*Jan. 21-24: NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, Phoenix. www.nbaa.org *Jan. 25: NBAA Business Aviation Regional Forum, Scottsdale, Ariz. www.nbaa.org *Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) Conference and Expo, Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates. www.dubaiairshow.org *Feb. 6-7: Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE2007), Hong Kong. NBAA, 1200 18th St. N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 783-9000. www.nbaa.org *Feb. 7: ABACE Japan Regional Forum, Nagoya. www.nbaa.org
FlightSafety International, Flushing, N.Y., announced that Kenneth E. Gazzola, former executive vice president of AVIATION WEEK, has joined the company. He will be based in Washington, D.C.
In their September investment research report, analysts at UBS Securities LLC reported that "the overwhelming majority" of more than 100 business jet market professionals surveyed -- 70 percent of which were broker/dealers -- are now looking for a "flat-to-down market over the next 12 months." The global equity research arm of the financial services company said that those polled were "much less optimistic about the future as further gains become more difficult from already high levels."
Eurocopter's risk-sharing partnership with China's AVIC II to design and build a new six-ton class helicopter, designated the Z-15 by China and EC175 by Eurocopter, is on track with a maiden flight planned for 2009, company officials say. The two companies plan to open production lines in Marignane, France, and at Harbin, China. A common design office is located at Eurocopter's Marignane facility. But after design and manufacturing studies are completed, the two teams will split to pursue their own independent activities.
Acquiring dual ratings as pilot and A&P is a challenge, as is obtaining the high level of expertise in both flight and maintenance on a specific aircraft type. One way to help build that familiarity is to have your pilots and technicians cross-train at a manufacturer's type-specific courses. Having technicians sit in alongside pilots in the classroom and simulator sessions can be a real eye-opener. The same is true when pilots get an opportunity to spend time examining detail schematics and cutaway diagrams.
Tdata has released Version 1.44 of its MTrax maintenance tracking software. New features include network file sharing and the ability to select a central file saving location for all users. This version also allows files to be read-only or tagged as exclusive. Operators will find the upgraded reports include "on condition" items and a two-tier data entry system. MTrax's one-year subscription is $749, which allows one user license and unlimited aircraft tracking, or operators can purchase two user licenses with unlimited aircraft tracking for $1,498.
After reading "Startling Quiet: Beechjet Flameouts" on the Beechjet 400 dual-engine flameouts (B&CA, October 2006, page 38), and as a pilot on this aircraft, I am rather dubious of the "new theory of ice crystals" as a "new phenomenon," as is postulated presently by Raytheon and the. I have over 30 years of experience flying many types of jet aircraft (eight type ratings) and over 18,000 hours of flight time, as well as an aviation maintenance background, and it is from this perspective that I offer my opinion.
Dassault delivered the first Falcon business jet registered in the People's Republic of China. The used Falcon 2000 went to CITIC, the nation's largest state-owned financial services holding company. The Beijing-based firm plans to fly the Falcon twin until it takes delivery of a new Falcon 900DX in late 2007. That was Dassault's first order for a new aircraft in China.
She had hoped to get a job at Lord & Taylor. Weary of working in the admissions department at Fairleigh Dickinson University, she wanted to try her hand in the business world. After all, she had graduated from Kent State's business school -- making her a rarity among women in the 1950s -- and she wanted to put her degree as an industrial psychologist to work in industry.
The NBAA joined the National Air Transportation Association in calling for an industry-based Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to tackle the issue of runway landing distance assessments. The NBAA wrote FAA Administrator Marion Blakey that the association believes an ARC would be the best forum for tackling the issue, an industry source said. NATA also requested an ARC, saying that the agency's current policy ignores the needs of the business aviation and charter community and could create safety issues.
-Agusta AB139 helicopters -- Before further flight and at specified intervals, conduct certain visual inspections of each tailpipe assembly for cracks and signs of overheating. If evidence of overheating is found, inspect, before further flight, for damage to the surrounding structure outside of the cowling and inside of each tailpipe assembly. If cracks are found, replace the tailpipe assembly with an airworthy one before further flight.
