After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1964, Ritchie finished first in his pilot class and was assigned to fighters, first flying F-104s as a test pilot, then F-4s in Vietnam. It was during his second combat tour that he downed five MiG-21s in a four-month period in 1972, becoming one of two aces in that conflict. After an unsuccessful run for Congress in his native North Carolina, Ritchie moved to Colorado to work for Joe Coors. He later served in the Reagan Administration and formed his own speaking/consulting business.
Senate Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee Democrats don't like having to deal with the FAA's air traffic controllers contract, but everyone seems ready to restore at least some of the administration's Airport Improvement Program budget cuts, reports Aviation Daily. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and its allies in Congress have campaigned against the proposal, which the agency sent to Capitol Hill on April 5 after declaring an impasse in bargaining. This document will take effect after 60 days unless Congress rejects or changes it, and Sen.
Adam Aircraft, Englewood, Colo., announced the appointment of Rob Penrod as vice president of manufacturing. Penrod has more than 27 years of aerospace experience in manufacturing, quality assurance, program management, marketing, inventory management and lean methodologies. If you would like to submit news of hires, promotions, appointments or awards for possible publication in On Duty, send e-mail to [email protected] or call (914) 933-7614.
Honeywell continues to demonstrate the flexibility of its APEX integrated avionics suite, designed for turbine-class aircraft that can be flown single or dual pilot. By enhancing the APEX system, which has been the Grob SPn avionics suite since program launch, Honeywell aims to further reduce inflight workload, improve situational awareness and provide a more open platform for future avionics upgrades and options.
3M Aerospace has introduced a tamper-indicating security seal to help ensure passenger, crew and aircraft safety on airliners, cargo carriers and business jets. The seals identify and warn of unauthorized opening of aircraft doors, access panels or cargo compartments. Constructed with fragile films and high-strength adhesives, they are designed to be applied around cargo areas or on aircraft following inspections by crew, maintenance or security personnel.
Atlanta-based FlightWorks has opened a major facility at Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), Va. FlightWorks' new facility includes a 30,000-plus-square-foot hangar and more than 10,000 square feet of office space. The company says the facility is a prototype for future FlightWorks executive ground facilities. The new facility can accommodate more than 15 jets. Flightworks currently operates seven aircraft out of Manassas: a Gulfstream II and III, a Citation III, a CJ1 and three Citation IIs. The Manassas Regional Airport is Virginia's fourth busiest airport.
Mercury Computer Systems announced the release of VistaNav version 1.6, a multi-function flight display system with synthetic vision technology. VistaNav version 1.6 integrates Mercury's patent-pending "Radar Vectors" functionality that provides 3-D guidance during non-standard routings such as radar vector navigation or course deviations due to weather or traffic or on instrument approaches. VistaNav 1.6 weather support upgrades include winds aloft, lightning and freezing level displays.
McKinney Aerospace has received STC approval for installation of a Max-Viz EVS-1000 system in Gulfstream GV aircraft. Enhanced vision systems (EVS) use infrared sensors to gather data about runways, terrain and potential obstacles on the ground or in flight; the images are then enhanced and displayed on any heads-down video-capable cockpit display. By using an EVS, pilots are able to navigate with greater accuracy and safety in total darkness and during inclement weather. McKinney Aerospace 1476 E. Industrial Blvd. McKinney, TX 75069
Raytheon Aircraft Services, Wichita, has announced the appointment of Doug Brantner to the position of vice president. Jeff Anastas has been appointed regional sales director for the Middle East, India and South-Central Asia.
Flight Display Systems has been granted Parts Manufacturing Approval from the FAA for several new inflight entertainment products. "We continue to improve our product line and enhance the flight experience," said David Gray, Flight Display Systems' founder. "Offering cabin entertainment products with PMA approval from the FAA helps to make the installation easier for our partner dealers and end customers."
If you think clip-on sunglasses aren't for you, check out these Clip and Flip Sunglasses from Sporty's. Tested by Sporty's pilots, these sunglasses are perfect for the cockpit because they don't interfere with headsets. They attach to the bill of a hat and never touch the face. They also work with prescription glasses.
Aviation Research Group/U.S., Inc. (ARG/US) has added a complete Emergency Response Go-Kit to its Safety Officer Support (ASOS) program. The self-contained durable kits, which include a comprehensive list of vital equipment and supplies, are designed to support a team responding to an accident site.
