Raisbeck Engineering has received FAA certification of its ZR Lite performance-improvement system on the Learjet 31. The package, whose primary element is new trailing-edge flaps, increases the fuel mileage and overall climb, cruise, range and high-altitude performance of the light jet. Raisbeck says modified aircraft can cruise 2,000 feet higher and realize block fuel savings of up to 12 percent. The Lear 31 ZR Lite system is similar to the Lear 35/36 performance package that has been in service since October 2004.
New FBO building projects recently announced in the Middle East are each positioning to be the biggest and best -- and ready for the expected boom in business jet activity in the region. Dubai's newly opened Executive Flight Services FBO and ExecuJet's and Jet Aviation's facility across the runway are testament to the seriousness of intent. Dubai-owned Executive Flight has experienced 650 plus movements in a month, while ExecuJet recently surpassed 900.
NBAA, Washington, D.C., announced the reinstatement of Steven A. Busch and Douglas Schwartz to the board of directors. The NBAA has also created the new position of Northwest regional representative, which will be filled by Kristi Ivey.
Operators of certain types of lighter airplanes sometimes have found it difficult to compete with higher-performance aircraft in the same weight class. That's why the NAA set up the Sporting Performances program, which recognizes American pilots for speed accomplishments by make and model of aircraft (rather than by weight class) using criteria that are "somewhat less stringent" than those for regular national and world records.
As our cities become clogged with traffic, just getting the CEO from downtown to the airport or an exurban plant site becomes a major headache. Though major corporations have used helicopters to move busy executives for decades, the last few years have witnessed steady growth in business helicopter use.
Garmin (Europe) Ltd., a unit of Garmin Ltd., introduced the GTSX 328 Mode S transponder to meet the European regulation for Mode S implementation for VFR aircraft by March 31, 2008. The new unit is intended to serve VFR/Class 2 aircraft where there is adequate size and power consumption support for a GTX 328. It is designed to be a straightforward retrofit and maintains many of the STX 330 features such as OAT, altitude monitoring, count-up and countdown timers, density altitude functions, and front-panel input for flight ID.
JUST OVER A YEAR AGO we opined in this space that the TSA should add Dulles International Airport to the list of approved gateway airports corporate operators could pass through en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (B&CA, February 2006, page 81). Guess what? It's happened -- the TSA recently approved IAD as a DCA gateway airport. The pessimists might ask, "What difference is one more DCA gateway going to make?"
AIRCRAFT REPORTS Bombardier Introduces Challenger 605 Fred George Jan., p. 34 Hello, Hawker 850 Fred George Jan., p. 38 What's Wrong With the MU-2 Fred George Feb,. p. 40 Must Helicopters Be So Noisy? Fred George Feb., p. 68 First Look: Learjet 60XR Fred George March, p. 34 The Turboprop, Doing Just Fine at 50 George C. Larson March, p. 52 Analysis: Citations CJ1+ and CJ2+ Fred George April, p. 34
Construction is well underway at the $33 billion Dubai World Central Airport and city complex at Jebel Ali, 25 miles south of Dubai city center. This will be the world's largest airport by area -- 140 square kilometers. The 2009 Dubai Air Show will be held here. By year-end the first of the six parallel runways opened. When complete (in around a decade) the airport will be capable of handling 120 million passengers per year, and in excess of 100,000 business jet movements at a new super FBO known as the Executive Flight Center, due to open in 2008.
Hillsboro Aviation, based in Hillsboro, Ore sold 67 new and used aircraft, including $41 million worth of new Bell helicopters last year, a record. Hillsboro said it has orders for 27 new Bell helicopters, including contracts for 13 Bell 417s. Hillsboro is the exclusive Bell Helicopter independent sales representative in 15 western states and a sales dealer for the Robinson Helicopter Co.
-General Aviation Services (Lake Zurich, Ill.) -- Brett Forrester has been elevated to sales manager at this aircraft sales firm. Forrester, who joined GAS in 1994, most recently headed the aircraft acquisitions department.
