The FAA has issued an emergency airworthiness directive covering Rolls-Royce AE3007 turbofan engines used on Embraer ERJ-145 and ERJ-135 regional jets because of reports of ``rapid failures of the No. 1 bearing'' in the engines. According to the agency, Embraer notified it of ``a design problem with the No. 1 bearing . . . this can lead to an event involving smoke in the cabin, followed by an uncommanded inflight engine shutdown.
Rapid Response Systems -- presently serving the airlines, FBOs and the military -- has added a full line of stainless-steel defuelers ranging in size from 250-gallon to 2,000-gallon capa-city. The FTS-250 SS, with a 250-gallon holding tank, is capable of de-fueling, storing and refueling all types of aviation fuel and is equipped with the appropriate filters for particulates and water. The fuel tanks are mounted on a steerable, wheeled chassis with grounding wires, sump drain and flow meters.
Flight department managers and chief pilots are eligible for a new continuing education scholarship from ExxonMobil and its Avitat affiliates. The annual $5,000 award may be used to pay tuition for one of several approved courses, all intended to improve management skills, which the sponsors say, are ``vital to the safe and efficient operation of a flight department.'' The companies already offer a continuing education scholarship program for schedulers and dispatchers.
Chautauqua Airlines, America West's new code-share partner in Columbus, Ohio, will help the Phoenix-based carrier expand service from its eastern hub. In August, the regional carrier will inaugurate service between Columbus and Atlanta using Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets. Indianapolis-based Chautauqua also operates code-share service for TWA and US Airways with a fleet of ERJs and Saab 340s Of the 26 Saabs, 20 are flown for US Airways Express; the rest are employed on the TW Express code share.
Private Sky Aviation Services, Fort Myers, Fla., has named Tony Singleton as its business manager and worldwide customer support. In addition, John Davis has joined the company as its maintenance service center director and Joe Timm has joined the company as its chief inspector.
These three graphs are designed to be used together to provide a broad view of the Boeing Business Jet'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 Boeing Business Jets.
The IAI Westwind 1124A (N50PL) had begun its descent into Teterboro (TEB) after a five-hour trip from Seattle. Weather in the New York area was good -- VMC with 10 miles visibility. It was December 12, 1999. The New York Center sector controller hurried the crew along, clearing the eastbound flight to cross Wilkes-Barre VOR at 18,000 feet and minutes later adding an instruction to cross MUGZY intersection at 6,000 feet. It's a slam-dunk procedure familiar to business jet pilots who frequent TEB. The crew acknowledged both transmissions.
The U.S. Department of Justice approved General Electric's planned $43 billion acquisition of Honeywell, subject to only a few conditions. The two companies have agreed to a plan under which Honeywell would sell its military helicopter engine unit and add additional third-party maintenance providers for certain Honeywell engines and APUs in the United States. Although the Justice Department action seems to move the mega-acquisition one step closer to reality, significant hurdles remain in Europe, where the European Commission has raised numerous concerns.
Trans States Airlines' regional jet service to three Trans World Express destinations is a casualty of the recently completed TWA and American Airlines merger. Trans States says scope clause restrictions in American Airlines' contract with its pilots mandates a reduction in the number of regional jets it can operate on behalf of the St. Louis carrier. Embraer ERJ-145s on Trans World Express flights connecting St.
Honeywell's engine division has reported that its E-Engines Web site, an online engine support and analysis service, has enrolled operators of more than 630 TFE731 and CFE738 engines -- more than half of its Maintenance Service Plan (MSP) customers.
Vaguely analogous to downshifting a car rather than using brakes to slow down, thrust reversers use engine thrust to slow the aircraft and reduce the stress associated with stopping. Besides saving wear and tear on brakes and tires, thrust reversers can reduce pilot stress -- if we understand the system and use it properly. When the runway is short or the braking conditions less than optimum, having an additional tool to help decelerate while sizzling down a short strip of slick tarmac can help put a pilot's mind at ease. Thrust Reverser Basics
The Greater Washington Aviation Open Raised $83,000 to benefit the Corporate Angel Network (CAN). The May tennis and golf outing, now in its 13th year, attracted nearly 300 participants from the Washington D.C.-area aviation community. Event sponsors included EADS, Inc., the Airline Pilots Association, Aerolink Transportation, Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Management and HMS Host.
