Airliner missile defense is now a political issue. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is a cosponsor of a bill with Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to equip airline aircraft with anti-missile defense systems. Boxer said she has met with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, who is ``very interested in moving this forward. He agrees it's a priority.'' She said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, wants to work with her on the bill. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) introduced a companion bill in the House in February.
Delta Air Lines seems serious about its business aviation business. Its Delta AirElite Business Jets subsidiary has added its 17th business jet to its charter certificate -- its fourth Gulfstream IV-SP. The aircraft, based in Portsmouth, N.H., joins the Delta AirElite fleet through a charter management agreement. ``The Gulfstream IV-SP has become a favorite choice for our customers who travel to international and other long-distance destinations,'' said Michael B. Green, president and CEO, Delta AirElite Business Jets.
Some of the futuristic-but-forsaken Beech Starships might escape incineration and be displayed in museums. Raytheon Aircraft spokesman Tim Travis said the company plans to donate a few Starships to museums or to A&P schools. Also, it seems a couple of Starship operators really, really like their machines and might be dragging their feet at selling or trading them back to Raytheon, but that may be just a bargaining ploy. The question arises as to the feasibility of operating such a sophisticated aircraft without a factory or fleet support system.
Families traveling to the United States this autumn could find themselves stranded at the airport if they have not followed new U.S. passport rules, British Airways has warned. The airline wants to raise awareness of the new legislation that calls for all children, including babies, to have their own passports. In addition, the U.S. State Department now wants citizens of 27 mostly western European countries, who normally do not need a visa to travel to the United States, to have updated ``machine readable'' passports. The new rules, effective from Oct.
Competition between CAE SimuFlite, FlightSafety International (FSI) and SimCom, among others, will provide business aircraft operators with more choices in initial and recurrent training courses during the upcoming year. In addition, simulator-based training firms have added much-needed capacity for popular courses, making it easier for operators to get training slots and reducing the number of ``zero-dark-thirty'' training sessions.
FlightSafety International, Flushing, N.Y., has named Mike Croitoru manager of its Cessna Learning Center at Wichita. He was formerly center manager at the Wichita Learjet Learning Center. In addition, Jerry Mobley has been promoted to manager of the company's Lakeland, Fla., Learning Center. Before his most recent position as director of training, Mobley was program manager for the King Air. He joined FlightSafety as an instructor in 2000. Also promoted is Craig Newell to the position of assistant manager of the company's Learjet Learning Center in Wichita.
System access and security remain irrevocably linked two years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. ``The only precedent we had prior to 9/11 was having to hold for 10 minutes while Air Force One took off and landed,'' NBAA Vice President of Operations Robert Blouin observed.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., acquired an APU test stand to make it easier for technicians to perform work on Honeywell and Sundstrand APUs used in business jets. Because APUs are typically tightly positioned in the tail of business jets where access is difficult, Duncan said the ability to remove the units and work on them on a test stand helps technicians perform troubleshooting and maintenance without tight space limitations. It also permits workers to thoroughly test the APUs before reinstallation in the aircraft, the company said.
Savannah Air Services has obtained an STC for a satcom voice and data installation for Gulfstream Vs. The installation package is based on L3 satcom hardware and will operate through ARINC Satellite Services SKYlink (see above item).
T-Bird Aviation, a Chicago area charter operator, moved into new facilities this month at DuPage County Airport (DPA) in West Chicago, Ill. Telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses remain the same, but all correspondence should now be addressed to: T-Bird Aviation, 2722 International Dr., DuPage Airport, West Chicago, IL 60185. The new facility includes 48,000 square feet of hangar space and consolidates all aircraft and personnel under one roof with a state-of-the-art security system.
The House version of the FAA reauthorization legislation prohibits privatizing any air traffic control function. The FAA has repeatedly said there is no intention to privatize ATC but has nonetheless classified it as a ``not inherently governmental'' function. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has warned that retaining the House language would generate a veto recommendation to President Bush. Republican Sen.
June 25 -- A Robinson R-22B helicopter was destroyed during post-impact fire following an inflight collision with wires and terrain near Dexter, Mo. The pilot was killed. The ag flight, operated by Supersonic Aviation Inc., was not operating on a flight plan. June 22 -- An Air France-owned Bombardier CRJ-100 operated by Brit Air crashed about 800 meters short of a runway while attempting to land at Brest-Guipavas Airport (BES) in western France.
