EternaLight flashlights use a solid-state light-emitting diode (LED) source, which is more durable and has a longer life than a standard flashlight bulb. The eternaLight Model 3 Ergo Marine uses four light sources rated at 50,000 hours of continuous use, as compared with 40 hours from a typical flashlight bulb. In addition, the manufacturer claims the solid-state bulbs, which cast a beam that will illuminate objects over 80 feet away, always produce a ``fresh-battery'' white light, even when your batteries are nearly dead, unlike a typical bulb.
Hooters Air is expected to begin charter service later this year following the recent acquisition of Pace Airlines, which had been a unit of Piedmont Hawthorne, by Bob Brooks, chairman of the Hooters restaurant chain. Brooks announced plans in fall 2002 to launch Hooters Air with the assets of defunct Vanguard Airlines. At the time, Vanguard said Brooks' offer was ``inadequate,'' but Brooks said he would start charter services for the sports industry, initially focusing on flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C., through partnerships with tour operators.
Triumph Group purchased Boeing's fabrication operation in Spokane, Wash., in January. About 335 employees at the plant will now work for Triumph Composite Systems. Built in 1990, the Spokane facility is dedicated to the production of aircraft parts made of composite and thermoplastic materials. Primary products include floor panels, air control system ducts and non-structural composite flight-deck components.
Cessna Aircraft's order book is bulging with almost 500 orders for the new Mustang and CJ3 jets introduced at the NBAA Convention in Orlando in fall 2002. As of the first of this year, the company increased the price for the CJ3, which has 160 bookings, to $5.895 million and raised the initial deposit requirement to $150,000.
Larry Clark, helicopter ENG pilot reporter for KHOU-TV 11 in Houston, looks like he's mastered the aviation equivalent of juggling three or four balls with one hand.
Flybe British European is to increase scheduled regional operations from Southampton Airport, England, in March and build up this hub to match its Birmingham hub operation. More aircraft will be required to operate the extra schedules, and according to sources, Flybe is currently in dialogue with Bombardier to increase its turboprop fleet from four Dash 8 Q400s to 15. Flybe's fleet of four CRJ 200ERs, which are not involved in the company's long-term strategy, are still unsold and their fate is believed to be central to negotiations with the aircraft manufacturers.
The Transportation Security Administration is raising the threshold from 95,000 pounds to 100,300 pounds for aircraft falling under the most restrictive private charter rules. The rule will apply to aircraft with 61 or more passenger seats, even if maximum takeoff weight is less than 100,300 pounds. The TSA also will allow non-TSA screeners in certain circumstances.
As of Jan. 10, Eclipse still hadn't chosen a replacement engine for its 5,500-pound Eclipse 500 twin jet, said Vern Raburn, company founder and chairman. Eclipse deselected the Williams International EJ22 for the aircraft in late November 2002, citing development delays. Raburn, though, said Eclipse hopes to select a replacement engine by this month.
Jerome F. ``Jerry'' Lederer was awarded an honorary doctorate in safety science by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Nov. 22, 2002, at the university's campus in Prescott, Ariz. The award was presented in recognition of Lederer's ``unparalleled achievements in aviation safety,'' the university said.
President Bush signed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA) on Nov. 26. As a result, aviation insurance companies are required to offer coverage for losses specifically arising out of acts of terrorism, as defined by the act. In order to comply with the notice and disclosure requirements of this law, all aviation insurance policyholders will receive letters directly from their insurance companies stating the nature and scope of this coverage, along with an opportunity to accept or reject it.
Corporate/executive jet and turboprop operators experienced five accidents, one of which was fatal with five fatalities, in 2002. In 2001, business/executive operators had a total of six accidents, one of which was fatal, resulting in five fatalities. This is an improvement of one accident in 2002 versus 2001, but with the same fatal accident and fatality tally.
Commander Aircraft Co. has filed for bankruptcy protection. Commander's parent, American General, Inc., made the announcement on Dec. 27, 2002, stating that Commander would continue operations under Chapter 11 court protection while it reorganizes its business. Specifically, Commander will continue to support its single-engine Commander aircraft customers with maintenance, parts and refurbishment services and will build a limited number of new aircraft to order.
