What exactly do we mean by a ``dual-channel FADEC''? Honeywell Engines' George Petrovic, a senior manager in the systems and accessories division, explained: ``In a typical dual-channel FADEC,'' he told B&CA, ``you have one channel controlling, and the other going along for the ride in case the first one fails and the second one must assume an active transfer of control.'' Thus, in operation, the inactive channel ``shadows'' the active one.
Sporty's Radio Check can verify whether your handheld or panel-installed radio is operating properly, including push-to-talk, carrier and audio. When you talk, a red indicator light will light up and flash, confirming a transmission. If the red light is on, but you're not talking, you'll know you have a stuck mic. If you're pressing the push-to-talk switch but the light is not on, you are not transmitting. Radio Check includes a jack for monitoring transmissions with a headset, if desired. You hear just what Air Traffic Control hears.
The NBAA announced several fund-raising initiatives for its 58th Annual Meeting & Convention to help New Orleans citizens impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The fund-raising measures reflect a commitment the NBAA made in September to help New Orleans citizens after the Association was forced to move its convention from New Orleans to Orlando because of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact. The NBAA will match attendee contributions up to $100,000 for a combined Katrina relief donation.
S-Tec, Mineral Wells, Texas, promoted Chris Becker to vice president of flight operations. Becker was the Marine One helicopter pilot for President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush from 1985 to 1988.
CMC Electronics, Quebec, Canada, announced that Franois Dorval has joined the company as vice president, quality assurance and continuous improvement. Cathy Bain will head up the company's marketing and sales as vice president.
With the introduction of the first Citations in the early 1970s, Cessna created a large gap in its product line between the Model 421 Golden Eagle, its top piston twin, and the Citation I, its entry level light jet. Early Citation 500s sold for more than twice the price of a Cessna 421B. The gap became more like a gulf by the late 1970s, with the price of a Citation I approaching three times that of the 421C.
Embraer selected BMW Group DesignworksUSA to design the interior of its Very Light Jet and Light Jet. Embraer wanted a flight deck seamlessly integrated with the cabin. BMW Group DesignworksUSA responded with what Embraer termed ``a simple, elegant'' design solution using light ambiance and relaxing seats to create a first impression of comfort and functionality. Onboard amenities include a private lavatory, a refreshment center, an executive table and entertainment and communications at the passenger's fingertips.
Years ago I flew E-2 Hawkeyes for the U.S. Navy over the Tonkin Gulf. That big old bird carried two pilots and three controllers. We all wore helmets during launch and recovery, but once on station, each of us would ditch the hardhats and don our Navy-issue headsets; they were bulky, but far more comfortable. That was my first introduction to headsets. As a student pilot at Pensacola, which was my only previous flight experience, I always wore a flight helmet during training.
New TSA chief Edmund Hawley emphasized the agency's belief that industry and the government must approach security in a risk-based and collaborative way. Speaking before an Aero Club of Washington, D.C., meeting, Hawley noted that the TSA can't assess and try to mitigate risk based on past history like an insurance company would, because success in terrorism is predicated on the element of surprise. TSA officials rely heavily on random checks to disrupt any potential terrorist plans.
Ray H. Siegfried II died Oct. 6 after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Siegfried, chairman of the privately held NORDAM Group, grew the company from a bankrupt acquisition with eight employees in 1969, into a $500 million global leader in aerospace manufacturing, repair and overhaul. Siegfried was diagnosed with ALS in October 2001, only weeks after the tragedies of 9/11 and the Oct. 8 loss of NORDAM President Charlie Ryan in a plane crash. Siegfried ceded the position of CEO and became chairman. Interim Succession plans had been announced on Oct.
Sikorsky Aircraft sold three S-92 helicopters to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) for offshore oil service. BSP is the first oil company in Asia to operate a fleet of S-92s, and Sikorsky said the contract builds upon a relationship with BSP that spans nearly 40 years. BSP bought its first Sikorsky helicopter, a S-61N, in 1967 for offshore oil service. BSP's S-61N fleet has since accumulated more than 139,000 flight hours. The S-92, which entered service in 2004, is used for offshore oil support in the North Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and off Nova Scotia, Canada.
