The HondaJet is real -- and it flies. Honda has finally made a public announcement of the HondaJet and the new turbofans that power the aircraft that flew for the first time in relative secrecy in December 2003 at Piedmont Triad Airport in North Carolina. It is now embarked on a 200-hour flight test program. Honda began research on compact business jets in 1986 and started work on its own proprietary engine in 1999. The test article is a fully equipped aircraft with a Garmin glass cockpit, integrated avionics suite, an autopilot and anti-ice systems.
Keystone Aviation, LLC, Salt Lake City, has appointed Michael Parker as director of sales and marketing. Parker most recently served as sales director for Cessna Aircraft Co. He will be responsible for turbine aircraft sales and overall marketing of products and services offered by Million Air SLC.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has delivered the final Avro RJ to Blue 1 of Finland, bringing to a close 22 years of BAE 146/Avro RJ production. The Avro RJ was the last of a recent contract for four aircraft. A total of 390 Avro RJs and BAE 146s have been delivered, a figure that, according to BAE, makes it Britain's most successful line of jetliners.
Slots for corporate aircraft visiting the Athens Olympic Games (Aug. 13-29, 2004) are going to be tight, and according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, ``Operations without an approved slot will result in severe monetary penalties.'' Jitte Boutens of Athens Aviation Services said, ``General aviation operators will have to obtain slots and a confirmation number through their handler.
The NTSB will host a forum on safety issues related to the U.S. air cargo industry on March 30-31 at the new NTSB Academy in Ashburn, Va. For information, call (571) 223-3900.
Ouch! Cargo operator Key Lime, Inc. had two of its Swearingen Metros put out of commission simultaneously on Dec. 3, 2003, when they collided at Denver International Airport. The collision occurred when one aircraft taxied into the other, which was standing on Taxiway M waiting to take off on Runway 17R. NTSB investigators said the outer 8 feet of one aircraft's right wing was severed, while its right propeller blades were damaged. The airplane's empennage also was crushed and bent.
Exclusive Resorts said it will offer Marquis Jet Cards to its customers. The cards provide access to NetJets aircraft in 25-hour increments. Under the terms of an agreement between Marquis Jet and Exclusive Resorts, resort goers can call for a jet on several hours notice -- and be flown to the Exclusive Resorts getaway of their choice.
When it comes to the care and feeding of APUs, aircraft maintenance personnel have been dished some curious menus, as the squawks and remedies attest: PROBLEM: APU power up and start sequence occurs normally up 102 percent and steady, then ``Ready to Load'' illuminates, the auxiliary hydraulic pump relay engages, and the APU shuts down shortly thereafter. The ESU BITE code indicates an underspeed condition. Troubleshooting with an APU breakout box shows all indications normal throughout start-up and even into shutdown. Quentin E.
Executive Jet Management, Cincinnati, has named Peter Kiernan vice president of aircraft charter sales for the Northeast. Kiernan, who will be based at EJM's offices at First Aviation in Teterboro, N.J., has nearly 19 years of aviation industry experience working in customer service, crew scheduling and dispatch.
Three out of four Americans feel the FAA is doing a good job, according to a recent survey from the Harris Poll, ranking the agency as one of the top three in government. The 76 percent positive public rating for the FAA in 2003 is a dramatic jump from 2001 and 2002, in which approval ratings were 58 and 54 percent, respectively.
The Senate recently confirmed Adm. James Loy (U.S. Coast Guard, ret.) as deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He was previously head of the TSA. ``We are very pleased that Admiral Loy has been confirmed,'' said GAMA President Ed Bolen. ``Throughout his remarkable career of public service, Admiral Loy has demonstrated extraordinary management skills and a tireless work ethic. For the past 18 months, he has developed an in-depth understanding of general aviation and has been very supportive of the industry's efforts to enhance security.
Published by Alatyr Productions, ``Home of the Brave'' is a 15-month calendar (Jan. 2004-Mar. 2005) that takes a photographic journey with the U.S. armed forces. Each month features an introspective view of the daily life of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen on the job in places foreign and domestic. In addition, each photo is accompanied by a historical quote, giving insight to what those in uniform experience in their jobs. Ten percent of the proceeds from calendar sales is donated to the USO and the Armed Services YMCA.
