DOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead has called on the FAA to put the brakes on its budget, which grew from $9 billion in fiscal 1998 to $14 billion in 2003 -- a 64-percent increase in five years. The increases stem largely from higher operating costs, with payroll rising 41 percent in six years. That cost growth is unsustainable, said Mead, because it takes ever larger amounts from the general fund to make up the shortfall in Aviation Trust Fund revenue. Mead said he would like to see the FAA gradually halve its general fund withdrawals to about $2 billion.
President Bush plans to appoint Ellen G. Engleman, the administrator of the DOT's Research and Special Programs Administration, to chair the NTSB. A White House announcement said Engleman would be appointed for the remainder of a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2007, and said she also would be nominated for a two-year term as chairman of the agency. If formally nominated and confirmed, Engleman would take the NTSB seat currently held by longtime agency veteran John Hammerschmidt, who is now serving as acting chairman.
The General Aviation Coalition (GAC) led the group's first official meeting with FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, her senior staff and advisors on January 21 in Washington, D.C., to discuss issues concerning general aviation such as security, airport access and funding, impending reauthorization legislation and certification. The coalition represents 16 general aviation organizations and usually meets with the FAA administrator twice a year.
The TSA is working with the NBAA and FAR Part 91 operators at Teterboro Airport, N.J. (TEB) to develop a security plan that would permit operators that meet specific training and operating standards to be exempt from certain security restrictions. The TSA wants to oversee the final development of a training protocol, initially proposed by the NBAA, that operators could complete to obtain a TSA Access Certificate (TSAAC).
Boeing has won a contract for three high-security aircraft for use by top Indian officials, including the president, prime minister and deputy prime minister. An official with India's interior ministry told Aerospace Daily India is buying three modified Boeing 737-700s for $154 million. The aircraft will be equipped with U.S. weapons and protective systems, a defense ministry official said, although he would not go into details. They also will feature showers, conference rooms and presentation facilities.
Heli-Dyne Systems transformed a Bell 430 executive helicopter into an air medical transport in 21 days. Heli-Dyne's Michael McCurley said a project of this magnitude would ordinarily take five to six weeks to complete. The fast-paced project was taken on to enable the customer to make the helicopter operational on a committed date. He credited the fast makeover to the use of a Heli-Dyne Modular Emergency Medical System (MEMS), a self-contained unit.
In May, the FAA will begin redesigning high-altitude airspace controlled by seven ARTCCs in the Northwest. The agency plans to publish a new, complex grid of waypoints in October, which will enable appropriately equipped aircraft to routinely file and fly point-to-point routes. All aircraft are supposed to benefit from the changes, but those equipped with Required Navigational Performance-capable flight management systems and RNAV will gain most. At first, the RNP redesign will be implemented at FL 390 and above.
Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), noted that his union strongly supported most of the TSA's actions to increase aviation security, but ``this rule clearly crosses the line separating legitimate security measures from secretive, unaccountable government conduct.'' While the rule spells out in clear detail the process by which a certificate revocation would occur, Woerth said, there is absolutely no discussion of standards, procedures or criteria by which the TSA would make a determination that an individual is a ``security threat.'' The Pro
Honeywell Aerospace, Morris Township, N.J., has appointed William Birtcil as vice president of communications. Prior to joining Honeywell, Birtcil spent 12 years at The Pillsbury Co.
The FAA issued an emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandating revisions to the Bombardier CRJ700/701 Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) detailing new center fuel tank quantity limits. ``Discrepancies in the fuel distribution system, if not detected and corrected, could cause the center tank to overfill and fuel to leak from the center tank vent system or to become inaccessible, and could result in engine fuel starvation,'' the FAA said.
BAA plc, London, the international airport group, has appointed Mike Clasper chief executive to succeed the retiring Mike Hodgkinson. Clasper has been deputy chief executive of BAA since 2001.
Forecast International/DMS, Newtown, Conn., has named Douglas Nebinger as president. Nebinger had been serving as executive vice president of the company since 1992. In addition, Jonathan Watson has been appointed to the dual roles of director of sales & marketing and director of the Forecast Consulting business unit.
