THE FAA HAS PUBLISHED a great deal of information for private pilots to explain what work that they can do on a small Piper. But there is very little information available to inform a professional pilot about what, if anything, he or she can fix on a Falcon or Hawker or any other type of high-performance aircraft.
NetJets Aviation and NetJets Europe have placed orders for 30 Hawker 750s and 18 Hawker 900XPs. The orders' value exceeds $500 million. Deliveries will commence in 2007 and continue through 2009. "We are excited to be the launch customer for the Hawker 750 and Hawker 900XP. This order reflects the increased demand for NetJets private aviation solutions in both the United States. and in Europe," said Richard Santulli, chairman of NetJets Inc. "The Hawker 900XP will be an integral part of our Columbus [Ohio]-based NetJets Aviation program.
Through Advisory Circular 120-76A, the FAA recognizes three classes of "electronic flight bags." Class 1 is a portable tablet-type PC that runs off its own power supply and is completely stand-alone, including the software that drives the application. Class 2 is attached to the airframe in some way like a gooseneck and can run off aircraft power but still uses its own software and data; however, it can access electronic flight information from the aircraft's nav systems.
Rolls-Royce forecasts that 51,000 engines, valued at $70 billion, will be needed over the next 20 years to meet demand for 24,000 new corporate jet aircraft; from very light jets through business jetliners. It said the demand is being fueled by the business community's increasing recognition of the value of using business jets as a productivity tool. The forecast predicts that nearly 12,000 medium and large business jets will be delivered between 2006 and 2025.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, in one of her first addresses after taking office, and notably, in Wichita, told the FAA International Aviation Safety Forum that she plans to explore new funding options for the aviation system.
The day started out perfectly with an early morning flight into the picturesque Telluride, Colo., airport. Clear blue skies, cool mountain air and a dry runway are my idea of the nearly perfect day. Our four clients stepped aboard and presently we were on our way to Chicago Midway. The weather forecast predicted rather benign ceilings and visibility, with only a small chance of isolated snow showers. We were at 5,000 feet on the approach getting ready to configure the aircraft when I heard someone go missed approach at MDW.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), the worldwide private jet charter and aircraft management services provider, has achieved re-certification of its ISO 9001:2000 standards granted by EAQA USA registrar, an accredited ISO 9000 certification body specializing in aviation. The company was granted its initial certification in 2003.
XM Satellite Radio's XM WX Satellite Weather graphical weather service has been selected by Horizon Air as the inflight weather data-link service for its current fleet of 68 aircraft and future deliveries. XM WX Satellite Weather will be incorporated into Horizon Air's new Electronic Flight Bag Communication and Data Management System. Horizon's fleet of Bombardier Q400, Bombardier CRJ700 and Bombardier Q200 aircraft will be outfitted with Class 2 Electronic Flight Bags on the flight deck. Cabin hardware will be supplied from Flight Deck Resources.
The full gestation and birth of a simulator, at least at FlightSafety International's Simulator Systems Division (SSD), is about a year and a half, which may explain why you won't see a documentary film called "The Making of a Simulator" anytime soon. People with an interest but without that much time to spend can visit the SSD plant in Broken Arrow, Okla., and observe the way astronomers do.
Thank you for doing an excellent job on your recent article "Operator Survey: Boeing Business Jet" (July, page 62), that included the mention of our flight department Ty Air, Inc. and its BBJ aircraft. You had all of the facts right and wove them together into a most readable article. Good work.
FOLLOWING A LONG aviation tradition and sensible SOPs, the first officer went out on the ramp and began a walk-around inspection of the Boeing 737, looking at the tires, gear, flight controls and such. It was Jan. 16, 2006. Reaching the right engine, the F/O noticed a puddle of fluid on the tarmac below the nacelle and told the captain. At that point the four-striper strode out under the engine, examined the puddle and declared the turbofan to be leaking oil.
Recent certification of the Cessna Mustang very light jet and the imminent FAA full approval of the Eclipse 500 VLJ has not yet had affected the robust market for previously owned turboprop buyers, say several industry experts.
The NBAA presented Cessna Aircraft Co. with the inaugural NBAA Albert Ueltschi Humanitarian Award at its 2006 convention in recognition of the "leadership and spirit of service" demonstrated by the Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift. "The generosity of the hundreds of Cessna Citation owners and operators required to accomplish this massive humanitarian effort epitomizes the sense of community and service that NBAA intends to recognize with the Ueltschi Humanitarian Award," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
U.S. Air Force reservists just love the sound of a C-130 prop cycling in the morning. The Herk is hell for loud, but the loudest, most filling-loosening airplane ever built and placed in service is probably the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear. Also one of the fastest turboprops in the world with a top speed estimated at around 500 knots, the Tu-95 engendered hangar tales galore. Air Force crews sent to intercept it were said to be able to hear the howl of its counter-rotating noise generators above the sound of their own aircraft from inside their cockpits.
Continued strong sales of previously owned, turbine-powered aircraft to corporations, combined with the "impressive performance" of world stock markets in recent months, seem to bode well for the near-term health of the used business-aircraft market. That was the assessment of Paul Wyatt, managing editor of the Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest, in the third quarter edition of his Marketline newsletter.
The FAA's New England Regional Aviation System Plan predicts that airline traffic in the region will grow substantially during the next 15 years, and that growth will require the expansion of both air carrier and general aviation airports within the six-state area. The new report describes a regional strategy to accommodate the anticipated increase at New England's 11 major commercial-service airports from the current 43 million airline passengers annually to an estimated 76 million yearly by 2020.
Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) are coming on strong for one simple reason. Anyone who has ever flown an Instrument Competency Check (ICC) ride under the hood in VFR conditions knows that "One peek is worth a thousand cross-checks." One quick look at the outside world instantly clears up any confusion regarding aircraft attitude, proximity to terrain and obstructions, and distance to go to the runway, among other critical elements of situational awareness.
NATA has developed Operational Control Workshops designed to help FAR Part 135 on-demand operators comply with the FAA's newly revised A008 OpSpec for Operational Control. For over a year, the FAA has been conducting an ongoing investigation of Part 135 operational control issues associated with aircraft leases between charter operators and aircraft owners, and the use of alternate business names. The investigation led to the issuance of new guidance by the agency.
Mike DeWeese, line service supervisor at Million Air Houston, was honored with the first "Houston Friendly Award" presented by the Houston Airport System. This award will be given quarterly to honor individuals who demonstrate excellence in customer service to passengers traveling though Houston's airports.
Quest Aircraft Co. has won Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the FAA for the its Kodiak, a single-engine utility turboprop. TIA means Quest and FAA officials can now conduct final inspections to ensure that the first production aircraft, s.n. 001, conforms to specifications. The Kodiak is designed to be an aerial truck, carrying passengers and cargo off short, unimproved landing strips in rugged terrain for a variety of missions.
Several vexing problems with the new international aircraft registry remain to be solved before business aircraft buyers and sellers will be comfortable with the system, but Mike Nichols, NBAA's director of tax, economics and operational services, believes that progress is being made in addressing the industry's concerns. "It's fair to say we are making steady progress," said Nichols recently. "It's probably slower than any of us would like to see, but that's just the nature of something like this."
When the Garrett TFE731 engine made its debut on the Falcon 10 and Learjet 35/36 in the early 1970s, it revolutionized high-performance, light jet business aviation. Compared to turbojet engines that powered light jets of that era, the new turbofan TFE731 burned one-third less fuel and its FAR Part 36 Stage III sound levels provided welcome relief at noise-sensitive airports.
