Anticipating an increase of at least 25 percent in commercial and general-aviation aircraft in the Atlanta area during the 1996 Summer Olympics, the FAA has released its ATC and security plans for the airspace and airports in the region, effective July 15-August 9.
Robert L. Butcher was promoted to sales director, with responsibility for sales in North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. L.M.
Jary Engels, chief pilot for Honeywell Phoenix flight operations, has devised an effective test to evaluate pilot performance using a head-up display (HUD). He puts you in a strange aircraft equipped with a prototype Honeywell/GEC Marconi HUD 2020 with which you've never flown and says, ``Your first hand-flown approach using the HUD will be a simulated Category II ILS to Williams-Gateway Airport Runway 30 Center.''
A recent NOTAM regarding eastbound altitude restrictions canceled some of those restrictions. However, they will still apply until clear of certain heavy-traffic routes that cross G583 (Air Routing).
Contrary to its announcement at the 1995 Helicopter Association International annual meeting, Bell Helicopter plans to develop a new light twin-engine helicopter rather than produce a twin version of the Model 407 (B/CA, March 1995, page 20). The new light twin will feature ``substantial'' improvements over what the 407T would have offered, said Bell, but it won't be available until about a year later than when the 407T was slated to emerge. More details about the new light twin were expected to be announced at the Asian Aerospace show in Singapore early this month.
Transport Canada recently certificated Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet for Category IIIa approaches. FAA and European Joint Airworthiness Authority approvals were pending at press time. Under the approval, RJs equipped with a Flight Dynamics HGS 2100 Head-Up Guidance System and an appropriately trained crew can be hand-flown to the Category IIIa limit of a 700-foot runway visual range. Bombardier's de Havilland Dash 8 received Category IIIa certification in late 1994.
Two appointments were announced by the company's Canadair Business Aircraft Division. They are: C. Richard Beine, sales director, and Matthew F. Hartnett, vice president of used aircraft sales.
The crash of two Cessna Citation business jets-in Florida and Wisconsin-in December claimed four pilots and marked the only fatal accidents in 1995 involving turbine airplanes operating under FAR Part 91, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates. Both accidents occurred on approaches following positioning flights, and fog was present in both places. Worldwide, the Boca Raton, Florida firm said 27 business jet accidents occurred in 1995, including 10 fatal accidents with 53 lives lost.
Phoenix-based Garrett Aviation Services is marketing an STCed flight-manual change that enables Lockheed JetStar IIs and Model 731 JetStars to meet FAR Part 36, Stage 3 noise levels at slightly reduced takeoff weights and with a thrust cutback on takeoff. To meet Stage 3 levels, the noise-limited takeoff weights are 44,500 pounds for the JetStar II and 44,250 pounds for the 731 JetStar. Maximum landing weight is 36,000 pounds for both. The STC, available for $24,500 per aircraft, includes documentation certifying that the aircraft meet Stage 3.
After a year of serving customers from trailers, Martin Aviation opened this new terminal in January at California's John Wayne/Orange County Airport. The two-story structure houses hangars in addition to two conference rooms, a baggage-storage area, kitchenette, refreshment area and pilot supply store. Crew amenities include a lounge, flight-planning room, showers, quiet rooms and private offices.
Houston-based international handling agent Air Routing has developed an individualized international operations and procedures course based on a customer's aircraft, avionics, destinations and other special requirements. Lloyd Babcock, recently retired manager of flight projects for United Parcel Service, teaches the course on-site at customers' facilities. The cost and length of the course vary, depending on the requested topics to be covered. For more details, contact Tim Maystrik at Air Routing (713) 977-1020.
Available from Emergency Beacon Corporation is the new Model EBC-502H emergency locator transmitter for helicopters. Like the company's other ELTs, it's designed to be installed in the cockpit or cabin of an aircraft, to survive a crash and to sound an audible alert. Able to withstand up to 1,000 g's of shock, the transmitter weighs 2.75 pounds and measures 2.5 inches by 8.5 inches by 2.0 inches. A special activation system and audible alert reduces false alarms.
