Grounding a stationary aircraft is easy, but how about one that is moved? Lightning Eliminators and Consultants has developed a unique solution -- the Tow Bar Mounted Grounding Assembly (TBMGA). The device dissipates the bound charge and static discharge hazard by providing a direct ultra-low impedance path to earth of less than one ohm. The TBMGA is made of all stainless-steel components and clamps to any aircraft tow bar with U-bolts.
Bombardier Aerospace announced two additional European maintenance support sites for its business jets. Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services GmbH has recently begun providing factory service for Bombardier Learjet 60 and Challenger aircraft at a satellite location at Rhein-Main Airport in Frankfurt. In addition, Metro Business Aviation at Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom is now designated as a Bombardier Challenger Authorized Service Facility. Some 230 Bombardier business jets are currently based throughout Europe, the company said.
``I've never seen it in all the 26 years I have been testing water.'' Dr. Donald Hendrickson, Hossier Microbiology Laboratories, commenting on samplings of tap water from various airliners that were discovered to be contaminated with salmonella, aquatic insect eggs, and a bacterium carried by rodents, among other things. The Wall Street Journal ``It's just easier to get into your car and go.'' Doug Shifflet, whose agency conducts surveys of travel patterns, explaining why former short-distance air travelers are taking to the road.
The Fairchild Dornier saga continues. Earl Robinson, the former Fairchild Dornier executive who departed the manufacturer to form Alliance Aircraft, was in negotiations with German officials in December about acquiring the assets of the bankrupt manufacturer. Robinson, who worked for the company until 1998, claims to have found sufficient financing to buy Fairchild Dornier and complete development of the 728 regional jet. The German manufacturer's creditors committee was to make the final decision on bids for the company.
Jet Aviation International, Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla., has promoted Peggie Giles to director of U.S. FBO sales. She is based at Jet Aviation's Bedford, Mass., facility.
The Experimental Aircraft Association wants to remind you that if you plan to attend this summer's AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wis., the lodging-reservation season begins promptly on Jan. 2. As AirVenture time approaches, housing options shrink exponentially, according to the association. Find out more at www.eaa.org.
The NBAA's next Business Aviation Forum & Static Display is scheduled for March 27 at Long Beach (Calif.) Airport at AirFlite's FBO, hangar and ramp. In addition to a static display of aircraft and dozens of exhibits, this daylong event will feature seminars and briefings for NBAA members. For information, contact the NBAA's Benjamin Jones at [email protected] or Joe Ponte at [email protected].
GAMA, Washington, D.C., at its recent board of directors meeting presented Ray Siegfried II, chairman of the NORDAM Group, with the Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the association as chairman of the board for 2002. Siegfried joined GAMA's board of directors in 1994.
Avionics Innovations is marketing a Sirius Satellite Radio (SSR) receiver for installation on aircraft. Sirius broadcasts cover the United States with 100 digital channels of continuous information and entertainment. In small aircraft installations, it interfaces with the audio panel. In cabin installations, it can interface with the IFE system. The SSR, which operates on 14 to 28 VDC, features up/down seek tuning, preset memory mode, scrolling text display, screen saver and adjustable contrast. A subscription to the Sirius service costs $12.95 per month.
Tradeoffs are a reality of aircraft design, although engineers attempt to optimize the blend of capabilities, performance and passenger comfort. B/CA compares the subject aircraft, in this case the Falcon 2000EX, to the composite characteristics of others in its class, computing the percentage differences for various parameters in order to portray the aircraft's relative strengths and weaknesses. We also include the absolute value of each parameter, along with the relative ranking, for the subject aircraft within the composite group.
If you operate an FAR Part 91 aircraft with six or more passenger seats or operate under Part 135, your deadline for Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) compliance is March 29, 2005. For many, that distant date will arrive sooner than they expect. All Part 121 aircraft and Part 135 aircraft with 10 or more passengers must be equipped with a Class A TAWS; all Part 91 aircraft can be fitted with a Class B system.
Bombardier Aerospace has signed a five-year contract with Air Wisconsin to provide heavy maintenance on the airline's fleet of Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets. The work will be performed at the Bombardier-owned West Virginia Air Center in Bridgeport, W.Va., and will include ``C'' checks every 4,000 aircraft flying hours as well as structural inspections every two years. Renewals could extend the contract period to eight years.
SEAT (Servicios de Apoyo Terrestre), one of the largest ground handlers in Mexico, has added Roberto Castillo as operations director; Alfredo Riva Palacio has been appointed vice president, operations and maintenance; and Manuel Nava has been promoted to sales and marketing manager. SEAT is located at 45 airports throughout Mexico.
