The single pilot, an ATP, was completing a flight in a Mitsubishi MU-2 from Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and beginning his descent into Panama City Bay County International Airport (PFN), Panama City, Fla. Radioing Tyndall Air Force Base north approach control, the pilot said, ". . . descending to one-one thousand." Shortly after 11 a.m. the pilot reported, ". . . we're at one-one thousand, like to get down lower so we can get underneath this stuff." Approach control cleared the pilot to descend and maintain six thousand feet.
Maine Aviation Aircraft Charter is growing its operations to include scheduled business jet flights between Morristown, N.J., and Bedford, Mass. Maine would operate 10 weekly flights between the two cities for an unnamed charter operator upon receipt of a commuter operating certificate from the DOT.
The safety benefits of head-up displays have been proven for more than two decades in civil aircraft and even longer aboard military platforms. Up until now, though, all civil aircraft HUD installations were single-sided, providing an excellent situational awareness tool for the captain, but leaving the first officer in the dark. Most OEM airframers have deferred developing dual-HUD installations because they claim that customers opting for one HUD won't cough up the extra money for the second.
I want to compliment you on the recent article addressing the value of local airports ("Why Your Community Needs Its Airport," B&CA, August 2006, page 46). I serve on the California Transportation Commission's Technical Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (TACA) and in my practice I represent numerous airport proprietors. Your message is an important one that should be read by many in the industry as well as the local officials, elected and otherwise, who are responsible for airport-related decisions.
Recently I read "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness - Do You Conform?" (B&CA, August 2006, page 56) and thought that I should expand on a very important point that was hinted at in a quote from VF Corp.'s Steve Rahn, in which he states, "The only thing I worry about is being notified by the STC holder/installer of any changes to the ICAs." In my position as chief - Maintenance Analysis and Planning, I deal with this problem daily.
Two next-generation, FADEC-equipped 1,460-pound-thrust PW615F engines provide the power for the Citation Mustang. These engines were designed with half the parts of previous entry-level turbofan engines, resulting in a substantial reduction in manufacturing and overhaul costs. P&WC earned initial type certification for the engine in December 2005, paving the way for full certification in time for Mustang deliveries. The engines are designed for 1,750-hour midlife hot-section inspections on pylon and 3,500-hour TBOs.
ASA is offering a CO-Detector that can save a pilot's life, especially when flying with the heater on, by warning of the presence of CO in the cockpit. A spot on the detector will turn gray/black when CO is in the air. The spot returns to normal color after it is exposed to fresh air. Pilots can use the CO-Detector as their personal and portable device. It can be stuck to the panel or dash for a semi-permanent installation. Once opened, the useful life is 90 days. Price: 4.95 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. 7005 132nd Pl. SE
On Sept. 25, the U.S. Coast Guard took over the interception duties for ADIZ violations in the National Capital Region that previously had been the responsibility of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine. Both agencies are part of the Department of Homeland Security. Pilots who enter the ADIZ without a clearance will now be met by the bright orange HH-65C Dolphins of Air Station Atlantic City, which will rotate crews down to pull 24/7 duty while operating out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) plans to hold its fall membership meeting on Sunday, Oct. 15 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla. As usual, the NARA meeting has been scheduled to take place adjacent to the NBAA annual meeting and convention, which will be held in nearby Orlando from Tuesday, Oct. 17 through Thursday, Oct. 19.
Norris Electro Optical Systems Corp. recently conducted a successful demonstration of an Autonomous Runway Incursion Prevention System (ARIPS) at the T. F. Green Airport, Providence, R.I. Six demonstration scenarios were designed based on real-life incursions at Boston Logan, Chicago O'Hare and Los Angeles International airports to show how ARIPS would directly alert pilots with ample time for them to react to a potential life-threatening situation. The FAA is evaluating the system. ARIPS uses ultraviolet light, unaffected by fog, rain or other weather con- ditions.
DAC International is the exclusive stocking distributor for DMA-Aero's full line of test equipment. DMA-Aero has several models of RVSM- and DRVSM-compliant air data test sets (ADTS). The top-of the-line MPS 38 controls three pressures separately and independently to verify angle of attack when "smart" pitot tubes are used in conjunction with pitot and static pressures. DAC International 6702 McNeil Dr. Austin, TX 78729 (512) 231-5323 www.dacint.com
The new Hawkeye Pro flexible borescope from Gradient Lens Corp. (GLC) provides detailed interior images of reciprocating and turbine engines. The five-mm diameter Hawkeye Pro Flexible scope: *Contains high-resolution optical-glass imaging fibers that produce high-quality images and give the scope flexibility to reach into twisting, narrow paths. The fiber bundles are engineered to reduce crosstalk between fibers and increase image contrast.
