``Why do you want to regulate charity flights?'' was among the most frequent questions the FAA received in comments on the Part 91 sightseeing section of the air-tour proposal, the agency said in the Internet forum. The FAA's response: ``Because you look like an airline. A passenger decides to go on an airplane [why doesn't matter]. The airplane operator wants money [donations are money] . . . What's different about you?
Transport Canada awarded Bombardier's Global 5000 full type certification on March 12; JAA and FAA certification are to follow later this year. Launched in February 2002, the Global 5000 is derived from the Global Express and aimed at what the manufacturer calls the ``super large'' jet segment long dominated by the Gulfstream IV/400 and Falcon 900. Capable of flying nonstop from continental Europe to the central United States at 0.85 Mach, the $33.3 million twinjet features Rockwell Collins' new Airshow 21 cabin electronics system and Honeywell's Primus 2000XP cockpit.
On May 19, the Gulfstream G550 will be formally recognized as ``the greatest achievement in aeronautics in the United States'' in 2003 when its design and development team receives the Collier Trophy. Administered by the National Aeronautic Association, the award specifically goes to singular advances ``with respect to improving the performance, efficiency or safety of air or space vehicles.'' The aircraft's special features include an Enhanced Vision System and PlaneView cockpit, developed by Gulfstream with Kollsman Industries and Honeywell International, respectively.
Bell Helicopter Textron of Quebec, Canada, has purchased 10 standard US Global Nanospace Radomes for Bell 212/412 series helicopters. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. US Global produces radomes in both standard and antiballistic configurations. US Global standard radomes are lightweight, seamless, single-piece units designed to protect the flight crew, the radar equipment and the aircraft while allowing radar to operate without interference.
Jet Source has added a Citation I and a Learjet 40 to its charter fleet. Both aircraft are based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. Jet Source operates a full-service FBO with 120,000 square feet of hangar space at the airport located just north of San Diego. It provides maintenance, avionics, ramp service and fuel sales along with aircraft charter, management and sales.
The FAA is proposing to revise its guidance on ice protection and detection systems for FAR Part 23 aircraft. The proposed revision to AC 23.1419-2C adds guidance for fluid ice protection systems, primary ice detection systems, ice protection of air data systems, failure analyses of ice protection systems and modifications to airplanes certificated for flight into known icing. The agency notes that current guidance has proven acceptable and ``historically successful,'' but adds other protective measures could be taken to comply with requirements.
Further solidifying its ever-expanding list of meetings and conference venues, the NBAA, in partnership with Brazil's Associao Brasileira de Aviao Geral (ABAG), is hosting its second Latin American business aviation gathering on April 15-17 in So Paulo. This, the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE), is expected to outdraw 2003's initial event that was attended by nearly 3,000 registrants. The NBAA is well known for, and largely financed by, its annual U.S.
Safire Aircraft announced that the price of its new six-place, twin-turbofan Safire Jet will increase to $1.495 million for new orders placed after first flight of the prototype later this year. The current price is $1.395 million. The aircraft will be powered by twin Williams International FJ33-4A11 turbofans rated at 1,100 pounds of thrust each. The FJ33 engine is expected to be certified well in advance of the Safire Jet's first flight. For the certification program, Safire will build two flying prototypes, one static test article and one fatigue test article.
Embraer delivered a newly certificated Model 170 airliner to Poland's LOT Polish Airlines and two 170s to US Airways. The LOT airplane was leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). U.S. launch customer US Airways has ordered 85 Embraer 170 jets and took options on an additional 50 in May 2003.
Despite a 14-month delay in FAA/EASA certification of the Embraer 170 and the reorganized introduction of this next generation of regional jets, the recent rollout of the Embraer 190 (the longer fuselage version of the 170) and its healthy order book has brought broad Brazilian smiles to the faces of anxious company executives. In the corporate jet arena, Embraer is determined to increase the ``nationalization'' or Brazilian content of its Legacy corporate jets, with company technicians fitting more of the $2 million interiors in Brazil.
The VanAllen Group, Atlanta, has promoted Jeff Agur to vice president. Agur joined the company in 2002 as director of business operations. In addition, Angela Smith has been named director of operations. Smith joined the firm in January.
Air Services of Cleveland, a full-service FBO located at Cleveland-Hopkins Airport (CLE), has joined the nationwide Aviation Points Exchange (APEX) program. APEX is a loyalty and rewards program designed specifically for aviation businesses to offer free S&H Greenpoints to pilots and other decision-makers. Greenpoints are redeemable for merchandise such as electronics, sporting goods, appliances and jewelry. ``First and foremost, the program will be used as an expression of our appreciation to our existing customers,'' said Robert Specht, director of outside sales.
