Robert E. Brown, CAE's president and CEO, hosted a bash for employees, customers and others at the company's Montreal headquarters in March to celebrate the company's 60th birthday. Helping mark the event was the announced launch of CAE's 5000-series full-flight simulator that addresses training requirements for aircraft from the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320, to business jets including VLJs.
Several years ago the DC-3TP operated by the "public use" unit in the main story was at an inspection station in Missoula, Mont., with just five flight hours left before a mandatory hot section inspection on the turbine engines.
In your January Cause & Circumstance ("The GIII Crash at Houston a Final Look," page 68), the pilots were both senior citizens aged 67 and 62. I would like to ask two questions: (1) Where does the "Age 60 Rule" apply? and (2) Until what age are senior citizen pilots allowed to fly for remuneration?
Every year, maintenance managers from across the country gather at the NBAA Maintenance Managers Conference (MMC) to share information, gain knowledge and trade stories, all with the goal of making their own departments safer and more effective. This year's event, held in San Diego in early April, continued the growth in both content and popularity.
Multi Service Aviation, an aviation credit card provider and payment processor, recently signed an agreement with Travel Safety Group, doing business as GEOS, to offer Multi Service card holders and their employees free GEOS Traveler basic service, along with discounts on other service packages. The Overland Park, Kan., company said the GEOS Traveler package, which includes global security and intelligence updates and mobile communications services, would otherwise cost $71.40 per year.
On Oct. 26, 1993, a King Air 300F owned and operated by the FAA crashed into a mountain near Front Royal, Va., while on an airport inspection trip, killing the three persons aboard. After departure from Winchester Regional Airport in an area of low clouds and mountainous terrain, the crew requested an IFR clearance. They were told by ATC to "Maintain VFR for right now. It's going to be about five minutes before I can get to you.
AVIATION INSIDERS IN Washington are questioning how long Marion Blakey will continue to serve as FAA administrator, given the increasing amount of political and rhetorical ordnance falling on her position.
Questioned whether the new alliance believes the current ATC system should stay, Boyer responded at the April 11 press conference that the status quo is not an option, but neither is the funding mechanism in the FAA reauthorization proposal. Kenneth Mead, former inspector general of the U.S. DOT, is now special counsel for transportation and government affairs at Baker Botts LLP in Washington.
RMS Technology has added three runway incursion solutions in the recent update to its Vista moving map. Prior to this update, Vista displayed airport diagrams with the aircraft's position overlaid. This now can happen automatically whenever the aircraft is on the ground. Additionally, a marker feature that makes it easier to overlay handwritten notes on the airport graphic or any other scanned chart has been included. The upgrade also adds a prominent visual and audible warning whenever the aircraft is about the cross onto a runway. RMS Technology
"The Importance of Being in the Know" (November 2005, page 74) makes for quite interesting reading and is a very good human factors exercise but there is one term I do not know nor can find in any dictionary. What is a "high-g air-combat furball"?
A panel of staff members from key House and Senate committees recently predicted that legislation reauthorizing continuation of FAA programs will pass Congress this year, although tough decisions on how those programs will be financed remain to be answered. While no one disputes the importance of keeping FAA programs going, there had been speculation earlier this year that the ambitious legislative agenda put forward by the Democrats in the wake of their November election gains might make it difficult to get FAA reauthorization through.
Ballistic Recovery Systems, a manufacturer of whole-airplane parachute recovery systems for general aviation and recreational aircraft, reports that a pilot flying a Cirrus SR22 became the 200th documented life saved by a BRS product. Shortly thereafter, the company also learned that a German ultralight pilot had used a BRS system, which brought the total lives saved to 201. Save 200 occurred when a U.S. pilot departed Tucson on an IFR flight to Colorado. During the flight he encountered an in-flight emergency.
*Bombardier Challenger 604 airplanes -- Replace the horizontal stabilizer trim control unit with a new unit. Also, revise the airplane flight manual to require a review of the location of certain circuit breakers and advise the flight crew of procedures to follow in the event of stabilizer trim runaway or Mach trim, stab trim and horizontal stabilizer trim malfunctions. In addition, conduct a functional check of the stabilizer trim system and install circuit-breaker identification collars.
