Eighteen-year-old Martin Halstead has started his own scheduled airline, Alpha 1 Airways, between university cities of Oxford and Cambridge in Britain. The company offers two roundtrips per day using eight-seat Piper Navajo Chieftains owned and flown by Oxford-based AirMed. Halstead says that his company can call upon eight Navajos from AirMed as the airline expands. Fares will cost up to $93 one-way for the 20-minute, 63-mile flight. No scheduled air service has operated between the cities since the 1930s and 1940s.
When most pilots hear ``PSA,'' they probably think of either the regional airline now using that name or Pacific Southwest Airlines, the classic former West Coast airline that always wore a smile. Eventually, though, those three initials will mean something entirely different to every male aviator, just as they now do to me.
Like other OEMs accessing SRTM topography, Rockwell Collins is using the unedited public-release data set, in combination with other data sources, for cross-checking or to fill in holes where spotty information existed before. But the avionics manufacturer would never use SRTM as a sole source for database construction due to its voids limitation, caused by insufficient radar returns in some areas during the 2000 radar-mapping mission.
Bombardier posted a net loss for the second consecutive year and suspended dividend payments to holders of its common stock. Company officials were attempting to accentuate the positive in conferences with reporters and financial analysts on March 31, however, noting the loss was considerably less than the previous year. For the year ended Jan. 31, 2005, Bombardier reported a loss from continuing operations of $85 million (U.S.), or six cents per share, compared with a loss of $166 million, or 11 cents per share, for fiscal 2004.
Cessna reports that during a three-week period between March and mid-April it received over 450 orders for single-engine aircraft. With 2005 production sold, these aircraft are all scheduled to deliver in 2006. ``We attribute this influx of orders to two things,'' said Phil Michel, vice president of marketing. ``First, our customers are excited about flying . . . with the all-glass, fully integrated Garmin G1000 avionics suite. Cessna's single-engine piston aircraft and Garmin's G1000 are a natural fit.
Corporate Jets Inc., an FBO in Scottsdale, Ariz., opened a new flight crew lounge that covers more than 3,000 square feet and includes full kitchen facilities, private bathrooms and quiet rooms. The lounge is also equipped with flight planning areas and a conference room. Corporate Jets is an Avfuel dealer.
Years ago when the vacuum tube was the cutting edge of technology, mechanics were able to repair just about anything on an aircraft with basic hand tools and a little common sense. As aircraft technology advanced, specialized knowledge, tooling or test equipment became a necessary part of the repair equation. In many cases, OEMs alone could conduct component repair. This monopoly fostered the creation of third-party repair shops, and in turn, the creation of the certificated repair station as regulated by FAR Part 145.
Brazil's ministry of tourism is preparing to unveil an ambitious open skies plan for South America's ``Southern Cone'' that calls for opening up airspace to increase routes and frequencies to stimulate regional tourism. Rio de Janeiro's daily O Globo reports the strategic goal is to make Brazil into the airline hub of the region. Brazil's tourism minister, Walfrido Mares Guia, said such a plan would cut airline costs and stimulate competition while providing service to all cities that might generate significant passenger traffic.
Universal Avionics selected Duncan Avionics in Lincoln, Neb., as the first and so far the only authorized service center in the United States for its equipment.
Michael H. Grossmann, president, Castle Aviation Inc., North Canton, Ohio Theo Staub president and COO, Jet Aviation Holdings, Inc., Teterboro, N.J. Reed W. Pigman, Jr., president and owner, Texas Jet, Inc., Fort Worth
Avidyne added airborne weather radar display capability to the FlightMax Entegra EX5000, when interfaced with the RDR 2000 digital radar. The EX5000 is a 10.4-inch diagonal, high-resolution, multi-function display (MFD) designed for stand-alone applications or as part of Avidyne's FlightMax Entegra integrated flight deck suite. Avidyne claims it is the first to add radar display capability on an integrated flight display for light aircraft.
Cessna's CJ2+ flew for the first time April 2 for two hours and six minutes. The conforming CJ2+ prototype took off from Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport and was tested for basic stability, flap and landing gear extension and retraction, controllability, trim actuation, engine operating characteristics and basic autopilot operation. The model was unveiled at the 2004 NBAA convention. Powered by Williams FJ44-3A-24 engines, the CJ2+ will offer better thrust-specific fuel consumption and will be equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite.
There would be no passenger comments -- good or bad -- about this flight because there were no passengers. Rather, the two pilots were alone aboard the Pinnacle Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 for the evening repositioning hop from Little Rock to Minneapolis on the night of Oct. 14, 2004. The 610-nm trip was to be uneventful, and it was -- at first. But as the crew made its way north at a lofty FL 410, the aircraft's service ceiling, something went wrong.
A AC -- Advisory circular ACARS -- Airline communications addressing and reporting system ACAS -- Aircraft collision avoidance system ADC -- Air data computer ADI -- Attitude direction indicator ADS -- Air data system ADS-B -- Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast AES -- Aircraft earth station AFCS -- Automatic flight control system AFIS -- Automated flight information system (Honeywell) AHRS -- Attitude-heading reference system
Tim Brady, Ph.D., dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, received the 2005 Excellence in Pilot Training Award from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).
MARK, A FRIEND WHO ran a small Midwestern flight operation, was tied up in the sale of a Hawker that had been succeeded by a Challenger. Since he was half of the total pilots in his flight department and the sale was imminent, he had to stay put, and so he needed a favor. He was scheduled to begin a three-day trip the next day. Would I be willing to take it? A friend in need; I agreed.
Sporty's new LED Seatbelt Light is designed to not harm your night vision. The light clips onto your seatbelt shoulder strap for hands-free use and can be adjusted with a pushbutton choice of 2 or 4 LEDs. Direct the beam onto your lap to illuminate charts, checklists, timers or anything else. The recessed lighting design allows you to illuminate just the area that you want without lighting up the rest of the cockpit. The light uses three AAA batteries (not included). Price: $9.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County/Sporty's Airport
House Aviation Subcommittee members, holding a hearing on the state of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, used the opportunity to vent their frustration about the continuing ban on general aviation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) said he was ``totally befuddled'' by the continuing ban and said, ``It just doesn't make sense.'' The ban does just as much disservice to the federal government as it does to the aviation community, Ehlers said. Other committee members echoed those sentiments, including D.C. Del.
