SPORTY'S ACADEMY, INC. updated its Complete Recreational Course for pilots to incorporate new regulations and airspace changes as well as state-of-the-art three-dimensional motion graphics and special effects. The course includes new footage from the cockpit of a Cessna Skyhawk. The course comprises more than nine hours of video in four volumes, a syllabus and study guide. Sporty's is offering the course for $109. For more information, call Sporty's at (800) LIFTOFF or (513) 735-9000.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD already is investigating the use of video cameras in aircraft cockpits. Staffers told board members earlier this year they are cooperating with a European Organization for Civil Aviation working group to develop technical standards for such a device, which they said would cost $5,000 to $8,000 per unit (BA, July 12/13). The discussion of cockpit video cameras arose during an NTSB discussion about the crash of a Cessna Caravan flown by a single pilot.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL is upgrading the visual systems in 14 of its Level C flight systems. The upgrades, slated to be completed by early 2001, will include the CAE Electronics Maxvue Plus daylight systems and BARCO/EIS Monitor Replacement Projectors.
Well over 90 percent of all air carrier certificate holders received the top rating in an FAA assessment of Y2K readiness, the agency said last week, with officials indicating that they expect nearly all Y2K concerns to be resolved before yearend.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146-100A, -200A, and -300A series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-237-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires either a one-time non-destructive test (NDT) inspection or a detailed visual inspection for cracking of the fuselage skin in the vicinity of Frame 29 between Stringers 12 and 13, and repair, if necessary. This action would require that the current thresholds for these inspections be reduced and that repetitive inspections be performed.
EXECUTIVE JET integrated its Executive Jet Management and Charter Services into one organization. Executive Jet Charter already had employees based at EJM headquarters in Cincinnati as well as Columbus, Ohio. "We are streamlining the organization in order to enhance efficiency and strengthen our position in the charter market," said Todd Spangler, who was named vice president-charter services and is responsible for the integration of the organizations. EJM manages 60 aircraft in 28 locations nationwide with plans to add 28 more in 2000.
SERGE LARUE was appointed general manager-Canada for Excel Cargo, a unit of Mercury Air Group in Montreal, Canada. Larue has 27 years of cargo experience with Air Canada Cargo and Aeroports de Montreal.
BOMBARDIER won a contract valued at $116 million from Shandong Airlines in central China for five CRJ200 regional jet aircraft. Bombardier said the contract is its first CRJ sale to a regional airline operator in China. Shandong, based in Ji'nan, capital of Shandong Province, will use the aircraft to expand its regional routes throughout the Peoples' Republic of China.
JOHN M. (JACK) FERRIS, 85, the former head of Avco Lycoming Engines in Williamsport, Pa., died Oct. 28 in Boca Raton, Fla. Ferris was one of the founding members of the General Aviation Manufacturers in 1970??? and served as the vice chairman, and then chairman of the organization during its first two years. Ferris was a pilot in World War II and retired as a colonel from the United States Air Force. He also served as chief of engineering and maintenance for the Hawaiian Air Deport, Hickham Field, Hawaii.
All three persons aboard a Beech King Air 200 were killed Oct. 11 when their aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan while attempting to take off from Meigs Field in Chicago, Ill. about 2015 local time Thursday evening.
THE U.S. SENATE approved eight nominations Wednesday for senior government posts, but the nomination of John Goglia for another term on the National Transportation Safety Board still has not cleared the committee. Goglia has widespread industry backing for another term on the safety board, but supporters fear his nomination may not be acted upon before the Senate adjourns this week.
AVCOM-COMMERCIAL AVIATION, a general aviation services provider and charter operator in Russia, opened a new general aviation terminal at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport last month. Officials said the new facility is specifically designed to meet the needs of VIP passengers and can accommodate five to six business jets at one time. Avcom officials say their new terminal provides a high level of confidentiality for VIP passengers.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Monrovia, Calif., ratified a new three-year labor contract with the Metal Trades Council of Southern California and its affiliated unions. The new agreement calls for a 10 percent general wage increase over three years: four percent in the first year, with three percent raises in the succeeding years, increased pension benefits and inclusion of a profit sharing plan for all employees.
DENNIS KOVALSKY was appointed general manager of the aerospace coatings and sealants business unit for PPG Industries. Kovalsky joined PPG in 1977 as an engineer at its Circleville, Ohio resins plant and has since held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently he was global director of pretreatment and specialty products.
CESSNA called last month's AOPA Expo in Atlantic City a success after its Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representative in Lincoln Park, N.J. - Lincoln Park Aviation - sold 12 new single-engine aircraft. Lincoln Park sold eight Skyhawk SPs, three Skylanes and one Turbo Stationair to customers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY is offering two avionics packages for its 2000 model year piston aircraft. The standard package for the Baron 58, Bonanza A36 and Bonanza B36TC models will include PS Engineering PMA7000M-S audio panel-intercom system, dual Garmin 430 NAV/COMM/GPS moving map systems with glideslope, AlliedSignal's KFC 225 autopilot/flight director with KCS 55A HIS/compass system and KT 76C transponder, BFGoodrich WX-500 Stormscope weather mapping system and Shadin ADC 200 fuel/airdata computer.
KEVIN KEITH was named charter sales representative for Atlantic Aviation Corp. in Teterboro, N.J. Keith formerly was charter sales manager for business aircraft and helicopters with LynStar Aviation. He has more than 15 years of aviation experience, managing several New York helicopter operations including the East 60th Street Heliport.
As regional jet service grows more common, airports must take steps to prepare for it, according to speakers at the recent Airports Council International-North America convention in Las Vegas.
(Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-302-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections to detect loose or migrated levers of the elevator cable tension regulators, and replacement of the regulator assembly with a new assembly, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model F.27 Mark 050 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-225-AD; Amdt. 39-11379; AD 99-21-33) - requires a one-time inspection to detect improper installation of countersunk screws used to attach the access panels to the bottom skin of the center wing; and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
The Federal Aviation Administration's attempt to come to grips with how to regulate fractional aircraft ownership programs moves into a new phase this week with the first meetings of the agency's newly appointed Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) (BA, Nov. 8/209). FAA is asking participants to "propose revisions to the Federal Aviation Regulations and associated guidance material with respect to fractional ownership programs."
JERRY ATKIN, president and chief executive of Skywest Airlines, was elected chairman of the Regional Airline Association at the group's fall membership meeting in Alexandria, Va. this month. Andy Price, president of Commutair, was elected vice chairman, Tim Coon of Mesa Air Group was named treasurer and Dan Wolf of Cape Air was re-elected secretary. Newly elected RAA board members are: Tom Moore, Atlantic Coast Airlines; Bryan Bedford, Chautauqua Airlines; James Ream, Continental Express Airlines; and Tom Hanley, US Airways Express.
British Aerospace shareholders approved the company's proposed merger with Marconi Electronic Systems, BAe reported last week, noting that more than 99.9 percent of votes cast at an Extraordinary General Meeting in London were in favor of the merger. At separate meetings Nov. 3, Marconi plc (formerly known as GEC) also received approval for the proposed merger. Completion of the deal now depends on the resolution of the outstanding regulatory issues.
WHILE GOGLIA'S NOMINATION remained in limbo, the White House announced that it plans to nominate the former U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization to fill another pending safety board vacancy. See article below.