Dassault Aviation, Teterboro, has named Anthony Hulsebus and George Marsh as field service representatives. In addition, Dassault has received the FAA's Diamond Award for maintenance excellence at its new Wilmington, Del., East Coast service center.
Overall quality of engine bleed-air used to pressurize and ventilate commercial aircraft cabins was found to be ``excellent,'' according to a preliminary study commissioned by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). Conducted by Germantown, Md.-based ENERGEN Consulting, Inc., and released this winter, ASHRAE Research Project 959 identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants suspected of entering aircraft through bleed-air systems.
If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Executive Jet's Richard Santulli and the other practitioners of fractional aircraft ownership must have gotten a big kick out of hearing United Airlines' plans to jump into the fractional fray.
Onboard weather radar systems are the primary tools for avoiding thunderstorms. But even when we steer clear of the cells, we can find ourselves slam-dancing in unexpected turbulence. Here are a few tips and reminders for navigating around thunderstorms and avoiding the worst of the rough air:
Among the standards that Wyvern Aviation Consulting applies to charter operator audits are these: Training of pilots in a full motion-base simulator at least once a year. Use of an approved minimum equipment list. A formal safety program for the operation. ``And it has to work, that is, it has to be actively practiced,'' Wyvern president Walt Lamon said.
FBO managers are worried about new airport certification and security regulations that will affect procedures at over 605 airports and impact the majority of operators using these airports' FBOs. The rules are to take effect in spring 2002. ``This is ridiculous. The new security procedures will require us to staff the gate 24/7 and nearly fingerprint everyone who wants access,'' said one FBO manager.
Few business aircraft offer a more complete standard avionics package than the BBJ. Six, eight-by-eight-inch Honeywell flat-panel displays adapted from the Boeing 777 are prominent in a panel mostly populated by traditional 737 controls and switches. Notably, the displays reflect Boeing's ``less is more'' design philosophy. They are uncluttered and the symbols and numbers on the displays are comparatively large. Single-cue or cross-pointer flight director symbology is available.
Imagine this. You're on a typical business trip. You awake from a full night's sleep in a queen-size bed, jump into the shower for 20 minutes and then get dressed to join your management team for a power breakfast. Before the meeting, you and your associates might check in with the home office for messages, download your e-mail and turn to CNN Headline News for an update. During breakfast in the conference room, key staff members make multimedia presentations. It's just another routine day en route to Paris aboard a Boeing Business Jet.
The FAA's manager of flight standards in the Eastern Region, Nick Sabatini, is now director of Flight Standards at the agency's Washington headquarters, replacing Nick Lacey, who was reassigned. Lacey is expected to be involved in implementation of an FAA plan for airspace management and new equipment certification. He also will continue his involvement in international safety issues.
Flight Services Group, Stratford, Conn., has appointed Capt. Roger Wanamaker as its chief pilot. FSG also has named Capt. Peter Budd as its director of safety.
The movie ``Moscow on Hudson'' contains a scene in which newly arrived Soviet defector Vladimir Ivanoff enters a New York supermarket looking for ``the coffee line.'' He's directed to Aisle 2 and when he turns the corner, he begins hyperventilating. He'd expected to find some sad sack of mealy, dried out beans because that had always been his experience in Mother Russia. Instead he discovers shelves towering with cans, jars, and bins heavy with coffee -- ground, freeze dried, pulverized and roasted -- from every corner of the world.
The heat index combines the relative humidity with the actual air temperature to give an effective heat measure. Exposure to full sun can increase the heat index by 15F. A heat index of 80F to 90F (27C to 32C): Fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. A heat index of 90F to 105F (32C to 41C): Sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
