Promises made, promises kept,'' has been Dassault's marketing mantra for decades. At the October 2000 NBAA Convention, Dassault officially announced the Falcon 2000EX, a 3,800-nm range variant of the Falcon 2000 that would be delivered to customers in second quarter 2003. The nearly 800-mile range increase would be made possible by increasing fuel capacity by almost one-third, boosting thrust and upping maximum allowable operating weights.
The Transportation Security Administration has begun phasing out most of its security searches of passengers at airport gates, TSA chief Adm. James Loy said Dec. 9, 2002, at an airport conference in Washington, D.C. Only passengers at randomly selected gates will be subject to searches, he said. Gate searches of passengers selected by a computerized profiling system will be performed at terminal checkpoints instead, requiring passengers to have boarding passes before going to the gate.
Dassault has selected Rockwell Collins' Flight Dynamics head-up guidance technology for the new Falcon 7X. Based on the HGS 4000 Head-up Guidance System, the 7X HGS is smaller and lighter than previous systems. The system provides a wider field of view and larger eyebox to accommodate crosswind crab angles and allow the pilot to more easily manage approach angle and energy while conducting circling and other difficult approaches.
When domestic RVSM takes effect in 2004, aircraft operating in airspace at and above FL 290 will be operating within a more precise envelope in regard to altitudes. To meet DRVSM certification standards, aircraft are required to be equipped with: -- Two independent altimetry systems; -- One autopilot capable of maintaining altitude +/-65 feet*; -- A system that signals an alert when altitude varies by more than +/-200 feet**; and -- One Mode C transponder.
Robert E. Brown has left Bombardier Inc. and will be replaced by Paul Tellier. Brown's resignation as president and CEO was accepted by the company's board of directors at a special meeting on Dec. 12, 2002, and was effective immediately. Laurent Beaudoin, Bombardier's chairman of the board and of its executive committee, announced Brown's departure and Tellier's nomination to the vacated position on Dec. 13. Tellier is a member of Bombardier's board of directors and, at the time of his appointment, president and CEO of Canadian National since 1992.
Bombardier Flexjet European customers can purchase a 25-flying hour Jet Membership, instead of the previous 50-hour minimum. The new 25-hour option still guarantees 24/7 access to a fleet of over 50 Bombardier Learjet 31A, Learjet 45, Learjet 60 and Challenger 604 aircraft in Europe. The cost of enrollment will vary as a function of a customer's mission profile and preferred aircraft, said Dan Maiden, managing director, Bombardier Flexjet. Jet Membership customers can also use their hours for travel on Flexjet's fleet in the United States.
Westwood College of Aviation Technology announced that it has received two of the three new Rolls-Royce RB211-22B turbine engines purchased from ECS Refining of Dallas. The engines, valued at $4.5 million each, will be used to teach students hands-on turbine engine theory, teardown, assembly and troubleshooting. The third engine is scheduled to arrive this month. Westwood College of Aviation Technology is a division of Alta Colleges, Inc. Aviation maintenance training programs are offered at three Westwood College of Aviation Technology campuses.
A long-time complaint on the part of many corporate aviation maintainers has focused on what they regard as the paucity of real hands-on instruction provided by the well-established training organizations. Many of these maintainers also griped that those same companies had been unwilling to institute truly technician-centric training programs.
You're seven times more likely to be involved in an icing incident or accident if you're flying an aircraft fitted with deice boots than heated leading edge surfaces. That conclusion is based upon 10 years of business aircraft icing encounters compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. Specifically, Breiling said that of the 24 icing-related business aircraft accidents since 1990, 22 involved aircraft fitted with deicer boots. Of those 24 mishaps, 14 resulted in fatalities. Not surprisingly, most of the accidents occurred during winter months.
The comment period on Advisory Circular 145-MAN, Guide for Developing and Evaluating Repair Station and Quality Control Manuals, providing guidance on compliance with the agency's new rules governing FAR Part 145 repair stations, is extended until Feb. 5 (see Intelligence, Dec. 2002, page 26). The AC provides examples of quality systems and incorporates checklists to determine whether a repair station has considered all its options and requirements.
Selecting compatible cleaning and polishing products for your aircraft can be confusing. That's why Meguiar's developed the integrated Deep Crystal System for aircraft care. The three-step process starts with the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, which removes light oxidation, scratches and swirls, restoring the aircraft's finish. The Deep Crystal Polish ``brings out the paint's deepest shine by nourishing and conditioning the paint.'' Finally, the Deep Crystal Carnuba Wax protects and provides a high-gloss finish.
