These three graphs are designed to be used together to provide a broad view of the Avanti's performance. Do not use these data for flight planning. For a complete operational analysis, use the Approved Aircraft Flight Manual, Operational Planning Manual and other flight planning data supplied by Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio America.
Adam Aircraft Industries says its has orders for the first 20 of its proposed M-309 centerline-thrust piston twins. These initial aircraft were priced at $695,000, but that figure increases to $725,000 for the next 10 aircraft. Adam requires a $25,000 deposit to secure delivery positions. With plans for certification and first deliveries in 2003, the Englewood, Colo.-based manufacturer is now recruiting engineers, shop personnel and composite technicians to help bring the privately funded project to fruition.
Northwest Airlines' tender for up to 75 new regional jets has re-ignited the long-simmering dispute between Brazil and Canada over the use of government-backed loans to sell aircraft. Bombardier has asked Canada for a $1 billion subsidy package designed to provide a ``level playing field'' with rival Embraer and ProEx (PromoteExports), a subsidy mechanism Brazil has used to entice buyers of its exports, principally Embraer aircraft.
Innotech-Execaire, Montreal, Canada, has named Mirko Zgela as its vice president of engineering. Jet Aviation, West Palm Beach, Fla., has appointed Stephen Joiner as vice president and general manager of its Dallas facility. Joiner will be responsible for all lines of business at the FBO and will report to Michael Gregory, senior vice president of U.S. FBO services. Long Island Jet Center, Farmingdale, N.Y., has named Leonel Rivera as general manager of its Republic Airport operations.
The Czech Republic's largest airline has ordered eight Fairchild Dornier 728JETs to open new routes and replace ATR-42 turboprops. The eight-aircraft deal is valued at $230 million, though four will be under operating leases from GE Capital Aviation Services, which in 2000 ordered 50 firm 728JETs with options for 100 more. The manufacturer will provide the remaining four aircraft. Deliveries of the first three aircraft are planned for 2003, then three in 2004, one in 2005 and the last in 2006.
One of Jane Garvey's greatest legacies as FAA administrator will be her success in fostering a strong government-industry program to proactively drive down the number of aviation accidents.
U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords' (Ind.-Vt.) decision to leave the Republican Party, and thereby shift control of the Senate to the Democrats, will wrest the helm of the Commerce Committee from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and return it to Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.). McCain has been controversial within general aviation circles for his strong advocacy of user fees and criticism of the business aviation community.
Thales has acquired Orbital Sciences' Magellan and NavSol units for an estimated $70 million. Paris-based Thales says the acquisition will help expand its presence in the growing GPS market, which is expected to see a 20-percent annual growth rate. Another benefit of the deal, according to Thales executives, is the ability to apply research and development findings to a larger product line and among civilian and military customers.
You'll probably go through your whole career without ever experiencing anything as dramatic as a rapid depressurization. Much more likely is a scenario in which a passenger requires therapeutic oxygen. If you're lucky, properly trained attendants onboard the aircraft will spring into action. If you don't have a flight attendant, then it will all come down to you.
Not all of Comair was grounded by the Air Line Pilots Association strike. The pilots for Comair Jet Express, the carrier's air charter arm, are nonunion and they continued to fly the operator's three Bombardier Challenger 604s, along with its Learjet 35 and 60 and Cessna Citation II and CJ1. While United Airlines has been getting a great deal of attention for entering the business aviation sector, Delta Air Lines has actually been involved with corporate aviation since acquiring Comair in January 2000.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has established a new Fractional Aircraft Business Council to represent the interests of fractional operators. Founding members of the new NATA council are Alpha Flying, Bombardier's Flexjet, Cessna CitationShares, Executive Jet's NetJets, Flight Options, HeliFlite Shares, Raytheon Travel Air, Sikorsky Shares and United Airlines' still-unnamed fractional program.
-- Always service the oxygen system with aviation (Grade A) oxygen. Other grades contain sufficient moisture to cause ice formation at the reduced temperatures found at high altitude. -- Never allow an oxygen system to be serviced by other than a specially trained technician. Improper servicing or use of inappropriate lubricants can lead to catastrophic system failures. A ``clean hands'' policy should be observed when inspecting or servicing the oxygen system.
