Test pilot Scott Crossfield was in communication with controllers at Atlanta Center who were overseeing traffic in four sectors during his final flight, but he did not get specific warnings about severe thunderstorms in his path, according to a preliminary report by the NTSB. Crossfield, 84, was killed April 19 when his 1960 Cessna 210A crashed about 1110 EDT in mountainous terrain near Ludville, Ga., after entering an area of thunderstorms.
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.
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).
Aviareto, Dublin, Ireland. Niall Greene has been appointed a managing director. Rob Cowan was named head of operations responsible for systems and security.
A DAYLONG SEMINAR entitled "America's Aviation Crisis: Delayed, Not Canceled" was held recently at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C. The theme and its implications clearly resonated with people within government, the aviation industry and beyond. The turnout was impressive.
Diamond Aircraft of Austria has developed the DA42-MPP and DA42 OPALE, two more surveillance versions of its DA42 twin. The spectacularly ugly MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform) version was flown only a few weeks before the recent Berlin Air Show and has already been at work with local government in Lower Austria. The aircraft carries a Riegel laser measurement system and a Vexcel UltraCam mapping camera. The OPALE is a cooperative program with Rheinmetall Defence Electronics and its sensor data can be downlinked in real-time via broadband over a range of 200 km (124 miles).
Airborne communications specialist AirCell was the high bidder in the FCC's recent spectrum auction for air-to-ground broadband frequencies. AirCell will obtain an exclusive license to provide wireless broadband services to business aircraft and airlines in the United States. The company says it is restructuring with a cash infusion from an investment firm in preparation for its new phase of business. Slated for deployment in 2007, the new services will enable passengers to use their own Wi-Fi devices such as laptops and PDAs to access the Internet.
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee is considering a $15.2 billion budget for the FAA in fiscal 2007 in a bill that would provide $2.4 billion more for the agency than the Bush administration requested -- ignoring the administration's plans to slash airport funding. Earlier the House transportation subcommittee agreed to boost the FAA's funding by $1.4 billion over fiscal 2006 levels. The bill includes $3.7 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) -- the congressionally authorized level.
T-Bird Aviation, West Chicago, Ill., announced that Dan Crestinger has been named president of the company. T-Bird is a corporate aircraft acquisition management and charter company.
More than 85 Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) have entered service, since initial green deliveries began in November 1998. BBJs are flown by operators based in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. The fleet has accumulated in excess of 175,000 flight hours with a dispatch reliability of better than 99.9 percent.
Jet Aviation, Spring Branch, Texas, appointed James Thomas as general manager of Jet Aviation Engineering Services. Jet Aviation Singapore has appointed Michael Sattler as the new vice present and general manager of the company's maintenance and FBO operation.
Piaggio Aero Industries has earned FAA certification of its speedy Avanti II turboprop pusher. With a range of over 1,800 miles, a speed of 398 knots (450 mph) and a maximum cruising altitude of 41,000 feet, its overall performance is similar to that of a jet but with 30 percent less operating costs, says Piaggio. The Avanti II is single pilot certified and can carry up to nine passengers.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen exhorted members to voice opposition to user fees to Congress. Too often this issue is considered a Washington issue that doesn't affect the rest of the country, Bolen stated. But, he added, "This is clearly getting outside Washington, D.C. There's a real fire. Our community is very much under attack." He cited recent articles in Business Week and the Wall Street Journal.
(Chesterfield, Mo.) -- David W. Potter has been hired as vice president of aircraft sales. Potter, a veteran aircraft sales professional with more than 35 years of experience, began his career as the Midwest regional sales manager for Dassault Falcon Jet. In 1983, he joined Sabreliner Corp. as a member of its newly formed pre-owned business jet sales department and was subsequently promoted to director of aircraft sales.
-Eurocopter AS-365N2, AS-365N3, EC155B, EC155B1, SA-365N and N1, and SA-366G1 helicopters -- Inspect the main gearbox base plate for cracks and replace the plate if a crack is found. -Eurocopter BO 105LS A-3 helicopters -- Replace certain fixed bolts and nuts, re-identify certain main-rotor nuts and revise the "Airworthiness Limitations -- Time Change Items" list to reflect the new life limits and new part numbers.
For his 60th birthday present, Dave Hurley's family gave him a John Deere 4400 tractor with a front-end bucket loader and a 4500 backhoe mounted on the rear. In addition to making him the envy of every other toy-loving male in the state of Connecticut, the machine helps one of Hurley's favorite charities, Habitat for Humanity, the Housatonic Chapter of which he has been involved with as a donor--and now heavy-equipment operator--for seven years.
Higher-than-new prices for selected late-model business jets underscore the strength of certain sectors of the previously owned, turbine-powered corporate aircraft market, says Fletcher Aldredge, publisher of the Vref Aircraft Value Reference.
Raytheon Aircraft Co. (RAC) announced that the Hawker 4000 super-midsize jet completed its function and reliability test program on May 26. RAC and the FAA are currently working to finalize the required documentation that will allow the FAA to issue the Type Certificate. "The Hawker 4000 is the flagship of the Hawker line, truly setting the standard for quality, performance and value in the super-midsize class of aircraft," said Jim Schuster, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft Co. "It will be a great addition to the Beechcraft and Hawker family."
Regional charter business growth has prompted West Jet Aviation based at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Airport (KSDL) to add a Learjet 55 to its Lear and King Air Charter fleet. The company also announced the promotion of Allen Frazee to director of operations, and that L. Michael Gerber joined the company as chief pilot.
The U.S. House International Relations Committee could soon report on legislation that would impose sanctions on U.S. foreign and military assistance to foreign governments that won't secure or eliminate man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and other weapons that pose a threat. Backed by 38 House members, the legislation calls on the State Department to carry out an accelerated global program to secure or remove MANPADS and other weapons and says it should be U.S.
Cessna marked a decade of producing single-engine piston aircraft at the company's facility in Independence, Kan., May 31. The same day, the first Citation Mustang rolled off its assembly line in Independence -- making it the first Cessna jet manufactured outside Wichita. More than 6,000 Cessna 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes and 206 Stationairs have been built, painted, flight tested and delivered to customers since the Independence facility opened in 1996.
Embraer convened an advisory board of professional and owner pilots at its headquarters in Brazil to evaluate the man-machine interface of the Phenom 300 Prodigy flight deck. "With the positive feedback [received] from the Man-Machine Interface Advisory Board, Embraer is confident that the cutting edge technology in the Phenom's Prodigy flight deck will deliver superior situational awareness and intuitive single-pilot operation," said Henrique Langenegger, Phenom programs director.
