Airlines are quickly becoming ecological pariahs in Europe for their perceived contribution to climate change, even though experts are well aware that power generation and road transport emit many times more greenhouse gases than aircraft operators. Airlines have protested that their stigmatization is unfair, but "that misses the point," said David McMillan, U.K. Transport Department director-general of civil aviation.
The Hawker 900XP is the first model in the history of the Hawker 125 family line to be fitted with second-generation Honeywell TFE731 turbofans. The -50R turbofan fitted to the Hawker 900XP essentially is the same as the -60 engine that powers the Dassault Falcon 900EX, except for having a one-inch smaller diameter fan and smaller size engine outer case. As a result, it's the second heaviest member of the second-generation TFE731 family, weighing in at 978 pounds.
I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate the Purchase Planning Handbook you publish in the May B&CA. It is our single best source of comparative information. We refer to it often, and rely on it always. Thanks for the thorough research and the clear presentation.
On Coping With Crisis 101: "Any director of flight operations should consider this class on the same level they consider simulator training. To me, it's kind of like your homeowner or fire insurance; you never use it, but it's nice knowing that it's there. . . . We used [Steve Bassett's] template to update a rather thorough disaster plan we already had. And we used his publication and CD extensively in reviewing the existing plan." Jeff Tolbert, President and CEO, AirMed International
Great article about the Canadian pilot and his felony arrest ("Pilot Error: Grist for the Criminal Courts?" Cause & Circumstance, August, page 66). I always wondered why city, state or federal prosecutors don't press for criminal charges when blatant acts of stupidity committed by flight crews cause the death or great bodily harm to passengers or people on the ground.
Fokker Services is completing its first Airbus A318 at the company's Woensdrecht facility in the Netherlands. The green aircraft, destined for an undisclosed operator in the Middle East, recently was delivered from the Airbus factory in Hamburg, Germany, and is scheduled to be finished by mid-2008. Previously, Fokker Services outfitted an Airbus ACJ for the Austrian company Stumpf AG.
Chelton Flight Systems' Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) has been added as an approved sensor on the FlightLogic EFIS STC for Bell 206 and 207 helicopters. Chelton's system is designed for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and provides digital output and referencing of aircraft position, rate, vector and acceleration data. ADAHRS meets the requirements of DO-178B, Level A software and DO-160E environmental qualifications.
Airbus, Toulouse, France, has announced its new executive committee: Fabrice Bregier, chief operating officer; Hans Peter Ring, chief financial officer; John Leahy, chief operating officer, customers; Tom Williams, executive vice president, programs; Patrick Gavin, executive vice president, engineering; and Gerald Weber, executive vice president, operations.
Zero Eight Papa Aviation Services, a corporate aviation management and consulting company, has launched www.crewyourjet.com. The site is designed exclusively for crewmembers to post their professional expertise on the Web for a nominal fee and for organizations looking for crewmembers to post their ads on the Web for a fee. Updates for crewmembers' and employers' information is also accomplished with minimal out-of-pocket expense. Payment is cleared through the convenience and security of PayPal. As of Sept. 1 the fees listed on the Web site were:
The Hawker 900XP's Pro Line 21 package features four, 10-by-eight-inch, portrait-configuration flat-panel displays; a standard single file server that hosts electronic charts, enhanced map graphics and optional data-link weather capability; and dual, console-mounted CDUs that control the twin FMS-6000s and dual Pro Line 21 radio packages.
Innotech Aviation has added 35 designers and engineers to its facility in Montreal to meet growing demand for its business jet completion, refurbishment and maintenance services. The company also has made additional investments in capital equipment and software. Innotech specializes in completions and providing major service for Bombardier Global and Challenger aircraft, and is designated by the manufacturer as a preferred completion center and authorized service facility for those aircraft types.