Regardless of how much assistance a flight-planning service provides an operator, flight crews still need to avail themselves of all available information to avoid running afoul of the rules when away from home. One highly recommended resource is the FAA's Restrictions on International Aviation Web site at www.intl.faa.gov/restricthome.cfm. Billing itself as a ``one-stop shop for U.S. government restrictions affecting U.S. international civil aviation,'' the site is designed to help operators quickly determine current restrictions and learn how to request exemptions.
Nov. 1 -- A University of Arkansas-operated Rockwell 690B sustained substantial damage after the top portion of the airplane's rudder separated during cruise flight. The commercial pilot and his two passengers were not injured. IMC prevailed.
GAC member and NATA President James Coyne said it's time to start playing ``hardball'' over some of the airspace and airport access restrictions -- particularly at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Speaking with the Weekly of Business Aviation, he summed up the ongoing temporary flight restrictions in one word -- ``stupid'' -- asking why an airplane flying at 3,100 feet is considered less of a security threat than an airplane flying at 3,000 feet, or why an airplane taking off from Richmond, Va., is considered safer than one from DCA.
Adam Aircraft completed 100 hours of flight testing on the A500, the company's 250-knot, pressurized, six-place, twin-piston aircraft. The aircraft, powered by two Teledyne Continental TSIO 550E engines, has had 50 test flights, which account for about 30 percent of the tests that Adam Aircraft plans to perform on serial number 0001, said Glenn Maben, flight-test pilot and lead powerplant engineer. The aircraft has reached an altitude of 25,000 feet and an airspeed of 220 knots. The A500 is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of this year.
Comair Aviation Academy in Florida now has European JAA approval to provide pilot training in conjunction with Atlantic Flight Training in the United Kingdom to students who plan to fly professionally in Europe. The modular training course combines British classroom instruction with flight training in the United States. ``Comair Aviation Academy offers airline-oriented pilot training that is depended on by companies from all over the world,'' said Susan Burrell, Comair president.
The FAA will ask Congress to create a five-member commission to oversee a consolidation of some of the agency's facilities and services. The FAA wants to use the Defense Department's Base Closure and Realignment Act as a model to ``create a fair process by which the FAA can realign and consolidate its services and facilities to help reduce FAA capital, operating, maintenance and administrative costs on an agency-wide basis with no adverse effect on safety,'' the agency said in a draft of recommended legislation to Congress.
Standard Aero has opened a new ``regional service facility'' at the Calgary International Airport in Alberta, Canada. ``This new operation will allow Standard Aero to provide the customer base with much-needed in-region maintenance and repair services,'' commented Andy Preston, director of service operations.
TSH One, Inc., Hollywood, Fla., a full-service aircraft and air charter brokerage firm specializing in executive and corporate aviation, has appointed Christine Y. Blair as sales executive for aircraft sales and leases, as well as for air charter, in Georgetown, Texas.
The Regional Airline Association (RAA), Washington, D.C., board of directors elected Skip Barnette, president of Atlantic Southeast Airlines (Delta Connection), as chairman of the association. Phil Trenary was elected vice chairman; Peter Bowler was elected treasurer; and Rick Leach was elected secretary.
This year's Aviation Dilly is available online at www.aviationnow.com/dilly. Aviation Dilly is a satirical holiday tradition with the staff of our affiliate Aviation Daily and other Aviation Week publications. The annual spoof dates back to the 1950s. Aviation Daily and AviationNow.com Editor in Chief Jim Matthews stated, "We sincerely hope you enjoy our good-natured poke at the happenings and institutions that make up this besieged business we all love.
A customized single-engine MD 500E has been delivered to Suzi Q Corp. in the Philippines, MDHI announced. The helicopter will be based at Manila Domestic Airport and will ferry company executives to the corporation's land holdings and business interests in the metropolitan Manila area. The aircraft is equipped with a high-efficiency air-conditioning system. The helicopter also features an auxiliary fuel management system, moving map displays and an electronic noise-canceling intercom system. MDHI outfitted the helicopter.
Messier-Dowty, Velizy, France, has appointed Laurent Schneider-Maunoury as vice president of operations. Messier-Dowty designs, develops and manufactures landing gear systems.
The U.S. Air Force has ordered 35 additional T-6A Texan II trainer aircraft from Raytheon, exercising the first option in the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System contract. The follow-on contract is valued at $169.9 million and is the first of four one-year options that the U.S. military holds. Raytheon will start delivery of the 35 aircraft in the first option in April 2005.
The FAA will hold off forming the new Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that will take a comprehensive look at FAR Part 135, Part 125 and associated regulations (see Intelligence, B/CA, December 2002, page 26) until Congress approves a fiscal 2003 appropriation for the FAA. While it is operating under a continuing funding resolution, the agency can't start any new projects -- including ARC meetings. The FAA originally hoped the committee could meet Jan. 14 to 16.
