Flight Explorer and Blue Sky Network announced a partnership at EBACE 2003 to provide worldwide satellite-based aircraft tracking. Blue Sky Network has developed a network utilizing the Iridium satellite system to provide communication in near-real-time to and from aircraft. From the ground, with a personal computer and Internet access, users and others can access Flight Explorer to track aircraft equipped with the BSN D-1000 communication package. The BSN D-1000 integrates with Blue Sky Network's other satcom voice products.
Investigation continues into the two April 8 crashes of two Falcon 20s operated by Grand Aire Express. The Falcon 20 that ditched in the Mississippi River had departed the Del Rio, Texas, International Airport (DRT) about 1630 CDT and went down at 1850 CDT while the crew was attempting to land at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL). A preliminary NTSB report said the FAR Part 135 cargo flight was operating on an IFR flight plan in IMC and lost power to both engines during its second approach to approach to Runway 30R.
Atlantic Aviation Flight Services Inc., Teterboro, N.J., has appointed Mike Todd as flight standards supervisor. Todd will provide the organization with crew standards, documentation and currency conformity, training coordination and monitoring, and vendor audit currency.
The economic yawn that's besetting business aviation may have sparked something electrifying. In April, a bedazzling Gulfstream 100 rolled out of Duncan Aviation's Lincoln, Neb., completion center that's unlikely to be overlooked or easily forgotten. It features a bright yellow fuselage, one red wing, one green wing, red and green engines and a blue tail. Planespotters will be delighted when they see this ``box of crayons'' sitting on a ramp, however, the owners didn't want it in print just yet.
The TSA's Aviation Security Advisory Council has established a working group to develop recommended security standards for general aviation airports where the TSA does not already have a presence. TSA officials stressed that they are not looking to regulate the airports, but want a set of government-endorsed, voluntary standards and practices. National Air Transportation Association and NBAA officials generally favor the move to a consistent federal security standard in part to thwart state and local politicos who have attempted to impose their own restrictions.
The NBAA has announced that Serge Dassault, David Ewald, Jerome F. Lederer, Ray H. Siegfried II and John Tucker have been selected as recipients of its First Century of Flight Award. The award, to be presented on Oct. 9 in Orlando at the NBAA Convention, recognizes significant contributions to the advancement of aviation since the advent of powered flight 100 years ago.
In May, US Airways ordered 170 RJs, split evenly between Embraer and Bombardier. The value of the firm orders for 85 Embraer 170s, 60 Bombardier CRJ 200s and 25 Bombardier CRJ 700s (series 705) comes to $2.1 billion for Embraer and $2.2 billion for rival Bombardier, according to the companies. Bombardier said US Airways also placed ``reconfirmable'' orders (that is, with a delivery schedule but cancellation rights) for 90 additional aircraft and placed options for 100 more.
With such an ambitious development schedule, Safire will outsource as much of its component manufacturing as possible. Salomon said contracts for about 80 percent of Safire Jet's major assemblies and components have been negotiated. Safire moved from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Miami's Opa Locka Airport in March to prepare for the development and flight-testing program. ``Opa Locka is an ideal location for development and assembly of the prototypes.
The Beechjet 400A is now the Hawker 400XP. Raytheon's Hawker aircraft division president, Brad Hart, stated that the 400XP will be covered by the same five-year warranty as the larger 800XP and has a gross weight increase over its Beechjet predecessor. In keeping with Hawker brand practices, officials state a number of Beechjet 400A options are now standard on the Hawker 400XP with no price increase.
A BEECHCRAFT KING AIR B200, N257CG, was destroyed on April 4, 2003, at 0935 EDT when it crashed into a building in Leominster, Mass. The FAR Part 91 flight was on approach to Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Municipal Airport (FIT) after a one-hour IMC leg from La Guardia Airport (LGA) in New York City. The ATP-certificated pilot, the commercial-rated copilot and four passengers were fatally injured. One passenger was seriously injured, but survived to talk with NTSB investigators; one person inside the building suffered minor injuries.
The House Aviation Subcommittee is considering a measure to provide up to $100 million in relief to certain general aviation businesses and operators that were financially damaged by the aftermath of 9/11. Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) has expressed a strong interest in assisting the general aviation community and has stated that a relief package would be included in a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill. The subcommittee was scheduled to vote on the reauthorization legislation as we went to press.