Jet Aviation Basel has outfitted a VIP DC-8-72 for its own charter fleet. The aircraft has been completely refurbished at the Basel completion shop and is configured for 36 passengers. It has all the usual passenger amenities plus a master bedroom and bath, shower, conference room, sitting lounge, a midship bar and two passenger lavatories. Jet says the range is 6,200 nm with 12-hour endurance.
Turboprops were involved in 44 accidents, which included 16 fatal accidents and 39 passenger and crew fatalities in 2002. In 2001, there were 46 turboprop accidents, 17 of which were fatal, resulting in 51 fatalities. As with business jets, this was an overall improvement in 2002 versus 2001.
Q: Why do some RNAV DPs require one-mile CDI scaling or use of the flight director? A: The short answer is that tighter navigation performance is required, but perhaps this would be a good time to review some characteristics of RNAV departure procedures (DPs). Level One and Level Two Departures Generally speaking, the FAA tries to design RNAV procedures to be as inclusive as possible, that is, they try to accommodate the broadest spectrum of RNAV equipment. Public RNAV DPs published by the FAA come in two flavors: Level One (RNP-1.0) and Level Two (RNP-2.0).
Nav Canada increased customer service charges by 3 percent effective Jan. 1, except for annual and quarterly charges, which will increase by the same percentage, effective March 1. In addition to the rate adjustments, a new weight group will be implemented for the daily charge applicable to propeller aircraft. This change will be made to reflect the fact that larger propeller aircraft, with significantly larger capacities, have entered the marketplace since the daily charge was first established in 1999.
Even UAVs must follow Rule Number One. Autonomous ``see and avoid'' capability will be essential for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as they become more prevalent on future battlefields, according to Joseph Thomas, vice president of UAV programs for AAI Corp. ``That's your first responsibility -- to keep your head on the swivel, make sure you see what's out there, and avoid it. Now a UAV can't do that . . .
In Rescue Pilot, distinguished naval aviator Dan McKinnon brings to life the dramatic at-sea helicopter rescues in which he participated during his anything but peaceful peacetime service in the U.S. Navy. Helicopter flight in the 1950s was still in its infancy, so pilots like McKinnon had to learn as they went along. Rough water, treacherous weather and risky conditions were all part of a day's work.
THE FOLLOWING PILOTS ARE hereby excused from reading these pearls: (a) USAF, USN and USMC fighter pilots; (b) instructors in aerobatics; (c) physician-pilots who already know everything about everything; and (d) all smart-ass pilots who are an accident going someplace to happen. Prime example: A few years ago the owner of a prosperous manufacturing company in Elmira, N.Y., owned a V-tail Bonanza that he flew himself. On this cold winter afternoon he showed up at the airport to fly to New York.
Back in the 1950s, one of the most common themes revisited time and again in the pulp of technology periodicals like Mechanix Illustrated, Popular Mechanics and Popular Science was the personal helicopter. Typified by an extrapolation of Stanley Hiller's diminutive Hornet, whose rotor was powered by the thrust of miniscule ramjets mounted at the blade tips, everyman's rotary-wing steed shared the garage with a futuristic Oldsmobile and took off and landed in the driveway or from a backyard pad. Why not?
Thuraya was founded in 1997 by a consortium of businessmen in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It provides satellite, cellular (GSM) and location determination (GPS) service through a single dual-mode handset about the size of first generation cell phones of 15 years ago. The Thuraya handset allows voice, data, fax and messaging service anywhere within the coverage area of Europe, the Middle East, North and Central Africa, the CIS and South Asia. Thuraya is not well known in North and South America because it does not offer service in those areas.
Executive Fliteways, Inc., Long Island, N.Y., has announced three new appointments. Andrew E. Ladouceur is vice president; James Prinzivalli is director of dispatch; and Ari T. Sarmento is director of training.
THE BUSINESS AVIATION community got some good news to begin the new year when the Transportation Security Administration agreed to substantially modify proposed rules on private charter passenger flight operations. As originally proposed, the TSA would have made passenger screening mandatory for all aircraft with maximum takeoff weights of 95,000 pounds or more.