Sporty's Pilot Shop has released ``Flying the North Atlantic . . . Safely!'' on DVD. The two-hour DVD, presented by North Atlantic crossing expert Ed Carlson, covers topics such as requirements for the airplane and pilot, what to take, where to stay, and how to get accurate weather information along the way. Sporty's also offers a planning chart and workbook for North Atlantic crossings. Price: $89.95, DVD; $39.95; workbook Sporty's Pilot Shop Clemont County/Sporty's Airport Batavia, OH 45103 Phone: (800) LIFTOFF Fax: (800) 359-7794 www.sportys.com
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) signed a $94.9 million deal in November 2002 to lease seven Raytheon Super King Air 350 turboprop aircraft for the next 10 years. The new aircraft will replace an aging mix of HS748 and King Air B200 aircraft currently used to support navigator training for the RAAF's 32 Squadron and the School of Air Navigation at RAAF Base East Sale. The RAAF awarded the lease contract to Hawker Pacific, a subsidiary of Germany-based aviation services company Lufthansa Technik.
Embraer has officially undertaken its first industrial initiative outside Brazil, forming a joint venture with two component companies of China Aviation Industry Corp. II (AVIC II). The joint venture, the Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co., will manufacture under license all versions of the ERJ regional jets, including the ERJ-135, -140 and -145. Harbin Embraer will be headquartered in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province. The aircraft it produces are to be marketed throughout all regions of China.
Don Wylie President and Chief Pilot, Aviation Safety Training, Houston, Texas After retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 and F-4 Phantom pilot, Don Wylie joined an executive search firm and used his own Saratoga to visit clients. Preferring flying to headhunting, he opened his pilot training company in 1992. It was from that hands-on experience that he developed an Advanced Maneuvering Program, which he now teaches both in aircraft and in simulators.
Keystone Helicopter Corp. has been named an Organizational Designated Airworthiness Representative (ODAR) by the FAA. This allows Keystone to issue export airworthiness approvals for Class I (aircraft, engines and propellers), Class II (major components of Class I) and Class III (parts) products.
Raytheon Aircraft, Wichita, has appointed key employees to the following positions: Tom Sarama is named vice president, strategic programs; David Riemer has assumed the position of vice president, product development and engineering; Sherry Grady will replace Riemer as vice president, government business; Bob Feazell has been named director, Hawker and Horizon Certification Program; and Glenn Oka is appointed director II, product assurance.
Mountain Aviation, Inc., Broomfield, Colo., has promoted Rich Bjelkevig to president/director of operations; Gary Emmerson to vice president; and Wallace Nestingen to secretary/treasurer and director of maintenance. Mountain Aviation manages and owns a charter fleet of 10 aircraft.
The FAA's draft legislation includes management changes that would permit the appointment of the deputy administrator and fill certain vacancies on the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council (MAC) without Senate conformation. The FAA is the only transportation mode administration within the DOT that has a deputy administrator whose appointment requires Senate confirmation. The White House recently nominated Robert Sturgell to the position, which has not had a permanent officer since Linda Daschle during the Clinton administration.
The delay is just fine with GA industry officials who have read the draft notice of invitation to participate in the ARC. They are concerned that language describing the review is overly broad; so broad that there would be unintended consequences affecting FAR Parts 91 and 121. Several industry associations will use the delay to press the FAA to tighten the descriptive language before the notice is published in the Federal Register.
Embraer cut its 2002 delivery projection from 135 to 132 after two customers requested delivery delays. One airline customer put off two aircraft until April 2003, and one Legacy corporate aircraft will slide from its original delivery date to early this year, the company said. Deliveries should rise during the next two years, according to an Embraer forecast released in December 2002. The company expects to deliver 148 aircraft this year, rising to 155 in 2004. Embraer's firm order backlog is worth about $9 billion.
Air Wisconsin has placed a firm order for six additional Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet aircraft as a result of its recently inaugurated code-share relationship with AirTran Airways. The transaction, valued at $140 million U.S. ($213 million Cdn.), represents the conversion of six of 26 conditional orders held by the Appleton, Wis.-based airline. It increases the airline's firm order list to 64 aircraft, of which 27 have been delivered. Air Wisconsin retains 20 conditional orders and 75 options on Bombardier CRJ aircraft.
Mercury Air Centers, Inc., Atlanta, has appointed two aviation veterans to its advisory board of directors: Kenn Ricci, chairman and CEO of Flight Options, and Dick Dodson, former president and CEO of BBA Aviation Services. Mercury Air Centers operates 18 FBOs nationwide.
