The Bush Administration will ask Congress for $15 million to fund the next step in NASA's Small Aircraft Transportation System program that is designed to increase availability of low-cost general aviation aircraft and access to small airports. In NASA's fiscal 2001 budget, Congress awarded NASA $9 million in seed money for the program and directed the agency to ask for more money in future years, saying members "recognized that the expansion of SATS is a technically high-risk program...and will require additional resources" (BA, Oct. 23/185).
Used retail jet and turboprop deliveries inside and outside North America for March 2001 (see related graphs on Pages 189 and 190 of the hard copy of this issue.) Used Retail Deliveries March 1998 March 1999 March 2000 March 2001 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 72 35 17 59 23 11 65 47 24 58 28 26 America
WILLIAM FORCE joined Heliflite Shares as vice president of operations. Force has more than 24 years of aviation experience, most recently as director of operations for American Eurocopter. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was designated a Naval aviator. He also has supervised pilot training and maintenance for the Maryland State Police.
LANCAIR unveiled a series of new optional packages for its Columbia single-engine piston aircraft, including installation of a UPS-Aviation Technologies dual MX-20 moving map display, the Sadin Miniflo-L digital fuel management system and the J.P. Instruments EDM 700 multi-function engine monitor.
Faced with sharply rising construction cost estimates, a gap in voluntary contributions and a determination to have at least part of the new Air and Space annex at Dulles International Airport open by December 2003, officials said last week they will build the new complex in two phases.
GALAXY AEROSPACE is offering free maintenance to new purchasers of Galaxy business jets for five years or 2,500 flight hours, whichever comes first. The Galaxy No Charge Maintenance Program will apply to new aircraft orders received for a limited time. The program covers "all maintenance, as well as the cost of parts, including typical high-wear items such as tires and brakes," which "could easily save the owner of a typical midsize jet as much as $750,000 on maintenance versus their current aircraft," according to President Brian Barents.
TAG AVIATION USA won FAA approval to operate a Bombardier Global Express aircraft under Part 135 of the FARs, which TAG said is the first such approval for the new long-range business jet. The approval followed a series of proving flights led by Capts. Karl Larson and Mark devanderSchuren and Flight Attendant Darcey Pearson and observed by Chad Gilbert, an FAA aviation safety inspector. TAG said the new Global Express will be based in Seattle.
A Piper Meridian turboprop that had been flown to Vero Beach, Fla. for maintenance crashed last week shortly after the pilot took off to return to his home in Daytona Beach, Fla. Leonard Korman, 43, identified as the pilot and owner of the aircraft, and a passenger, Richard Chiavola, 44, were killed in the April 9 crash and ensuing fire.
Model 172R and 172S airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-14-AD; Amendment 39-12164; AD 2001-06-17) - requires a one-time inspection for proper engine idle speed and fuel control mixture setting and adjustment, as necessary. This AD also requires incorporating engine operating procedures into the Pilots Operating Handbook and FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual. This AD is the result of reports of rough engine operation because of an over-rich fuel mixture (improper fuel flow settings).
Model 412 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-60-AD) - withdraws a proposal that would have required for the high landing gear aft crosstube assembly, determining the number of landings, inspecting for damage, vibro-etching a part number (P/N) and a serial number (S/N), creating a component history card or equivalent record, establishing a retirement life, and replacing each unairworthy crosstube assembly. FAA has determined that the proposal contained incorrect part numbers.
STEPHEN VAN BEEK was appointed senior vice president, policy and strategic development for ACI-NA, the airport trade association. Van Beek formerly was associate deputy secretary at the Department of Transportation, where he coordinated national intermodal transportation policies. He also has chaired a federal task force on airline service problems and worked with Transport Canada and U.S. agencies to expedite clearances between U.S. and Canada.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new simulator training facility at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport last week, an operation that is co-located with SimuFlite Training International's headquarters and which SimuFlite officials will help manage. The new 81,800-square-foot training center will provide training for pilots of Model 31A, 45 and 60 Learjets initially, and Bombardier plans to add Challenger 604 and Continental business training next year.
