At the same time, Williams disclosed that it is within a few months of completing certification testing of another, previously undisclosed turbofan at the ``smaller end'' of its product line. The new engine is scheduled to be unveiled at this month's NBAA convention in Las Vegas.
Kelly Aviation's Cabin Pressure Monitor (CPM) senses the local pressure environment while operating independently of other aircraft or spacecraft systems. The CPM serves as a backup monitoring system on pressurized aircraft and indicates when supplemental oxygen is needed on non-pressurized aircraft. The unit has a user-programmable altitude alert function, simultaneous audio, vibratory and visual alarms, and a lighted digital display for nighttime viewing.
The FAA is spending $2 million to examine cabin air quality and study chemical and biological threats in airliners. The Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research, led by Auburn University, will pool the efforts of researchers from seven universities in the study. The FAA plans to provide $1 million in funding in the first year and $500,000 in each of the second and third years, with matching funds provided by the private sector.
Axis Jet, a new-entry aircraft sales and management company based in Sacramento, Calif., says that six turbine aircraft now form the basis of its its managed fleet. The company now has a Citation II, a CitationJet, a King Air 200 and three King Air C90Bs under contract. ``We're very pleased with the early growth of Axis Jet,'' said co-owner Matt Bosco. Axis Jet was formed in July.
Southern Star Avionics has developed a new glareshield expansion fairing to provide additional instrument panel space in 500-series Citations. The panel fits over the existing glareshield, and involves relocating the annunciator panel, fire and thrust reverser controls to free up center panel space. The modification is sold as an STC kit. A partnership between Mobile, Ala.-based Southern Avionics and Star Aviation, Southern Star expects the kit to be available in second quarter 2004. For more information, call Ben Montgomery at (251) 650-0600.
Ed Bolen took the reins at the NBAA as the association's new president and CEO on Sept. 7. He previously was president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). As he took his new position, two popular senior NBAA executives, Bob Blouin and Pete West, announced their resignations despite entreaties from past and current NBAA board members to stay on with the association. Failing that, the board moved quickly to install a new head of operations.
Guardian Jet Center broke ground on a new executive terminal at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif. The terminal will add 5,500 square feet of operating space to the existing 46,000 square feet of hangar and office space. The terminal will include an expanded passenger lounge, larger flight planning area with real-time computer weather service, a pilot and crew exercise center, crew sleeping quarters and a conference facility. The Guardian Jet Center, began operations in November 2002.
Aviation Partners, Inc. has received certification for its Hawker 800 blended winglets. ``Blended winglets transform a standard 2,510-nm Hawker 800 into a 2,690-nm-capable Hawker 800SP,'' said API Sales Director Gary Dunn. He claimed a Hawker 800SP will fly 30 minutes longer, 180 nm farther, 18 knots faster and with a 2,000-foot higher initial cruise altitude compared to a standard Hawker 800. Hot/high airport performance is improved with blended winglets and operators will enjoy improved second-segment climb.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., has appointed Bill Walker as a CF34 engine technical representative for its Challenger program. In addition, Tony Russo has been named manager of Duncan's avionics installation and repair satellite shops in Van Nuys, Calif., and Burbank, Calif.
NBAA MEMBERS HAVE a lot to celebrate at this month's convention in Las Vegas. The economy has turned around. Flight hours are up. And, in a month or so, after the elections are over, it may be possible for corporate pilots to file direct, point-to-point flight plans without having to deviate around half a dozen temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas.
JetCorp, Chesterfield, Mo., a full-service FBO located at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), has named Michella Ballard to the position of marketing coordinator.
American Express Co., Newburgh, N.Y., recently named Daniel C. Jackson chief pilot of its flight department, replacing R. John Bates. In addition, James C. Oakes has been named assistant chief pilot.
According to a report issued by the FAA, FY2004 appears to be the fourth year in a row of reductions in the most serious types (Category A and B) of runway incursions. Agency officials said on Aug. 31 there had been 25 Category A and B incursions to date during the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. There were 32 of these incursions in FY2003, 37 in FY2002, 53 in FY2001 and 67 in FY2000. The FAA's strategic plan sets a performance goal of no more than 40 incursions for the current fiscal year and no more than 27 serious incursions for FY2008.
