The International Federation of Air Line Pilots said it is "outraged" about the decision to prosecute the ExcelAire pilots. IFALPA said the decision "is flawed on a number of levels" because it violates ICAO Annex 13, Attachment E, which states "that there can be no criminal liability without intent. Brazilian law should respect this fundamental principle in all cases." IFALPA also faulted the decision to exclude the Brazilian military - which operates the air traffic control system in that country - from the investigation.
In the past year, both the Cessna Mustang and the Eclipse 500 have received type certification and more models of very light jets (VLJs) are soon to follow. Considering these aircraft fly in the same airspace as the big jets, they need many of the same systems, but in a much smaller package. With a full suite of navigation and communications gear and IFR capability, VLJs must still meet the demands of passenger comfort with a quiet and smooth cabin, and be both efficient and reliable.
(Montreal) -- Ed Thomas has been appointed regional vice president of Learjet sales in the United States. Paul Schenian has been named managing director of pre-owned aircraft and is responsible for used aircraft sales worldwide. He is based in Dallas.
The FAA issued a rule essentially banning U.S. civilian operations in Somalia -- prohibiting flying at altitudes below 20,000 feet in Somalian airspace. The rule applies to U.S. carriers, U.S. commercial operators, operators of U.S.-registered aircraft and persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman certificate with a few exceptions. Special approval will be given for operations within Somalian airspace that result from a contract with a U.S. government agency. The rule comes after two incidents at Mogadishu International Airport.
King Schools' "Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000" course is now updated to cover the Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), XM Weather, en route and approach holding, and OBS lessons as well as expanded coverage about setting fuel information, bearing pointers, updating the Jeppesen database, and course reversals including procedure turns. Interactive questions following each lesson test the pilot's G1000 knowledge and teach G1000 procedures. The course contains nine CDs and runs about five hours before the interactive questions. Price: $249
DeCrane Aerospace, Georgetown, Del., announced that William "Bill" Weaver has been appointed president of PATS Aircraft LLC. Weaver has been with DeCrane since 1997 and will continue his present duties as president of Hollingsead International, Inc.
Eclipse Aviation won a Production Certificate for its Eclipse 500 VLJ on April 26 that will yield increased production and delivery rates of the new aircraft. With a PC, aircraft coming off the production line (with its attendant inspection and QA procedures) is certified. Previously, each Eclipse 500 had to be individually certified as to conformity with the TC before it received a Certificate of Airworthiness. The type certification for the Eclipse 500 was awarded in fall 2006; Eclipse delivered the first customer aircraft just before year-end.
Jet Linx Aviation, Omaha, announced that Justin R. Kuykendall joined the company in the newly established position of executive vice president of business development and chief financial officer.
Airports would use six key tools, including behavioral recognition, targeted physical inspection and biometrics, as part of a new, risk-based approach to screen employees with access to secure areas under a measure unveiled in May by the TSA, in partnership with industry associations.
*Eurocopter MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters -- Mark the position of the tail-rotor control lever dynamic weights, remove the split pins and the weights, and visually inspect (and replace, if necessary) the tail-rotor control lever before further flight. *General Electric CT7-5, -7 and -9 engines -- Conduct a one-time eddy-current inspection of bolt holes in certain Stage 2 turbine aft cooling plates.
DESPITE THE WARM FLORIDA temperature, all those filing into the auditorium were gowned, a tradition that traces to the chilly stone halls of learning in medieval Europe. Their faces were bright with anticipation; they were about to launch into the world on their own.
Every airport has a story, which makes selecting a manageable number of business aviation fields to profile for a report on urban relievers a challenge. In the end, B&CA chose seven magnet airports, each representative of a U.S. geographical region and each with an interesting and unique story to tell. This report features the last three of the seven airports. Parts I and II of this special report appeared in the April and May issues. DeKalb Peachtree Airport: Lord of the 'Ring'
Executive Jet Management, Cincinnati, announced that Kirsten Krueger has been promoted to vice president of sales, based at EJM's office in San Jose, Calif.
Regarding the March 2007 Reflections ("For the Record," page 48), I must say that the Brazilian airman Alberto Santos-Dumont is not only the first aviation record holder, but he is considered in many parts of the world as the real inventor of the airplane. And there's a good reason for that: First, Dumont's airplane named 14-Bis, which flew in Paris in 1906, was the first airplane to take off by its own means, using his engine power to takeoff, fly and land. We need to remember that the Wright brothers' airplane, the Flyer, was catapulted.
Thank you for your note, and your suggestion. we've been to THF and was struck immediately by its architecture and also the history the place contains.
"The market today, pretty much across the board, is on fire. It is very strong and healthy," declared Rick Engles, a principal in the Washington, D.C.-based aircraft brokerage of Vance & Engles.
I very much enjoyed David Esler's "Coping With the Future: Major Business Airports" (May, page 76). Each airport has its unique set of plusses and minuses.