The AOPA reports that it has received a "few isolated cases" of maintenance shops declining to work on older airplanes. In the Jan. 5 edition of AOPA e-pilot, the organization's weekly e-mail newsletter, the association said, "It started last August when one chain of FBOs in the West told customers it would no longer work on aircraft older than 18 years. Several other shops have reportedly taken the same position."
I was very offended by the comments of William Cyders in the January B&CA (Letters, page 8). In his letter he made reference that someone with 300 hours should not be allowed into airspace because said person should not be allowed to pilot an aircraft faster than 120 knots. Masking his statement under the premise that experience takes years, the real underlying reason for this comment was so that pilots like himself can have a job, because the airlines are furloughing and firing their own.
Honda Aircraft Co. is about to begin construction of a new headquarters facility and hangar at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) in Greensboro, N.C. Michimasa Fujino, president and chief executive of Honda Aircraft, unveiled the building plan in February and said his company will also build a manufacturing plant for the HondaJet at PTI, but that the size, timetable and costs are still being developed. Honda Aircraft intends to invest $40 million in the new facility and another $20 million in equipment.
The S-76C upgrade process has accumulated its allotted two "+" symbols, which means it's time to move on to the D. The new model was duly announced at the Helicopter Association International Heli Expo in early 2005 and orders are being taken now. Sometime in late 2008 or early 2009 the newest version of this 30-year-old design will emerge with a pair of new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines, marking yet another propulsion change in a decades-long dance that partnered first with Allison, then Pratt, then Turbomeca and now back to Pratt.
Boeing has abandoned WiFi technology for its 787 in favor of wired in-flight entertainment (IFE). The planemaker says that a wired system not only saves weight, but helps avoid regulatory complications since WiFi systems requires country-by-country approval, and that too many countries have already assigned the desired frequencies for other tasks, such as emergency services.
Jet Aviation Basel delivered a "VVIP" Airbus 320-200 it completed for Saad Group in Saudi Arabia. Saad Group also awarded a contract to Jet Aviation Basel to complete a 340-600. The second aircraft is scheduled to arrive at the Basel completion center in April 2008 and be delivered in mid-2009. Francis Munch of Studio E/Motion designed the A320-200's interior, which took 10 months to complete. It includes an executive seating area, two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a combined conference/dining area and first-class seating in the rear.
Hartzell Propeller Inc. has received an STC to install a newly designed, three-blade propeller system on Beech 58, 58A and G58 Barons that are factory equipped with TCM IO-520 and IO-550 engines. The 75-inch diameter, full-feathering propellers are highly swept and provide a distinctive appearance for the Baron. The design improves the cruise performance of the aircraft without sacrificing takeoff or climb performance, according to the company. The reduced diameter also gives the aircraft increased ground clearance and lower noise.
A Cessna CitationJet 525 operated by Sunquest Executive Air Charter collided with terrain in Van Nuys, Calif. Both pilots died and the airplane was destroyed. Linemen added 190 gallons of fuel in each wing before the flight. One of the linemen observed the copilot preflight the airplane and load bags into the left front baggage compartment. He noted that the copilot pulled the front left baggage door down with one hand, but did not see him latch or lock it.
EMTEQ has introduced its PFLX140-500 coaxial cable, which the company claims is the aviation industry's lightest 50-ohm single-conductor, double-shielded coax. At 0.140 inches in diameter and weighing only 1.28 pounds per 100 feet, the cable is flexible enough to tie in a loose knot. With an outer shield of aircraft grade polyethylene, the new PFLX140-500 offers more than 90 dB shielding effectiveness, produces low smoke and no halogen, and is resistant to Skydrol and other hydraulic fluids.
Ricky Lee Eubank, a well-known and long-time Sikorsky S-76 program manager for FlightSafety in West Palm Beach, died on Dec. 4, 2006, in Florida. He diligently served the helicopter community for many years and was known to S-76 pilots worldwide.
