The weather was fine when the pilot and his passenger boarded the Beech 18 for the late morning flight from V.C. Bird International Airport, St. John's, Antigua, to the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Isle of Man government may have its own corporate aircraft register operational by late spring 2007. The U.K. dependent island state, and tax haven, will have an ICAO country prefix of M- followed by four letters. Newly appointed Director of Civil Aviation Brian Johnson will head up the program. The issue of foreign-registered aircraft being able to come onto the M register still has to be fully resolved says Johnson. "We are technically U.K.-registered, but you can say the same about the Cayman Islands and Bermuda as the U.K.
First and foremost, we're aviators. High-flying eagles. Higher, faster, farther types, all. So how did we wind up with our noses buried in the Federal Tax Code late into the night, trying to digest verbiage that turns gray matter to oatmeal? Because the boss occasionally takes the company aircraft for personal use, that's why.
Sino Swearingen has received FAA authorization to conduct in-house flight training for customers seeking SJ30 type ratings -- for both two- and single-pilot operations. The first type rating under the new authority was issued to Hamish Harding, chairman of Action Aviation, the SJ30 distributor for much of Europe and the Middle East. The course consists of a minimum of 48 hours of classroom instruction and up to 26 hours of flight training. The first customers will train in an aircraft provided by the company. A Level D simulator is planned in the future.
Contrary to the refrain of baseball's most popular song, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," the players, coaches, managers and owners of Major League Baseball do care if they ever get back.
Flightcraft Inc., one of the largest providers of business aircraft services in the Pacific Northwest, has been named an authorized dealer for the installation of BLR's new winglet system for the King Air 200. Flightcraft will install the winglets at its Portland, Ore., location. In the near future, the FBO expects to receive authorization to install a similar system on King Air C90s.
(Wichita) -- Greg McCurley has been named vice president of Hawker resale. He is in charge of domestic and international sales of Raytheon Aircraft's pre-owned jet inventory while supporting the company's primary function of marketing new aircraft. McCurley will be responsible for inventory control, positioning, refurbishment and marketing of all pre-owned jet aircraft.
Honeywell has delivered its 1,000th RE220 APU. Launched in 1993, the RE220 was designed for regional and business aviation aircraft. The APU design features an effusion cooled low-emission combustor, 40 kVa of electrical capability up to 45,000 feet for business jet applications, FADEC and a FOD-resistant radial impeller. The APU incorporates an eductor cooling system that replaces a traditional cooling fan, reducing its weight, improving reliability and APU compartment cooling, simplifying the APU design while reducing operating noise.
A new two-person survival kit available from Sporty's was custom designed with the general aviation pilot in mind. It contains a large selection of quality supplies in each of six groups necessary for survival and rescue. The complete kit is packaged in a red backpack that is easily stored and carried. It measures 11-by-10-by-four inches and weighs only seven pounds (without water). Price: $179.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop (513) 735-9000 or (800) SPORTYS www.sportys.com
Rockwell Collins has acquired all outstanding shares of IP Unwired Inc., an Ottawa, Canada-based provider of advanced digital communications and networking technology, notably in wireless environments. "This acquisition strengthens our network-centric operations offerings," said Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO Clay Jones.
A new regional report reinforces general aviation's position that aviation benefits everyone. Southwest Florida International Airport contributed $3.6 billion to the region's economy in 2005, up 74 percent from $2 billion in 1999, according to a new economic impact study completed by Cincinnati-based consultancy Ricondo & Associates. The study analyzed the airport's direct and indirect contributions to the Southwest Florida economy, including revenue from airlines, airport shops and restaurants, cargo handlers and other airport operations.
Following B&CA's interview with Phil Crowther for this report, the Wichita-based aviation and tax lawyer sent us a long follow-up e-mail containing some wide-ranging observations on the personal-use issue. Here are some excerpts: "After our conversation, I was reminded of the ancient Greek saying: 'Those whom the Gods would destroy, they first drive mad.' While I am not sure if anyone is trying to destroy general aviation, there are several agencies [including the fourth estate] that seem determined to drive us mad.
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.
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
Avion Private Jet Club, a Los Angeles-based company that in 2005 launched a membership program providing per-seat, scheduled service on executive jets, has begun to market a new Avion Private Jet Deposit Card program.
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.
While your article "Too Late for a Go-Around" (B&CA, August 2006, page 60) is well written, it noted that the aircraft in question - N86CE - was previously owned by Coca-Cola. That is incorrect. It was previously owned by the world's largest Coke bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., a completely autonomous and separate entity from The Coca-Cola Co. Both are headquartered here in Atlanta, but maintain separate flight departments and management teams. The aircraft registrations of The Coca-Cola Co.
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.
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
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 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.
Visitors to the ARINC booth (#758) at this month's NBAA convention will be among the first to hear the company's pitch for its Fuel Desk. The new service will provide contract fuel from several suppliers and allow schedulers and dispatchers to access quotes at 2,200 locations worldwide as they plan flights. The fuel quote service is the latest addition to ARINC Direct customers' subscription, with no additional fees, all of it accessible through the Web.
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.
Welcome to the wide-open spaces of private flying." The greeter was Richard Gaona, vice president of executive and private aviation at Airbus; his smiling welcome a reflection of a significant shift in his favor. You see Airbus Corporate Jet family sales are on a roll.
