CEO C. Steven McMillan has been named chairman of the board of directors for the company.
The NBAA Convention seems this year to have reached a critical mass. Year after year it has been a fount of news -- of new airframes, engines, avionics, significant sales, FBO expansions, the state of the industry -- the whole spectrum from new light sport aircraft to VIP Boeing 787s. This year, the sheer volume of news from the convention was a gusher that would have swamped this issue, and at least the next - bumping major news generated before, during and after the convention, flowing like the atmosphere of Jupiter around the Great Red Spot of NBAA 2007.
Gulfstream Aerospace has formally filed paperwork with the FAA for approval of its large-cabin aircraft to use Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures to fly into certain airports. RNP allows operators to take better advantage of an aircraft's operating characteristics by flying a more precise flight path into an airport and increases airport access during poor weather conditions. To date, the FAA has approved 74 RNP procedures at 30 airports and plans to add 25 more approach procedures during fiscal 2008.
Air Routing International, Houston, announced that Wolfram Pinhammer has joined the company as manager of European sales and marketing, based in Berlin, Germany.
Responding to criticism by the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations, Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said in a recent TV interview that Brazil's airspace is now safer, "although safety is one thing and its perception by the public is something else." Jobim oversees aviation in Brazil. He highlighted the continued training of some 600 professional controllers and equipment modernization as signs that safety is a priority. Structural reforms are also under way, such as transferring ATC from military to civilian hands.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Customer Service Center Europe GmbH signed a fleet management program contract under which it will maintain PW206C and PW207C engines that power helicopters operated by Sloane Helicopters, Ltd. The customer care center, located in Duxford, England, is a joint venture of the Canadian engine manufacturer and MTU of Germany.
DayJet has formally launched its long-anticipated per-seat, on-demand jet service to five Florida "DayPort" airports with a fleet of Eclipse 500 VLJs. DayJet has now opened its reservation system to some 1,500 registered members. The company won clearance to begin operations with the Eclipses in September and subsequently offered a few flights to a limited number of passengers while it prepared for a formal launch. The service includes flights to Gainesville, Lakeland, Boca Raton, Tallahassee and Pensacola.
FirstFlight, Elmira/ Corning, N.Y., has appointed Stephen Lee to the position of vice president of strategic projects, managing charter, aircraft management and maintenance service in the Washington, D.C., area.
What can business jet operators expect when they go shopping for ADS-B equipment? To find out, B&CA polled major avionics manufacturers to see how they're preparing for the FAA's forthcoming ADS-B initiative and the NextGen/NGATS ATC system. It quickly became obvious in our discussions that the companies are playing their cards close to their metaphorical chests due to the competitive nature of the business. Nevertheless, we were able to wheedle the following information from them. Honeywell
Axis Jet Aviation Group, Sacramento, Calif., announced that Scott Malandrone has been promoted to chief pilot, with responsibilities for pilots assigned to Axis Jet aircraft and assisting in training and flight standards.
Yingling Aviation, Wichita, announced that Lonnie Vaughan has been promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer; Bob Gallop assumes the role of vice president of repair station operations and Jerry Pickett has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing.
Lufthansa Technik's Completion Center has signed two Letters of Commitment with undisclosed customers for the completion of Airbus A330-200 aircraft. They will be both outfitted in Hamburg, Germany. The first A330 will arrive at the beginning of 2008. The second is scheduled for the end of 2009. LHT says it has completed 30 widebody aircraft so far. It is capable of completing VIP jets up to the size of an Airbus A380 and is ready for the Boeing 787 and Boeing 747-8. So far more than 15 Boeing 747 aircraft have been completed or refurbished in Hamburg.
Two jumbo jets on a taxiway leading to the active runway for takeoff clipped wings at London Heathrow Airport on Oct. 15 at 10:10 p.m. local time, and a British Airways 747 lost the top piece of its winglet as a result. The accident was treated as a major crash by SkyNews in Britain and by U.S. cable news channels until calmer heads prevailed. A Sri Lankan Airlines A340 with 286 people aboard clipped the wing of the BA 747 with 328 people on board as the A340 passed the 747 on its way to Runway 27R, a spokeswoman for BAA said. BAA owns and operates the airport.
*Nov. 7-9: Chevron Product Integrity Training, Phoenix. Chevron Global Aviation, 1500 Louisiana St., Houston, TX 77002. (866) 557-3456. www.totalga.com *Nov. 7-9: International Aviation Womens Association 19th Annual Conference, Sheraton Buenos Aires & Convention Center and St. Regis Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina. (410) 571-1990. www.iawa.org
Aviation industry experts are questioning what could have possessed the FAA to attempt to make an example of an operator that not only has a sterling operational and safety record, but also has been cooperative and professional in all aspects of its relationship with the FAA. Jim Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association, which represents AMI Jet Charter and hundreds of other charter operators, noted there has been a great deal of confusion within the FAA and the charter industry about OpSpec A008.