TRANSCONTINENTAL AVIONICS CORP. received a contract from Diversified Communications Group of Cincinnati to provide installation and field support of aeronautical AM and FM equipment for DCG customers. TCA-affiliated dealers will install and maintain DCG systems at airports through the U.S. TCA is a new umbrella organization for a chain of independently owned and operated avionics shops that operate under a common service mark.
Midwest Express placed major aircraft orders with Boeing and Embraer in a move designed to transform the highly rated carrier's fleet from one of the oldest to one of the most modern in the industry. In addition to the original equipment manufacturers, the order is a nice piece of business for engine maker Rolls-Royce, which builds the powerplants for both the new aircraft ordered.
MORRIE GOODMAN was named vice president of communications for The Boeing Company's Air Traffic Management business unit. Goodman, who will be based in Washington, D.C., will be responsible for strategic communications planning, public relations, employee and executive communications and advertising. He formerly served as press secretary and director of public affairs at the Department of Commerce under Secretaries William Daley and Norman Mineta.
CONSTRUCTION of the Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport is expected to begin this month, even though museum officials acknowledge they don't expect to have all the money in hand to complete the entire project on schedule. See article below. Museum officials keep thinking of new ways to generate interest in and support for the new facility designed to house nearly 300 aircraft and spacecraft.
ROCKWELL COLLINS AVIATION SERVICES has expanded its Collins Avionics Services Programs to business aircraft operators worldwide. The program covers all component maintenance and reliability upgrades with services billed on a consolidated invoice based on a forecast of annual operating hours. The program is designed to increase on-wing reliability while lowering ownership costs, Collins said.
Galaxy Aerospace hopes to win certification from U.S. and Israeli aviation authorities by mid-year for a 600-pound gross weight increase for the Galaxy business jet. The increase will boost operating weight to 19,800 pounds, maximum ramp weight to 35,600 pounds and maximum landing weight to 30,000 pounds.
FAA'S FAILURE to develop regulations giving air tour operators incentives to use quiet technology aircraft is finally gaining some attention on Capitol Hill.At least one key legislator is said to be upset with the emphasis by FAA and the National Park Service on piling additional restrictions on air tour operators but ignoring congressional mandates to push the use of quieter aircraft as a viable way to reduce the noise impact of air tour flights.
STEVE KLASSEN was named avionics/instrument and satellite manager for Duncan Aviation. Klassen has more than 20 years of aviation experience, initially with Sperry Flight Systems and later Honeywell. Most recently, he managed Honeywell's repair and overhaul operations in Wichita, Kan.
The Federal Aviation Administration, armed with an independent report that showers praise on the benefits of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), set a new schedule for the beleaguered program that would allow pilots to begin using the system for precision landings at airports nationwide by the end of 2003. FAA last week sent a report to Congress on the findings of an Independent Review Board (IRB) investigation of WAAS and stated that the agency "remains committed" to the program.
PROFESSIONAL AVIATION ASSOCIATES formed a Falcon Aircraft Parts Division to specialize in Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft. PAA distributes parts worldwide to FBOs, general aviation operators and commuter airlines with a concentration on Beech, Learjet and Falcon parts.
BEARING INSPECTION INC. won a five-year contract from Israel Aircraft Industries to overhaul bearings and related components for various engines serviced by IAI. IAI's engines division, Bedek Aviation Group, maintains, overhauls and tests commercial engines and accessories.
U.S. BUSINESS AVIATION operators hope to build the appropriate relationships with Russian officials so they can take advantage of four polar routes that commercial airlines have begun to use recently. Business aircraft currently are free to transit the routes - there aren't technical or regulatory barriers - but the routes are not a practical option because the required clearances are too difficult to obtain. The routes over the polar caps have long been available for commercial use, but a recent accord with the Russians made them viable for scheduled airline flights.
Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures, Inc., the Long Beach, Calif. company that has been struggling to find the financing to complete development and certification of its Jetcruzer 500 aircraft, named aviation marketing veteran Roy H. Norris to its board of directors. Norris, 56, has held a series of executive posts with Raytheon Aircraft, Gulfstream Aerospace and Cessna Aircraft. He currently is president of The Norris Group, a consulting services firm based in Birmingham, Ala.
