Advocates of new regulations governing fractional aircraft ownership programs and air charter operators are optimistic that the FAA may complete its notice of proposed rulemaking on the subject by the end of this month. Even after the FAA finishes work on the document, however, it must be reviewed by the DOT and the Office of Management and Budget.
There is a disturbing array of forces aligning that threaten to limit the flexibility and utility of business aircraft, two of the elements that make them such valuable transportation tools. No, we don't want to sound like Chicken Little, and no, the sky isn't falling. But there are some serious issues gaining momentum that could have very adverse consequences for business aviation. These include proposed restrictions on certain aircraft types at particular airports and outright bans on business aircraft at other facilities.
Garrett Aviation, Tempe, Ariz., has appointed Jerry Torrance as vice president/ general manager of its Houston facility. Torrance joins Garrett from Gulfstream Aerospace in Dallas, where he served as director of aircraft services.
Aircraft monitoring devices go all the way back to the Wright Brothers. The 1903 Flyer, the world's first true airplane, had a counter to measure the propeller revolutions, an anemometer to measure absolute airspeed and a stopwatch.
The bond between Bell 407 helicopter operators and their equipment is best described as a love-hate relationship. Operators said they love the flight characteristics of the helicopter, but hate certain maintenance requirements. This sentiment was profoundly expressed by all of the corporate respondents to B/CA's Bell 407 operator survey. One operator summed up his experience with the 407 by saying, ``We expected some growing pains when we chose the 407, but we didn't expect it to be so painful.''
Edited by Paul RichfieldKerry Lynch, in Washington, D.C.
Photograph: Norman Mineta While some of George W. Bush's choices for Cabinet posts have created a stir, Norman Mineta is being lauded by leaders in government and industry alike as perhaps the most qualified person ever nominated to head the DOT. Mineta, a Democrat, had been serving as commerce secretary in the Clinton administration when selected by Bush. He is well known for having helped set transportation policy as a congressman and as a member of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission.
Cessna Aircraft, which won type certification of its new Citation CJ2 entry-level business jet in June 2000, closed out the year with shipments of the first six units to customers. The CJ2, a variant of the original CitationJet, was among four new aircraft that Cessna announced during the 1998 NBAA convention. ``The CJ2 exceeded our expectations and delivered better performance than first projected,'' said Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Whyte. Backlog for the CJ2 extends into first quarter 2004.
Alcohol can cause disorientation due to its combined effect on the lower brain and inner ear, and those circumstances can exist for many hours. Even if you established an alcohol cutoff time 12 hours before flight, as you enter the clouds and transition to IMC you could experience a spinning sensation.
The Air Group has opened its seventh sales office at Palm Beach International Airport. Former Jet Professionals, Inc. (JPI) general manager Elizabeth Larson is heading up the new office. The charter operator says a Hawker 700 is now based at the South Florida facility.
The Air Force Flight Physiology Handbook AFP 160-5 states that the effect of a hangover probably constitutes a more significant flight safety hazard than does the mild intoxication state of alcohol ingestion. The symptoms of a hangover are not entirely due to alcohol ingestion. Many are due to the activities that often accompany over-indulgence in alcohol: smoking, loss of sleep, improper diet, etc. If you're taking prescription drugs, their effects on your physiology may require a great deal more time to offset the effects of a single drink.
North American Jet (NAJ), located at Palwaukee Airport (PWK) in Wheeling, Ill., is expanding its FBO operations. Kenneth Ross, NAJ's president, said after NAJ had received its FAA repair station approval the FBO needed to expand the maintenance facilities to ensure that customer needs were addressed.
When a corporation has maintenance done on an airframe, including a ``heavy maintenance visit,'' are the bills deductible immediately as ordinary and necessary business expenses, or must the cost be ``capitalized'' (depreciated over time)? Business aviation exists to serve at a moment's notice, so it is natural that flight departments want to deduct the full cost of all maintenance immediately. A recent IRS Revenue Ruling explains the factors that it reviews in determining whether an overhaul cost may be expensed, depreciated, or a combination of the two.
