Bob Frenzel has decided to take early retirement from the Air Transport Association (ATA), where he has served as vice president for aviation safety and operations. Frenzel joined the ATA in 1998 after a 23-year career with UPS. Frenzel was one of the architects of Spring/Summer 2000, the joint FAA-airline initiative to reduce severe weather delays throughout the national airspace system. ATA President Carol Hallet said Frenzel intends to expand his ``second career'' -- as a professional singer.
Fboweb.com says it is in the process of making airport runway diagrams available on the Internet. The Web site features information on airports and related services, navaids, FBOs, weather and flight plan filing. In addition, the Web site has a ``clipping'' application that allows flight-plan filing and downloading with a Palm VII device.
Alberta Aerospace Corp. (AAC) says it has launched a $7 million initial public stock offering to fund ongoing development of the Phoenix FanJet -- a Stelio Frati design once known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. Production of an unpressurized, two-seat trainer variant called the Sigmajet is the company's first priority, with a pressurized, four-seat business jet variant (the Magnajet) following a year after the trainer goes into production.
FAA facilities and computer systems remain vulnerable to intruders, hackers and other security threats, according to an investigation by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). Responsibility for FAA security is dispersed among its Office of Civil Aviation Security, its Chief Information Officer and the individual command structures. This lack of central oversight adds to the security risk, the GAO said in its report.
Lufthansa City Line has ordered 10 additional Bombardier CRJ700s, doubling its order for the 70-seat regional jets. SAS regional affiliate Air Botnia has ordered five BAe Systems Avro RJ85 aircraft; the 79-seaters are earmarked to replace aging Fokker F28s on the carrier's Scandinavian route network. Air Kilroe partner Eastern Airways (UK) is leasing another BAE Jetstream 32, bringing its fleet to a total of seven of the 19-seat turboprops.
The tables above show results of a fuel price survey of U.S. fuel suppliers performed in October 2000. This survey was conducted by Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US) and reflects prices reported from FBOs nationwide. Prices are full retail and include all taxes and fees. For additional information, contact ARG/US at (513) 852-5110 or on the internet at www.aviationresearch.com.
Airlines have threatened to stop service to Katmandu's Tribhuwan airport after a spate of bird-strike incidents. At least four airliners were damaged; no injuries were reported.
Bombardier Business Aircraft President Rob Gillespie says that the Global Express program is progressing well, despite ``early growing pains'' and slow completions. Gillespie says the order backlog has reached 120 aircraft, with 18 already in service. The Global Express faces a new challenge from Gulfstream's G-VSP, although Bombardier officials claim that performance of the enhanced G-V will still be short of the Global.
TME (UK) Ltd. has designed a body restraint system for use in air-rage incidents. It can be used as an initial restraint device or, if required, as a full restraint system for a violent person. The system attempts to minimize the risk of injury and at the same time gives the crew time to defuse the assailant's anger. The system comes with restraints for the upper body, leg and wrist, and a multipurpose strap. Both the T-shaped body and Y-shaped leg restraints are made of polycarbonate and have a strap made of webbing and spring metal.
When it comes to calendar age, there are more than 5,000 jets and more than 6,000 turboprops in service that are 20 years or older. Production has ceased for most of these designs, but, unlike many piston-powered designs, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a successor company remains in business. Most provide some level of support.
Embraer has revealed a number of new regional jet orders: Air Moldova ordered two firm ERJ-145s with two options; Axon Airlines of Greece signed a letter of intent for four ERJ-145s with two options; Regourd Aviation of France signed an LOI for one firm and one optional ERJ-135LR; Pan Europeenne Air Services (France) signed an LOI for one firm and one optional ERJ-135; Casablanca-based Regional Air Lines signed an LOI for five firm and five optional ERJ-135s; LOT Airlines of Poland ordered five ERJ-145s, bringing its total to 11 of the type.
Skyways, Sweden's largest regional airline, won the Airline of the Year Gold Award at the recent European Regions Airline Association (ERA) convention in Interlaken, Switzerland. In making its decision, a panel of European aviation writers compared airlines in terms of financial growth, technical achievements, passenger approval and other criteria. Eurowings of Germany came in second; Aegean Airlines of Greece won the bronze award.
Wyvern Aviation says it will more than triple the number of audits performed in the second half of this year in response to the ``burgeoning demand for air charter.'' The company says it has stepped up its auditor training classes to meet the demand. Another reason for the increased auditing pace is Wyvern parent FlightTime.com's desire to have all aircraft available online be Wyvern-audited and approved. Wyvern President Walt Lamon says that FlightTime.com is funding the additional audits.
