For at least two decades, business aircraft pilots have been promised that someday they would be able to download weather graphics directly onto cockpit displays. The availability of uplinked weather from ground stations would be a watershed breakthrough because pilots would be able to look hundreds, if not thousands, of miles along their intended flight plan routes to check for weather hazards.
PC-12 distributor Atlas Pilatus Center appointed Aerodynamics, Inc. as an authorized Pilatus PC-12 satellite service center. The Pontiac, Mich.-based company will distribute parts and provide services for PC-12s based in the Michigan area. Established in 1998 in Manchester, N.H., Atlas maintains more than 30 PC-12s owned by individuals and corporations and supports the PlaneSense PC-12 fractional ownership program.
Avfuel Corp. and Signature Flight Support, respectively the nation's largest independent aviation fuel supplier and largest FBO chain, have signed a new agreement expanding their long-time relationship and entering into a major fuel support program. Avfuel has become one of Signature's largest fuel suppliers in recent years, and the new agreement will mean that Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Avfuel will be delivering fuel to even more Signature bases. In addition, Avfuel's AVTRIP incentive plan will now be offered at domestic Signature locations.
Specifically, the MAC report highlights major cuts to the agency's facility and equipment (F&E) budget in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2006 that will result in a funding track, where the FAA ``will not achieve nearly the ATC capacity'' proposed in its 10-year plan. The White House and Congress need to support the F&E budget at the levels recommended in authorization bills, the MAC report said. The MAC also believes the FAA must further cut its costs.
Since the Baltic States joined the European Union, passenger growth in three of their airlines, Air Lithuania, Lithuanian Airlines and airBaltic, has jumped more than 22 percent. ERA (European Regions Airline Association) Irish and Finnish members, based in these states also saw significant growth in passenger numbers during 2004. ERA reports average regional airline results showed a passenger growth up by 4.1 percent and revenue passenger kilometers up 7.1 percent over 2003 figures.
Quest Aircraft received seven orders for its 10-place, single-engine Kodiak in the first week after it began accepting deposits. ``These orders represent three of the five primary market segments that Quest feels have appropriate applications for the Kodiak,'' said Paul Schaller, president and CEO. Buyers ranged from personal-use operators to Part 135 charter operators to humanitarian/mission organizations. Schaller said the company is also targeting governmental and special use markets as well as international markets.
The FAA and Transport Canada approved four upgrades to Bombardier CRJ-series aircraft, Bombardier said, and European regulatory approval is expected to follow soon. The agencies approved the Bombardier CRJ 900 Enhanced Performance Package (EPP) to improve takeoff and landing distances, the CRJ 900 long range variant, the CRJ 700 Series 705 and the CRJ 700 engine upgrade to a variant of the CRJ 900 engine. Bombardier also said Transport Canada would extend the Bombardier CRJ 700 Series 705 the same type rating as the CRJ 900 with the EPP.
House members recently encouraged the TSA to move forward on the Transportation Security Administration's Access Certificate (TSAAC) program and directed the agency to report back to Congress early next year on the program's progress. The House homeland security appropriations subcommittee included that directive in the report language to the fiscal 2006 homeland security appropriations bill. TSAAC, developed in concert with NBAA, has been tested at three New York area airports with 24 participating operators.
Stage III Technologies announced that it has received final FAA approval for its Gulfstream GII and GIII stage 3 hushkit that reduces noise to the 70-73 dBA level (depending on model), permitting operations at all airports serving the Gulfstream fleet at any time at maximum weight regardless of noise curfews. Stage III demonstrated its hushkit over two weeks in May with stops at Van Nuys, Teterboro, Dallas and West Palm Beach.
BAE Systems Analytical Solutions, working through the Aerospace Innovation Center, has developed simulation software to train aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul workers in lean techniques to improve efficiency, product flow and quality. BAE Systems teamed with Macon State College and Georgia Tech School of Industrial Engineering on the project. The Aerospace Innovation Center is a coalition among government, academia and private institutions in Georgia.
PrivatAir, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, added Steve Courtiss and Tracy Cassalia as charter sales representatives to its U.S. headquarters in Stratford, Conn.