The Lobster cordless riveter is completely portable and still powerful enough to pull up to 3/16-inch rivets. The ``Ultra Jaws'' of the lobster riveter are designed for Cherrymax, Huck Monobolts and standard blind rivets without the need for special adapters. Equipped with a 9.6-volt battery pack, the riveter can pull up to 1,000 rivets on a single charge with a built-in overload protector to guard against motor burnout. The riveter includes 3/32-inch, 1/8-inch, 5/32-inch and 3/16-inch sets and a one-hour battery charger available in 100/ 115/220 or 240 volts.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations would be applicable to aviation industry employees under the provisions of a recently completed report. The report results from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in August 2000 by the FAA, DOT, OSHA and the Labor Department after intense flight attendant union lobbying efforts. While it will mainly impact large, scheduled airlines, there also may be fallout for smaller operators.
The Canadian government plans to back Bombardier's planned sale of up to 150 regional jets to U.S. carrier Air Wisconsin, escalating the ongoing Brazil-Canada dispute over aircraft export subsidies. If all options are exercised, the sale is valued at $3 billion. The action follows a December 2000 World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that cleared Canada to retaliate against Brazil for the latter's continued use of ProEx (PromoteExports), a government backed, low-interest loan mechanism Embraer has used to promote sales.
Design similarities and differences between the Bell/Agusta 609 and the MV-22 tiltrotor have the potential to affect market acceptance of the civilian version of the tiltrotor in the wake of the latest MV-22 crash on December 11, 2000. The MV-22 accident was apparently caused by a hydraulic malfunction, according to a report in the January 1 issue of Aviation Week&Space Technology.
Honeywell shareholders have voted in favor of the company's proposed merger with General Electric. The company said approximately 74 percent of Honeywell's outstanding shares were voted in favor of the merger. The companies say they still expect to conclude the merger in the first quarter of this year, subject to federal regulatory approvals. Michael Bonsignore, Honeywell's chairman and chief executive, is slated to step down from official duties following the deal's closure, although he will remain a consultant to GE at an annual salary of $3 million for two years.
The FAA in January launched its new Automatic Dependent Surveillance --Broadcast (ADS-B) technology in the Bethel area of Alaska, beginning what it called ``one of the most innovative air traffic tracking technology advancements since the advent of radar.'' ADS-B will enable air traffic controllers to provide a number of ATC services to small aircraft that operate in remote regions where such services have not been available.
Transport Canada has awarded an Aircraft Type Certificate for the 70-seat variant of Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet. U.S. type approval is expected in the near future. The CRJ700 series will enter service with French regional carrier Brit Air in the spring. Other CRJ700 buyers include American Eagle, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, GECAS, Horizon Air, Lufthansa and Maersk Air.
Eurocopter aims to expand its presence in Eastern Europe by joining forces with IAR Brasov, a Romanian manufacturer that has marketed western helicopters in Romania. Eurocopter Romania, the new joint venture, will sell and support the entire Eurocopter line, while assuming a portion of Eurocopter's manufacturing load.
If you're looking for information that goes above and beyond a standard flight manual, then you might consider reading the second edition of John Lowery's Professional Pilot. This book guides you through unforeseen events that can plague an aviator from takeoff to landing, and is filled with tips/techniques for pilots who operate aircraft ranging from light twins all the way up to transport category. Professional Pilot addresses scenarios that include flying after scuba diving, inflight fires, hydroplaning and icing problems. Price: $36.95
Sporty's is now offering the Sigtronics S-8 headset for the taller pilot. Since the main support for the headset is located out of the way, behind the pilot's head, the S-8 headset can be worn comfortably in a cockpit where headroom is an issue. The S-8 has the same features as the S-40 headset, including gel-filled ear seals and an M-90 electret microphone. The headset comes with a five-year warranty and is made in the United States. Price: $259.00 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103-9747
Signature Flight Support, Orlando, has named Nicole Adas as customer relations manager for the company's West Palm Beach International Airport facility. Adas comes to Signature from Raytheon Aircraft Services in Tampa, Fla., where she served as the customer service supervisor.
