Telectro-Mek's newest addition to its line of aviation fuel testers is the Accumetric II-a portable, digital electronic unit. The company claims a quick setup time and test results for both particulate and free water within 10 minutes. The 16-inch by 12-inch by six-inch unit is self- contained and weighs 10 pounds. Operator training takes an hour or less, says Telectro-Mek. Price: $3,500, including compact fiberglass case, battery, AC charger/ adapter, cigarette lighter adapter, five monitor capsules, 100 sampling pads, 50 free-water pads and other accessories.
The NoiseBuster headphone from Noise Cancellation Technologies electronically reduces aircraft-engine noise for air travelers. To soften the drone, a battery-powered controller ``senses'' the noise and produces an equal but opposite sound wave, or ``anti-noise,'' to selectively reduce only low-frequency noise. Desired sounds, such as music or speech, are audible. The unit can be used in conjunction with portable audio and inflight entertainment systems. Music and movie volume need not be cranked up, but can be enjoyed ``at a more reasonable volume level.'' Price: $99.
A ban on corporate aircraft activities during the daytime at Hong Kong International Airport (VHHH) was lifted, but this does not guarantee a landing slot. Plans for using VHHH should be made early. Also in effect: Only FAR Part 36, Stage 3 aircraft are allowed to operate at VHHH (Baseops International).
By all measures, the number of international flights flown by business aircraft operators has been growing at an unprecedented rate. In a recent address to a group of operators regularly flying the North Atlantic (NAT) Organized Track System, John W. Olcott, president of the NBAA, reminded his audience that U.S. international corporate operations had grown to an average of 30 flights per day. This represented an increase of approximately 24 percent over 1994.
Corporate image with ``a touch of elegance'' comes to inflight dining in five-piece place settings imprinted with the corporate logo. Aircraft Equipment Corporation says the china is lightweight, yet strong and chip-resistant. Place settings are available in space-saving, rim-less designs or different styles of plates with plain or decorated rims, such as gold or silver trim. Price: $89.95 per setting with logo in 24-karat gold (for a minimum order of 12 place settings); $140 to $170 per setting with custom color-matched logo.
Corporate pilots, owner pilots, flight instructors, ground instructors, training schools and just about everyone else involved in the certification of airmen are impacted-to one degree or another-by the FAA's proposed sweeping revision of regulations covering certification and training.
``I love what you do for me, Toyota,'' the popular advertising jingle for Toyota automobiles, could also be Toyota's sales tune for aircraft engines one day. The Japanese manufacturer, in partnership with Hamilton Standard, hopes to receive FAA certification by the end of the year of an aircraft version of the V-8 engine that powers some of Toyota's luxury car line, Lexus.
International Aviation (West Palm Beach, FL)-Wayne Turnquist was appointed president of the International Aviation Group of this FBO with four locations.
Cessna has bundled the most commonly ordered cabin and cockpit options into the Citation VII Magnum, a package-priced edition of the Citation VII available for $9.95 million. A Citation VII spec'd out with the same equipment individually would sell for about $10.3 million. The Magnum joins the package-priced Citation family that started with the Bravo and Ultra models. Meanwhile, Citation VIIs still can be specifically outfitted at the customer's discretion. More than 40 Citation VIIs have been delivered since the aircraft's introduction in 1992.
Planning to fly to or from Atlanta during the 26th Summer Olympics to be held July 19 through August 4 in 1996? Note that the FAA will have a VFR and IFR slot-reservation system in place, along with flight restrictions and other special ATC procedures. The slot system will apply to 13 airports, and an 800 number will be set up for pilots to make reservations. The FAA feels so strongly about ensuring a smooth and safe operating environment for the event in Atlanta that the agency had a booth at the September NBAA convention to provide details about the ATC plan.