Avcraft Aviation of Germany has taken over Fairchild Dornier's 328JET unit and plans to restart production of the airplane in five months. Heretofore an aircraft refurbishment, engineering, maintenance, charter and management services company, Avcraft hopes to sell another 300 to 500 328JETs during the program's life. Contrary to earlier plans, U.S.-equity investors Dimeling, Schreiber & Park were not involved in the transaction.
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Essick Air Products has added the GadAbout Blaster series of mobile evaporative coolers to its Tradewinds product line. The three cooler models -- M300, M335 and the M482 -- are designed for optimum portability and cooling capacity. GadAbout Blasters can spot-cool exterior and interior locations such as hangars, outbuildings and ramp-parked aircraft. The M300 provides air delivery of 3,000 CFM. Its compact width (31.5 inches) allows it to easily fit through standard-size doors for maximum portability.
The Chinese government is making strides in easing requirements for general aviation access to its nation's airspace, according to reports in Chinese publications. The articles indicate that beginning May 1 the government would officially permit private aircraft to fly within China. Previously there was no clear regulation on such approval, making it difficult for operators to apply for and receive approval to fly. The government also plans to simplify and expedite the process, according to the reports.
A THING YOU LEARN pretty early in life is that there's still a chance until time's up. You can still make the shot or ask the girl to dance or tell the zinger that will have them laughing through next Wednesday. But with the final bell or klaxon or time-gentlemen-please, all possibilities expire and what remains is the record of what actually happened -- the facts, stubborn and undeniable.
Moller International says that its original four-passenger M400 prototype Skycar is being offered for sale on eBay. The auction was scheduled to start on Jan. 31. Heavily promoted and long in development, the Skycar is described as a ``powered lift'' VTOL aircraft fitted with eight Rotapower engines and intended to carry four passengers at a top speed of 380 mph. The company hopes the flight-tested prototype M400 will go for over $2 million at auction. Safe Flight Instrument Corp.
The NBAA will conduct its next Business Aviation Forum on March 28 at Long Beach Airport in Long Beach, Calif. The forum will use AirFlite's FBO, hangar and ramp facilities. In addition to exhibits and a static display of aircraft, the daylong event will feature seminars and brief-ings for NBAA members. For information about attending, exhibiting at, or sponsoring this event, contact the NBAA's Benjamin Jones, [email protected], or Joe Ponte, [email protected]. Phone: (202) 783-9452.
Flight data monitoring (FDM) is nothing new. Following a lead taken years ago by Portugal's TAP (Air Portugal's Flight Training Center in Lisbon) and British Airways, most major European airlines routinely analyze cockpit readouts to check that their aircraft are being operated in a consistent and safe manner. Many of today's line pilots who grew up with FDM accept that it's a tool for managing risk and, thus, improving flight safety. U.S.
The FAA awarded early development contracts for its NEXCOM (next generation air/ground communication) program to Harris Corp. and ITT Industries. The 20-month contracts are valued at $21 million for Harris and $16 million for ITT. The FAA said the NEXCOM program, which will integrate data link with digital voice communications, is aimed at making more efficient use of the available frequency spectrum.
Elliott Aviation, Moline, Ill., obtained an STC for a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Continuum avionics system on a Hawker 700, bringing the total number of Pro Line 21 Continuum certifications to 14. Western Aviation in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Neb., also hold STCs for Hawker 700 Pro Line 21 Continuum retrofits.
Manchester Airport in England tested a new biometric system to monitor access to administrative areas at the airport. A group of about 60 airport staffers tried out the Hand Geometry Recognition system to confirm their identities instead of using swipe cards and door codes, airport officials said in January. The test, which was to run until Feb. 14, was done in conjunction with Human Recognition Systems, a Liverpool company that specializes in biometric technology and its application to security.
Jet Aviation off the block. The Hirschmann Group has decided not to sell Jet Aviation, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, after reviewing a number of offers for the company. ``I would like to inform you that this evaluation process has ended and our shareholders have decided not to accept any of the proposals set forth by potential buyers,'' said Thomas M. Hirschmann, chairman and CEO of the Hirschmann Group of Companies.
