TPI International Airways-engaged in a high-stakes chess game with the DOT Inspector General (DOTIG)-has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Savannah to order DOTIG to produce key evidence in its case against the U.S. Air Force and the FAA.
Honeywell's FANS 1 system was certificated in June, enabling operators of Boeing 747-400s to take a significant step toward implementation of CNS/ATM. So what does that mean? If you're confused by new terminology being bandied about in the avionics and ATC worlds, don't worry; you're probably not alone. Industry observers are referring to the ongoing changes in the way airplanes and pilots relate to ATC as ``revolutionary as the jet engine,'' so perhaps it's fitting that those changes be accompanied by a whole new set of acronyms.
The recent crash of a drug-loaded aircraft attempting to depart from Toluca Airport (MMTO) has prompted the requirement to search all vehicles entering and leaving the airport.
Meanwhile, Centennial Airlines, of Englewood, Colorado, continues its quest to bring scheduled Part 135 service to two DIA satellite airports-Centennial and Jefferson County. Both general-aviation facilities are environmentally sensitive, with the residents in both areas fearing the impact of scheduled airline service on their neighborhoods. The start-up regional would like to operate 19- to 30-passenger aircraft from the two airports to the Western Slope communities, recognizing that it would have to depend upon O&D business travelers.
CompuServe's aviation lineup includes access to the following areas: -- AOPA Online (Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association) provides the association's members with news and information about this organization. Also, it carries the latest about the AOPA's Air Safety Foundation, government information and legislative news.
Owners of approximately 280 Convair recip and turbine aircraft ranging from the Model 240 through the 990 now must turn to Tracor Flight Systems in Mojave, California for product support. In late July, the Austin company finalized its purchase of the Convair line from General Dynamics' Convair Division of San Diego. Tracor has assigned responsibility for the Convair aircraft family exclusively to the company's modification and maintenance facility in Mojave.
Duncan Aviation of Lincoln, Nebraska recently received FAA certification for installation of a Flight Visions FV-2000 Head-Up Display in Gulfstream IVs. The initial installation was in a G-IV owned by DuPont of Wilmington, Delaware. Earlier this year, Elliott Aviation of Moline, Illinois received the first STC for a HUD in a business jet-an FV-2000 in a Citation II (B/CA, July, page 20).
William G. Nelson joined the company as vice president and general manager of the Long Island service center at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, New York.
Russia has closed several ATC centers this year, leaving two areas of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (C.I.S.) air zones uncovered. Economically, this action has proven to be disastrous, since both domestic and international airline flights are unable to provide service to these areas.
Piedmont Aviation Services' unit in Greensboro, North Carolina recently received its first STCs. Approvals were granted for the company to install the following avionics in Beech 200-, 300-, 350- and 1900-series aircraft: AlliedSignal Bendix/King TCAS II and dual Mode S transponders, Mark VI GPWS and AlliedSignal Bendix/King KLN-90B GPS-based, long-range navigation system. These installations are available at four of Piedmont's six locations.
Robert E. Whitehead was officially appointed associate administrator at space agency headquarters. In March, he had taken over the Office of Aeronautics as acting chief after Wesley Harris was reassigned to NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin's office.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has announced the winners of the 1995 McAllister Memorial Scholarship and the Burnside Memorial Scholarship. Daniel Seluk of Derry, New Hampshire and Jason Stallings of Vero Beach, Florida, both aviation management students at the Florida Institute of Technology, received the $1,000 scholarships based on their grades and a 250-word essay on the topic ``What three factors would you address in improving general aviation safety?''.
Air New Zealand subsidiary Mount Cook Airline has placed an order for seven 66-passenger ATR 72-210 turboprops, giving the Franco/Italian consortium its first large order in the Pacific Rim. The new aircraft are to replace 44-passenger Hawker-Siddeley (BAe) HS748s beginning this month and culminating late this year or early in 1996. The sale was a major defeat for the 70-passenger de Havilland Dash 8-400, since the manufacturer has a major presence in Australasia.
For testing blood-alcohol levels, Alco Check International offers the Alco Check 3000 DOT that complies with all DOT specifications for an alcohol-testing device. The portable, non-invasive and hand-held device provides BAC (blood-alcohol concentration) readings to three decimal places on a large LCD. Sanitary, disposable mouthpieces are used in obtaining breath samples. Before shipping, each unit is computer calibrated to ensure +/-5-percent accuracy.
Continental Express (COX) is tilting towards a $750-million deal for 75 Dornier 328s, including the existing 30-passenger model and the 48-passenger stretch. The company had a Lone Star Airlines 328 on the property for several days in late July, operating it against the company's Embraer Brasilias during real-time daily schedules for an ``apples-to-apples'' comparison, said COX President Jonathan Ornstein.
Responding to NTSB recommendations, the FAA will initiate rulemaking to require FAR Part 135 regional airliners with 10 or more seats, and certain air-taxi aircraft, to be equipped with upgraded flight data recorders. The formal proposal is scheduled to be published before December 31. Specifically, the proposal is expected to apply to air-taxi aircraft with 20 or more passenger seats and all multiengine, turbine-powered charter aircraft (B/CA, April, page 22).
Bob Martens, president of AMR Eagle since June 1987 and an 18-year American Airlines veteran, has departed the company on rather short notice ``to pursue other opportunities.'' His replacement is Dan Garton, another American veteran who has spent the last two years as vice president and chief financial officer at Continental. AMR Eagle operates four wholly owned carriers-Executive Airlines at San Juan and Miami; Flagship Airlines at Nashville, Miami and New York; Simmons Airlines at Chicago and Dallas; and Wings West at Los Angeles and Dallas.
Sitting in a cockpit for six hours or more is now a common occurrence. While most crewmembers and passengers tolerate a long-haul trip fairly well, everyone will have some kind of discomfort. Often the problems are mild, but some will be physiologically impairing, or at the very least, a distraction. When endured concurrently, these prolonged-trip situations can ruin an otherwise successful flight. Here are some examples of potential discomforts:
After almost a year of serving customers from trailers, Martin Aviation is scheduled to open its new FBO terminal at California's John Wayne/Orange County Airport in November. The two-story structure will house a 21,000-square-foot hangar in addition to two executive conference rooms, a baggage storage area, kitchenette, refreshment area and pilot supply store. Crew amenities will include a lounge, flight planning room, showers, quiet rooms and private offices. Catering and rental vehicles will be available on site.
AlliedSignal is making plans to relocate production of the LF507 turbofan and the T53 and T55 helicopter engines from the former Textron Lycoming plant at Stratford, Connecticut. The U.S. Army-owned facility is among the military installations the federal government has listed for closure. The company said it is ``studying its options'' for relocating engine lines from the facility, which it acquired when it bought the Lycoming Turbine Engine Division from Textron in 1994.
While GP Express takes its leave of Denver, meanwhile, no fewer than three new start-ups are trying to get off the blocks with service to nearby Aspen: Jet Aspen, Peak International and Maverick Airways. They would like to join United Express Air Wisconsin in the lucrative ski-resort market.
