What exactly must an operator's security plan include to qualify for award of a TSA Access Certificate (TSAAC) during the ``Teterboro trials''? While the TSA has been notably cooperative in accepting the NBAA's proposal for operator security vetting, it is apparently less than enthusiastic to see elements of the plan publicized for fear of tipping its hand to potential terrorists. What are the TSA's guidelines? ``The TSA today is nervous about publishing anything to do with the TSAAC while it is in test,'' Bob Blouin, the NBAA's vice president of operations, told B/CA.
The acoustic wombs of many corporate aircraft will likely benefit from developments in the recording industry, which is giving new priority to feature-rich audio disc formats that are particularly well-suited to the cabins of business aircraft fitted with advanced audio systems. DVD-Audio, developed by the DVD Forum, and SACD, short for Super Audio Compact Disc and developed by Philips and Sony, offer the warmth and ambience of analog sound, and are considered to be a far cry from the basic CD audio format introduced over 20 years ago.
An Embraer 170 tended by its suffering Brazilian crew completed nine days of cold soak tests in Alaska, operating in winter conditions with temperatures as low as -23F (-31C) to demonstrate compliance with CTA (Centro Tecnolgico de Aeronutica--Brazil), FAA and European JAA requirements. Cold weather operational and maintenance procedures were validated. Takeoff and climb rate performance in low temperatures were also demonstrated to meet some specific JAA certification requirements.
During recent years, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has conducted investigations into the practice of certain industries in fixing and advertising list prices. It is the position of the FTC that it is deceptive to the public and against the law for list prices of any product to be specified or advertised in a trade area if the majority of sales are made at less than those prices. B/CA is not in a position to know the prices for most of the sales in each trading area in the United States for each of the products in this issue.
Alpine Development Group is building a premium business aviation campus at Minden-Tahoe Airport near Carson City, Nev. The AlpineWest facility at Minden-Tahoe is approximately 170,000 square feet and includes 12 hangars designed to accommodate every size business aircraft up to Gulfstream V or Bombardier Global Express. Alpine Development Group President Clayton Lambert said, ``We intend to build 11 additional AlpineWest campuses across the nation. I saw your report on Molasky's development in Vegas.
NetJets Europe reported that it experienced a 27-percent increase in flight bookings between April 1 and April 14. ``It's difficult to determine exactly what is causing the increase in our business,'' said Mark Booth, CEO of NetJets Europe, ``but the feedback we're getting indicates that some of the increase is stemming from travelers' concerns about SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome].'' He also cited security concerns as a possible factor. The total number of fractional owners in Europe doubled to more than 200 in 2002, the company said.
Early this year, the nation's controllers struck a deal with the FAA that would extend their labor agreement for two more years. The contract extension works well for both sides, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said. For management, it provides stability and continuity, avoiding divisiveness. For employees, Blakey told controllers, ``You hold onto a very generous contract -- particularly in these difficult times.'' The head of the controllers union, John Carr, added, ``With the enormous amount of work we are doing with the FAA on a wide array of subjects . . .
The FAA again delayed adopting the new FAR Part 145 repair station regulations -- this time until Aug. 6. The agency released the first rewrite in July 2001, but did not make the rules effective until April 6 of this year, believing that it would need 20 months to develop the appropriate industry and internal guidance material and train its own people. But the agency did not release even draft industry guidance until November.
The Flight Safety Foundation -- Airbus Human Factors in Safety Award has been presented to Douglas Schwartz, aviation director for AT&T and former director of standards for FlightSafety International, for improving pilot-training programs and for conceptualizing and helping to develop the Flight Operations Risk Assessment System (FORAS), a method of measuring risks to flight safety.
Jet Aviation West Palm Beach upgraded its sheet metal and structural shop with a new six-foot power shear and press brake. Both machines are digitally controlled. The new power shear cuts metal up to three-sixteenths-inch thick. ``We use the power shear mostly to build bulkheads, seatbacks and other aircraft parts,'' said Paul Knudsen, A&P mechanic. For structural repairs, Jet Aviation purchased a power press brake, which bends sheet metal up to one-half-inch thick.
