Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARGUS) has launched an online safety analysis program for FAR Part 135 charter operators. Called the Charter Evaluation and Qualification (CHEQ) Report, the system searches the databases of NTSB and FAA accidents/incidents, Aircraft Service Difficulty Reports, and the National Vitals Information System Certificated Operators and evaluates the safety record of charter providers on a daily basis. The reporting system is divided into historical safety ratings, current aircraft/pilot data and on-site safety audits.
Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US), an aviation information and analysis company, has released its report on the fractional aircraft ownership market in 2000 and is predicting growth over the next five years. Joseph Moeggenberg, ARG/US president, said the expected ``in service'' fleet size will grow to over 1,400 aircraft by 2005 and he sees an increase from 400,000 passengers carried to 1.6 million.
Following several years of steady growth, Mercury Air Group says it will spin-off its fuel sales and services business. Mercury shareholders will receive stock in the new public-traded company -- MercFuel -- while retaining their existing Mercury Air Group shares. CEO Joseph Czyzyk says the change will enable the company to ``unlock . . . hidden shareholder value'' as well as ``raise additional capital.'' Mercury operates 19 FBOs and provides ground support services and fueling for airlines, general aviation and government aircraft.
Handcuffs and guard dogs greeted the passengers and crew of an Atlantic City-bound helicopter that mistakenly landed at a military airfield. In a report filed with NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, the pilot claimed that air traffic controllers suggested using the airfield (unnamed, but possibly McGuire AFB) because it was closer to the New Jersey city's casinos than the flight's original destination. The helicopter continued to land even after receiving no replies from the airport's control tower and witnessing ``many B-52 bombers . . .
Million Air at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey has received FAA authorization to add Raytheon Hawker, Dassault Falcon 50/900 and Canadair Challenger aircraft to its maintenance/repair certificate. Previous to the amendment, Million Air Teterboro had been approved to maintain Cessna, Gulfstream and Learjet aircraft.
Europe's newest airport, Eleftherios Venizelos at Spata, near Athens, Greece, due to open on March 1, was delayed until March 28 after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and airline representatives expressed grave doubts about the airport's land-side infrastructure.
BAE Systems has signed up Atlantic Coast Airlines for its Material and Component Repair and Overhaul (MACRO) program. This makes it the first North American Jetstream 41 customer to sign up for the fixed-rate per flight hour program and covers the airline's entire 32-ship Jetstream 41 fleet. Tom Moore, Atlantic Coast president and chief operating officer, said, ``We appreciate the customer-focused approach BAE Systems has taken in the design of the MACRO program.
Inadequate communication leads to deficient planning and briefings that are manifested in poor IAPs. Communication skills can range from cockpit communications where all pertinent information is discussed between flight crewmembers to communications with dispatch and ATC.
The BFGoodrich Co., now primarily an aerospace company, hopes to distance itself from its history as a tire maker by changing its name to Goodrich Corp., and with that change, introduce a new logo design. ``The long and short of it is, this company's transformed,'' said company spokesman Kevin Ramundo. ``It's now one of the leading aerospace suppliers in the world, and it's also strong in engineered and industrial products. And we think it's very appropriate to have an identity that reflects the transformation of this company.''
If your operation is still using flares or traffic cones to designate a helicopter landing zone (LZ), then Priority 1's FlightSite Landing Zone Kit may be an option for you. Used primarily by medevac units, FlightSafe is a five-strobe system enabling LZ identification from a 12,800-foot visible ceiling. The system employs a non-vision-im-pairing xenon flash that is secured by patented weightwashers to en-sure the strobes will remain in place during heavy rotor downwashes.
Piper's new Malibu Meridian turboprop is a pretty slick piece of machinery. Its look is all-business, it's easy to fly, and its Meggitt avionics are a refreshing departure from the antiquated steam gauges found in the instrument panels of most light aircraft. Some will no doubt say the Meridian is what the Malibu should have been in the first place, but it's really a different airplane.
Delivery numbers for January and early numbers for February show the market for new and used turbine business aircraft is continuing its solid pace. The same holds true in the compilation of delivered fractional aircraft, count of fractional buyers and the number of fractional shares sold.