Gore Design Completions (GDC) broke ground for a new 120,000-square-foot completion hangar, shop and office facility at KellyUSA, the former Kelly AFB in San Antonio. GDC President and CEO Jerry Gore claims the hangar, capable of simultaneously accommodating a Boeing 747-400 and 767-300, will be the largest of its kind in the completion business in North America. Find out more at www.goredesign.com.
The Embraer 190 made its first flight on March 12. S.n. 0001 took off from the company's So Jose dos Campos facility at 10:30 a.m. In its 2.45-hour mission, the new aircraft successfully performed a range of systems validation tests and started flight envelope expansion. The 190 is the third member of a family of new-generation commercial jets specifically designed for the 70- to 110-seat market. The flight test campaign will be conducted at Gavio Peixoto, in the interior of Brazil's So Paulo state.
The AOPA, Frederick, Md., has named Roger Cohen to its vice president of regional affairs position. Cohen joins the AOPA from the Air Transport Association of America, where he served 15 years as managing director of state and local government affairs. In his new position, he will oversee the AOPA's 13 regional representatives, State Affairs, the Airports department and the Airport Support Network.
Cessna Aircraft Co. is inviting all one million-plus Cessna owners and operators to the first-ever Great Cessna Homecoming, May 14-17 in Wichita, the birthplace of the aircraft manufacturer. The four-day event is anticipated to be one of the largest gatherings of Cessna owners and operators. Cessna has organized numerous seminars on May 15 and 16. Topics include pilot risk management, TCM fuel injection systems, RSA fuel injection systems, autopilot and GPS operations, high-altitude flying, Lycoming engine maintenance and aircraft photography, among others.
Ibis Aerospace appointed Air Touring Ltd. at Biggin Hill Airport, near London as a distributor for its Ae270 Propjet in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Air Touring was founded in 1998. The company will be responsible for sales, customer service, training, operations and maintenance on the Ae270 Propjet.
Although the FAA zeroed LAAS funding for FY 2005, the agency told prime contractor Honeywell it isn't killing the program completely and wants to accelerate it again in the future, John Oelschlaeger, Honeywell's director of Satellite Landing Systems, told B/CA's sister publication, Aviation Daily. Honeywell and the FAA are negotiating a new agreement that reduces the scope of work in the current contract and spreads it over a longer period.
Two employees of Keystone Helicopter Corp., West Chester, Pa., were recently honored for their achievements. Aircraft maintenance technician Tom Greer was presented the Chief's Certificate of Appreciation by the U.S. Park Police in recognition of his 10 years of providing safe, high-quality helicopter maintenance for the U.S. Park Police Aviation Unit in Washington, D.C. In addition, John Profico earned the FAA's Charles Taylor ``Master Mechanic'' award, which is presented to certificated mechanics and repairmen who have worked in aviation for at least 50 years.
The FAA released advisory circular AC 43-210, Standardized Procedures for Requesting Field Approval of Data, Major Alterations and Repairs, intended to further standardize the field approval process. The FAA noted that the guidance is not regulatory and does not establish minimum standards. What this means is that it does not eliminate the problem of major differences in requirements and procedures among the various regions. The procedure is ``one means, but not the only means, for requesting field approvals for certificated products,'' the FAA said.
The National Air Transportation Association's Industry Excellence Awards will be presented at a May 19 luncheon at its Annual Meeting and Convention in Las Vegas. Adm. James M. Loy, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will receive NATA's Distinguished Service Award. The William A. ``Bill'' Ong Memorial Award, given for extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service, will go to Al Ueltschi, founder and chairman of FlightSafety International.
Ibis Aerospace announced the first flight of its second production Ae270 Propjet (s.n. 7) from the flight-test facilities of Aero Vodochody near Prague, Czech Republic. The Ae270 flight-test fleet is comprised of five aircraft: serial numbers 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7. Serial numbers two and four have been designated as dynamic and static test articles. Serial number 6 is presently undergoing certification for an executive interior at Southstar Interiors in Uvalde, Texas.
In a nondescript, dark lab that sits between the mighty Mississippi and the Anheuser-Busch brewery in a blue collar corner of St. Louis, Rich Conrad is brewing something futuristic. Conrad is the program manager for the Stereo Airfield Collection (SAC) program, an aviation safety initiative under way at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The goal of the program is to build precise 3-D digital maps of hundreds of airports around the world for the U.S. military.
(a) Instrument approaches to civil airports: Unless otherwise authorized by the administrator, when an instrument letdown to a civil airport is necessary, each person operating an aircraft, except a military aircraft of the United States, shall use a standard instrument approach procedure prescribed for the airport in Part 97 of this chapter.
THE CELL PHONE GOES OFF late in the day. It's one of your senior captains calling from Colorado. This, the second day of a three-day winter trip to Vail, was downtime for both pilots and the flight attendant, and they had all headed for the slopes. It turns out that the day's skiing excursion had been planned well in advance, since all three crewmembers were experienced skiers. Although you were unaware of the outing, that sort of thing is typical.