The FAA signed off on guidance for Organization Designation Authorization. Beginning in November, the agency will phase out other delegation programs, such as the Designated Alteration Station, Delegation Option Authorization and Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representatives, in favor of the ODA. The long-awaited guidance provides the template for organizations to obtain ODA status.
The FAA has given notice that it is eliminating duplicate mailings of emergency Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and is no longer mailing corrections to ADs or Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins (SAIBs). The agency also is limiting the mailing of engine ADs to owners and operators who have registered the engine and is limiting the content of an AD mailing to just the text of the requirements. All ADs and SAIBs will be available via the Web.
The AOPA restated its stand after the FAA's latest ADS-B "Industry Day" in Washington, D.C. Free weather and traffic information plus affordable avionics will be the factors that drive general aviation to switch to ADS-B, and 10 years of successful nationwide system operation should elapse before full ADS-B capability is mandatory for all aircraft.
In a new contract from Airservices Australia, Sensis Corp. will supply multistatic dependent surveillance over Tasmania, with coverage down to the ground at Hobart and Launceston airports. The system initially will provide en route surveillance with multilateration and ADS-B, with accuracy of better than 150 meters (490 feet). Full-scale operations will begin in 2008, and maintenance will be simplified for the Australians with a Sensis remote control and monitoring system.
THE WEATHER WAS HARDLY atypical for a summer afternoon in Florida -- warm, breezy and VMC with low scattered clouds, but there were thunderstorms in and around the St. Augustine area. It was Aug. 25, 2006, and Ward and Barbara Walter were among the many aloft over the Sunshine State. They were southeast bound from Bloomington, Ind., making their way to Governor's Harbour Airport on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas where their vacation home was located. They planned an intermediate stop in Melbourne before heading out across the Atlantic.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) designated the birthplace of Alberto Santos-Dumont in Cabangu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, as a Historic Aerospace Site on Sept. 13. Brazil's father of aviation, Santos- Dumont was born in 1873, moved to Paris in 1891 and embarked on a series of experiments with balloons and dirigibles. He could often be seen gliding over the streets of Paris and was very popular with the Parisians. By 1906, he felt that there should be a way to control the flight of airships, and built the 14-bis, a small airplane. On Oct.
Thanks for your feedback. There's no doubt that HSIs can run the gamut in price. We obtained that quote from a local shop that regularly maintains all types of King Airs, including the B100.
There has been some relief in the cost of liability and war risk insurance required of foreign operators conducting flight operations within the European Union. According to Steven Brown, the NBAA's vice president for operations, operators are seeing a 20-percent reduction in premiums for the required total coverage.
Cessna says it will introduce the CJ4 at this month's NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention. The newest member of the CJ family of Citation business jets, the CJ4's main cabin will feature seating for seven to eight passengers, depending on layout, a large forward door, private lavatory and large baggage compartment. Powered by two Williams FJ44-4A engines with FADEC, the CJ4 will be certified for operation up to 45,000 feet (13,700 meters). First flight is scheduled for the first half of 2008 and entry into service is set for 2010.
New York Gov. George Pataki has signed a law that requires additional screening and background checks of all pilots undergoing training, both initial and recurrent, effective Jan. 1, 2007. Some members of Pataki's own party and staff, as well as representatives of the New York DOT, New York Aviation Management Association, NBAA, AOPA, National Air Transportation Association and others, indicated that this bill was unnecessary, as the Department of Homeland Security already has federal requirements in place for pilot trainees.
The majority of corporate operators who incur taxes while operating in Europe outsource the recovery of refunds to a company specializing in the process. VATAmerica, a member of the NBAA, has a dedicated aviation division with extensive experience in processing VAT (and, with limitations, Mineral Oil Tax -- MOT) refunds. Customers of Universal Weather and Aviation Services who use Universal to manage various expenses while overseas can obtain VAT accounting automatically from VATAmerica.
The FAA is providing a means for operators of FAR Part 135 "nine-or-less"-seat aircraft to issue their own Special Flight (ferry) Permits through an "organizational designee" within their company, a privilege for which operators who inspect their aircraft under Part 135.411(a) (1) were previously not eligible. The change issued in an inspector's handbook bulletin comes after months of discussion between FAA officials and air cargo industry representatives.