Dallas Airmotive's Millville, N.J., facility has donated $2 million worth of jet engines and maintenance equipment to the New Jersey Academy of Aviation Science, an airframe and powerplant (A&P) school, located on Millville Municipal Airport (MIV).
A new regional fractional ownership program serving the Southwest has begun operation, with ultimate plans to add the Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 once the jet is certified. Dallas-based SevenBar, an SJ30-2 distributor, created the Ascend program with a pair of used Raytheon Beech King Air B200s. A one-eighth share in the King Air is priced at $287,500. Pricing for the Sino Swearingen jet has not been established. The SJ30-2 is currently undergoing flight testing and is expected to be ready for certification in 2002.
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) has warned President Bush that ``a devastating shortage of certificated and experienced maintenance technicians is looming.'' In a March letter to Bush, PAMA urged a number of education and liability changes to improve ``this situation.'' Coincidentally, the General Accounting Office -- Congress' investigative arm -- will study the potential ``bow wave'' of retirements and resulting labor shortage of aviation maintenance technicians. Acting at the request of Rep.
Parks College of Engineering and Aviation, in St. Louis, has restructured its FAR Part 147 program to offer a certificate-only airframe and powerplant (A&P) curricula. Available starting in July, the new program will enable technicians to complete training in 13 months as compared to its original two-year program. In addition to a reduction of time, the new program also lowers the cost of training. The A&P program will be housed independent of the university's undergraduate facilities at Amelia Earhart Hall.
The European Commission has delayed General Electric's planned Honeywell acquisition, at least temporarily, while it considers the possible competitive implication of the deal. The commission expressed concern that the merger might ``significantly'' reduce competition in the market including the possible bundling of jet engines, avionics and non-avionics. The EC action could postpone the merger by as much as four months. GE originally hoped to close the deal in early March.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways has become the second airline customer to use the Learjet 45 for advanced pilot training in the Asia Pacific region. Cathay's order is for one aircraft plus one option for its newly developed advanced pilot training program. The initial aircraft will enter the flying program in the third quarter of this year. The Model 45 will be operated and maintained by BAE Systems Flight Training (Australia) Pty Ltd. on behalf of Cathay, at its flight school at Parafield near Adelaide in South Australia.
World health experts advised long-haul air passengers and their doctors to take steps to avoid deep vein thrombosis. The potentially deadly blood clot had been called ``economy class syndrome'' following the deaths of several coach passengers disembarking from intercontinental flights in cramped coach seats on airliners. At a March meeting of the World Health Organization's cardiovascular unit, doctors concluded that all long-haul travelers and sedentary workers are at risk.
Since warning time before impact with basic GPWS could be less than a minute, you must be prepared to immediately perform the proper escape maneuver. Specific procedures will vary for different aircraft and according to performance characteristics. However, a sample GPWS recovery technique follows. The pilot flying must: 1. Pitch immediately to 20 degrees nose up, honoring stick shaker. If the RA is still decreasing, continue pulling to the pitch attitude it takes to match the terrain.
Putting an end to speculation that began shortly after last year's convention in New Orleans, the NBAA has decided not to expand the gathering beyond its current three-day format.
Saying he was ``exploring new ways to sell aircraft,'' Mike Curtis, owner of Quincy, Ill.-based Curtis Aviation Services, attempted earlier this year to sell a used Falcon 10 jet on eBay. Although the aircraft didn't sell, Curtis says he got ``three offers within $100,000'' of the asking price and the posting received almost 10,000 curiosity seekers. He has since placed a Cessna 310 on the online auction service and is awaiting the final result of that auction.
Lynton Aviation Aircraft Sales of the United Kingdom has ordered two more Raytheon Premier I's, bringing its total to seven aircraft valued at around $35 million. Lynton's original orders go back to 1998/99 but will start to come to fruition with the first Premier I delivery to the United Kingdom this month. Lynton, part of BBA Aviation's European network, is the U.K. Master Dealer for Raytheon/Beechcraft prop aircraft and sales representatives for the entire range of jets.
