The Jeppesen Instrument Procedures Guide provides information about rapidly evolving technologies emerging in the IFR environment, including GPS, Local and Wide Area Augmentation System (LAAS and WAAS) and RVSM. Thorough coverage of IFR operations in the National Airspace System, all regimes of IFR flight (takeoff, departure, en route, arrival, approach and landing) and safety-related human factors are also included.
Bell Helicopter now expects to receive FAA approval of the Bell 210 -- a civil-certified, improved version of the U.S. Army's UH-1H -- in mid-2005. The rotorcraft, which is based on the Huey II program, is designed to provide ``a significant increase in capability over comparative models at greatly reduced direct operating costs.''
Since most torpedoes are intended for one-time useand are expensive, the U.S. Navy likes to use unarmed ``fish'' assigned for testing and practice multiple times. Originally, the service used small boats with hoists to retrieve spent torpedoes. The problem with that method was torpedoes don't float very long, and they'd frequently sink to the bottom before the boat could reach them. And so the service gave the job to helicopters equipped with tracking gear.
Tradeoffs are a reality of aircraft design, although engineers attempt to optimize the blend of capabilities, performance and passenger comfort. B/CA compares the subject aircraft, in this case the Global 5000, with the composite characteristics of others in its class, computing the percentage differences for various parameters in order to portray the aircraft's relative strengths and weaknesses. We also include the absolute value of each parameter, along with the relative ranking, for the subject aircraft within the composite group.
The National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) will hold its annual fall meeting at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel from 1 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 10, just two days before the opening of the NBAA convention in Las Vegas. Following the NARA meeting, officials of the association are planning to host a reception at the hotel from 6 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with the National Aircraft Finance Association.
Steven J. Hill is the new president of Boeing Business Jets, taking over the joint venture between Boeing and General Electric Aug. 16. He replaces Lee Monson, who became Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of sales for the Middle East and Africa region. Hill was formerly business director of Boeing Aircraft Trading and before that was responsible for all technical, operational, completion and fleet support activities of BBJ. He joined Boeing in 1974 and has held various positions in Boeing Defense & Space Group as well as Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Max-Viz -- the Portland, Ore.-based manufacturer of enhanced vision systems -- has received from the FAA an STC for installation of the EVS-1000 on the Pilatus PC-12. The STC for the single-engine turboprop was completed and is owned by Boise, Idaho-based Western Aircraft, which is one of six authorized Pilatus sales and service centers in the United States.
Contrary to some news media reports, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is not setting up a helicopter plant in South Korea. Sikorsky confirmed that it did sign a memorandum of understanding to explore ``the potential of non-financial assistance to Washington Times Aviation in its effort to establish an S-61 helicopter service and component manufacturing center in Kimpo, South Korea.'' Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. of Hartford, Conn., stopped making the S-61 more than 20 years ago.
Boeing Business Jets (Seattle) -- Steven J. Hill has been named president of the Boeing-General Electric joint venture, replacing Lee Monson, who has been appointed vice president of sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the Middle East and Africa. Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) -- The airframe manufacturer has named two new sales directors to its business aircraft sales organization in Europe. Eckhard Breuer is now responsible for sales in Germany and Austria, while Christophe Degoumois is handling sales in Russia and Eastern Europe.
Avidyne is offering upgrades for its FlightMax EX500 multifunction displays to present XM WX satellite weather. The upgrade gives pilots graphical information about weather conditions across the U.S., including full-color, high-resolution NEXRAD radar overlaid on the EX500's moving map; graphical and plain-English textual METARs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs and TFRs; and lightning strikes from the National Lightning Detection Network. According to Avidyne, XM provides full continental U.S. coverage with no gaps or altitude restrictions.
Wulfsberg Electronics, a Chelton Avionics company, has received FAA certification for a compact suite of control display units (CDUs). The Chelton FliteLine navigation and communications equipment was designed to allow installation of a complete six-unit suite -- two comm, two nav, an ADF and a transponder control -- in one-third less panel space. In addition to saving space, the FliteLine equipment features full-color displays. FliteLine CDUs can directly replace Bendix, AlliedSignal and Chelton Series III controls.
