AMR Combs will expand its FBO at the new Denver International Airport and will establish a facility at San Francisco International Airport. The company's DEN expansion includes a $2.8-million, 23,000-square-foot hangar to be completed in January 1996 as the first initiative in a three-part expansion plan. An SFO facility will open early in 1996 in temporary facilities. When completed, the FBO will include a fully appointed terminal and two storage hangars with offices. AMR Combs also is considering additional expansion opportunities in Mexico and South America.
European Business Aviation Association reports that General Aviation Service has moved from the general-aviation terminal at Madrid-Barajas Airport (LEMD) to a location between the cargo terminal and Royal Pavilion, by Ramp 6. Executive aircraft parking is on Ramp 6 and 7.
Air Data Incorporated has introduced the Humispace aircraft cabin humidifier to help prevent dry throat, itchy eyes and other dry-air discomforts on long-haul flights. This boiler-type system ``naturally'' eliminates mineral residues contained in the aircraft's water reservoir, and minimizes the risks of bacterial and viral contamination. The only maintenance required, typically, is replacing the disposable boiler element after 2,000 hours of operation. Price: $39,000. Air Data Inc., 8368 Bougainville, Ste. 106, Montreal, PQ H4P 2G1 Canada. (514) 344-1674.
Mauricio Botelho is the new president of Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. The appointment, by the newly privatized firm's board of directors, became effective September 27. Botelho replaces interim President Juarez Wanderley, who held the position during the transition period following privatization. Wanderley was named vice president-industry within a newly created management structure. He now has the responsibility for engineering, manufacturing, after-sales support, plant administration and quality control.
One new turboprop was sold outside the United States in September-a King Air 350. There were two sales posted in September 1994. There were three resales-two Beech models and one Cessna turboprop. There were 16 deliveries of previously owned aircraft in September last year. International figures may increase significantly as additional information filters through official channels. Revised data added one new turboprop sale in August-a Beech 1900D. Monthly updating added seven resales to the three reported on a preliminary basis.
Aircraft Electronics Association (Independence, MO)-David Vorsas, president of the J.D. Chapdelaine Co. of Fort Lauderdale, FL, succeeds Dan Prosser as chairman of this trade association.
FAA has proposed to revise the structural loads design requirements for transport-category airplanes in order to eliminate the differences with corresponding requirements for aircraft certificated under Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities. The proposal is one of many issued over the last several months intended to achieve common requirements and language between the FAA and the JAA. Comments are due November 27. For more information, contact the FAA at (206) 227-2131.
On April 29, 1993, a Continental Express EMB-120RT ran off the runway at Grider Field in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and came to rest in rough terrain. Remarkably, the three crewmembers and 27 passengers who had boarded the aircraft in Little Rock for a flight to Houston's Intercontinental Airport suffered only scattered minor injuries.
At the NBAA convention, Bombardier's Canadair business-jet division and Dallas-based SimuFlite Training International signed a training agreement applicable to Challenger 604 pilots. Challenger operators participating in the program receive two years of price protection, reduced rates for ancillary training and complementary advanced airmanship courses. SimuFlite's Challenger 604 pilot training is scheduled to start in February 1996 on an FAA Level C simulator in Montreal.
In battling to win the contest to power the new family of 737s, CFM engine partners General Electric and SNECMA drew on more than 20 years of combined experience to design an engine that promises improved fuel burn as well as dramatic increases in reliability and maintainability. The FADEC-equipped CFM56-7s combine the core and low-pressure turbine from the CFM56-5B, which powers the Airbus A321 and A320, with a new 61-inch fan that has solid titanium wide-chord blades.
Vietnam Sea Air offers complete ground handling and flight-planning services for corporate aircraft at all three of the country's international airports. Sea Air operates 24 hours a day at Hanoi (VVNB), Danang (VVDN) and Tan Sun Niut (VVTS) in Ho Chi Minh City. Sea Air is a division of Southeast Asia Air/Bangert Associates with U.S. offices at 11 Green St., Boston, MA 02130. Phone: (617) 522-7810; fax: (617) 524-7610. Or contact Sea Air's Vietnam office at 31 Mac Dinh St., Hanoi. Phone: +84 429-4441; fax: +84 423-9614.