Westchester County Airport, White Plains, N.Y., Peter Scherrer has been named the new HPN airport manager. He replaces Joel Russell, who is the new airport manger at Albany International Airport, Albany, N.Y.
West Coast Charters, Santa Ana, Calif., appointed Roy J. Irwin as general manager. Irwin will oversee operations at both the Santa Ana and Long Beach facilities.
Jet Aviation Engineering Services secured an FAA STC for a VIP interior installed in a Boeing 767. The yearlong project was a joint effort between Jet Aviation's facilities in San Antonio and Basel, Switzerland. The interior includes a library, bedrooms with adjoining lavatories, a dining room and a salon. The cabin has wireless Internet access, high-speed data service, satellite television, air filtration and humidification, digital entertainment and a cabin management system.
Rockwell-Collins Hi-Focus maps for the Airshow 4200 multimedia information and entertainment system offer passengers up-close views of a wide variety of cities and points of interest, providing detail such as rivers, roads, buildings and other features on their travel route and at the destination. ``Airshow 4200's Hi-Focus maps meet passengers' growing demand to stay informed during their flight,'' said Matt Smith, senior director of Airshow Systems for Rockwell Collins.
The Air Group added six aircraft so far this year, bringing the aircraft management company's fleet to 42 aircraft. The new additions include a Gulfstream GIV-SP based in Teterboro, N.J.; a GIV that alternates between the Van Nuys, Calif., Airport and Haneda Airport near Tokyo; a Hawker 800Pi based at Van Nuys; a Hawker 800XP in Denver; a Falcon 900C based in San Jose, Calif.; and a Cessna Citation II that operates out of Honolulu.
The FAA has approved Eurocopter's application to build A-Star 350 B2 and B3 helicopters at American Eurocopter's 85,000-square-foot facility in Columbus, Miss. The AS350 B2 and B3 are single-engine aircraft each capable of carrying a pilot and six to seven passengers; 1,127 of this series have been sold in 45 countries to 587 customers. ``This is a major step in our strategy to invest in our manufacturing capabilities in the largest market in the world. By manufacturing the AS350 in our Columbus facility with U.S.
Honeywell Aerospace is evaluating a technology from the automotive and industrial markets that the company hopes will substantially strengthen its customer support capabilities. Honeywell is developing a Telematics sensor that can be imbedded in an aircraft's electronic components and transfer real-time operational information to Honeywell facilities once the aircraft has landed. Like the technology to the OnStar safety and security system installed in cars, the Telematics unit uses wireless technology to transmit a slate of diagnostic, usage and other data to Honeywell.
January 2004 marked a watershed event in FAA history. That's when the agency issued a Final Rule amending FAR Part 91.175 to allow use of ``enhanced flight visibility'' (EVS) in lieu of natural vision to identify the approach lights and runway environment in order to continue an instrument approach procedure beyond decision height, decision altitude or MDA. This approval took courage and insight on the part of FAA rulemakers because it was controversial.
Chelton's EFIS has an FAA Approved Model List (AML) STC for all large FAR Part 23 aircraft including commuters. This follows on the approval of the Cessna Citation 501 EFIS STC. This latest approval includes: Beech 1900, King Air 350, Twin Otter, Paris Jet, Cessna Citation 525, Learjet 23, Merlin/Metro, Shorts Skyvan, Dornier 228, Britten-Norman Islander, BAe Jetstream, Embraer Bandeirante and the Skytruck M28.
One online resource is NASA's new Pilot's Guide to Ground Icing, a training course developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. It's a free course intended for pilots who make their own deicing and anti-icing decisions. The self-guided course includes general ground-icing knowledge, an understanding of freezing precipitation hazards and decision-making in ground-icing conditions. It discuses the risks of contamination and cues to alert the pilot to ground icing and offers actions that a pilot can take to help ensure safe operations.
Million Air increased the number of FBOs in its chain to 32 with the addition of a facility at Fayetteville (Ark.) Municipal Drake Field. The newest Million Air franchise has a 20,000-square-foot hangar, along with 5,000 square feet of office space, a lounge, reception area, conference room and storage area. Million Air and the city of Fayetteville are jointly financing a $300,000 remodeling project, which will upgrade the main terminal lobby and provide more office space for Million Air and other airport tenants.