Officials from BAe Systems Regional Aircraft brought a corporate-configured BAe 146-100 to the recent NBAA show in Orlando "with a renewed commitment" to market the regional airliner as a corporate aircraft. Currently, there are 14 BAe 146s/Avro RJs in corporate or VIP use worldwide.
The United States needs to make significant changes to the ATC system within the next 10 years instead of the widely disseminated 20-year completion goal for an upgraded system. FAA Chief Operating Officer Russell Chew, speaking recently to the Air Traffic Control Association's annual meeting in Washington, said that if U.S. air traffic grows as expected, delays would increase 62 percent from 2004 levels by 2014 unless system capacity is enhanced.
Bombardier claims that it has sold more business jets in the Asia-Pacific region than any other manufacturer. The total is 105 so far and includes 19 Global Expresses, along with an assortment of Challengers and Learjets. The company says it delivered 26 business jets between 2001 and 2005, a figure representing 29 percent of all such deliveries in the region. Nearly a quarter of the Bombardier fleet is based in China, Macao and Hong Kong.
Million Air, Houston, recently hired Jeffrey Reid as executive vice president of Million Air Charter. Debbie Zener joined the company as executive vice president of Million Air marketing and Sandy Nelson has been promoted to chief brand officer for the company.
Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings (ANAC) announced a new generation of super-flexible wing coating that the company says minimizes application and drying times, cuts wing coating weight by more than half and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions by 90 percent compared to conventional wing coatings. Aeroflex HS 113F01 is an "in-spar" coating used on the upper surface of the fixed part of a wing. Its proprietary resin system has enhanced chemical and scratch resistant properties and increased color stability.
The growing number of Citation reengining programs indicates that a substantial number of operators of early models of the Cessna light jet apparently remain interested in flying the aircraft long term. In August, Texas-based Sierra Industries received an STC for the Stallion, a Citation 500/501SP that features Williams FJ44-2A engines and the thinner, classic wing of the Citation I.
-Bombardier Challenger 604 airplanes -- Revise the "Emergency Procedures" section of the airplane flight manual to advise the flight crew of additional procedures to follow in the event of stabilizer trim runaway. For certain airplanes, also revise the "Abnormal Procedures" section of the flight manual to advise the pilots of procedures to follow in the event of mach trim, stab trim and horizontal stabilizer trim malfunctions.
By every measure the 2006 NBAA Convention was a blockbuster. More attendees, more exhibitors, more airplanes, more news and more happy faces than ever before. And while it's impossible to measure, the exuberance of the gathering was undeniable and infectious.
GE Honda Aero Engines has signed agreements to power two new VLJs with a new engine, the fruit of the efforts of the 50/50 joint company created in 2004 by General Electric and Honda. The new HF-120 engine, a 2,050-pound-thrust successor to Honda's HF-118 1,750-pound thrust developmental engine, will power Spectrum's Freedom jet as well as the HondaJet. The new engine features technology and input from both partners. GE Honda has been engaged in aggressive development and component testing, with the first engine scheduled to run in early 2007.
Raytheon Aircraft selected Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, and the Airshow 21 Cabin Management System for its Hawker 750 and Hawker 900 aircraft. The flight decks for both aircraft will feature an integrated Pro Line 21 avionics system that includes four eight-by-10-inch active matrix LCDs; the FMS-6000 flight management system; the Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS) and Pro Line 21 CNS radios. Rockwell Collins IFIS enables advanced capabilities such as electronic charts, graphical weather and enhanced map overlays.
The National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Research Information System are now offering online an expanded version of the Museum's Directory of Airplanes, Designers and Manufacturers. Features of the expanded directory include: -More than 34,000 individual aircraft and more than 6,600 aircraft manufacturers; -Ability to search by model or manufacturers using full or partial names; -Additional background notes; -Cross-references to assist in finding entries more easily.
"It started out with Falcon refits with [TFE]731s, and by the time they got done, they had $7, 8, 9 million tied up. It didn't hold water because you were dealing with old technology. Now you have VLJs and CJs, and it's like throwing money down the toilet. A 20-year-old airplane without glass tubes in the cockpit and you're wasting your money. It might be a good idea for a low-cost entry-level airplane, a straight Citation 500 with a book value of $500,000.
