With the SARS epidemic very much in the news and in the minds of travelers, EnviroSystems reports Boeing has endorsed its EcoTru 1453 as a disinfectant cleaner for commercial aircraft. The manufacturer says the disinfectant is safe for use on metals, alloys, plastics, synthetics, rubber, glass and painted surfaces and has been proven to be effective against Norwalk virus, hepatitis B and C, smallpox, TB and a broad range of other viruses and bacteria.
Some charter operators have serious problems with the implementation of the Special Traffic Management Procedures (STMP) for Nantucket Island's Memorial Airport (ACK). (See June B/CA, Intelligence, page 30.) When in effect, the STMP requires nonscheduled operators to obtain a slot reservation during IMC. Scheduled air carrier operations and flights originating from certain geographic areas are exempt, but not pre-planned charter flights originating in the region.
Universal Weather and Aviation opened its new European Operations Center on June 1. The EOC, based in the United Kingdom, will provide or coordinate complete trip support services requested by Europe-based operators traveling within Europe. The new center combines the global trip support resources of Universal with European-based trip support specialists knowledgeable and experienced in Europe's particular requirements and processes. Europe-based operators will no longer need to phone Universal's headquarters in Houston when planning to operate within Europe.
State legislation moving forward in Illinois would grant the city of Chicago and its mayor, Richard Daley (D), broad powers to expand O'Hare International Airport (ORD), but one amendment would require the restoration of Meigs as a condition. Daley is promoting a massive runway reconfiguration at ORD and a new, eighth runway.
ARINC of Annapolis, Md., will establish a new ARINC Satellite Services business unit devoted to aeronautical satellite voice and data services for commercial, military and business aviation. The new unit will combine ARINC's GLOBALink/Satellite operations with its SKYLink Ku-band satellite business. GLOBALink provides Inmarsat voice and data communications to airlines, government and military customers. SKYLink will debut in the fourth quarter of this year to serve business jet operators.
The B-717's BR715 engines use the same 10-stage, axial flow compressor, low-emissions combustor and two-stage high-pressure turbine as the BR710 that powers the Bombardier Global 5000/Global Express and Gulfstream G500/G550. But the BR715 has a 10-inch larger 58-inch fan, a two-stage N1 supercharger and a three-stage low-pressure turbine. Its larger fan and higher bypass ratio are better suited to the B-717's relatively low cruise altitudes. The basic BR715-A1 engine is rated at 18,500 pounds of thrust for takeoff.
CAE SimuFlite won FAA Level D approval for its Sikorsky S-76 simulator housed at its Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) training center. The simulator will be used for initial and recurrent pilot training programs as well as technical training programs. The new unit is equipped with a Honeywell SPZ-7600 digital automatic flight control system, Universal UNS-1D FMS with global positioning navigation, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) and a moving map display.
Embraer announced that it intends to open an aircraft production facility in Jacksonville, Fla., to better compete in the U.S. defense and homeland security markets. The facility, to be located at Cecil Commerce Center (the former NAS Cecil Field), will fully qualify the company as a compliant U.S. government supplier for defense and homeland security programs.
GAMA has elected James E. Schuster, an executive vice president of Raytheon Co., and chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft Co., as vice chairman. The GAMA vice chairman position became open when Clayton M. Jones, president and CEO of Rockwell Collins, was named GAMA chairman on May 1. Schuster was elected to the GAMA board in 2001 as the new head of Raytheon Aircraft. In addition to being GAMA vice chairman, Schuster will head the association's Security Issues committee, a position he has held since November 2002.
Bombardier's Challenger 300 achieved both U.S. and Canadian certification within a five-day period, which the company believes constitutes a record. In a June 15 announcement at the Paris Air Show, Bombardier Business Aircraft President Peter Edwards stated that the Challenger 300 received Transport Canada certification May 30 and full FAA certification June 4.
In the early days of aviation, the endurance of an aircraft was less than that of its occupants. However, as aircraft became more reliable and flight duration grew, aviators needed some means of releasing that bladder ballast. The first human waste devices in aircraft were simple hoses with a funnel that vented overboard; in larger aircraft, buckets were employed to respond to nature's call. Since no flushing systems were available and aircraft cabins were unpressurized, the waste was heaved overboard -- an unpleasant task made even more so by blowback.
