Dassault says A, B and C checks intervals for the Falcon 7X average 50 percent greater than on any previous Falcon model, which the company says cuts maintenance costs and increases aircraft availability. Compared with previous Falcon 900 models, the F7X "A" check has gone up to nine months/600 flight hours from six months/300 flight hours. The "B" check has been extended to 2,400 flight hours from 1,500, and the most intensive, the "C" check, is now eight years or 4,000 flight cycles instead of six years and 3,750 flight cycles.
Mooney Airplane Co., Kerrville, Texas, appointed John McCoury as vice president of engineering. Jon Greenwood is the company's new vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Barry Hodkin, who has been appointed vice president of corporate planning.
On Dec. 6, 2006, a solar flare created a solar radio burst of unprecedented intensity, causing large numbers of receivers to stop tracking GPS signals for varying intervals.
Cessna Aircraft and Winglet Technology, LLC have agreed to collaborate on the latter company's patented elliptical winglet design for retrofit on Cessna Citation X jets. Elliptical winglets, which are designed to increase range and increase payload on high/hot departures, will be installed and flown on a Citation X test aircraft this summer. The two companies plan to announce details on the expected performance benefits and planned availability later this year.
RDD Enterprises, LLC is exclusive distributor of Therm-X, a proprietary electro-thermal deicing system designed by Kelly Thermal Systems developed for the experimental market by RDD. According to the company, its design is simple and has no moving parts other than an alternator, requires no messy and expensive deicing solution, and provides an inexhaustible supply of ice protection. Therm-X consists of a graphite foil laminate applied to the leading edge of the wing and horizontal stabilizer.
JetDirect Aviation, LLC and Sentient Jet, Inc. are planning to merge, saying the combined company will "offer the ultimate in product flexibility and choice for customers who fly privately, offering a compelling alternative to the fractional ownership model." JetDirect is an aircraft management and aviation services company while Sentient provides jet membership and jet card programs.
Mexican carrier Aviacsa is seeking U.S. Transportation Department authority to operate unscheduled air taxi flights from points in Mexico -- mainly Monterrey and Toluca -- to U.S. points with a Hawker 125 and a Canadair 600. The carrier currently operates scheduled flights to Los Angeles, Houston and Las Vegas.
(Nashville) -- Christine Blair has joined the staff as a market researcher, providing sales and acquisitions support for the corporate jet leasing firm out of the company's Rome, N.Y., office.
Think that an Airbus is too big for routine business travel between North America and Europe? Try boarding 11 company employees on a conventional large-cabin business jet for a nine-hour overnight flight between the continents. Then, count the number of fully berthable seats. Most purpose-built, large-cabin business aircraft will sleep no more than six or seven. These 11 travelers are likely to lament this mission as another transatlantic "red eye."
Nav Canada will raid the piggy bank to breakeven after a rate cut. The government-chartered corporation released its financial results April 13 for the three and six months that ended Feb. 28, 2007. "Increased traffic growth together with the company's continued focus on cost control, provide the opportunity to offer lower service charges to our customers while meeting our essential safety and service obligations" said John Crichton, Nav Canada president and CEO.
The 1962 movie "The Longest Day," about the Allies' D-Day invasion of France in 1944, was epic both in scope and time. With a running time of more than three hours, the film was dubbed "The Longest Movie," by some critics who complained that it seemed longer than the invasion itself.
Rosen Aviation's new aviation quality DVD/CD player is a region-free design that allows passengers to view DVDs from around the world while in flight, according to the company. It will integrate with existing cabin entertainment equipment using RS 232 and RS 485 interfaces. It features a switched audio/video output that allows users to switch between the DVD and an auxiliary source such as a moving map, audio or visual briefings, or other A/V sources. The unit will operate vertically or horizontally allowing it to be placed where it will save the most cabin space.