The British government plans to commission a major study of aircraft noise -- the first since the Aircraft Noise Index Study was undertaken in 1985. The investigation will focus on the perceived relationship between noise levels and annoyance, sleep disturbance at night and the value of lower noise levels relative to other environmental factors. Three recent government-sponsored studies on sleep disturbance also will be taken into account within the new study.
Raytheon's Premier I received FAA certification for single-pilot operation and flight into known icing in late May. Flight-testing for icing was completed in April, using actual and simulated icing conditions. The certifications were among the last major events of Hansel Tookes' short stint as Raytheon Aircraft chairman and CEO. First customer delivery of the Premier I was planned for mid-June -- just prior to the Paris Air Show. Raytheon, which had originally hoped to deliver 36 of the light business jets this year, is now reassessing its delivery plans for 2001.
Charter broker Air Partner has begun providing a worldwide executive jet service specifically for British Airways passengers. The new business will complement BA's flight network, the airline said, enabling customers to charter an aircraft onto their final destination, wherever that may be. The company claims that booking a business jet is as ``easy as renting a car.'' Four categories of aircraft -- turboprops and small, medium and heavy jets -- are available at daily rates for a block of miles to keep pricing simple.
``Expressions of interest'' to build and operate the new Athens International Airport's FBO are closed, and ``requests for proposal'' are to be submitted by August. Sparta FBO Project Manager Kyriakos Papathanassiou declined to provide a short list of the bidders, saying the information is ``commercially sensitive.''
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has won the contract to build a new international airport in Hyderabad, India. The Andhra Pradesh State government approved the undisclosed bid to MAHB, beating out offers submitted by Zurich Airport Real Estate and Siemens AG. The first stage of the four-stage project involves the construction of an 11,280-foot runway that should be completed in 2008. Currently, MAHB is licensed to operate and manage 19 airports including all the commercial airports in Malaysia.
Reduced ambient pressure has a number of effects on human physiology. For some of these, supplemental oxygen can resolve the symptoms. For others, there is no readily available remedy.
The ultimate goal for the P180's designers was to produce a vehicle that delivered maximum performance and passenger comfort. They succeeded handsomely. But achieving those worthy, often conflicting, objectives always comes at a price -- one that in the Avanti's case is paid by the maintenance technicians.
FAA has tapped Lockheed-Martin to develop a new satellite-based air traffic system. The two-year, $200 million contract provides for installation of the new Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures in Oakland and Anchorage. The technology is intended to increase efficiency by reducing air traffic separation and enabling more direct routings.
The AOPA is claiming victory in the fight against a 1998 Pennsylvania law restricting which airports could get state and federal funds. A Pennsylvania court overturned the law, which the AOPA claims targeted four airports and gave suburban Montgomery County the power to veto improvements to federally or state-funded airports. One of the targeted airports is embattled Philadelphia-area Wings Field, the AOPA's birthplace. The AOPA, the NBAA and other organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief against the provision.
While U.K. ATC privatization took a step closer to reality, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Air Transport Association Senior Vice President Ed Merlis reassured a meeting of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) that they are opposed to privatizing the U.S. air traffic control system. Both said that air traffic control should remain a government function.
By Paul Richfield, in Teterboro, N.J. Super Falcon Detailed The FNX will look similar to the 900EX but will have an eight-foot stretch and feature an all-new wing.
Dassault is conceding the 6,000-nm ``global'' business jet market to others, choosing instead to fill a perceived gap directly below that class with a fly-by-wire trijet that's larger and farther ranging than any previous Falcon. The French manufacturer's Falcon Next, or ``FNX,'' will be a large-cabin trijet designed to carry eight passengers at 0.8 Mach for 5,700 nm -- farther than the G-IVSP and Challenger 604, but not quite the distance of the G-V/Global ultrajets.
The first BBJ2 is now undergoing completion at an undisclosed completions facility and is expected to enter service in early 2002. Three additional BBJ2s are being fitted with fuel tanks at PATS in Delaware before heading for their completions work. Meanwhile, the BBJ1 was to make its first appearance at the Paris Air Show. One of the most visible BBJs, formerly owned by Atlas Air and flown by its founder, the late Michael Chowdry, has been sold by the airline to an unidentified operator.
