More than a month after federal officials said they were ready to release an Interim Final Rule detailing the conditions under which business aircraft will be permitted to resume operations into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the rule still had not been published as we went to press. The May 25 announcement by then-TSA Administrator David Stone and FAA Administrator Marion Blakey was viewed by the aviation community as a breakthrough after nearly four years of lobbying to get DCA reopened to business and charter aircraft.
The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee has called for increasing FAA funding levels despite the Bush administration's request for nearly $900 million in cuts. The committee recommended a $14.427 billion fiscal 2006 budget, some $877 million more than the fiscal 2005 budget and up $1.74 billion from what the administration had sought for the agency. The fiscal 2006 transportation appropriations bill includes $8 million more than requested for aviation safety and certification inspectors, $4 million of which would be dedicated to the certification staff.
THERE ARE BOUND TO BE flight department managers who, after examining the new requirements for flying into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), won't even think about bringing their Washington-bound passengers into the close-in airport when that becomes possible this fall.
Thirty years ago, the flood of oil money into Saudi Arabia inspired the kingdom's leaders to modernize its overburdened and outdated infrastructure. Soon a broad, well-funded building program -- the most ambitious in the country's history -- was in full swing. The plan included road building, port improvement, new housing, offices, hotels, the works.
A Saudi-owned ACJ was discretely shown to the press by Airbus, at a remote Geneva Airport location during EBACE. The aircraft was not Saudi registered. The 21-seater has a range of 9,300 km, and endurance of around 10+15, thanks to three extra fuel tanks under floor. It was originally fitted with four tanks but the owners decided they needed extra baggage space more than the greater range. The cabin has a nine-seat salon forward, a fully enclosed bedroom and walk-in shower. To the rear of the cabin there is another 12-seat luxury salon.
Harrods Aviation's Embraer Legacy corporate jet sales are expected to be 100 percent above the company's first-year predictions, says Managing Director Steve Grimes. Since taking on Embraer's U.K. and Ireland sales and distributorship in late 2004, Harrods has taken orders for three, $22.45 million Legacy corporate jets. The first G-registered aircraft was delivered to the U.K. in May. Two to three more are to be delivered before year-end, says Grimes.
Air Chef has formed a partnership with J/R Catering of Oakland, Calif., to provide inflight catering and concierge services to the business aviation community in the San Francisco Bay Area. The partnership serves area airports, including Oakland International (OAK), San Francisco International (SFO), San Jose International (SJC), Hayward Executive (HWD), Concord Buchanan Field (CCR), San Carlos (SQL) and Palo Alto (PAO). Customers can speak directly with the Bay Area culinary team 24/7 at (800) 247-2433. Online ordering will be available by the end of the summer.
The Eclipse's PW610F engines are FADEC-equipped for easy operation and rugged for low operating cost. At entry-into-service in 2006, they'll have a 1,750 HSI midlife inspection interval and a 3,500-hour TBO. Projected overall cost is about $150,000 per engine, according to Eclipse officials.
The first students at FlightSafety International's new $250 million, 95,000-square-foot, Farnborough Flight Training Center are due to arrive on July 18. This first group will ``fly'' aboard the company's Citation Bravo simulator. ``Five of the 14 simulators are standing up now,'' said Rudy Toering, the center's manager and managing director of FSI's European marketing.
Good Viewpoint in the May issue (page 7), but I didn't realize Sir Tim Berners-Lee was an American! Mike Taylor United Kingdom Sir Berners-Lee is justifiably recognized as a founder of the World Wide Web, but the Internet is an American invention, as stated in the article.
The pilot of a Cessna Caravan 208B made an emergency landing in a Texas field after the aircraft's engine failed. The June 7 flight originated from Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA) and was bound for Addison, Texas. A preliminary NTSB report said the 7,500-hour ATP heard an unusual whining/hissing noise from the engine when the aircraft was climbing through 6,000 feet msl and as the airplane climbed through 8,000 feet, ``the noise got louder and the inlet turbine temperature gauge was fluctuating.
Elliott Aviation has received an FAA STC to install Honeywell's Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS), along with windshear alerting, in Citation Ultras and Excels. RAAS offers a significant safety enhancement to Honeywell's Mark VII EGPWS and can be added to existing or new installations. It provides improved situational awareness to help prevent runway incursions. The System utilizes GPS data, in addition to EGPWS runway database information, to monitor the aircraft's position on the runway and taxiways.