FlightSafety International, Flushing, N.Y., has announced three promotions: Julie Goodridge is now assistant manager at the company's West Palm Beach, Fla., Learning Center, Chuck Milhiser is assistant manager at the Tucson Learning Center and Charles (Chip) White is manager of the Long Beach, Calif., Learning Center.
The FAA will activate a Special Traffic Management Program (STMP) from Oct. 8 to 18 in Las Vegas to overlap the NBAA annual convention there. The action requires all IFR flights to or from the Las Vegas area to obtain a slot reservation prior to filing a flight plan. Effected airports are Las Vegas McCarran (LAS), Henderson Executive (HND), North Las Vegas (VGT), Boulder City Airport (61B) and Jean Airport (0L7). According to the NBAA, most FBOs in the Las Vegas area also require ramp reservations.
Zurich-based ExecuJet Aviation Group has acquired Frankfurt-based Jet Connection Businessflight AG. Both companies are Bombardier FlexJet Europe preferred business jet operators. ExecuJet Europe manages a fleet of more than 50 aircraft, 13 of which are available for charter and deployed across mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. The mainly Bombardier fleet is operated under Swiss, Danish and now German JAR Ops-1 commercial certificates.
While IS-BAO is managed and administered by IBAC, the program materials are sold through the Council's signatory members, such as the NBAA in the United States or the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) in Europe. Cost is $950 for program documents and the generic operations manual template; also included is a CD containing all the materials in digital form that allows customization of the template to fit the scope of the operation.
THE KEY ELEMENTS in any fractional aircraft program as outlined in FAR Part 91 Subpart K are co-ownership, a dry lease exchange and common aircraft management. Back in the early to mid-'90s the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Technical Advice Memorandum (TAM) 9314002 and Private Letter Ruling (PLR) 9404006 indicating the agency's position on the application of the commercial Federal Excise Tax (FET) on the amounts paid for the use of an aircraft operated in such programs.
Just how secure is general aviation? A visit to any air carrier or reliever airport in the vicinity of major population centers can convince the observer that the system is locked down, but what about smaller metropolitan airports or those in rural areas of the United States?
The RD3 (Rapid Damage Detection Device) is a hand-held, non-destructive inspection instrument that can be used to detect voids, degradation and delaminations in composite structures. Designed to replace tapping with a coin or traditional tap hammer, the RD3, also known as the Electronic Digital Tap Hammer, supplements the subjective sound discrimination of the operator with a quantitative, objective numeric readout.
An NTSB law judge ordered the FAA to reverse an emergency revocation of the pilot and mechanic licenses of the owner of Long Island-based charter airline Air East. In the Sept. 9 ruling, Judge William Mullins said there was ``no evidence presented'' by the FAA that Michael Tarascio violated any regulations. Tarascio's attorney, Gregory Winton, described the reversal of the FAA emergency order as a ``rare decision.'' An Air East Learjet crashed on Aug.
Dassault Falcon Jet's new flight operations center at Teterboro Airport (TEB) is open. The center will house the company's 23-person flight operations department and the Falcon demonstration fleet. Located directly across from Dassault's headquarters, the new structure is also home to three Falcon Jet field service representatives.
L-3 Communications Avionics Systems Landmark 8100 Class B TAWS uses its own WAAS-enabled GPS data to derive its altitude information, making it far simpler to retrofit, L-3 says, than units that must interface with an aircraft's air data system to get corrected barometric altitude data.
The Carlyle Group officially completed its purchase of Garrett Aviation Services from the General Electric Co. on Aug. 27, and has named Frank Klaus president and CEO. Other companies within the group include Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation and Associated Air Center.
ExcelAire added a Gulfstream V based at ISP to its charter fleet, which includes four GIIIs, one GII-SP and a GII-TT. Headquartered at Long Island's MacArthur Airport (ISP), ExcelAire is a full-service business aviation provider offering FAR Part 135 jet and helicopter charter, aircraft management and maintenance. ExcelAire's wholly owned subsidiary, Eastway Aircraft Services, is a Part 145 Repair Station, specializing in heavy jet and helicopter maintenance, and is also based at ISP. For more information on ExcelAire, visit www.excelaire.com.