Push up the thrust levers of the Hawker 900XP and you'd be hard pressed to recognize this aircraft is the direct descendent of the stately, though matronly DH 125, designed in 1960 by de Havilland but certified and put into production by Hawker Siddeley, its successor. Compared to its immediate predecessor, the Hawker 850XP, this latest Hawker needs 300 feet less runway for takeoff at sea level and has a 1,400 foot shorter takeoff field length when departing B&CA's 5,000-foot/ISA+20°C airport.
Carl Janssens, an accredited senior appraiser at Aircraft Bluebook-Price Digest, has been tracking the aircraft market since he joined the publication in 1999. He says the current market is good overall, "with the large corporate jets leading the way." Janssens says the top tier is a seller's market because "there is virtually no inventory and aircraft are changing hands at premium prices."
While attempting a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Runway 27 at the Portage County Airport in Ravenna, Ohio, a Beech V35B Bonanza was substantially damaged. It was VFR and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and his flight instructor were not injured. The accident occurred during the first flight after all six engine cylinders had been replaced. Three days prior to the accident, the pilot performed an engine run-up to verify proper engine operation and to see if any fluid leaks were present. No anomalies were encountered.
BLR Aerospace has begun taking orders for its King Air 90 winglets, and the Everett, Wash., company expects to win certification of the aerodynamic enhancement system in spring 2008. BLR, which has been producing winglets for the King Air 200 and 300 for the past two years, recently delivered its 100th ship set. The winglets increase the cruise speed and vertical rate of climb, reduce drag and fuel consumption, and improve handling qualities of the Beech twin turboprops.
A NASA-produced video, "Icing Training Programs," summarizes best operating practices learned from all of the agency's in-depth research, and if you're stuck at an FBO for a day, watching it provides some great refresher information.
Under the aegis of the U.K. Defense Ministry's Day-Night All-Weather Helicopter Applied Research Program, color panoramic displays and night-vision goggles (NVGs) were used, along with a head-tracking system, onboard mission planning and route generation, precision navigation, dynamic flight path guidance and conformal task-dependent symbology integrated into a single system. Inputs from thermal imaging and low-light TV sensors were fused in real-time to provide imaging on a head-down display.
B&CA presented some questions to FAA headquarters concerning the capabilities of ADS-B, its impact on the air traffic controller force, the implementation and operation contract awarded to ITT in August, and how the whole system will be paid for. The questions were answered by principals in the Surveillance and Broadcast Program Office. B&CA: Why does the FAA believe that ADS-B will "significantly reduce delays and enhance safety"?
The FAA ordered an emergency revocation of AMI Jet Charter's FAR Part 135 operating certificate on Oct. 12 -- fallout from OpSpec A008 dealing with operational control of charter aircraft. The unusually aggressive regulatory action came a week after the agency issued an emergency order suspending AMI's certificate and just after AMI had appealed the suspension order to the NTSB (see below).
Flight Display Systems introduced a new hi-definition delivery system that supports Blu-ray and HD DVD while delivering digital video up to 100 feet. The new system uses a proprietary line of video distribution amplifiers manufactured by Flight Display Systems specifically for this application. Coupled with Category 5e (Cat5) cable and HD monitors, the system provides the highest quality video feed to the cabin, according to the company. Cat5e cable is a twisted pair wire commonly used in computer networks.
The University of Illinois Center of Excellence in Airport Technology is evaluating an automatic foreign object debris (FOD) detection system at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, R.I., for the FAA. The agency is testing various FOD detection systems, and this one is provided by QinetiQ of the United Kingdom. The fully automated system can monitor runway conditions around the clock and relieve airport operators from having to make visual inspections several times a day.
The NBAA announced the first recipients of the David W. Ewald Journalism Scholarship at its 60th Annual Meeting & Convention: Chad Mumm, a senior at the University of Georgia in Athens, and David Wilson, a freshman at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. The NBAA, in coordination with the family of the late Dave Ewald, established the scholarship earlier this year to honor the long-time B&CA publisher, who spent nearly 50 years serving the business aviation community.