AAR Corp., Wood Dale, Ill., named Michael Cohen vice president of operations and engineering. Cohen has more than 29 years of experience in the commercial aviation and aerospace industry.
David Stone was designated acting administrator of the TSA to replace the position vacated by Adm. James Loy. Stone retired from the U.S. Navy in 2002 as a rear admiral. He commanded the Nimitz Battlegroup and after retirement served as federal security director at the Los Angeles International Airport, and most recently as deputy chief of staff at the TSA.
European Database for Aeronautical Services (EAD), the world's largest aeronautical information provider, was launched by Eurocontrol in November 2003. Incorporating existing Spanish and German traffic data management entities, EAD is intended to remove data duplication, remedy current deficiencies and standardize the collection and access to aeronautical information for operators. Most European states, including Turkey, are already supplying aeronautical data; the remainder have until 2006 to comply.
It wasn't long ago when it seemed that APUs were found only on larger jets. For smaller corporate aircraft, which could rely on batteries or ground units for starting and main engines for cooling, APUs were an option that many operators simply didn't need. Besides, operating to and from airports with full-service FBOs meant that a GPU would always be available if needed. But times have changed.
Air BP dealers near Houston are gearing up for Super Bowl XXXVIII, which will take place in the city on Feb. 1. Wing Aviation, an FBO at Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO), is planning a Super Bowl Golf Tournament on game day with the proceeds going to the Wing Aviation Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact Brian Wing or Frank Zimmerman at (936) 441-9555.
At North Palm Beach County Airport (F45) in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., the county department of airports has increased the authorized gross landing weight limit on Runway 13/31 from 12,500 to 30,000 pounds. ``This will open the F45 airport to additional corporate jet traffic looking to avoid all the hassle of flying into PBI,'' said Bill Thrift, senior vice president of FBO Services at Piedmont Hawthorne, which operates a facility at the airport.
Hate tracking shorted or open wires? 3M is now offering its handheld Dynatel Cable Length Meter/Time Domain Reflectometer 940CLM/TDR that detects and pinpoints shorts and open wires. The 940 also measures cable length in feet or meters (up to 2,500 feet), checks voltage to identify live circuits (up to 250 volts rms), transmits four different tone frequencies and patterns to trace hidden cables or identify cable pairs, and includes selectable automatic power-down options. The tester is 7 by 3.2 by 1.4 inches and weighs 8.7 ounces.
The Embraer 170 was granted provisional FAA type certification on Dec. 8. Final type certification is expected in February, the company said. The approval clears the way for operators to begin crew training and route proving flights prior to putting the aircraft into revenue service once final certification is granted. US Airways is the North American launch customer for the aircraft, the first in a new family of 70- to 110-seat airliners. The carrier ordered 85 aircraft in May 2003, and has options for another 50.
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) and U.S. Aircraft Insurance Group (USAIG) have joined forces to offer USAIG's Safety Buck program to operators of MD helicopters. Operators who qualify and participate in manufacturer-approved transition and recurrent training for one year may earn Safety Bucks worth up to $30,000 annually when they renew their policies through USAIG. The Safety Bucks are used to purchase additional factory-authorized pilot or maintenance training from MDHI.
Pentar Avionics has obtained TSO C113 approval for its CMS-1000 communications management unit. The CMS-1000 is a panel-mount control-display unit (CDU) that incorporates an ARINC 740 communications management unit and a VDL Mode 2 radio to give crews access to ACARS and non-ACARS networks for messaging, air traffic services and other data communications such as weather updates. It supports ARINC-defined message sets but is fully customizable for specific user applications.
2002 Gary Freeman Dr. Ivan A. Getting Pat Carey Robert Agostino 2001 Peggy Baty Chabrian Archie Trammell Stan Green Fernand M. Francois NBAA's Operations Team 2000 John Goglia Capt. Dick McKinney and Dr. Ratan Khatwa FOARC (Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee)
Westwind Technologies, Inc., Hunts-ville, Ala., has named Charles Park vice president of business development and programs. Park's specific areas of expertise include aviation simulation training and aircraft fleet maintenance.