Modern business aircraft efficiently cruise as high as 51,000 feet, where the outside air pressure is 89-percent less than that at sea-level and the temperature is a decidedly brisk -56.5°C (-87.7°F). If you were exposed unprotected to such an extreme altitude and temperature, you would lose consciousness in three to five seconds and then freeze to death in a matter of minutes.
Aruba Airport Authority and Universal Aviation Aruba, a subsidiary of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., welcomed corporate executives, local officials and media representatives as it celebrated the grand opening of Aruba's new 1,500 square-meter General Aviation Terminal April 20. The stand-alone facility is operated by Universal Aviation under an agreement with the Aruba Airport Authority and is located at the Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba. The grand opening honored Universal's founder, Thomas G.
The FAA is seeking comments regarding an official interpretation to the condition of "known icing." Responding to an inquiry as to when "known ice" exists as part of an enforcement action, the agency's Eastern Region counsel last June formally stated that high relative humidity constitutes known icing conditions. AOPA objected, saying such a determination was overreaching.
"Now is a good time to be an aircraft broker," declared John Didier of Sacramento Aviation, a California company that deals mostly with previously owned business turboprops and light jets. "Business is good. The late-model, low-time market has been pretty good for the last couple of years. Now the average older airplane is gaining attention."
PremiAir, the U.K.'s largest helicopter charter operator, has been acquired by the von Essen Group, a British-owned luxury hotel chain, from Sir Robert McAlpine. The acquisition follows a successful relationship between the two companies with PremiAir managing von Essen's fleet of business helicopters and jets, and operating the London Heliport for it since earlier this year.
Edwards & Associates, The Tennessee-based subsidiary of Bell Helicopter, has installed the CMC Electronics SureSight M-Series Enhanced Vision System (EVS) sensor on an Agusta Westland AW-139 helicopter for a corporate customer.
*April 2 -- A Piper PA-28 owned by L&J Sanders Properties LLC collided with trees while cruising near New Tazewell, Tenn. Witnesses reported that the airplane came down out of the "clouds" and then climbed back up. When it came down a second time, it was on its side and went out of sight. The witnesses heard a loud crash and called 911. The NTSB examination found the airplane in a densely wooded area. It was IFR at altitude, but no flight plan was filed. The private pilot was fatally injured.
Elliott Aviation has received EASA certification for its Elite Series cockpit upgrade, becoming the first company in the world to receive European approval for the installation of Universal Avionics' EFI-890R large-format flat-panel display system and Vision-1 synthetic vision system. Elliott installed the equipment in a French-registered 1982 Dassault Falcon 100 at its completion center at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Moline, Ill. The facility also is an EASA-certified repair station.
Lufthansa has extended its deal with NetJets Europe for another five years to supply VIP passenger uplift for its Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ) program. Launched two years ago, LPJ books around 10 aircraft per day, Lufthansa reports. Aircraft operated by NetJets Europe for LPJ include the Citation XLS, Hawker 800XP and Falcon 2000.
The DOT released the final requirements for Washington, D.C.-area businesses to seek reimbursement for lost income stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. DOT, which proposed the requirements in October, agreed to provide more time for businesses to submit an application and made other changes to the application process at the request of aviation groups. The final rule, published in the April 9 Federal Register, provides businesses 60 days from the rule's May 9, 2007 effective date to submit their application for reparations.
For the past half century, our sibling, Aviation Week & Space Technology, has been presenting Laureate awards annually to individuals and groups whom the AW&ST editors select for having distinguished themselves in advancing the aerospace industry.
Motocross is a fusion of "motorcycle" and "cross country" and is usually referred to by aficionados simply as "MX." An outgrowth of scrambling and other off-road activities, the sport matches all the obstacles nature can provide against riders garbed in lightweight fiberglass armor riding lightweight, powerful bikes with suspensions capable of extreme excursions. Tracks where riders compete for prizes have man-made jumps and berms, but not asphalt. This is dirt biking - no pavement, please.
