WE ALL SAW THOSE unforgettable images of the aircraft and the terrible destruction wreaked. We marveled at the bold, audacious and precise application of American power. And in the end, despite all the caterwauling, the invaders stood triumphant in the rubble. No, this is not about the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne, but rather the Midnight Marauders of the 2nd City -- Daley's dogs. Upon receiving a photo detailing those deep and vulgar channels hacked through the runway at Chicago's lovely Merrill C.
In 2001, civil helicopter deliveries increased by 8.7 percent and revenues rose approximately 14.5 percent. Deliveries for 2002 were expected to remain flat, with approximately 530 new rotorcraft going to operators. But the market was not that kind and instead took just 490 new civil aircraft, a 7.5 percent decline. ``The rotorcraft industry is in a period of transition marked by uncertain demand, a shifting regulatory environment and over capacity,'' Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia reported recently.
The NBAA conducted three training sessions for about two dozen operators at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, so the operators can apply to the Transportation Security Administration for a TSA Access Certificate (TSAAC). Certificate holders will be allowed to bypass the waiver requirements for international operations. (See ``TSAAC: Business Aviation's New Ticket to Enter?'' page 200). The NBAA hopes that the TSAAC also may eventually give operators access to restricted airspace equivalent to that of airlines, association President Jack Olcott said.
The FAA contends it is the most improved government agency in the 2002 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey -- scoring a nine-point gain thanks to surveyed commercial pilots who gave the agency a rating of 64 out of 100. ACSI was created in 1994 and tracks economic trends for companies, industry trade associations and government agencies.
Viad Corp., Phoenix, has named Dale Eide chief pilot. John W. (Jay) Calchera retired as chief pilot on Dec. 31, 2002. Calchera was with the company for 30 years, flying its Gulfstream II, III and IV aircraft.
The crew of a twin-engine corporate jet on a passenger-carrying flight was cruising at FL 410 over Minnesota when something began to go wrong. The crew noticed that the hydraulic pressure was dropping slowly through 1,200 psi. Approximately 10 minutes later, the pressure had dropped to 1,000 psi, and the ``low hydraulic pressure'' light illuminated. As the captain wrote in his NASA ASRS report, ``We reviewed the abnormal checklist and discussed the options. I decided to make a precautionary landing at Lincoln, Neb.
JB&A Aviation, Inc., Houston, has appointed Leslie Space to the position of sales associate. Space will establish a new JB&A regional office in Coral Gables, Fla.
Despite the common function of transmitting hydraulic pressure, not all hydraulic fluids are created equal. In fact, major differences separate the various types of hydraulic fluid, and filling a system with the wrong stuff can truly wreak havoc. Pilots and mechanics must exercise extreme care to not use the wrong type of hydraulic fluid in an aircraft system. In the early days of aviation hydraulics, systems used vegetable oil or castor oil as the working fluid, which were compatible with the natural rubber seals and hoses of the day.
Manufacturer and Model This block includes the manufacturer's name and the aircraft's model name and technical designation. For more information on manufacturers, see ``Airframe Suppliers Directory,'' on page 117. B/CA Equipped Price This is the current price of the aircraft with the equipment stipulated in the ``B/CA Helicopter Minimum Equipment List,'' and is shown for comparison purposes only. In most cases, the price is provided by the manufacturer; exceptions are so noted.
Bryan T. Moss, vice chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace, was named president of the Savannah, Ga., business jet manufacturer on April 11 by Gulfstream's parent, General Dynamics, after W.W. (Bill) Boisture resigned from the position.
Texas Aviation Services' Bell 407 auxiliary cockpit lighting system offers compatibility with night-vision goggles. The system uses patented Spiders ANVIS White LED light modules to illuminate certain instruments and Shadows filters for avionics displays and the master caution panel. Texas Aviation Services claims that Spiders technology improves instrument read- ability and costs significantly less than traditional systems. The system is used by Bell Helicopter's Training Academy in its FAR Part 141 night-vision pilot training program.
MedAire and British Midland Airways made aviation medical history recently when physicians in MedAire's MedLink Global Response Center in Phoenix, reading an electrocardiogram (ECG) transmitted from an aircraft cruising at 37,000 feet, diagnosed a heart attack in progress and advised appropriate treatment. This was apparently the first time a passenger's vital sign data were successfully transmitted and used to identify and treat a heart attack victim in flight.
Securaplane Technologies has released its DVR-01 digital video recorder for airborne applications. The DVR-01 is a stand-alone recorder that also integrates with Securaplane's aircraft security and video camera systems. The 3.0-pound device can digitally archive up to six hours of video data that is retrievable via an ethernet port for playback. Securaplane claims that time-stamped and text-labeled images can be accessed in an instant. Price: Call for pricing Securaplane Technologies 10800 N. Mavinee Dr.
A replica of Clyde Cessna's first airplane, Silverwing, was hung at Exploration Place in Wichita. Silverwing, which was built and flown by Cessna in 1911, will be on display for 18 months as part of the ``Centennial of Powered Flight'' project. Although the actual aircraft no longer exists, several replicas have been built. The replica hanging at Exploration Place, built by Cessna employees in the 1960s, is approximately 26 feet long, with a 26-foot wingspan.
Premier Aircraft Sales, formerly Signature Combs Aircraft Sales, has teamed with the Mooney Airplane Co. as a Mooney Team Representative (MTR). Premier's territory will cover Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The Mooney/MTR relationship affiliates with aviation professionals who are familiar with a given territory to facilitate sales and professionally represent Mooney, while still providing end customers the lower price resulting from buying directly from the manufacturer.
General Soft-Skill Requirements The general soft-skill requirements section comprises those qualities needed in the maintenance professional that are not aircraft related. Interpersonal Skills -- Technicians must learn the interpersonal skills that everyone is judged by. The skills shall include, but are not limited to, communications, image, leadership, organization, ethics, conflict resolution and customer service. Communications -- Communications is further classified into verbal skill and written skills.
Unison Industries has published the new Autolite Aviation Spark Plugs Installation and Maintenance Manual (Unison document L-1710). The manual provides detailed information on spark plug installation techniques and maintenance procedures, and the company says it is an essential document for Autolite Aviation Spark Plug users, aviation technicians, aircraft owners, maintenance and overhaul facilities, flight schools and FBOs. The spark plug manual will be provided to subscribers of Unison's F-1100 Slick Service Manual.
Total Aircraft Services (TAS) has received an STC for its tail-mounted installation of the Max-Viz EVS-1000 in Bombardier Challenger CL-601 aircraft. The EVS-1000 uses an uncooled infrared sensor as a camera to provide real-time video to a cockpit monitor display. TAS has priced the complete EVS-1000 system installation, including equipment, parts, wiring, STC paperwork and installation labor anywhere in the continental United States, at $129,000. The system can be installed in three days. Self-installation kits are available for immediate shipment.
Nu-Tech Industries, Inc., Grandview, Mo., has named David Soper president of this subsidiary of the Triumph Group. Soper joined Nu-Tech in 1997 and was operations manager at the time of his promotion. He will report to Jeffry Frisby, president of Triumph Aerospace Systems Group.
Turbomeca customers in North America now have a Canadian-approved option when it comes to having their Arriel 1 engines repaired and overhauled. Turbomeca Canada Inc. (TMC) recently received an Approved Maintenance Organization Certificate from Transport Canada, granting it authority to perform full repair and overhaul services on the Arriel 1 engine family.
