As a maintenance manager, picture this scenario: Your aircraft pulls into Novosibirsk for a refueling stop on the way to Shanghai, carrying the CEO and the legal team to close a big deal. The refueling goes smoothly and just as Number 2 lights off, the pilots get an essential bus failure annunciation, and things go dark. The pilots get on the satcom and explain the problem to you. You have seen this problem before and know a simple fix. The problem is that even if you could explain it to the pilots, they could not legally return the aircraft to service.
Saint-Gobain Flight Structures is introducing a new nose radome for the Bombardier Challenger business jet and CRJ regional jet aircraft. The design features internal lightning diverters, lightweight composite components and the incorporation of Norton Armor and Stormview radome technologies. Saint Gobain said the Stormview system provides enhanced radar vision through better signal transmission, while Norton Armor provides protection from inflight erosion and damage. Saint-Gobain Flight Structures is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp.
Israel's Civil Aviation Authority certificated the Flight Guard anti-missile protection system for installation on commercial aircraft. Designed by Israel Aircraft Industries' Elta Systems Group to protect military aircraft from heat-seeking missiles, it won CAA approval for use on civilian aircraft after a series of tests using a Boeing 767 airliner. IAI claims Flight Guard offers 360-degree coverage and can detect approaching missiles in any weather. The TSA is working with at least two U.S.
LIKE SO MANY SUCH FLIGHTS, it began with a crash. January 5, 2005, had been a wet and windy day in north central Mississippi and those conditions continued into the night. Shortly after 8 p.m. the phone rang at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo and the emergency dispatcher reported there had been an automobile accident in Falkner, a small town near the Tennessee line. A crash victim needed to be rushed to treatment.
Deanna Harms, Senior Vice President (Greteman Group, Via e-mail)
I always enjoy your Viewpoint, but never more than in the January issue (page 7). You nailed businesses' current lack of a customer-centric approach and how that black hole swallows up all flexibility, humanity and - as a result -- customer loyalty. I hope some of the offenders read Viewpoint, recognize themselves and make some much-needed changes.
Britten-Norman Group is reassembling brand-new Cirrus SR-20 and SR-22 aircraft at its Bembridge, Isle of Wight, plant for European customers. The advantage of the new operation is that each aircraft will be delivered with a minimum of flight time. Previously, European-bound aircraft amassed 30 to 40 hours during their ferry flights from Duluth, Minn., and across the Atlantic. Aircraft will continue to be assembled at Cirrus' U.S. facilities where they will receive their Certificates of Airworthiness.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne and Joseph Fazio, general manager of Atlantic Aviation at Teterboro (N.J.) Airport, have been selected to co-chair a working group for addressing concerns about noise, pollution and safety at the airport. The group was formed during a recent meeting with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to discuss airport.
The Vref Large Jet Index - a compilation of quarterly prices recorded for the 1990 models of the Bombardier Challenger 601-3A, Falcon 900 and Gulfstream GIV over the past 10 years - shows that the average value of these aircraft continues to climb. The price index, which covers perhaps the hottest sector in the previously owned turbine aircraft market during the last year, has risen dramatically since the beginning of 2004 and now stands at nearly $14 million.
Summit Aviation of East Farmingdale, N.Y., has added a Hawker 800XP and a Learjet 45 to its growing charter fleet. JetDirect Aviation, a national private jet business, acquired Summit Aviation in August 2005. The current fleet of 17 includes Gulfstream, Challenger, Hawker, Learjet and Citation aircraft along with a Eurocopter helicopter.
Both pilots aboard a Canadian-registered MU-2B-36 were killed on Dec. 20, 2005, when the twin turboprop crashed shortly after takeoff. The airplane, C-FTWO, was departing from the Terrace, B.C., airport when it hit terrain shortly after takeoff. The commercial courier flight was being operated by Nav Air Charter, Inc. and was en route to Vancouver International Airport. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Aerospace Industries Association President John Douglass said aerospace industry growth continues. Addressing the AIA's recent annual year-end review and forecast luncheon, Douglass said American aerospace sales grew from $152.3 billion in 2002 to $170.1 billion in 2005. AIA projects industry sales will total $184 billion this year with "most of the growth due to the rapid recovery of the civil aviation manufacturers," he said.