The latest in a series of navigation management systems from Collins is the AVSAT 3000 (B/CA, November 1994, page 65). Navigation inputs in addition to GPS include: IRS/AHRS, VLF/Omega and VOR/DME. Contained in the AVSAT 3000 is a global database of flight-planning data. Among the system's capabilities are fuel management, direct routing and the ability to create 100 pilot-defined routes and 50 pilot-defined waypoints per flight plan. The unit can be integrated into a Collins Pro Line system or used as a stand-alone system.
Exhibitors from most of the countries in Europe, as well as further afield, were generally satisfied with results from the biennial Business and General Aviation Exhibition at the former Battle of Britain airfield of North Weald, England in early September.
A Windows-based maintenance library for Raytheon Beechjets is the latest CD-ROM product from Aircraft Technical Publishers of Brisbane, California. In addition to a maintenance manual, the library consists of an illustrated parts catalog, selected wiring diagram manuals, ADs and service bulletins. An annual subscription is priced at $3,000. Monthly revisions are included in the subscription price.
I hope you don't mind being called to arms (or pens) by this column more than once or twice a year, but we live in scary times and any inattention to what's happening on Capitol Hill could cost us all dearly. The case in point is Senate Bill 1232 (a.k.a. ``The McCain Bill''). Now Senator McCain (R-AZ) is not a bad guy, nor are the cosponsors of his bill. They are all on the right track in attempting to bring reform to the FAA, particularly in personnel and procurement matters.
Air Routing says Japan Aviation Services, its agent, has a new long-range VHF frequency (131.75) and can confirm arrival and service information for all major airports.
Fascinating Electronics Incorporated has introduced The Observer, a computerized weather station that displays local weather conditions on a PC or Mac. The station's features include real-time multicolor graphic displays of scrolling wind speed, dewpoint, wind chill, temperature, pressure and humidity. Data are stored for graphing and analysis. The customer can choose English, metric or navigational units of measure, and they will be consistent throughout. Price: $499.90 to $539.90 per kit, and $699.90 to $799.90 assembled.
Israel Aircraft Industries confirmed that construction of the first Galaxy business jet has shifted entirely from Russia to Israel. The Yakovlev Design Bureau will not build the first Galaxy fuselages because the initial plan to manufacture the aircraft in Russia was falling behind schedule (B/CA, September, page 24). The shift in plans will keep the Galaxy program on schedule, with first flight about a year from now and certification in fall 1997, said IAI officials.
Jerusalem 3000, a birthday celebration during 1996, is expected to fill hotel rooms countrywide and eliminate standard discounts. Contact your handler for update information.
The all-new Learjet 45 made its first flight on October 7-32 years to the day after the very first Learjet design-the Model 23-was test flown. In the course of the two-hour flight, the Learjet 45 reached an altitude of 26,000 feet and a speed of 300 knots. The first flight was used to evaluate the aircraft's handling under normal conditions. The flight-test program will involve five aircraft. Certification is scheduled for late 1996.
An all-composite, proof-of-concept aircraft powered by a piston engine in the nose and another in the tail made its public debut at the NBAA convention. Fort Scott, Kansas-based Star Kraft, which has been flying the eight-seat aircraft since February, is looking for additional financing to fund further development and certification. The target price is $1.3 million. Powering the concept vehicle is a pair of 350-hp Continental TCM-550A water-cooled piston engines, but Star Kraft hopes to fly the airplane with a pair of Orenda V-8s in early 1996.
In a move that some feel could drive a wedge in the unified strength of the general aviation industry, the International Business Aviation Council (which represents the NBAA, the European Business Aviation Association [EBAA] and other national business-aviation groups on an international basis) revised its definition of ``business aviation'' to remove any references to its being a part of general aviation.
Terra Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico now is marketing a cordless handset for airborne telephone systems. Currently, the handset works only with Terra's Jetfone 3000 or with the AlliedSignal Global Wulfsberg Flitefone VI, but more interfaces are expected to be added. The digital Model C-10 handset features 10 channels, one-touch redialing, muting, a noise-canceling microphone and a handset cradle for wall, shelf, table or armrest.