The second Grand Aire Falcon crash occurred during an approach in IMC to Toledo Express Airport (TOL) in Swanton, Ohio, where Grand Aire's headquarters are located. The airplane was crewed by two ATPs and a first officer in training. The three had flown the aircraft from Toledo to Grand Rapids, Mich., earlier that day, and according to NTSB investigators, the return was planned as an instructional flight for the first officer in training who was preparing for his Part 135, second-in-command checkride.
Lancair Co., Bend, Ore., has hired Tom Bowen as vice president of strategic products. Bowen, a 20-year veteran of general aviation, was previously vice president of engineering at Mooney Airplane Co.
ARINC Direct says its flight dispatch center in Annapolis, Va., is officially open for business. Targeted at serving corporate and individual operators, ARINC is teamed with Air Routing International. Domestic trip planning and ground handling services are coordinated by the ARINC staff, and international trips are handled through Air Routing. ARINC Direct includes a flight planning tool, text and color graphic weather services, weather briefings, graphical flight-following and communications services available to clients over the Internet.
Air Charter Guide has launched CharterX 4.0, a major enhancement of its booking engine and information system for air charter. CharterX 4.0 enables charter booking to be easily integrated within online travel sites to serve both business and leisure travel inquiries. Travelers booking on-demand charter flights can complete the process on the client's travel site, and the booking engine itself can be customized with logo and other identity elements to further support client branding.
Honeywell and Thales have introduced their new HS-700/702, which enables satellite communications systems to handle data at up to 128 kilobits per second (kbps) -- twice the speed of a typical office modem and more than 50 times faster than traditional satellite systems.
The FAA's Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) has a checkered history, but it's finally going to reach Initial Operational Capability in mid-July. Technically, it's a success. And that's according to independent observers. ``The system is ready. It's totally solid,'' declared Per Enge, Ph.D., associate professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University. ``It's going to provide vertical guidance to all airports, 11,000 of them in the United States,'' he explained.
Ibis Aerospace has selected Chelton Flight Systems' primary flight and navigation instrumentation for its Ae270 Propjet. The avionics suite includes the FAA-certified FlightLogic Synthetic Vision dual-screen EFIS system. The FlightLogic system will be delivered as standard equipment on executive-configured Ae270 aircraft.
Rifton Aviation Services, New Windsor, N.Y., has appointed William ``Rick'' Burke to the position of president and CEO. Burke joined Rifton Aviation as vice president of client relations in 2001.
The FAA has issued an NPRM that would require FAR Part 135 certificate holders to have hazardous materials training programs regardless of whether or not they elect to transport hazmat. Comments on the NPRM may be submitted on or before July 7.
Friends of Meigs Field continues to win early court motions to move forward with its lawsuit to prevent the city of Chicago from permanently destroying Meigs Field. A Cook County judge denied a petition by the city to dismiss the suit, and the court later ordered the city to hand over to Friends of Meigs Field all documents related to the March 31 runway destruction. The Chicago Tribune reported that city officials tried to convince the judge that it was premature to begin discovery before a May 16 hearing on whether the case will move forward.
Air Canada Jetz has joined the Bombardier Skyjet charter network. Air Canada's specialty charter business, Air Canada Jetz operates a fleet of four Boeing 737 aircraft specially configured with 48 to 60 business-class seats to provide up to 61 inches of legroom. Air Canada Jetz uses dedicated flight crews and airport concierges and features airline first-class bar and meal services.
Communication technique is emphasized at all levels of training, but evidence suggests that in spite of this, accidents continue to occur as a result of miscommunication. Several recommendations based on various studies of aircraft incidents and accidents can help pilots and controllers prevent such mishaps. Always use standard ICAO phraseology, especially when operating in foreign airspace. Always read back clearances, including critical information such as call sign, altitudes and runway designators.
TAG Aviation, White Plains, N.Y., has promoted Kevin Keith to charter sales manager. Keith is responsible for customer service and charter operations at TAG's charter service department based at Westchester County Airport (HPN). He was promoted from a charter sales representative position.