Avidyne announced it has received FAA TSO approval and an STC for its FlightMax EX500 multifunction display with integrated data link. The system receives and displays current weather and flight information (such as suddenly imposed TFRs) in real time. Avidyne also certified its FlightMax DC50 Antenna Coupler, which allows the FlightMax EX500 to use a multi-mode (data link/comm or data link/GPS/comm) antenna, saving the installation costs of a dedicated data link antenna.
SimCom has installed the first of two MU-2 simulators at its Orlando training center. The new Marquise/Solitaire simulator was built to FAA Level 5 standards, and uses an actual MU-2 hull and interior. It is equipped with a Quantum 3-D, full wraparound visual-motion system with color day and night graphics and weather depiction, and has a complete factory avionics suite, including a Honeywell SPZ 500. The second simulator is scheduled to be available later this year.
When the TSA and NBAA were looking for a suitable general aviation airport at which to test the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC) program, business aviation mecca Teterboro, N. J. (TEB) seemed the logical choice. Accordingly, the first person they called was Peter Bellini, aviation director and chief pilot for Becton Dickinson & Co. and president of the TEB User Group. ``They asked us if we'd take part in a trial operator security program for the airport,'' Bellini told B/CA.
Banyan Air Service, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hired Ron Anders Jr. as piston maintenance service manager to head up the expanded piston maintenance division at the South Florida Service Center.
One year after Capitol Aviation merged into Silverhawk Aviation at Lincoln, Neb., Municipal Airport (LNK), the combined FBO reports business has doubled with resulting record profits. Silverhawk Aviation is a branded Phillips 66 dealer. Don Allen, Silverhawk's owner, said, ``Right now, the charter business is our number-one profit center, generating almost half of our net profits. However, we are on target to have one of our best years ever on the fuel sales side, and we expect it will soon surpass our charter aircraft sales.''
ADIZs and TFRs are becoming status symbols for local politicians and tools of private interests. New York City successfully sought its own ADIZ. TFRs were placed over Disneyland and Disney World, an action long sought by the theme parks. And all waivers for sports stadium overflights for banner towing and VIP transport were rescinded to the satisfaction of stadium operators. To the surprise of general aviation associations, all the new restrictions, except the Washington ADIZ, were removed when the homeland alert status was reduced to ``yellow.''
Although potential countermeasure suppliers may be salivating at the possible windfall, other industry representatives took a more cautious approach to anti-missile technology. Pat Hurley, Raytheon vice president of Electronic Warfare Systems, told Congress in March, ``There is no inexpensive, off-the-shelf, 100-percent effective, easy-to-install and socially acceptable solution. Not yet.
New Piper Aircraft unveiled two new aircraft models at the recent 2003 Sun 'n Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Fla. The new Piper 6X is a normally aspirated, fixed-gear version of the six-place Saratoga II, and the Piper 6XT is its turbocharged equivalent. Standard-equipped list price of the 6X is $336,000 and the 6XT, $356,000. Both models are powered by 300-hp Lycoming engines giving the 6X a top speed of 153 knots with the 6XT topping out at 165 knots.
Air France and British Airways will retire their Concordes, the companies announced on April 10. Air France currently operates five Concordes on five weekly roundtrips between Paris and New York's Kennedy International (JFK). BA currently flies five weekly roundtrips from London to New York. The airline also has one weekly roundtrip to Barbados in its program. BA says the end will come in October; Air France will discontinue its supersonic routes somewhat earlier.
CANADA'S TRANSPORTATION SAFETY Board (TSB) has completed one of the most thorough aircraft accident investigations ever undertaken with a final briefing on the downing of Swissair Flight 111. Over the last four years, the TSB's activities have led to the removal of one type of flammable acoustic insulation from most transport aircraft and to dozens of safety recommendations dealing with electrical system certification, pilot training and aircraft component fire testing.
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced that it has signed a deal for an additional 10 New Piper aircraft with the University of North Dakota (UND). This brings the sale of new aircraft to the school to 77 since 1998, and the total number of New Piper aircraft in UND's fleet to 118.
