Business aviation tenants at New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN) are being given a no-win choice: Agree to pay fines for violating the voluntary curfew, or risk being denied renewal of their lease at the county-owned facility. ``This is tantamount to extortion,'' one tenant complained.
Jet Aviation at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport (TEB) has implemented a new software program called FOS/NT used to support the company's flight operations, charter and maintenance planning. The software is designed to quickly process customer requests and gives information such as charter quotes, crewmember availability, aircraft tracking, scheduling and costs.
General maintenance for the PA-46-500TP Meridian has been simplified by the bonding of the all-metal fuselage and multi-sectional wing. The process is performed in an autoclave and causes the ribs to permanently adhere to the structure. Advantages of this type of construction include decreased weight because of the lack of rivets and increased strength. The main drawback comes when any major structural repair is necessary.
Bombardier Aerospace's CRJ900 prototype made its maiden flight on February 21, from Montreal's Mirabel International Airport, on what crewmembers described as a ``flawless initial flight'' for the stretched aircraft. The prototype was taken to FL 350, was airborne for two hours 54 minutes and basic maneuverability and initial systems checks were tested.
American Eagle is to launch three nonstop flights per week from its Caribbean hub of San Juan, to Bonaire, a popular diving and wind-surfing destination. The service is scheduled to start on June 2.
Keystone Helicopters has completed an expansion of its West Chester, Pa., headquarters. Designed to accommodate Sikorsky commercial helicopter completions, the facility includes a new downdraft paint booth as well as fabrication, composite and dedicated parts shops. Company President Peter Wright, Jr. says Keystone recently delivered a third factory-new S-76 ahead of schedule and continues to hire new personnel for the expanded operation.
Before entering World War II, America's major contribution to the Allied effort was providing its future brothers-in-arms with the guns, warships and warplanes they so desperately needed to combat the Axis powers. However, one of the most important advances in aviation technology -- the gas turbine engine -- was shipped from Great Britain to America just months prior to Pearl Harbor.
General aviation achieved a record low accident rate in 1999, according to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's just-released 2000 Nall Report. Examining accidents involving fixed-wing aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds, the Nall Report found that low-level maneuvering, and flight into adverse weather accounted for the vast majority of all accidents.
Flight testing has begun on Garrett Aviation Services' Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) program for straight-wing Cessna Citations. The Tempe, Ariz.-based company placed six aircraft into the program and hopes to receive FAA certification later this year. Garrett also has a Falcon 10 RVSM package in development and in 2000 received certification for its Gulfstream II RVSM package. Citations covered include 500, 501, 550, 551, S550 and early 560 models.
Concerns over a shortage of commercial pilots in Alaska has led to renewed congressional debate over extending the mandatory retirement age for FAR Part 121 pilots past age 60, renewing a campaign that stalled in 2000. On March 15, the Senate Commerce Committee voted 13-8 in favor of legislation that would raise the maximum age for commercial airline pilots from 60 to 63; the bill also authorizes the FAA to mandate medical and cognitive testing for applicable pilots.
Belfort Instrumentation has released DigiWx, an automated local weather reporting system that can be queried by a handheld digital display unit for preflight and inflight use. Designed for installation at airparks, glider ports, seaplane bases, heliports and private airfields, DigiWx uses state-of-the-art sensors to provide real-time, aviation quality data that can be accessed by the handheld unit as far as 10 miles away. The DigiWx system can be customized to provide minimal or extensive weather information.
Stevens Aviation, Greenville, S.C., has named Christopher Crum as its president and chief operating officer. Prior to Stevens, Crum served as vice president of Garrett Aviation's Houston facility, and was responsible for overseeing the maintenance, modification and refurbishment activities.
Bombardier Aerospace, Montreal, Canada, reports that Chip Abbott, pilot for American International Aviation, is the 250th graduate of its Global Express pilot training program.
Bombardier Aerospace has had to make a complete ``U-turn'' on Dash 8 Q400 certification for London City Airport (LCY) operations. The Canadian company had previously regarded the requirement as a low priority for the Q400 program, but pressure from new U.K. Q400 customer British European has changed all that. The airline has requested that the aircraft be certificated for full passenger load operations from both LCY and Belfast City Airports.
`` I really see this as one of the paramount challenges of our industry.'' The speaker was Don Baldwin, manager of Texaco's Aviation Transport Services, and the ``this'' to which he referred is the steady depletion of the pool of experienced young pilots available for positions with business aviation flight departments. The cause is easily identified.
The first Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717-200 was handed over at Boeing Long Beach, Calif., on March 1. The airline has ordered 13 aircraft with seven options. The first aircraft went into inter-island service on March 15. The aircraft are configured to carry 123 passengers, eight in first class and 115 in economy.
Chevron's $35 billion buyout of rival Texaco will see a merger of the two companies' respective flight departments at Oakland International Airport near San Francisco. Texaco's two Gulfstream IVSPs will relocate from Westchester County Airport (HPN) to Oakland, and the flight department's five pilots and 11 other employees are likely to be offered relocation. Texaco also owns a quarter share of a NetJets Citation VII, but its fate is unknown.
Imagine Boeing Business Jets preparing to deliver its first BBJ 2 aircraft, when 10 minutes before departure an earthquake hits and shuts down the field. To Boeing and the customer's relief, the aircraft was not damaged during the February 28 quake, but the runway at Washington State's King County International Airport (BFI) was impaired, leaving only 4,700 feet usable for takeoff.
Manchester Airport has bought East Midlands and Bournemouth Airports from National Express plc for $362 million. The Manchester Airport group of companies also has an 82.7-percent majority stake in Humberside Airport, which now makes the group the second-largest airport owner in the United Kingdom, behind the British Airports Authority.
Atlantic Aviation, Wilmington, Del., has named Joseph Fazio as general manager of flight support for its Teterboro (TEB) FBO. Prior to working for Atlantic Aviation, Fazio served as vice president and general manager for Jet Systems at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y.
British Midland Commuter has converted four options for two Embraer ERJ 135s and two ERJ 145s with deliveries due in January and April 2002. This takes British Midland's firm orders for the ERJ 135 to four and ERJ 145 to 10. The airline holds six more options for the ERJ 145, taking the total contract value to $270 million. Its seventh ERJ 145 arrived in February.
Charlotte County Airport (PGD), Punta Gorda, Fla., tenants are in an uproar after a memorandum was issued by Director Fred Watts requiring a 20-gallon minimum fuel fill before a truck is dispatched to a hangar. At a recent board meeting, Lionel Schumann, a tenant, told attendees that the memo discriminates against aircraft that won't hold 20 gallons and it discourages owners from topping off their tanks.
Airport peak-hour pricing proposals are gaining momentum in Washington, D.C. as government officials grapple with ways to ease growing congestion in the nation's airways. A number of industry economists and analysts recommended allowing the nation's most crowded airports to charge higher prices for takeoffs and landings during the busiest times of the day. This concept apparently has begun to gain support from some senior Washington officials, including Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Senate Aviation Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas).