The last vestige of TWA officially disappeared Aug. 31, more than three years after American Airlines took ownership of the carrier's assets. During the interim, despite the new liveries and uniforms, TWA Airlines LLC operated as an AA subsidiary under its own certificate and operations specifications. The final flights on TWA's FAA operating certificate flew to St. Louis and Dallas/Fort Worth.
In 2002, the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) assumed responsibility for administering Transport Canada's Private Operator Certificate program as a government outsourced function. The CAR 604 POC is a mandatory licensing of turbine-powered pressurized passenger-carrying flight operations, from single-engine turboprops flown by the pilots who own them to corporate flight departments with multiple jet aircraft.
Tampa International Jet Center (TIJC) will open as a full-service FBO at Tampa International Airport (TPA) this month. The $11 million dollar facility covers a total of 160,000 square feet including the terminal area. The facility will also boast a 12,500-square-foot canopy to provide cover for aircraft arrivals and departures. TIJC will offer a full range of pilot and guest amenities including snooze rooms, high-speed Internet access and an exclusive on-site, commercial kitchen with a staff chef to provide catering services.
When Igor Sikorsky dreamed about building the helicopter, he regarded it first and foremost as a life-saving tool. But he also envisioned that because of its unique capabilities the helicopter would do many practical jobs an airplane was incapable of performing. That vision has proven prophetic. Tens, even hundreds of thousands of people owe their continued existence to a life-saving lift by a helicopter. Beyond that, these remarkable rotary-wing flying machines today do things in matter-of-fact fashion that even its creator could never have imagined.
Avocet Lives! Israel Aircraft Industries engaged Forecast International to help it calculate the future market for its six- to eight-place, twin-turbine Avocet/IAI Professional Business Jet (ProJet). According to Jonathan Watson, director of Forecast's Consulting Group, the initial step was an online survey of a cross section of industry participants at a dedicated Web site. For the purposes of this research, Forecast defined the entry-level light jet market as all twin turbofan-powered civil aircraft with six seats and an MTOW of 4,000 to 9,000 pounds.
The National Air Transportation Association, Alexandria, Va., has promoted Jacqueline Rosser to senior manager, regulatory affairs. Rosser is also staff liaison for the NATA Air Charter Committee.
The last two active-duty Lockheed Martin C-141 StarLifters assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) were retired in ceremonies held Sept. 16, closing out the turbofan-powered airlifter's 39-year career with the active-duty U.S. Air Force. Crews from two Air Force Reserve Command units, the 452nd AMW at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., and the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, will continue to fly 20 C-141s until summer 2006, when the last StarLifter is scheduled to be retired. A total of 285 were built between 1963 and 1968.
The Global 5000's six, 8-by-7-inch CRT displays may look dated compared with today's large-format flat-panel screens, but they get most jobs done well. Bombardier's choice of colors, symbols and graphics is consistent and conventional, easing the transition to this glass cockpit. Honeywell's Primus 2000XP offers fully interactive system synoptic displays, and the Global 5000's Central Aircraft Information Maintenance Systems provide best-in-class maintenance diagnostic and troubleshooting tools.
The TSA is authorizing airport screeners to make more use of pat-down searches of passengers to detect explosives at airports in the wake of suicide bombings aboard Russian aircraft. New protocols also will include a requirement for passengers to take off outer garments, such as suit and sport coats, athletic warm-up jackets and blazers, for X-ray before stepping through the metal detectors.
As the NBAA's former senior vice president of operations, Bob Blouin, was preparing to leave his post after a seven-year stint, he paused long enough to grant B/CA an interview for our report. Here are his thoughts on the current ban on general and business aviation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
King Schools' one-hour online pilot RVSM certification training course includes guidance from the FAA's recently issued Operational Policies and Procedures and also Basic Operator Information, as well as the latest DVRSM ``Frequently Asked Questions.'' Pilots who have previously purchased the King RVSM course will be notified by e-mail of this free update.
According to an AOPA bulletin to members, Safire Aircraft CEO Camilo Salomon has been locked out of his office at Miami Executive Aviation at Opa Locka (Fla.) Airport for failure to pay rent. He said he is continuing to pursue financing for his company to develop a very light jet.
If you regularly fly into places like Santa Monica (SMO), Teterboro (TEB), or Manassas, Va. (HEF), there's a good chance you've had to take evasive action to avoid an inflight collision with another aircraft. For whatever comfort it may be, you aren't alone. In fact, it's crowded out there.