In a continuation of its relationship with Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, FlightSafety International will be the authorized training company for pilots of the new EMB-145 regional jet. FlightSafety Simulation in Tulsa will build an FAA Level D simulator and other training equipment for a FlightSafety Embraer Learning Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. FlightSafety currently trains pilots for the EMB-120 regional airliner. The EMB-145 is slated to enter service early in 1997.
FAR Part 135 commuter airlines operating aircraft with 10 or more passenger seats have until March 19 to submit their plans for reshaping their training programs so they comply with the requirements for Part 121 carriers. The FAA-approved training program must be activated no later than March 19, 1997. The rule also mandates crew resource management training and allows certain Part 135 operators more extensive use of simulators (B/CA, February 1995, page 20).
ICAO organized a meeting in Cairo, Egypt in January to update the Middle East Regional Air Navigation Plan from the last regional air navigation update in 1984. In the 12-year interim, the introduction of new aircraft types and other technological and economic developments in the area spawned new safety requirements. Therefore, the agenda included discussion of satcom and satnav, search and rescue services, meteorology, training and human-resource planning. The Middle East is one of nine regions within ICAO's Global Air Navigation Plan.
Air France affiliate Air Littoral is the first carrier to serve the downtown London City Airport with a Fokker 70. The carrier serves Paris with the 79-passenger aircraft, making more than 30 flights weekly in each direction. The service previously was provided with an ATR 42. The change represents a 48-percent increase in capacity and results in the quickest service between the two capitals.
Inmarsat, the European-based satellite operating consortium, plans to introduce Aero-1 satellite communications services for corporate jets as well as regional airliners. Aero-1 will require smaller, less expensive avionics than previously available for this market segment, claimed Inmarsat officials. Flight tests of Aero-1 equipment were planned for this month or February, in a Cessna Citation.
Factory-approved pilot and mechanic training for the Canadair Regional Jet and the recently certificated Challenger 604 business jet will be conducted at a new Bombardier facility in Montreal, Quebec. Initially, the facility will house two FAA Level D Regional Jet simulators and one Level D Challenger 604 simulator-all three provided by Quebec-based CAE Electronics. Additional space is available for a fourth simulator, possibly for the Global Express. In addition, the new facility houses a joint Bombardier/CAE research and development center.
By mid year, Collins expects to be able to offer a Pro Line 4 retrofit program for Dassault Falcon 50s (shown here) similar to that offered for the new Falcon 50EX and 2000. The avionics system includes four large-format EFIS displays, plus a Mode-S transponder and turbulence-detection weather radar. Options will include TCAS II and AVSAT navcom systems.
Starting in December 1995, several thousand general aviation subscribers to Jeppesen charts received evaluation copies of an approach chart redesign. Among other changes, the new design includes approach data arranged in horizontal strips across the top of the chart, as well as critical navigation information in larger, bold type (B/CA, August 1995, page 29). The evaluation phase will involve redesigned charts for the following eight airports: Centennial County (ARA), Morristown (MMU), Van Nuys (VNY), Santa Ana (SNA), St.
The internal workings of commercial aviation-from flight operations to aircraft maintenance and beyond-will fall increasingly under a microscope as industry shoulders the safety challenges of the future. This message rang out clearly in several key presentations offered by FAA and industry representatives at The McGraw-Hill Companies' Aviation Week Group Chicago `95 Conference and Exhibit November 1 to 3. More than 150 participants and industry leaders from around the world discussed the challenges ahead.
Three new jets sold outside the United States in November, compared to five in November 1994. The preliminary figures included two Dassault Falcon 900Bs and one Gulfstream IVSP. There were three resales-two Raytheon models, one Dassault-down from 15 jets in November 1994. Revised October figures added no new overseas jet sales, although six resales brought that total to eight.
Altair Avionics of Norwood, Massachusetts obtained an STC for its CrossCheck engine monitor for P&WC PT6A turboprops. Based on technology for the company's HUMS (helicopter health and usage monitoring system), CrossCheck monitors critical engine-performance parameters, and the data can be downloaded to a laptop PC. Altair says the system weighs three pounds and can be mounted to an engine in less than three hours. System cost is $6,200 per engine. The company also is seeking STCs for CrossCheck installation in Allison 250s and P&WC PW100s.