While the new alliance was taking its message to the media, the Air Transport Association was on the road educating its Texas airline members on its stance on the FAA reauthorization bill. The ATA tour was to continue for several weeks. ATA's official response to the new alliance was to say that linking hundreds of small communities around the country is what the national transportation system is all about.
Naverus, a Kent, Wash.-based company, has become the first third-party developer of RNP approach procedures approved by the FAA. The action is aimed at accelerating the adoption of performance-based navigation, addressing the frustrations of some airline and aircraft industry leaders with what they see as the slow pace of implementing these now-proven techniques, pioneered by Alaska Airlines in the mid-1990s.
(Wichita) -- Sean McGeough has been appointed vice president of international sales, taking over for Ted Farid, who has assumed the newly created position of vice president of new business development. McGeough -- who worked with Farid managing Hawker and Beechcraft sales directors in Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East -- will be based at Hawker Beechcraft's international sales headquarters, which has been relocated from Geneva, Switzerland, to the manufacturer's production and service facilities in Chester, United Kingdom.
Universal Avionics officials said they expected to receive type inspection authorization by the end of March for the Tucson-based company's Gulfstream III flight deck retrofit. IFR Avionics in Van Nuys, Calif., is doing the installation, which features four Universal Avionics EFI-890 flat-panel displays. The EFI-890 is an 8.9-inch (measured diagonally), high- definition LCD that the manufacturer claims is the only large display on the market today that is capable of both synthetic vision and electronic charts.
Looking for opportunities to advance your career, or that of the technicians who work for you? There are plenty of ways to help build the skills and confidence to become better technicians, and better leaders, while improving the safety and effectiveness of your operation. Consider the NBAA's Professional Development Program (PDP) and Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program. Both provide the skills and leadership training necessary to lead a well-run flight department.
As much as I enjoyed reading Bob Searles' "For the Record" in the March B&CA (page 48), there was one business jet round-the-world record missing -- one near and dear to the heart of every pilot/golfer out there (not too many of those, are there?). Thirty-one years ago, a red, white and blue Learjet Model 36, N200Y, named "Freedom's Way USA" launched at 1024 MST on May 17, 1976, from Combs Gates at the old Denver Stapleton Airport in quest of the medium jet round-the-world speed record.
FlightSafety International's Citation Mustang simulator in Wichita was recently granted FAA Level D and European Aviation Safety Agency interim Level C approval. Pilot training for Cessna's newest and lightest jet is under way at FlightSafety's Citation learning center in Wichita. Full EASA Level D certification is anticipated for later this year and FlightSafety plans to begin Mustang training at its Farnborough center outside London in the fourth quarter.
Aurora Jet Center has added 82,000 square feet of hangar space, 10,800 square feet of office space, and upgraded the lobby and pilot lounge at its facility at Southend Airpark in Aurora, Ore. An AvFuel dealer, Aurora is located 20 minutes south of Portland.
The Canadian government, academia and several companies have formed a national trade organization to promote advancement and use of Canadian expertise in unmanned vehicle systems. The new organization, known as AUVSI-Canada, is affiliated with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle System International (AUVSI) and will be headquartered in Ottawa. As part of its launch activities, AUVSI is considering a conference to highlight Canadian and related activities in unmanned systems this fall, representatives said.
IT WAS A FEBRUARY EVENING. I had just arrived in Tokyo after eight days of crisscrossing the Far East and my circadian rhythm was a wreck. In addition to being tired, I was somewhat tipsy, since my captain had insisted I join him for drinks at the karaoke pub next door to the hotel. I quickly downed two Cuba libres and set off for my room, eager for sleep. Once inside, I began stripping to my altogether as I beelined for the bed. I didn't bother with the lights. The door had barely shut before I was sawing logs.
Boutsen Aviation of Monaco, headed by ex-Formula One race driver Thierry Boutsen, has delivered the first of eight Piaggio Avanti IIs to an undisclosed customer. Boutsen Aviation also has two Airbus ACJs on order, also for undisclosed customers, with deliveries due in 2008 and 2009.