Gulfstream Aerospace has introduced a Web site dedicated to Gulfstream charters. The site allows registered users to search from among more than 90 Gulfstreams available for charter worldwide. The Gulfstream Charter Services pages at www.gulfstream.com will offer the ability to check availability, seating arrangements and maintenance information; view aircraft photos; and get quotes online. Catherine Smith, director of Gulfstream Charter Services, says ``the improved service is expected to double Gulfstream's charter business in the coming year.''
Sikorsky Aircraft and Honeywell have completed 42 hours of flight testing of the first enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) designed specifically for helicopters. The new system will display terrain and obstacle information on EFIS or weather radar displays and features tail-strike and bank-angle alerts, and auto-rotation and landing-gear position awareness reminders. The team hopes to achieve FAA certification before the end of the year, and the Mark XXII EGPWS unit could be available for new and used Sikorsky S-76 helicopters by early 2001.
TAG Aviation's worldwide fleet has grown by 39 aircraft since the beginning of the year, bringing the total of charter and managed aircraft to 153. The new aircraft include four Gulfstream Vs in the company's U.S. fleet of 122 aircraft. TAG's European fleet has added a Falcon 900, two Learjet 45s and a Citation Excel, raising its total to 31 aircraft. ``Equally exciting are the five Global Expresses we have in completion that we will deliver to our clients before the end of the year,'' says Jake Cartwright, CEO of TAG's U.S. unit.
Ingenuity and resourcefulness remain the watchwords of the aircraft modification business. That was made clear as B/CA contacted scores of companies to update the mod directory for this year. Increasing utility, performance, safety and comfort are evident in many developments both large and small. In years past, we have reflected on the number of aircraft that were considered obsolete until some noodler developed a modification that could breathe new life into old designs.
Two former Executive Jet Aviation executives have launched a firm to provide financial and management support for start-up aviation businesses. Co-founder Paul Schweitzer says the company, known as ``41,000 Feet,'' will allow ``entrepreneurs to focus on developing his or her idea,'' and leave administrative and financing issues to others. Schweitzer and partner Scott Liston claim to have four ideas in development and are seeking others online at www.41kfeet.com.
The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey has selected NBAA President Jack Olcott as one of its 2001 inductees. Museum President Edmund Nelle Jr. cited Olcott's current position, as well as his experience as an aviator and publisher as reasons for his selection. Before joining the NBAA, Olcott was editor and publisher of B/CA. Olcott and fellow inductees George Meade, a Vietnam veteran and traffic helicopter pilot; the late WWII pilot Roy LaGrone; and the late Isaac Schlossbach, owner and operator of Asbury Park Airport, will be honored in a May 2001 ceremony.
Saying ``the corporate aircraft market is the midst of a second golden age,'' aircraft financier The CIT Group expects the new and used business aircraft markets to remain strong through, at least, the end of 2001. The CIT forecast also says it expects new and used jets to lead the market, with turboprop sales activity to remain ``muted.'' Short of what it refers to as ``some unforeseen natural shock,'' CIT says even a recession is unlikely to have a major effect on the business aviation market until some time in 2002.
SimuFlite says it plans to open a new training center in the Northeastern United States in 2001. While declining to name a specific location, SimuFlite President Jeff Roberts said, ``Just look at where airplanes are located'' to figure out the possibilities. The new facility will house six simulators, including a newly ordered Sikorsky S-76 simulator, marking SimuFlite's entry into rotary wing pilot and maintenance training.
Honeywell is close to securing FAA approval for its Primus Epic Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) program, which will bring eight-by-10-inch flat-panel displays to used aircraft cockpits. TSO approval is expected in February 2001, with STCs following shortly thereafter. The CDS/R will make flying easier and safer, by presenting information in a ``more meaningful, intuitive format,'' says John Uczekaj, Honeywell's vice president of business, regional and general aviation avionics.
Dassault, Raytheon and Gulfstream each announced plans for new business jets at the NBAA convention in New Orleans. Raytheon introduced the Hawker 450, an entirely new, light midsize jet featuring a swept wing, stand-up cabin, 2,000 nm range, 0.80 Mach cruise speed and $7.8 -million to $9 million price tag. Gulfstream's new G-VSP sports updated avionics, increased MTOW, aerodynamic improvements and an $800 million, 20-aircraft launch order from Executive Jet.