Essentially maintenance insurance and assurance, these programs are designed to provide flight department managers with predictable costs based on the department's specific flight activity. Thus, they help the manager budget maintenance realistically. Program providers boast that enrolled aircraft fetch a premium when resold. While some maintenance managers say that their operation rarely requires un-scheduled or high-ticket item protection, others feel the reliability of certain airframes, components and powerplants warrants insurance.
The war-risk and terrorism insurance coverage market is softening. In the immediate wake of 9/11, underwriters throughout the world had exercised options written into their customers' policies to cancel existing war-risk coverage on seven days' notice. Then, after the problem was assessed, airlines, general aviation operators and FBOs were offered ``revised terms'' for reinstatement of war-risk physical damage and liability coverages -- with purchase of additional premiums.
Jet Aviation Dallas completed four RVSM installations on Citations recently: a Citation 525, two Citation 560s and a Citation 501. The 501 also received an avionics makeover, according to Jim Munsell, Jet's avionics manager. Jet installed TAWS, GPS, an ELT and a multifunction display, as well as performing the 501's Phase 1-5 inspection, Munsell said. Jet Aviation Dallas is an authorized Citation Service Center.
THIS IS A STORY ABOUT Jim and George and Terry and Fred. It is a true story -- I was there. Their last names are unimportant because they are all dead. They died tragically and unnecessarily because of stupidity. Jim and George were pilots of exceptional skill. They were employed by a West Coast company specializing in corporate jet sales. Terry was a fetching blonde, a former stewardess married to a Chicago executive. Fred was a photographer on his first assignment with the jet sales firm.
Sen. Ernest ``Fritz'' Hollings (D-S.C.), whom the AOPA describes as ``a hawk on security issues and a champion of general aviation,'' successfully offered an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill on July 10, directing the Department of Homeland Security to continue funding the 1-866-GA-SECURE Airport Watch hotline, the association reports. The AOPA partnered with the TSA (now part of the Homeland Security department) to create Airport Watch to report suspicious activities at any airport to the government-operated National Response Center.
Bombardier Skyjet, Fairfax, Va., has entered into a sponsorship agreement with 2002 NCAA golf champion Troy Matteson, who recently kicked off his professional golf career on the PGA Tour. Matteson will serve as an ``ambassador for the Bombardier Skyjet brand.''
Air Methods just keeps on adding to its portfolio of aero medical operations. It announced on July 8 that it has started operations in Augusta, Ga., and Tallahassee, Fla. The Augusta operation is based at a local hospital and covers the city and surrounding countryside. In the Florida capital, Air Methods, through its LifeNet division, contracted directly with Leon County to provide services after Tallahassee Memorial Hospital ceased its air ambulance operation.
Aviation Professionals Sharing Information (APSI), founded at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., celebrated its first anniversary by holding its first regional meeting at Signature Flight Support's new facility in Morristown, N.J. (MMU), attracting attendees from Hawaii; California; Washington, D.C.; New York; and Ohio. In a show of corporate support, Signature, Sun Jets of Camarillo, Calif., and Million Air flew personnel into MMU for the June 25 meeting.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge recently outlined what happens after the president decides to raise the national threat level. ``We then give advance conference calls that I'm engaged in, to notify governors, state homeland security advisers and key mayors,'' Ridge told the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee in June. Simultaneously, the DHS begins notifying other federal, state and local agencies and the private sector via the FBI and the National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (NLETS).
The U.S. Defense Department is launching a campaign to reduce aviation accidents and other types of mishaps by at least 50 percent over the next two years.
Harrods Aviation Limited announced that its expanded FBO at London Luton Airport is open for business. The facility has a bigger passenger lounge, private VVIP lounge, conference facilities, panoramic views over the ramp, covered drop-off area and additional car parking. Crews now have a dedicated airside lounge with the usual flight-planning amenities and Internet access. The crew lounge has direct access to operations and ramp staff. The facility's location allows push-back directly onto the taxiway.
IN ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIE scenes, a swashbuckling pirate is about to lead his friend into a dark morass of vegetation. The friend stops short and says, ``We can't go in there! It's the fireswamp! We will never come out alive!'' The pirate confidently replies, ``Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has.'' He slashes a vine with his sword, and they step into the darkness as the music sounds a dour note.
