An agreement that allows Continental Express pilots with two years of regional jet experience to enter a hiring pool at Continental Airlines is rumored to be ``dead in the water'' due to slow growth at the mainline carrier. Sources say some veteran ConEx pilots have declined jobs at Continental, fearing a loss of seniority and possible posting to junior domiciles, principally Guam.
Air Cruisers' new 10-person life raft is certified to TSO C70a and features a six-year maintenance interval on the inflatable section. The raft, which has an overload capacity of 15 people, features internal/external lights, a foam-insulated floor to protect against hypothermia, auto-erecting canopy, balasting system, two boarding ladders and survival equipment. The pack measures nine by 20 by 20 inches and weighs 44 to 46 pounds, depending on options. Survival kits are available to comply with FAR Part 91/121/125/135, JAR OPS Part 1 and CAR 725.95.
Flush with 31 orders and 31 options for its new Legacy business jet, Embraer says it expects to sell 240 of the ERJ-135 derivative over the next 10 years. Phoenix-based FBO Swift Aviation is the launch customer for the $19 million aircraft, which boasts a 3,200-nm range and 0.80 Mach cruise speed. Embraer's early results appear stronger than that of Fairchild Dornier's $13.5 million Envoy 3, which as of Mid-October had yet to find a single buyer.
SimuFlite's QuickTurn division has added Turbo Commander 690 pilot training to its offerings. The new training program is available at the company's Grapevine, Texas, facility using a Collins avionics-equipped Frasca flight-training device. Initial and recurrent training last from two to five days. Legendary air show performer Bob Hoover was the first to fly the new simulator.
Nearly 20 years after Corporate Angel Network (CAN) cofounder Leonard Greene flew the group's first cancer patient from White Plains, N.Y., to Detroit for treatment, CAN still faces the same challenge: too many people needing cancer treatment and too few corporate aircraft seats to transport them. While the organization has arranged transportation for more than 12,500 people since that December day in 1981, a small minority of business aircraft operators provides the majority of CAN's lift, and money is always tight.
Heavy summer air traffic has led the FAA to upgrade the airspace around Kissimmee Airport (ISM) in Florida from Class G to Class D. In an agreement with Orlando International Airport (OIA), Kissimmee will control airspace up to 2,000 feet agl, and OIA will control the airspace above.
Several aviation luminaries have appeared again on Forbes magazine's annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. Financier Warren Buffett appears at number four with a net worth of $28 billion. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns both Executive Jet and FlightSafety International. The second wealthiest aviator is Steven Udvar-Hazy, CEO of International Lease Finance with $2.8 billion, placing him 87th on the list. Udvar-Hazy recently pledged $60 million to the National Air and Space Museum's Dulles Airport project.
The FAA has selected April 1, 2001 as the earliest start date for instituting new passenger facilities charges (PFCs) -- taxes applied to every airline ticket sold in the United States. The PFC will be raised from $3.00 to $4.00 or $4.50, a changed stipulated by the AIR-21 legislation signed into law in April. The FAA says the year lag between agreeing to raise PFCs and implementing the change was needed for the reprogramming of airline ticketing and computer reservations systems. Among other uses, PFC revenues are applied to airport and infrastructure improvements.
Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group has opened a new aircraft interior refurbishment center to complement its maintenance facilities at Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia, Canada. The move bolsters the Montreal-based company's West Coast and Asian business, which has seen a rise in demand for custom-refurbished aircraft interiors. The Vancouver center will specialize in upholstery, cabinetry, sheet metal and avionics installations.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) has awarded a capital improvement contract to the Michael Baker Corp. worth more than $10 million. Expected to begin April 2001, the project includes reconstruction of the main terminal aircraft parking apron, construction of a new north parallel taxiway and an upgrade of the Extended Runway Safety Area on Runway 3. Baker also plans to modify the airport's ILS, replacing the ``endfire'' glideslope antenna with a ``capture effect'' antenna.
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) has requested FAA funding for the construction of two new taxiways. Airport officials say the taxiways will help reduce the possibility of runway incursions. According to FAA statistics, DAB was the 35th busiest airport for general aviation traffic in 1999.