Jet Aviation Chicago has teamed with Duncan Avionics and Atlantic Aviation to provide maintenance at Atlantic's Chicago Midway Airport facility, including line maintenance, light inspections, installations and AOG services. Jet Aviation has maintained an aircraft and management presence in Chicago since the mid-1980s.
PHAZAR Flight Support will open its new facility in March. PHAZAR Flight Support was created by the partners of PHAZAR Aerocorp to provide their customers with the option for purchasing fuels at a competive price. PHAZAR is an Air BP dealer. The FBO's overall design and service offerings were derived from a customer survey. "At PHAZAR Flight Support our mission is to support the aircraft and its passengers," says Brian Perryman, managing partner.
Rolls-Royce Corp. and the Timken Co. have announced an alliance designed to increase Timken's technology and service capabilities for Allison Model 250 helicopter turboshaft engine parts and component repair. Timken's aerospace business will provide an expanded variety of parts and services under license from Rolls-Royce for both new engine production and aftermarket use. Timken has provided bearings to Rolls-Royce for more than 30 years, but under the new agreement it also will supply other engine parts.
San Antonio-based M7 Aerospace is offering extensive refurbishment and upgrade packages for the Fairchild Merlin. Merlin owners can pick from a menu of upgrades and improvements up to a full restoration, which would include new paint, interior and avionics, as well as overhauled engines and propellers and zero-timed components. The price for a refurbished Merlin would be between $1 million and $1.5 million, according to Chester Schickling, vice president of business development for M7 Aerospace.
Sikorsky Aircraft recently handed over the first two S-76C++ helicopters to Petroleum Helicopters following FAA certification of the latest variant of the twin-engine helicopter.
Sharp Details, a corporate aircraft cleaning and services company, opened an office near Waterbury Oxford Airport in Oxford, Conn., and will offer aircraft washing, brightwork, waxing and interior cleaning at the new location. The Fairfax, Va.-based company has been expanding in the Northeast and offers cleaning services at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles, Manassas and Leesburg airports in Virginia; Martin State and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland; Wilmington and Dover Air Force Base in Delaware; Atlantic City, N.J.; and White Plains, N.Y.
A Beechcraft Premier I arriving from Atlantic City alighted on Runway 13 at Knox County Regional Airport (RKD), in Rockland, Maine, right around 9 p.m. at which point the left main landing gear tire "blew" and the airplane began to veer left. The ATP-rated pilot then lifted the airplane off; it banked to the right, and experienced an "ugly flare," striking the ground "hard" on the right landing gear. The aircraft suffered serious damage in the incident.
The FAA is offering special online training for anyone who flies in or near restricted areas, and especially around Washington, D.C. The training, which can be accessed from a home computer, provides detailed guidance on requirements and procedures for flying near the nation's capital, as well as a review of requirements and procedures for operating in other types of special use airspace. The course assumes pilots have a good understanding of aircraft operation, air navigation and ATC procedures. Most of the course's graphics incorporate actual navigation charts.
13.1 Contract Pilots Occasionally, XYZ may utilize contract pilots. Because these pilots do not routinely fly in our operation and may be flying with several other operators whose operating procedures vary widely from our own, it is important that we adopt certain additional procedures when flying with contract pilots to ensure that the integrity of our operation, from both a flight and customer service perspective, is neither compromised nor diminished in any manner.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, stymied by the FAA in its efforts to curb traffic at its Teterboro, N.J., Airport (TEB), has turned to local aircraft operators to help develop solutions to appease vocal airport opposition groups. At a Dec. 22, 2005, meeting, Port Authority officials briefed local operators as well as industry association representatives from the NBAA and GAMA, among others, on its efforts to collect better operational and environmental impact data on TEB.
AC-U-KWIK announces the release of the newly updated 2006 Airport/FBO Directory and 2006 International Airport/FBO Directory. The Airport/FBO Directory provides quick and accurate preflight information for U.S., Canada, Mexico and U.S. territorial locations. Features also include charter, catering and limousine services; ATIS frequencies and phone numbers; U.S.
The NTSB says Chalk's crashed Mallard had cracks in both wings. Safety Board investigators working the Dec. 19, 2005, crash of the Chalk's Ocean Airways Turbo Mallard after takeoff from Miami released a preliminary report that stated, "Initial wreckage examination indicated that the right wing separated near the root. Preliminary metallurgical examination has located evidence of fatigue cracking in the lower rear wing spar cap, along the lower wing skin and on an internal z-stringer.