Dallas Airmotive, Dallas, named Cristiano Piroli regional sales manager for Brazil. Prior to joining Dallas Airmotive, Piroli spent more than five years working as a maintenance supervisor, engine shop chief engineer and sales manager for Lider Taxi Aero SA and Lider Signature SA.
I was a bit surprised by ``Zap! A Disquieting Beam of Light'' (February, page 64), which covered lasers in the cockpit. The advice was, if it occurred, see your local ophthalmologist. I would instead recommend that should such a rare incident occur, see any available eye care provider, optometrist or ophthalmologist, the sooner the better. Mario Jilbert Craig Via e-mail
The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) on June 9 embraced legislation proposed by Reps. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) to require the transportation secretary to buy defense systems to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired, man-portable air defense missiles (MANPADs).
GAMA and the National Air Transportation Association are concerned that targeted legislative action by Rothman would encourage other lawmakers to introduce bills calling for restrictions at other airports. NATA officials, joined by Jet Aviation executives, met with Rothman to discuss Teterboro but were rebuffed in their attempts to convince him that the recent spate of accidents there was coincidental.
Jet Source, a full-service FBO and charter provider in Carlsbad, Calif., offers a charter gift card for five hours of occupied flight time from any suitable airport in the contiguous 48 states. Gift card recipients receive limousine transportation to and from the airport, a complimentary bottle of champagne and gourmet catering on the flight. Other benefits include concierge services to assist with travel accommodations and a $500 American Express Travel Funds Card to spend as desired.
This hydraulic hardware kit contains an assortment of MS-21921 nuts and MS-21922 sleeves, in both steel and stainless. MS-21921 Aluminum nuts are also provided. Six pieces of each, sizes 2 through 6, and 8 are included. All items are packaged and identified by size, material, and manufacturer's lot number for traceability. The convenient carrying case has two layers of bins; the top layer has 12 bins for sleeves, and the bottom has 18 bins for nuts. Kits may be purchased with or without pre-set tooling for installation. Price: $275
An NTSB law judge rejected a request to overturn the FAA's emergency revocation of the airman certificate of Hayden L. Shaeffer, the Cessna 150 pilot who flew into restricted airspace around Washington, D.C. in May. Shaeffer's attorneys disputed the ``emergency'' nature of the revocation in their appeal to the Safety Board, but Law Judge William Pope rejected their arguments.
Sikorsky Aircraft has received a contract to deliver 35 new S-76 helicopters to Offshore Logistics, Inc. The contract, which in units is the largest single civil helicopter order in Sikorsky's history, includes options for an additional 24 S-76s. The first aircraft is set for delivery late this year. Another 20 deliveries are scheduled for 2006 and 2007 and the balance between 2008 and 2012. The contract was announced at the Paris Air Show at a signing ceremony attended by William E. Chiles, president and CEO of Offshore Logistics, and Steve Finger, Sikorsky president.
Flybe, a low-cost British carrier, has ordered 14 Embraer 195s and holds options for another 12. The firm order is worth $470 million, according to the Brazilian airplane maker, and first deliveries are due soon after certification in August 2006. The aircraft will be configured with the maximum 118 seats, and according to Embraer, will be the first of its type to be delivered and in service anywhere in the world. The new aircraft will replace Flybe's fleet of BAe 146s.
Fasten your seatbelts, shareholders. It's no secret that aircraft fractional ownership is encountering some turbulence thanks to the general economic downturn since 2001, soaring fuel prices, lower aircraft valuations and the rise of card membership programs among charter brokers (read: more competition). Adding a further degree of uncertainty to this milieu is an acrimonious contract negotiation between the management of NetJets, the largest fractional program manager, and Teamsters Local 1108 representing the company's pilot group.
Aerosonic Corp., Clearwater, Fla., has been selected to provide standby instruments for Adam Aircraft's twin-piston A500 and A700 jet aircraft. Adam has received type certificate approval for the A500 and expects to begin deliveries this year. The A700 is slated for certification and delivery in 2006. Aerosonic will supply altimeters and airspeed indicators for both aircraft.
Elliott Aviation added a Citation II, King Air 200 and King Air 90 to its charter fleet based at Flying Cloud Airport near Minneapolis. The Citation II and King Air 200 are configured to carry eight passengers and the King Air 90 can carry six passengers.
