The cost and time involved in making certain design changes to helicopters would be reduced, if the FAA adopts a recent revision to noise-certification rules. Under the revision, manufacturers would no longer have to test for increased noise levels when type-design changes do not pertain to the controls or powerplants. Specifically, the exemption would apply to design changes pertaining to attaching or detaching external equipment, such as spotlights, cameras, airborne signs, cargo tanks, baskets, floats, skis and other apparatus.
Two aircraft cabin active noise control (ANC) systems competing for the attention of King Air operators were demonstrated for B/CA recently. Stevens Aviation of Greenville, South Carolina has teamed with Lord Corporation to offer a $35,000 system. Elliott Aviation of Moline, Illinois and Ultra Electronics are offering a competing system priced at $30,000 for the King Air 200 and $25,000 for the C90. (Elliott also supplies Twin Commander Aircraft Noise Corporation with systems for the Commander 690 series turboprop).
Aeronautical Repair Station Association, the AOPA, the National Air Transportation Association, and the Cessna Pilots Association are rallying against a proposed AD that would require replacing airmelt-processed crankshafts on thousands of Teledyne Continental Motors' piston engines with vacuum arc remelt-processed crankshafts. Critics of the AD claim that failure rates of the two types are so similar that requiring replacement is unjustified. Also, opponents say the FAA's estimated cost of $2,200 per engine to comply with the AD is off by at least $4,000.
Saudi Arabian Airlines could become the first Middle Eastern customer for Avro International's 82- to 100-passenger RJ-85 regional airliner if current talks are successful. ``We are very close to a deal there'' to sell 10 air-craft at more than $25 million per airplane, according to John Schofield, Avro's vice president for Africa and the Middle East. Delivery will be within 12 months of a contract being signed.
An FAA special report will lead to new rules and penalties concerning bogus and unapproved parts (B/CA, October, page 17). The previously voluntary reporting of suspected bogus or unapproved parts will become mandatory. Rules also will require the destruction of scrap parts and the creation of a voluntary accreditation program for distributors and dealers meeting quality-control standards. Congress will be asked to raise penalties to $10,000 per violation.
Raytheon is extending its Value Incentive Plus program to the end of the year. Until December 31, buyers of new King Air 350s, B200s and C90Bs under the program receive five years or 1,000 hours of free maintenance and a five-year limited airframe warranty. In addition, program aircraft can be purchased for five percent down and five percent APR for the first 15 months, prime minus 0.5 percent over the next 15 months and prime plus 0.5 percent over the last 90 months.
The FAA is planning for a major influx of traffic in and around the Atlanta airspace just before, during and immediately following the 26th Summer Olympic Games. Temporary ATC facilities will be in place from July 15 through August 9, 1996 at the following reliever airports: Britt Memorial, Clayton County, Covington Municipal, Falcon Field, Lee Gilmer Memorial, Hilton Head Island and Richard B. Russell.
The latest in Telex Communications' aviation headsets is the Air3500, weighing in at 13.6 ounces, with a 25 dB noise-reduction capability. The Air3500's three-position tension adjustment allows the headset to rotate ``fast'' from low to high tension for a custom fit. Features include a stereo/mono switch, dual volume controls, a flexible microphone boom de-signed to stay out of the pilot's peripheral vision and a headband of high-impact plastic for comfort and durability. FAA TSO is pending. Price: $310 for airplanes; $325 for helicopters.
This subsidiary of the French business jet manufacturer made three appointments: Jeffrey M. Habib to the newly created position of district sales manager for the Far East, David Salkovitz to supervisor of interior design and Ron Velivis to director of technical support, replacing Ray Villano, who retired.
AirFlite, an FBO owned by Toyota Motor Sales company and based at California's Long Beach Airport, has expanded its services into the aircraft management and charter business.
Regional Airline Association is reaching out to a public relations agency-Ogilvy, Adams&Rinehart-to develop a campaign to boost travelers' perceptions about flying on regional airlines. Richard Mintz, former assistant to the secretary and director of public affairs for the DOT and now head of Ogilvy's transportation office in Washington D.C., will handle the RAA account.
USAir Express CCAir has made money in only one of the past five fiscal years-1992. But the Charlotte-based carrier lost only $362,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30. That compared to a near $4.8-million loss in 1994, $2.8 million in 1993 and $3.7 million in 1991. The only respite was a $6.4-million profit in 1992, based primarily on an extraordinary gain on debt restructuring. A cost-reduction program was the primary reason for the improvement, the company said in its annual 10-K report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Now available from Dettmers Industries is a motorized corporate aircraft passenger seat. The Model 5000-Motorized features the following powered features: back recline, footrest stow and recline, headrest stow and height adjustment, and height-adjustable arms. Instead of a track-and-swivel release handle, a button and actuator switch are used to position the seat. A four-way power lumbar adjustment also is included. Each motorized component has a manual override and an individual circuit breaker. Weight of the motorized options is about six pounds.
