FAR Part 91 operators need look no further than FAR Part 135.167 to find a list of recommended survival equipment for extended overwater operations: (1) An approved life preserver equipped with an approved survivor locator light easily accessible to each occupant of the aircraft. (2) Enough approved life rafts of a rated capacity and buoyancy to accommodate the occupants of the aircraft.
National Air Transportation Association, Helicopter Association International and others are questioning the FAA about rules adopted late in 1994 to require adherence to the FARs by ``public'' aircraft (government-owned or -leased) used for carrying passengers (B/CA, April, page 26). NATA believes the FAA is granting too many exemptions that will render the law ``meaningless.'' The HAI says it has received ``numerous'' reports of public-service operators ignoring the intent of the law.
NTSB is expected to recommend that a pilot's work history, detailing his or her skills and proficiencies, be shared by the former or present employer airline with the prospective-employer airline when the pilot changes jobs, and that pilot job-applicants be required to waive the right to sue on the basis of that sharing. The anticipated recommendations stem from the investigation of the crash of an American Eagle Jetstream 31 in December 1994.
Germany's Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA), facing billions of dollars in losses since 1992, will implement job cuts and close some facilities in an attempt to restore profitability by the end of 1998. The labor force of DASA (including Dornier, but excluding DASA subsidiary Fokker, which earlier announced a 1,700-person reduction) will fall to 40,271 employees in 1998, down from 49,093 this month and 60,082 in December 1994.
Pacific Southwest Airlines flies anew-well, sort of. Following its earlier policy of keeping the names of its airline acquisitions alive, USAir has formally changed the name of its Jetstream International Airlines subsidiary to PSA Airlines Inc. Previously, Pennsylvania Airlines was merged with Suburban Airlines and renamed Allegheny Commuter, and the name of Henson Aviation was changed to Piedmont.
Kroll Associates and the SABRE Travel Information Network have launched Kroll Travel Watch to provide instantaneous security and safety advisories for travelers. The service covers more than 250 cities around the world. The Kroll Travel Watch Advisory is an online, one-page summary of daily security updates, street-safety suggestions, basic health and medical care information, tips for transport from airports to downtown or hotel destinations, and local weather and top headlines for each destination city. Free to SABRE-equipped flight departments and travel agencies.
FlightSafety International of Flushing, New York is developing an FAA-approved Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) slated to be introduced to business aviation when the company begins to offer Gulfstream V training. AQP, currently available only to airline pilots, involves training to proficiency with no required minimum number of hours. Meanwhile, a spokesman at Dallas-based SimuFlite Training International told B/CA that the company is strongly considering introducing AQP.
Sydney-Kingsford Smith Airport (ASSY) now levies an additional charge of (Australian) $185 (U.S. $247) for non-scheduled use during peak hours-0730-1000 and 1630-1900 (local).
Owner-flown general aviation turboprops and jets now are coverable under the AOPA insurance program, following the association's selection of the American Eagle Group as the policy underwriter. Affiliation with the Dallas-based group also enabled the AOPA to expand coverage to all states but Alaska. In addition, AOPA-endorsed policies will be available through the approximately 1,600 independent American Eagle insurance agents. Revenue from the program supports the AOPA's funding of general aviation defense and safety improvement efforts.
Training courses dubbed "Advanced Maneuvers Training" involve recovery from aircraft attitudes and airspeeds that are outside the normal flight envelope.
One new jet sale was listed in October, a Beechjet 400A. There were six deliveries in October 1994. Two resales were posted, 13 fewer than were recorded in October 1994. Dassault and Learjets listed the only resales this month. Reports of overseas sales take longer to be formally recorded than do domestic deliveries. AvData monthly figures are increased as additional information becomes available.
National Air Transportation Association is offering copies of the recently developed ``FAA Wake Vortex Training Aid'' on a loan basis to NATA members and non-members. The program consists of a comprehensive procedures manual that is used in conjunction with a videotape or on CD-ROM. Loan periods are up to three weeks. Recipients pay only for shipping costs. For more information, contact Steve Lofgren at NATA in Alexandria, Virginia. Phone: (703) 845-9000 or fax: (703) 845-8176.
The former Byrne Aviation and Trans-Air Aviation FBOs at Waukegan Regional Airport in the Chicago area have been acquired by DB Aviation. The purchase included nearly 100,000 square feet of buildings, some aircraft and assorted equipment, said Daniel A. Bitton, DB president and CEO. DB Aviation provides fueling, transient-aircraft line service, charter, hangar rental, and airframe and avionics repair.
General-aviation airplane shipments through the third quarter of 1995 continued to reflect a positive recovery. GAMA reports that shipments through the end of September compared to the same period in 1994 (shown in parentheses) were as follows: pistons-381 (328); turboprops-167 (140); jets-164 (147) and total-712 (615). Even in the unlikely event that fourth-quarter shipments remain the same as in 1994 (266), the total number of shipments in 1995-978-would be the most since 1991, when the industry delivered 1,021 airframes.
At press time, an Atlanta-based corporate travel agency claimed it had a limited number of accommodations in the local area exclusively for crews of corporate aircraft flying to Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics, July 19 through August 4. The agency says it is holding ``specially reserved'' rooms at ``competitive rates'' in homes owned by members of the ``aviation community.'' The agency also says it can assist in making ramp reservations. For more information, contact Kathi Parks at Explicitly Yours. Phone: (770) 682-1502; fax: (770) 454-8464.
American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is scheduled to open its doors in the first quarter of 1996, according to its chairman, Peter Wright, Sr. The museum, housed at Pennsylvania's Brandywine Airport in a building that was formerly an MBB Helicopter facility, initially will display six to eight historic rotorcraft. Development of the museum is on a voluntary basis, and support is being solicited. Museum officials can be contacted through Keystone Helicopter Corporation in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Phone: (610) 644-4430.
The first anniversary of the crash of an American Eagle Jetstream near Raleigh/Durham is December 13. In his ``smoking wreckage'' speech at the crash site in 1994, Transportation Secretary Federico Pea pledged a ``single level of safety within one year.
FAA withdrew a 1993 proposal to eliminate FAR Part 23 certification requirements to demonstrate accelerated entry stalls for commuter-category aircraft (B/CA, August 1993, page 32). The same proposal was included in a later notice that addresses other issues aimed at harmonizing Part 23 with Europe's JAR Part 23 (B/CA, September 1994, page 15). The FAA says the proposed rule will remove an ``unwarranted hazard'' during flight demonstrations for type certification.
Joseph F. Allegra has retired after a 45-year career in aviation maintenance. His most recent position was maintenance coordinator for this charter management firm.
Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that provides liability protection for banks and other institutions that lend money to owners of underground fuel-storage tanks (USTs). The rule is designed to make it easier for owners to obtain the financing necessary to comply with EPA rules regarding tank replacement or upgrading. Many lenders have been reluctant to issue loans because they fear they would become liable for the costs of cleaning up damage caused by leaking tanks if tank operators default on their loans.
One of the quickest ways in the world to lose a cool $5,000 is to violate a U.S. Customs Service regulation. You are subject to parting with five grand if you fail to advise U.S. Customs you're coming-or arrive late-and if you don't get authorization to land at some airports, or don't have all of your aircraft's paperwork in order. The rules and policies governing U.S. customs and procedures can be complex and confusing, and if you are planning a trip abroad-or to the U.S. Virgin Islands-you can't start doing your homework too soon.
For a limited time, Biggen Hill Airport (EGKB) is offering free limousine service to and from London for passengers and crew of first-time users on direct flights from the United States.