In his first NBAA convention press conference as Gulfstream vice chairman, Bryan Moss (who, as it will be remembered, shifted his allegiance from Canadair to Gulfstream in a much-publicized move) reflected the confidence born of having his company's major new product, the G-V, safely rolled out onto the ramp in Savan- nah. It came off without a hitch just days before the beginning of the convention and within 60 days of its scheduled first flight. Initial deliveries also are set to start on schedule in the fourth quarter of 1996.
By mid 1996, AlliedSignal expects to make a decision about whether to produce a verbal terrain warning system (TWS) for light airplanes. Using microwave technology and component spinoffs from cellular phones and direct-broadcast TV, the TWS could be priced at about $5,000-much less than full-blown AlliedSignal GPWSes designed for large turbine aircraft. In addition to callouts of altitude (from 30 to 3,000 feet) and ``minimums,'' TWS will announce warnings of incorrect landing configuration, such as ``Too Low, Flaps'' and ``Too Low, Gear.''
Each week the National Air Transportation Association is flooded with questions from its FBO membership and air-taxi members about federal alcohol-testing requirements. Here are NATA's answers to five of the most frequently asked questions: Q: What do I need to submit to the FAA prior to implementing the company's alcohol-testing program?
Overhauls, inspections and other major maintenance services for Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A engines now are being offered by National Airmotive Corporation from its Oakland headquarters. The new program includes providing engine rentals and exchanges. The FAA-approved program will be operated by P&WC-trained technicians, but NAC currently is not a factory-authorized service center. The company is an overhaul and inspection facility for Allison engines.
Dassault Falcon Jet (Paramus, NJ)-Randolph M. Kennedy is the business jet manufacturer's appointee to the newly created position of director of market development.
In a joint effort, Learjet Incorporated and FlightSafety International are preparing newly formatted ``operationally oriented'' checklists for all model Learjets. A revision service in conjunction with aircraft flight manual changes also is being established to keep the checklists current. The first jointly developed checklist is scheduled to be available in December for Learjet 60 operators. The checklists will be available through Learjet's technical publications branch. A price had not been established at press time.
You provide the pickup truck, and Rapid Response Systems has the firefighting system to fit it. The FireFight Model 200-SM series carries water and foam, and is available with 100-, 150-, 200- and 250-gallon aluminum tanks. Each unit is equipped with 100 feet of one-inch booster hose on a geared reel, a fully aspirating nozzle and up to 250 psi at 25 gallons per minute--all powered by an 11-hp pump. The Model 200-SM (shown) measures 72 inches by 44 inches, with a height of 45 inches. Fully loaded, the gross weight is less than 3,000 pounds. Price, $4,500 to $7,000.
Sino-Swearingen Aircraft is designing a stretched version of the SJ30-1. The SJ30-2 would be 42 inches longer than the -1 and would be powered by a Williams Rolls FJ44-2C. The SJ30-2 would cruise at 0.83 Mach and have a maximum IFR range of 2,500 nm. The -2 is expected to cost $3.5 million fully equipped, about $500,000 more than the -1. Certification for the -1 and the -2 is expected in the first quarter of 1998-a two-year delay from the previously revised target date (B/CA, February, page 16). A production facility for either SJ30 version has yet to be built.
The upbeat mood at the National Business Aircraft Association annual convention was braced by third-quarter deliveries of new turbines. Year to date, new sales of jets and turboprops worldwide rose 2.7 percent over the first nine months of 1994, bolstered by a 16.9-percent jump in the domestic market. Overseas, the slump continues as sales dropped 25.7 percent.
Congress failed to adopt by the October 1 deadline the proposed legislation to repeal a 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax hike on commercial jet fuel, and the IRS refused to defer collecting the tax. Postponing collection would obviate the expense of providing refunds later if the tax is removed. When the tax was adopted, commercial operators were given a two-year exemption (B/CA, October 1993, page 21). The National Air Transportation Association has been leading the effort to get Congress to repeal the tax on avgas as well as jet fuel.
