LPS Laboratories is now offering a citrus-based solvent-designed degreaser. The formula removes adhesives, oil, grease, wax, tar, dirt and other contaminants in a matter of seconds. It evaporates, leaving a low residue. Citrus Degreaser does not contain any chlorinated solvents and has a flash point above 100F. LPS says it is safe to use on metal parts and equipment. Available in a 15-ounce aerosol, 1-gallon, 5-gallon or 55-gallon container. Call for pricing LPS Laboratories P.O. Box 105052 4647 Hugh Howell Rd.
ARINC Inc., Annapolis, Md.: Gerald Ford, vice president of corporate strategic planning, has been named a member of the Chesapeake Innovation Center advisory committee, Anne Arundel County's new business incubator, which will focus primarily on the development of firms specializing in homeland security/defense technology.
Air Power Software is now offering the Interactive Aircraft Budget Analyzer to corporate flight departments. The software program is designed to calculate the operating costs of 175 aircraft, including jets, turboprops, pistons and helicopters. The program allows the operator to create an instant budget by manipulating the preloaded information to address a flight department's particular usage amounts and/or costs. The budget analyzer also allows the user to create individualized budgets. Price: $199.95 Air Power Software 4955 S. Durango Dr., Ste.
Continental Airlines passengers can now use their cellular phones while the aircraft is taxiing after landing, joining American Airlines among U.S. carriers. Under Continental's new policy effective July 6, cellular phone use is permitted after landing when advised by the flight attendants. Previously, phone use was restricted until the aircraft door opened at the arrival gate. The policy on telephone use at departure remains unchanged -- phone use must be discontinued when the cabin door is closed.
In June, Friends of Meigs Field (FOM) formally requested that the Chicago Park District consider an alternative plan to preserve Meigs with park, education and recreational elements in addition to its airport function. The park district had not responded as of mid-July. At the July 9 news conference, FOM stated that practically all the features and activities for any park slated to replace Meigs could be incorporated into the airport itself or on the nearby lakefront.
The FAA denied the National Air Transportion Association's petition for a rulemaking that would allow on-demand charters to access DCA, saying it was ``not the final authority on security concerns but a joint partner with several federal government agencies,'' and that those decisions were primarily up to the TSA and other government agencies. The FAA forwarded the petition to the TSA ``for review and coordination.'' NATA said it was disappointed but not surprised.
The Meigs issue is still alive. Chicago Alderman Joe Moore introduced a resolution at a July 9 Chicago City Council meeting, calling for public hearings into the adverse effects of closing Meigs Field, ostensibly to convert it into a public park.
Frank Robinson personally inaugurated the first Robinson Helipad, landing an R44 Raven II on the 20-by-20-foot private rooftop helistop installed at a Honda dealership in Santa Ana, Calif. The Robinson Helipad deck was designed by Robinson engineers as a low-cost, lightweight helipad for helicopters with gross weights up to 3,000 pounds. The deck is composed of 24 10-inch-wide by 20-foot-long aluminum extrusions, which fit together in a tongue-in-groove arrangement, mounted on a separate beam support structure.
Ibis Aerospace selected a seat manufacturer and the interior completion center for its Ae270 Spirit aircraft. DeCrane Aircraft Seating Co. (DASC) will supply the seats and Southstar Aircraft Interiors will supply interior completions for production aircraft. Southstar Aircraft Interiors is a full-service interior completion and modification center located in southern Texas.
Western Aircraft, Boise, Idaho, has hired Jim Kuhn and Gary Freeman as regional sales managers. Both managers will work within Western's Aircraft Services division, which includes airframe maintenance and modification, engine maintenance, avionics, paint and interior.
The year-to-date accident statistics for U.S. jets and turboprops compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates show little change compared with the same first six months of 2002. January through June, the turbine fleet experienced 31 accidents, 13 of which involved fatalities totaling 28 passengers and crewmembers. This is a decrease of five in the accident total, but with six more fatal accidents and eight more fatalities than last year. In all of 2002, there were seven fatal accidents in which 20 people were killed.
