Anything. Anywhere. Anytime.'' That was one of the tag lines used in ``Air America,'' the 1990 action-comedy B-flick in which the stars play pilots who fly a Fairchild C-123 Provider into and out of seemingly impossibly short, unimproved landing strips hacked out of the jungle. Four to five decades ago, a half dozen aircraft firms, such as Fairchild, Antonov and CASA, plus de Havilland, Dornier and Israel Aircraft Industries, built tough, twin-engine STOL utility aircraft capable of such missions.
Ask maintenance technicians about their most aggravating aircraft problem and you are guaranteed to hear about endless hours chasing intermittent faults. One of the few things pilots and technicians share equally is the aggravation caused by elusive gremlins, an indefinable glitch, the ghost in the machine. Conversely, few subjects cause more friction between pilots and technicians than the repetitious appearance of a mysterious malady.
Tuff-Seal interlocking tiles use a patented, hidden interlock system to create a secure, watertight and virtually seamless hangar floor surface. The tiles reduce noise, dust and humidity, insulate subfloors and are more comfortable to stand and work on. The manufacturer says the tiles won't break, crack, deflect, loosen or shift even under heavy loads, nor do they require frequent repair or replacement, and yet can be easily removed and re-laid in other areas.
When an airliner slides off the end of a runway, the NTSB often calls upon NASA for help. Why? The ``space agency'' actually has a history of researching runway surface conditions going back to joint projects with the U.S. Air Force in the 1960s. It seems that with the higher tire pressures and faster landing speeds of the then-new jet transports, hydroplaning became a serious problem, which the engineers set out to correct. That effort was reinvigorated as NASA later searched for optimum runway surface designs for the space shuttle runway at the Kennedy Space Center.
THE ISLAND WEATHER that morning in July 2004 was clear with scattered clouds, light winds out of the east and temperature in the mid-80s. Visibility across the Caribbean was great and expected to stay that way. A chamber-of-commerce kind of morning, and a great day to fly.
Pro Star Aviation of Londonderry, N.H., hopes to receive this month an STC for its installation of a Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite in a Cessna Citation III. Besides the new displays, the installation will include an EFIS, a second air-data computer, TCAS II, GPWS, updated FMS and the hardware needed to make the older jet RVSM compliant. The test aircraft has been flying since May, and Pro Star officials hope to bring it to the static display at the upcoming NBAA convention.
Flight Options said its 75/25 program will expand to include the Citation X and Embraer Legacy, in addition to the Hawker 400XP and the Hawker 800XP. The program allows owners to use two different aircraft in the Flight Options fleet with the purchase of a single share. Basically, 75 percent of their hours are in one aircraft and the remaining 25 percent would be flown in another aircraft of the client's choice.
Ever wonder what types of germs are hiding in aircraft air systems? Those individuals using Cirrus Healthcare's AirRight personal, disposable filtration device need never find out. The company claims the system helps protect passengers from inflight viruses and bacteria. The filter attaches to the air nozzle above the passenger seat and directs a filtered stream of air onto the user's seating area. One disposable AirRight is good for four flights. Price: $7.99 Cirrus Healthcare Products, L.L.C. 60 Main St.
Ross Aviation, LLC and Centre Partners acquired Scottsdale AirCenter, an FBO at the Scottsdale, Ariz., Airport (SDL), their second acquisition since the partnership was formed in December 2004. The local management team, headed by General Manager Tommy Walker, has managed the FBO since its opening in 2003 and will continue under the new ownership. Ross Aviation previously acquired the Denver Air FBO at Jefferson County Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, Colo.
The NBAA's Bill Stine, director of international operations, defines a VLJ as an FAR Part 23 turbofan aircraft weighing 10,000 pounds or less and certified for single-pilot operations. Most have advanced cockpit automation, automated engine and systems management, and an integrated flight guidance system. Virtually all VLJs will be fitted with multiple large-format flat-panel displays furnished by Avidyne or Garmin. Pratt & Whitney Canada and Williams are the most popular engine suppliers.
In its effort to prevent runway incursions, the FAA has directed its air traffic control towers at all airports to review whether they need to use a procedure that allows aircraft to taxi onto a runway and hold while awaiting clearance. Meanwhile, the controllers' union has criticized the agency's move. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said tower personnel would waste time meeting a deadline to prove that they need to use the procedure and the agency should instead have examined each airport to see if changes are needed.
Business aircraft will be a major component of Dubai 2005, scheduled for Nov.19-24, including a one-day business aviation conference led by B&CA Executive Briefing columnist and former NBAA President John Olcott. Business aircraft manufacturers represented at the show include Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, Pilatus and Raytheon. International and regional charter operators such as National Air Service of Saudi Arabia, Jet Aviation and Bexair of Bahrain, and International Air Charter have also committed to the event.
Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B engines, flat-rated at 1,100 shp to ISA+35.5C for takeoff, power the Skytruck. These engines produce 1,000 shp for cruise up to ISA+27.5, so they're not pushed hard in everyday operation. Hot section inspections are slated for 2,000-hour periods and TBOs are slated for 6,000-hour intervals.
One of the oldest optical companies in the United States, American Optical Eyewear, is now offering its Skymaster Series of sunglasses exclusively through Sporty's. The glasses offer protection against UV rays, distortion-free true color lenses, and sturdy, adjustable temple tips for custom comfort. The lenses are chemically hardened for impact resistance. The sunglasses are available in two styles: ``Pilot'' and ``Aviator.'' Each style is available in either 52 mm or 57 mm size, with black, chrome or gold frames. Price: $69.00
The AOPA is opposing the FAA proposal to create National Defense Airspace over Washington, D.C. ``The AOPA recognizes the necessity to protect the national assets in the nation's capital. The 15-nm-radius flight restricted zone does that,'' said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
Few folks, outside of a top secret cadre of Eclipse Aviation engineers, know that the Eclipse 500 has suffered more than 125 nacelle fires during its development. All these conflagrations were intentionally set by those same engineers at a covert engine test stand facility near Eclipse's Albuquerque International Sunport Airport headquarters.
The FAA is trying to improve its oversight of domestic and foreign aircraft repair stations. But according to a report by the DOT's inspector general, progress has been slow and the agency is far from implementing all the changes he recommended two years ago. The report was done at the request of Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.). DOT IG Kenneth Mead said his office issued nine recommendations in July 2003 to improve repair station oversight that the FAA planned to put into place by this month.
Aerosonic Corp. has teamed with Mid-Continent Instruments to produce and market a standby instrument package for general aviation aircraft. Wichita-based Mid-Continent will supply its new two-inch artificial horizon indicator while Aerosonic of Clearwater, Fla., will provide its two-inch mechanical altimeter and airspeed indicators for the package. The agreement also calls for combined marketing of an upgrade package that will replace mechanical altimeter and airspeed instruments with Aerosonic's new digital instruments.
Adam Aircraft displayed its first flying A700 at AirVenture, promising customers certification of that model will go much smoother than the process for its sister A500, which was the company's first type certification endeavor. Joe Walker, a veteran aircraft sales and marketing executive who spent years at Cessna and Gulfstream before taking over as president of Adam Aircraft in March 2004, expressed confidence in the company's ability to win type certification of the A700 by the end of 2006.
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority is building a new facility to house U.S. Customs between Tampa International Jet Center (TIJC) and Raytheon Aircraft Services (RAS). The facility formerly was in the Raytheon FBO. Customs has moved into a temporary facility where it will operate until the new facility is completed in the next 18 to 24 months. ``Tampa International Airport is making a great effort to provide our GA customers with easy access to U.S. Customs by moving the Customs facility to a new centralized and stand-alone site,'' said TIJC President Mike Azzarelli.
Bombardier Aerospace is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region with the appointment of a new field service representative in Singapore, and new regional sales offices and personnel in Singapore and New Delhi. Also, within the coming year, new line maintenance facilities in India and China will be announced to provide drop-in and AOG service to Bombardier business jets. The new stations will augment Bombardier's authorized service facilities in Sendai, Singapore and Sydney, which provide full-scale maintenance and support for Challenger, Learjet and Global product lines.
When Terry White was a high schooler in the 1950s he rented a garage and opened a motorcycle repair business. Two years later he moved into building fiberglass custom bodies for hot rods and then into overhauling foreign sports cars. ``In those days,'' White recalls, ``the only real sports cars were foreign, mostly British -- Jags, MGs and Triumphs.'' The business grew. He began buying wrecks and salvaging the parts to create a rebuilt or refurbished car for resale. At the peak, he owned 3,500 cars. But he wanted more.
Lista International's shadowed Foam Drawer insert liners make empty tool compartments easy to spot, and protect tools or inventory from movement and contact with other objects in the drawer. The liner uses a two-layer insert system: The upper blue foam cushions and protects tools and components in shaped cutouts, while the bottom yellow foam liner makes it easy to spot missing items. The foam drawer liners meet the specification for FOD/FOE Tool Control Programs. Each liner can be customized to hold specific tools.
I WENT TO CALIFORNIA to study aerobatics with Randy Gagne, the Canadian national champion, and a member of the U.S. Aerobatics Team. We met at Van Nuys Airport to fly his Pitts Special. After flying with Randy for a week, I came to know him as a modest master. He never did anything to show off, but only to make a point that might help to open my perceptions.