New from Universal Lift is a mechanical lifting device to board physically challenged passengers into Astar AS350 BA helicopters. The UniversaLift, constructed of high-strength, aircraft-quality materials, is powered by a built-in, maintenance-free Gel-Pack battery source. The compact lift weights 175 pounds and is rated to handle up to 360 pounds. Although the UniversaLift is designed for a specific helicopter model, other customizations are possible. Some users may receive IRS tax breaks. Price: $10,000. Universal Lift, Inc. , 1425 Rimrock Dr., Escondido, CA 92027.
Aviation fees were substantially reduced throughout the country. A previous $3,000 per landing charge is now $3,000 for all charges (Universal Weather&Aviation).
Aircraft Electronics Association is searching for a replacement for Monte Mitchell, who has served as executive director and president of this trade organization for nearly 20 years. AEA chairman Dave Vorsas says the association seeks only candidates with extensive backgrounds in avionics. After a new president is selected, Mitchell will serve as a consultant to the Independence, Missouri-based group and as executive director of the AEA's educational foundation.
When clouds first form, the cloud drop sizes typically are from 10 to 20 microns in diameter. Twenty-five microns is one-thousandth of an inch, which is also about the diameter of a human hair. Meteorologists have defined drizzle drops to be from 50 to 500 microns in diameter. Five hundred microns is 0.5 millimeters or 0.020 inch, and it is the diameter of those new fine-line mechanical pencils with the lead that always breaks.
Well, Hirsch, the 49th NBAA soiree is a wrap, and all my apprehensions about citizens staying away in droves went out the porthole upon learning that the first day's total registrants tiptoed over 20 thousand. For you 20 or 30 NBAA members who didn't make the scene, the final head count was right at 25 grand, not counting the designated others, who eschewed the convention halls for golf or gaming. The convention center was awesome, with enough wall-to-wall carpeting to cover La Guardia.
U.S. Customs Service has tabled a plan to allow pre-registered general-aviation operators reentering the United States from Canada to clear customs via telephone and, thereafter, to land at any public-use airport. In July, Canada started such a program for aircraft returning from the United States (B/CA, July, page 11). The U.S. effort has been stymied, partly because of opposition by the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents customs inspectors.
A federal district court granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement concerning a class-action lawsuit in which owners of thousands of Continental piston engines sued Mobil Corporation over alleged damage caused by Mobil AV1 oil. The settlement reportedly would allow Mobil to reinstate its claim process in which the company will help pay for engine inspections. Mobil maintains that the use of AV1 created no threat to safety, but concedes that some engines suffered problems because AV1 did not adequately disperse lead from fuel.
BFGoodrich Aerospace Avionics Systems says it is about one year away from certificating a flat-panel, solid-state, 3-ATI, standby attitude indicator. The GH-3000 will feature a full-color, back-lit liquid crystal display and will have a typical alignment time of 2.5 minutes. The unit will consume 15 to 22 watts of power, compared with about eight watts for mechanical gyros. Uninstalled price will be about $22,500. Meanwhile, BFGoodrich purchased Hoskins Aviation, the Tustin, California manufacturer of aircraft lighting systems.
Canadair guarantees that new Global Express business jets will leave the factory at 40,700 pounds, plus or minus two percent. Considering the company's allowance that outfitting will add 6,000 pounds, the aircraft will have a typical empty operating weight of 46,700 pounds. With full fuel, Canadair says payload will equal eight passengers plus baggage. Max payload will be 7,500 pounds. Canadair also claims that the SL-ISA balanced field length for a Global Express at MTOW now will be 5,100 feet-440 feet less than originally announced.
Before you complete your flight-department budget for 1996, it might be wise to include an open line item titled ``compliance with Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) standards.'' You also might want to begin softening up the accounting department, because when you are able to fill in the line, the figure could run into the hundreds of thousands.
Atlantic City International is acquiring two new FBOs-Midlantic Jet Aviation recently opened its facility and is operating on a 24-hour basis. (609) 383-3993. A Raytheon Aircraft Services facility is scheduled to open in 1997. (See accompanying artist's rendition.)
Three years ago, the aviation community was surprised by research that explained the existence of serious threats to pitch control caused by icing on some airplanes with flaps fully extended.
