Sporty's offers an easy-to-use calculator that is perfect for determining crosswind and headwind components just before takeoff or landing. The simple whiz wheel design allows the user to quickly calculate both headwind and crosswind in three simple steps by knowing the runway in use, wind direction and wind speed. The back of the calculator also lists the flight plan sequence, VFR cruising altitudes and has space to copy down appropriate V-speeds. Measuring just 4.75 inches in diameter, the Crosswind Calculator is perfect for the cockpit.
Small plane-maker Cirrus took a 25-percent stake in a new air taxi service that will use new Cirrus SR22 aircraft to provide transportation. The service, SATSair, is headquartered in Greenville, S.C., and will operate in an area that essentially is east of the Mississippi River.
The Midwest Airspace Enhancement (MASE) debuted to favorable reviews the second week of June. Designed to improve traffic flow in the Great Lakes region, MASE affects the airspace controlled by the Indianapolis and Cleveland en route centers. The project includes new SIDs and STARs at some airports, deconflicting high-altitude routes, adding preferred routes, creating new sectors and redesigning existing ones. This airspace is important for traffic from major airports, such as Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis, and also sees a huge volume of en route overflight traffic.
Meanwhile, the Airline Transport Association (ATA), has been waging a campaign to shift about $2 billion of passenger taxes to business aviation operators. It wants to do this by suspending the tax and instituting instead a program of ATC user fees that would cost out the movement of any turbine aircraft regardless of size at roughly the same rate -- based on distance traveled and time in system. Lately the ATA has kicked up its public efforts (see the following item) several notches to win over legislators.
Helicopter Association International President Matt Zuccaro received the call on June 7 that the HAI has been waiting to receive for many years. The FAA Joint Resource Council (JRC) approved the investment and funding decisions associated with moving forward with ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) in the Gulf of Mexico. The HAI said the decision is a tremendous achievement for the offshore helicopter community in the Gulf, as the Gulf has been selected for Segment 1 of the new technology.
In the early days of the jet age, turbine engines delivered revolutionary power but were famously unreliable. During the test program for the Bell P-59 Airacomet, America's first jet fighter, in the early 1940s, it was not uncommon for ground crews to replace one or both engines between each flight. Today, turbine engines are not only incredibly powerful, but they have become so reliable that many models have inflight shutdown rates approaching once in one million flight hours. They simply never break.
How amusing to read the letter of a simulator instructor insisting on the word "throttle" instead of "thrust" (or "power") in your very nice CJ article (Letters, June, page 8).
Sikorsky Aircraft and China Aviation Industry Corp. II (AVIC II) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration on the development and manufacture of civil helicopters. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Under the MOU, Sikorsky and AVIC II will discuss helicopter manufacturing, assembly, flight test, engineering design and analysis, and new product development in the light, intermediate and medium classes. The companies will also explore establishing Changhe Aircraft Industry Corp.
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS) opened a new hangar dedicated to Learjet service and maintenance at its Berlin-Schönefeld Airport facility. The new addition increases the total useable maintenance area to approximately 64,584 square feet, and increases the center's capacity and flexibility in servicing the growing number of Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global Express customers in the region.
Simplex Manufacturing delivered its first Javelin Water Lance Powerline Insulator Washing System to ESKOM of South Africa. The unit, which was displayed for the first time at Heli-Expo 2006, was received by ESKOM in April, and the CAA in South Africa has authorized its use on Eurocopter AS350s there. Simplex President and CEO Steven P. Daniels said the ESKOM crew has been cleaning up to 60 towers per day.
Aerion is in the final stages of fabricating a partial wing cross-section test article, scheduled for testing on a rocket sled this month or in August. The company, which is developing a supersonic business jet, is still in discussions with airframe manufacturers about a teaming arrangement under which the selected OEM would act as the aircraft integrator. Vice Chairman Brian Barents said there is "a lot of enthusiasm" about the project, adding that officials have had "some modest success" in getting potential partners interested.
Garmin, Olathe, Kan., has promoted Phil Straub to director of engineering, aviation. In this newly created position Straub will help shape and lead all of Garmin's aviation programs.
WHEN I REPORTED to San Juan Airport that July morning in 2004, I'd been a professional pilot for two weeks, having passed my Convair 440 check on June 30. I'd scraped and saved for years, even roomed with my cousin in far-off Nebraska to keep flight training costs down, but it had been worth it. I was happy. The day was also Capt. Blaine Garner's birthday, but my "Happy Birthday," was met with a grumble: "When you get to be my age, birthdays aren't worth celebrating." He was 81, but fit, an excellent pilot and mentor.
Mission impossible? Nope, mission accomplished, thanks to business aircraft. That's because the same qualities of flexibility, autonomy and performance that have traditionally endeared turbine-powered corporate aircraft to the business community are making them increasingly popular among governments, their agencies, research organizations and the military for "special missions."
Due to business growth, TAG Aviation USA has relocated some of its Eastern Support Center personnel from Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., to larger facilities in nearby Rye Brook, N.Y. "Critical safety and service-related communications require that flight and maintenance standards, flight coordination and charter sales personnel work together under one roof," said J.W.P. (Jake) Cartwright, president and CEO of TAG Aviation USA.
Blackhawk Modifications, Inc. has won an STC to replace the King Air 200's original Pratt & Whitney PT6A-41 engines, which have a 3,000-hour TBO, with new PT6A-42 engines, which have a 3,600-hour TBO. According to officials of the Waco, Texas-based company, the new -42 engines will enable older King Air 200s to achieve the same performance as the current-production King Air B200, while lowering powerplant overhaul costs of the earlier airplanes.
In the February B&CA, Fred George wrote a piece entitled "What's Wrong With the MU-2?" (page 40). The writer's opinion is pretty clear, not just from the tone of the article, but also from his comments to me during a telephone conversation.
The National Air Transportation Association urged DOT Secretary Norman Mineta to carefully scrutinize attempts by airports to obtain federal grant dollars for public-run ground-handling services that compete with the private sector. Some airports have applied for funds through the DOT's Small Community Air Service Development grant program to provide ground-handling services.
British Columbia-based General Hydrogen Corp. has been selected for a project to test fuel cell packs to power airport tractors that tow baggage for Air Canada at Vancouver Airport. The Canadian government's Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance is providing $867,000 for the project. "Airports worldwide are looking for a variety of ways to reduce emissions and improve productivity," General Hydrogen President and CEO Frank Totter said. "Most baggage tuggers have diesel engines and are required to go in and out of terminals and service buildings.