At the recent AS3/GSE Expo, the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) singled out the following for recognition: -- PAMA Chapter of the Year Award -- Long Island PAMA Chapter -- Joe Chase Award -- Fred Mirgle of Daytona Beach, Fla. -- Award of Merit -- Allison John ``Al'' Ingle of Tallahassee, Fla., General Aviation Avionics Technician of the Year -- Award of Merit -- Tom Hendershot of Denver, Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year -- Award of Merit -- Keith McGann of Moonachie, N.J.
Signature Flight Support has reached agreement with Sabreliner Corp. to acquire the Midcoast Aviation FBO at Lambert Field in St. Louis, one of the most venerable business aviation operations in the nation. Sabreliner also recently sold its Premier Turbines overhaul business to Dallas Airmotive, a Signature affiliate.
Executive Jet Management, Cincinnati, a provider of aircraft management and charter services worldwide, has named Ronald Silverman vice president of client relations, Northeast United States. In addition, Executive Jet has appointed Frederick Robinson as chief pilot, in which capacity he will be responsible for supervising more than 300 company pilots.
Epps Aviation, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Ga., was presented with its second consecutive FAA Diamond award for AMT training. In addition, Epps' Avionics Manager Mike LaConto received an individual Diamond award.
The FAA wants air carriers and repair stations to strengthen their hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling training and documentation. A proposal printed in the May 8 Federal Register would cover FAR Part 135, 119 and 121 carriers, whether or not they carry or handle HAZMATs, as well as Part 145 repair stations. The proposal would add training requirements that the FAA said would ``set clear standards'' and ensure uniform compliance by making most previously issued Advisory Circulars mandatory.
Donald D. Spruston Director General, International Business Aviation Council, Ltd., Montreal, Canada After serving seven years with the Canadian Air Force flying C-130s, DC-3s and a VIP Convair 580, Spruston spent 24 years at Transport Canada, eventually becoming his country's director general of civil aviation. He joined IBAC in 1999. 1 When and why did the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations -- IS-BAO -- program begin?
Admiral James Loy left an impression with some attendees at the June 4 GAC meeting that, while the TSA is interested in listening to ideas that would improve general aviation security and would be willing to pitch those ideas to other government entities, it is not the job of the TSA to defend light aircraft to those entities.
Airline pilots can now apply online to become Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs) and carry guns to defend their cockpits. The first regular training class is expected to start this month. The initial group of pilots deputized with heavy publicity in April was described by the TSA as a ``prototype class.'' Pilots must pass psychological and physical screening, complete 48 hours of training and requalify twice a year. The TSA pays for training costs and equipment, including a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun for each FFDO.
Safire Aircraft announced that Robert Stangarone has been appointed vice president, marketing and public affairs, effective immediately. Stangarone had been managing director of Broadgate Consultants, Inc., of New York City. Prior to that, he headed corporate communications for Fairchild Dornier. Early in his 30-year aviation career, Stangarone served as managing editor of B/CA. He is a rated commercial pilot with instrument and multiengine ratings and more than 2,000 flight hours. Safire has also moved into a new facility at Miami's Opa Locka Airport (OPF).
GAMA President Ed Bolen is pleased with U.S. House and Senate measures that would modify the process for checking the backgrounds of foreign student pilots who seek flight training and transfer the program from the Department of Justice to the TSA. Bolen observed that the TSA has conducted background checks on more than one million people since the agency was formed about one and one-half years ago.
Whether you carry the minimum paperwork or half a filing cabinet's worth, keeping your onboard documents organized is essential. To assist in this effort, Sporty's has introduced its Aircraft Document Portfolio. It contains plenty of room for all the aircraft's manuals, logbooks and much more. The 10-by-16-inch, vinyl portfolio includes a screened white space to write the aircraft make, model, N-number and owner's name. Price: $8.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County/Sporty's Airport Batavia, OH 45103 Phone: (513) 735-9100 Fax: (513) 735-9200 www.sportys.com
Joseph Leo Schneider, the oldest active pilot and certified flight instructor in the United States as of 1997, died after a brief illness on April 14 at the age of 99 years, nine months. Schneider received his pilot's license in 1939 and began instructing fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Over the years, he logged over 23,000 hours, more than 18,000 while teaching hundreds of students how to fly. He received much recognition from his aviation peers, including being named Oklahoma State Pilot of the year in 1974.
It turned out not to be a disgruntled controller. Reuters and the BBC reported that after a 12-hour search May 19, the source of infantile squeals and cries on the London Luton approach frequency was little Freya Spratley. A defective baby monitor in her home near the airport was the culprit. Authorities took action reminiscent of the classic direction-finding scenes in World War II movies.