The NBAA commended the TSA for adding three new airports to the list of 12 already serving as "gateway" facilities that provide security checks to allow federally approved general aviation aircraft access into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The TSA's new gateway airports include Dallas/Love Field Airport, Memphis International Airport and Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport.
Associated Air Center at Dallas Love Field, a Landmark Aviation company, announced that it has received FAA DAS (Designated Alteration Station) certification, authorizing the aircraft completion center to act on behalf of the FAA to issue STCs and Experimental Airworthiness Certificates, and to amend standard Airworthiness Certificates. Landmark Aviation's Springfield, Ill., aircraft repair and completion center, which provides modifications for business jets, also holds DAS certification.
NATCA officials have warned that imposition of the FAA's contract proposal could trigger a rash of retirements by controllers, but Administrator Blakey said FAA controllers "are too smart for that." The retirement age for air traffic controllers is 56, although controllers who reach that age can apply for a waiver if they want to keep working. Blakey acknowledged that 25 percent of the FAA's 14,575 controllers would be eligible to retire in the first year, but she said most members of the workforce are in their 40s and early 50s.
Macquarie Infrastructure Co. (MIC) will be the second largest FBO owner in the U.S. -- behind only Signature Flight Support -- when it completes the planned acquisition of 23 FBOs from Trajen Holdings later this year. MIC's Atlantic Aviation currently owns and operates 19 FBO locations. MIC, a unit of the Australia-based Macquarie banking and investment empire, said recently it will pay Trajen $338.1 million to acquire 21 facilities Trajen currently owns and two more it is in the process of buying.
Sharp Details now offers a leather repair and re-dye service through its facilities in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The company has partnered with a specialty service firm to provide rip, tear and scuff-mark repair, re-dye worn areas, and re-color leather that is still serviceable. The company also can offer complete soft-goods refurbishment capabilities including carpet replacement and installation, leather, foam and cloth-seat and divan replacement and recovering, and side-wall and headliner recovering.
When you walk into a hangar, usually the first thing you notice is the hangar floor. Is it clean and well maintained, or stained and peeling? Even though it may be cliché, your floor is a reflection of your operation and keeping up a professional appearance is an important part of being a maintenance manager. Luckily there are a number of highly durable and long-lasting floor treatment products available that are both easy to clean and can be equipped with anti-slip walkway treatment. Here are just a few manufacturers that specialize in hangar floor coatings:
Forty-eight hours before EBACE 2006 officially opened its doors to visitors, we made our final full-stop landing in Embraer's ERJ 190 flight-test aircraft at Geneva-Cointrin International Airport after a two-plus-hour demo flight. We taxied to a nondescript parking spot on the ramp, well away from the static display line adjacent to Palexpo, but well within eyesight of arriving conventioneers. Heads turned and people nattered about the unexpected presence of the big company-owned flight-test regional jet in Geneva.
GAMA, Washington, D.C., has hired John Provenzano as the director of government affairs. He comes to GAMA from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA).
It was around 1960 when Dave Sheehan, then a young U.S. Air Force lieutenant flying a hot F-100 on a low-level practice mission out of what was then Clovis AFB in New Mexico, first spotted it. "I flew down the Pecos River and saw this little valley, and it was so green and so beautiful that I pulled up and circled." He completely forgot about the mission. Later, when he mentioned the place to Mida Page, an Air Force nurse he knew at Clovis, she said her father had a farm there.
Not so long ago, Cessna insisted it wasn't targeting the air taxi market with the six-seat Mustang -- that it was aimed at the step-up, owner-flown category and the light end of the corporate market. The Mustang is priced at just under $3 million, twice the price of the Eclipse 500 that was then racking up orders from potential air taxi operators. Now the $2.75 million Embraer Phenom 100 and the bigger nine-seat Phenom 300 have emerged, proclaiming their ruggedness for air taxi work, and Cessna has changed its tune.
Pro Star Aviation of Manchester, N.H., has received an STC (STC) for the installation of a three-tube Honeywell CDS/R Epic EFIS in a Cessna Citation III.
Bondhus Corp. introduced a power screwdriver bit holder from Felo that holds standard one-quarter-inch shank bits and the screw securely in place -- no more dropped screws! This tool uses two rare earth magnets. One holds the bit in place, the other holds the fastener securely. Named "Allstar," the bit holder is available individually or packaged with an assortment of popular bits. All bits are machined from the finest European chrome-moly-vanadium steel and heat treated to the highest possible hardness levels to give tool users a lifetime of precision service.