The Mexican Navy has ordered a Bombardier Q200 turboprop equipped with a convertible interior for VIP transport, all-cargo, mixed-passenger and cargo or standard passenger seating. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September 2001. The Navy also has an option for one additional Q200. German regional carrier Lufthansa CityLine doubled its CRJ700 order from 10 to 20 aircraft and is considering options for 10 additional aircraft.
Alliance Coatings' disposable Kwik Kit can touch-up the urethane paint on very small areas of your aircraft. Mixing of the two-ounce package is done in a contained environment. Alliance says it can provide computer color matched kits for any aircraft urethane paint color. The kits have an aerosol or brush applicator. Price: Starting at $18.00 each, minimum order of 24 Alliance Coatings 1666 N. Magnolia Ave. Ste. G El Cajon, Calif. 92020 Phone: (619) 596-9191 Fax: (619) 596-9190
Business jet deliveries will this year, but will remain strong over the next decade, according to Honeywell's annual Business Aviation Market Outlook. The aerospace giant says that fractional ownership will play an increasing role in business aviation's growth in the next decade. Fractionals are projected to account for 11 percent of the business aviation fleet by 2011, up from four percent this year. Honeywell says that more than 20 percent of business aircraft deliveries during this period will be to fractional owners.
The DC-9 left Charleston, S.C., at 0700 headed for Chicago with a stop in Charlotte (CLT). The first officer was flying. CLT weather was posted as ``. . . partial obscuration, 5,000 feet scattered, visibility 1.5 miles in ground fog . . .'' The crew would fly the Runway 36R VOR/DME approach, but as they descended, they talked about various things, including politics and used cars.
Canadian and Russian aviation officials are seeking to raise $33 million (U.S.) to enable full use of polar routes for flights between North America and Asia. A recently concluded feasibility study for Nav Canada and the Federal Aviation Authority of Russia (FAAR) determined that there is heavy demand for the routes, which would save operators both time and money. The Russians have granted temporary authority for demonstration purposes, but say they need additional funding to update air traffic systems for the routes.
The second edition of the Aviation Mechanic Handbook is available from Aviation Supplies&Academics (ASA). The Handbook compiles specifications from reference books and government publications into a toolbox-size guide. The second edition has been completely revised to reflect current reference information critical to maintaining aircraft. The Handbook also features an index, color illustration and tabbing with a spiral-bound soft cover. Price: $16.95 ASA 7005 132nd Pl. S.E. Newcastle, Wash. 98059-3153
The Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics has approved runway extensions at Monroe Municipal Airport (EFT) and Carl's Field (RPD) in Rice Lake, Wis. The WBA said the Monroe project would extend the RW12-30 to 4,500 feet in order to better suit the needs of business aircraft at the airport. In addition, Carl's Field will be lengthened to 5,500 feet and widened to 100 feet, and will include taxiway and lighting upgrades.
I am struck with the sturdiness of accident statistics in the face of society's best efforts to produce more palatable outcomes. The NTSB, for example, just reported that the total number of persons who died in 1999 in transportation accidents was 43,986 -- down two persons from the total that fell victim to such mishaps in 1998. Two people! And look at the breakouts by transportation category -- highway fatalities rose from 41,501 in 1998 to 41, 611 in 1999. Deaths at roadway/railway grade crossings declined from 431 to 402.
Four thirty nine Hotel, Albuquerque. I have an amendment to your clearance.'' Those words often make pilots wince as they contemplate burying their heads and hands in the cockpit to reprogram the FMS and other systems in response to new directions from ATC.
Mechanical failure is suspected as the possible cause of an October airplane crash, which killed Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, his son Roger and a longtime aide. Roger was reportedly flying the 1980 Cessna 335 at 6,500 feet when he reported a problem with its gyroscope. The airplane crashed in rain and fog in Festus, Mo.
Bombardier says it has received its 100th order for the new Continental business jet and construction of the first Continental (serial number 20001) is proceeding on track in Wichita. Bombardier introduced the aircraft at the 1998 NBAA show, and launched the program at the Paris Air Show in June 1999. First flight of the super-midsize business jet is expected by mid-2001, with certification following in third quarter 2002 and first ``green'' deliveries before the end of that year. As the Continental develops, so does its powerplant.