E-A-R Specialty Composites' HT Fiber fiberglass complies with the new FAR Part 25.856, which requires all Part 25 registered aircraft of 19 or more passengers to have additional fuselage burn-through protection to protect occupants during a ground fire. HT Fiber fiberglass is a one-to-one replacement for the standard aircraft insulation system. It meets the requirement of ASTM C-800-94 Standard Specification for Glass Fiber Blanket Insulation (Aircraft Type) and is available in all standard densities of 0.42 pcf, 0.50 pcf and 0.60 pcf.
According to aircraft resale pundits, the market for previously owned Raytheon Beechjet 400s and 400As has been strengthening in recent months, as the light jet continues to attract customers because of its speed and relatively large cabin. Despite increases in sales activity and value, prices have only appreciated modestly. Mike Trivisinno of the Capital Jet Group in McLean, Va., said, ``During the last 12 to 15 months we thought the aircraft were undervalued . . . compared to alternatives.''
Following the Reason Foundation's briefing, the AOPA noted that Poole's first report, released in 1993, ``suggested charging GA fees like $9.27 for a weather briefing, $4.65 for contacting a tower, and $9.27 for an IFR flight plan. The AOPA soundly criticized that.
Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated announced that Jeff Bosque, a 30-year industry veteran, was appointed president, succeeding Rick Penshorn, who resigned in April for personal reasons. Bosque has been with Associated Air Center for 14 years, serving as vice president of sales and marketing before being named president. He was responsible for several infrastructure upgrades at Associated Air Center to improve productivity and initiated a ``sports team'' concept to increase sales. As president, Bosque will oversee all Associated Air Center operations and services.
Safe Flight Instrument Corp., White Plains, N.Y., appointed Roberto Pino to the position of manager, commercial aircraft programs. Pino will initially focus on Safe Flight's automatic throttle (AutoPower) programs for the CRJ 200, 700 and 900 regional airlines.
Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) is now offering a Tip-to-Tail hourly maintenance program to Piaggio P180 Avanti and Avanti II aircraft operators. The new program covers both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and includes virtually every component, assembly and system on the aircraft. According to JSSI President and CEO John (Rick) Haskins, the new agreement between JSSI and Piaggio includes the cost of labor, as well as periodic inspections required to maintain each component, including removal and installations.
The Rockwell Collins AHS-1000 Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) has been approved for installation on the Learjet 31, 35, 35A, 36 and 36A. The primary function of the AHS-1000, which is designed to replace previous-generation analog and iron-gyro systems, is to provide measurements of aircraft pitch, roll and heading angles for use by the flight deck displays, flight control systems, FMSes and other avionics.
Gulfstream Aerospace's long-range Gulfstream V received a type certificate from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau. Gulfstream began work to obtain the approval after receiving an order from the Japan Coast Guard for two special mission GV aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered earlier this year, and the second aircraft is slated for delivery shortly. ``Historically, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has granted validation on a case-by-case basis to operators of GV aircraft,'' said Gulfstream President Bryan Moss.
The GE Honda Aero Engines joint venture recently completed component and engine core tests to validate several new enhancements to the performance of its HF118 turbofan engine for light business aircraft. The HF118 family of commercial turbofan engines range in thrust from 1,000 to 3,500 pounds. The initial HF118 engine will be rated in the 1,700-pound-thrust class. The HF118 is being designed to operate in service for 5,000 hours before the first major overhaul with no interim hot-section inspections.
Duncan Aviation has installed a Max-Viz EVS-1000 enhanced vision system in a Gulfstream G-IVSP. An authorized Max-Viz dealer, Duncan worked with the Max-Viz certification team to develop the supplemental type certificate for the installation. The EVS-1000 uses uncooled, long-wave infrared sensors to gather data about runways, terrain and potential obstacles and displays images on a video-capable display system in the cockpit to help pilots operate in conditions such as haze, smoke, snow and rain.
Selected accidents and incidents in April 2005 The following NTSB information is preliminary, subject to change and may contain errors. Apr. 2 -- Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, N.J. A Bombardier CL600-2A12 encountered windshear during landing on Runway 19. The airplane suffered damage to the right wing tip, right outboard flap jackscrew cover and the pressure bulkhead in the vicinity of the nose gearbox. The two certificated airline transport pilots and two passengers were not injured.
Cessna Aircraft is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Cessna Caravan with a demonstration tour that includes locations in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa and Europe. Since the model was introduced in 1985, the Caravan fleet has accumulated more than 8 million flight hours and operates in 68 countries. Cessna has delivered more than 1,500 Caravans.