The DOT's Office of the Inspector General says the FAA oversight of ``outsourced'' airline maintenance work is inadequate, in light of the increased percentage of maintenance work outsourced to both domestic and foreign repair stations. The OIG found that airlines outsourced 33 percent of their maintenance in 1990, but that percentage grew to about 48 percent in 2002. The report, dated July 7, stated, ``We found no indication that the FAA has taken action to adjust its surveillance activities to more closely monitor air carriers' use of these facilities.
MODERN BUSINESS AVIATION is some 60 years old. In the early days, the pioneers of our segment of the aviation industry were the veterans of World War II and Korea. Chief pilots of that era were respected for their flying skills as well as for the fact that they were ultimately responsible for the lives and well-being of the chairman of the corporation and often his family. These men -- and they were all men -- were also typically well known within the confines of the local airport for their ability to intimidate subordinates, both in and out of the cockpit.
Most brokers and dealers of previously owned business aircraft are understandably reticent to state that the market has reached bottom. After two abysmal years of bloated inventories and free-falling prices, it is proving difficult to reverse the negative market psychology.
The National Air Transportation Association says it has serious misgivings about the recently released FAR Part 145 Advisory Circular (AC), ``Guide for Developing and Evaluating Repair Station and Quality Control Manuals.'' ``The implementation date of October 6 is fast approaching. Yet this AC has still not been published in the Federal Register,'' NATA Vice President Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside noted in July.
The new rules governing fractional aircraft operations have been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and returned to the FAA on July 1 for final approval for publication. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey must sign off on the rules before they are published in the Federal Register. This may take several weeks.
The National Air Transportation Association was granted the extension it requested of the comment period for the NPRM amending 14 CFR Parts 119, 121, 135, and 145 related to hazardous material (HAZMAT) regulations.
Duncan Aviation Services and Garrett Aviation have teamed up to develop and offer RVSM mod programs for Westwind I, Westwind II, Gulfstream II and Gulfstream IIBs. The companies said they believed that together they can offer more choices at lower cost to their customers. Since customers can now take their aircraft to any of the two companies' facilities, there should be a considerable advantage in customer convenience, they said.
The quick pace that defines the Western world -- our world -- is set in large part by the machines that move us and the stuff we make, need or want from Points A to Z and all the letters in between. Yet those machines are absolutely dependent upon a ready abundance of oil, a commodity that resides largely in places where the pace, priorities and perceptions are not Western at all. And that's problematic.
The U.S. Patent Office issued a patent to the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) for its internally designed interactive video employee training and training-tracking system currently used at 18 airports. The Interactive Employee Training (IET) system is used to provide customized employee training on subjects ranging from security access to driving on the airfield. It also records the training status of employees to ensure they are in compliance with local and federal training requirements.
The Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum and its air shows now have free shuttle service to and from the Kingston-Ulster (N.Y.) Airport (20N) and the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome for pilots and passengers flying in to attend the Saturday and Sunday airshows through Oct. 12. The shuttle service begins at 10:00 a.m. and will depart Kingston every half hour up to 1:30 p.m. in time for the airshow's 2:00 p.m. start. Return trips to Kingston Airport will begin at 4:15 p.m.
Draeger Safety has introduced a series of X-plore masks and filter respirators offering the wearer comfort and protection from hazardous compounds. The lightweight masks use new materials and a new design that provides a more comfortable face-seal. The X-guided strap ensures an even distribution of the mask against the face; a two-point bayonet connection allows both filters to be attached to the mask consistently and quickly. Half masks and full masks are available. Call for pricing Draeger Safety, Inc. 101 Technology Dr.
Socata named Latin American Training Aviation SA (LAATSA) as its aircraft sales representative in Mexico; the company will be responsible for the marketing and sales of Socata GT and TBM 700 aircraft. LAATSA was incorporated in Cancun in April 2002 to represent aviation companies in Latin America and is actively promoting the creation of an airline pilot training center.
Australia's Hawker Pacific Pty. Ltd. is reopening its FBO facilities at Sydney Airport. Hawker Pacific's CEO, Alan Smith, said the company had decided to re-establish its FBO presence at Sydney Airport in response to the demand that followed the 2002 closure of Qantas' facilities and also as part of the company's broader strategic objectives. ``The exit of QF Exec removed a significant player from the sector and, not unnaturally, we received approaches from a range of customers asking whether we would be prepared to re-enter the market,'' he said.
