Litton's Aero Products division is developing a computer program aimed at overcoming deficiencies of GPS. Litton says its Autonomous Integrity Monitored Extrapolation (AIME) computer continuously monitors and analyzes GPS signals for errors, outages and geographical gaps, and integrates those data with the company's Flagship system's inertial data to maintain precise navigational accuracy. Litton also claims AIME is immune to GPS signal jamming.
Heads Up Technologies, the Carrollton, Texas company known for its digital voice checklists, has developed a system that reports the status of up to 12 anomalies or activities. For example, in the case of a left-engine fire, the checklist would announce ``left-engine fire,'' and would immediately follow up with the engine-fire emergency checklist. ``Autopilot disconnect'' would mean some sort of an abnormal event occurred, and ``flaps warning'' would indicate the flaps were not properly set for takeoff. Uninstalled price of the new CMS400C is $9,205.
Embraer's EMB-145 regional jet recently entered test flying. First flight of a prototype of the Allison-powered, 50-passenger aircraft occurred in mid August, more than three years behind its original schedule (B/CA, June 1991, page 44). The delay was due primarily to an extensive change in the engine-placement design, financial challenges and an ongoing, company-wide privatization process that was just completed in December 1994. Embraer, based in Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil, hopes to obtain certification of the $14.5-million EMB-145 in 1996.
It wasn't so long ago that calling Flight Service or subscribing to a commercial flight-planning service was the only way corporate and regional airline pilots and dispatchers could get preflight weather briefings.
Earlier this year, NASA officials started conducting telephone interviews with pilots who submit wake-turbulence incident data through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). The interviews were in support of the FAA's efforts to reduce accidents caused by wake turbulence. To date, nearly 60 interviews have been conducted, but more reports are needed. After receiving an ASRS report, NASA officials will contact the pilot to ask him or her to participate in the interview. For details, contact the ASRS office in California at (415) 969-3969.
France-European Business Aviation Association issued a Member Alert calling for written objections to the proposed closing of Frejus St. Raphael Airport (LFTU) by July 1997. The airport, about 40-nm southwest of Nice and 10-nm northeast of St. Tropez, has a 3,937-foot runway. A second, longer runway was planned to make the airport an important reliever for the area. The closure was ordered by Francois Leotard, Mayor of Frejus, ostensibly to improve the environment by converting the airport to camping sites and leisure parks.
An FAA special task force is scheduled to complete later this month a 60-day review of the agency's efforts to prevent the use of unapproved aircraft parts. The task force was established shortly after the issue came to a head at a Senate government affairs subcommittee meeting in early summer. The FAA said the problem is not serious and has never been identified as a cause of an accident. But, the DOT inspector general, Mary Schiavo, asserted the FAA was not doing enough to prevent the proliferation of bogus parts (B/CA, July, page 11).
Cuernavaca Airport is being touted as an alternate to Mexico City Airport (where general aviation is banned). Officials at Aviones Are, a Cuernavaca FBO, point out that the airport, 45 miles from Mexico City, is 4,200 feet msl (compared to Toluca Airport's 8,450 feet) and offers DME, VOR and NDB approaches to the 9,147-foot runway. Aviones Are says it offers ground transportation, crew discounts at local hotels, a crew rest area, meeting room, helicopter charter, catering and flight planning.
British Aerospace recently purchased the former Carroll Aircraft, an FBO at London's Farnborough Airport. The facility is now known as Farnborough Business Aviation. . . . Jet Aviation Group of Zurich, Switzerland acquired DHP Aviation at Singapore's Seletar Airport. In addition to FBO transient aircraft services, DHP offers interior refurbishing, airframe painting and business jet maintenance. . . . Zimex Aviation, also based in Zurich, received authorization by Russia's Civil Aviation Authority to conduct maintenance on Russian-registered Hawker jets.
Australia-Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport (ASSY) continues to impose some of the most arbitrary noise regulations of any major international airport. Flights arriving prior to the 0630 hours expiration time of the nightly curfew are ordered to hold. Airlines are then given priority over corporate aircraft regardless of which arrived first. Captain John South, president of the Australian Business Aircraft Association, recommends that flights arriving before the curfew ends should plan their initial stop at another Australian airport.
National Air Transportation Association and other trade groups are opposing legislation that would ostensibly give the U.S. Interior Department the authority to severely limit air-tour operations over national parks. NATA says the FAA would be limited to reviewing and providing advice on airspace access. The measure, H.R. 1954, was introduced by Representative David Skaggs (D-CO).
Employees at Allison Engine Company in Indianapolis now carry laminated red cards in their wallets. The company's ``Quality Bill of Rights'' is printed on those cards, and the employees proudly display it for outsiders.
Investment banking firm Alex. Brown&Sons has been retained by Business Express ``to review future strategic alternatives'' for the New Hampshire-based regional. Alternatives include an initial public offering (IPO), development of strategic alliances, and review of potential merger and acquisition opportunities. The company withdrew an IPO several years ago when expectations were not met.
This past July, more than 40,000 employees, retirees and family members celebrated Douglas Aircraft's 75th anniversary at the company's Long Beach, California plant.
Macau-Macau International Airport (which does not yet have an ICAO identifier) is scheduled to become operational on November 9. Test flying on the 11,000-foot runway was under way at press time. According to Macau Airport agents in Los Angeles, the airport will have dedicated facilities for corporate aviation aircraft, and servicing probably will be handled initially by Air Macau Airlines.
NBAA recently published the Federal Excise Tax Handbook, a 54-page publication explaining various taxes affecting both private and commercial general aviation operations, and providing guidance on dealing with those taxes. The document also provides information on what to expect during an IRS audit, gives IRS rulings on specific cases and lists a taxpayers' ``Bill of Rights.'' For details on obtaining a copy of the handbook, phone the NBAA at (202) 783-9000.
The DOT: Secretary needed to oversee 150,000 employees-no experience necessary. This huge conglomerate oversees the complex affairs and problems of land, sea and air. Specifically, the awesome responsibilities of the secretary include the FAA, Federal Transit (including highways), the Maritime Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and, while you're resting, throw in National Highway Traffic Safety and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Scotland-Newly renovated facilities at Wick Airport (EGPC) are suitable for corporate aircraft, and are offering full services without a service charge when fuel is purchased. The FBO's name is Far North.
For years, used turbine aircraft sales have helped buoy retail figures, but as August's sales updates show, the used market is struggling and new-plane sales are the growth area. According to figures compiled by Aviation Data Service of Wichita, January through August deliveries of new turbines are up 2.8 percent from last year's figures, lifted into the positive column on a nearly 16-percent surge in domestic retail sales and despite the 12.4-percent lag in resales during the same period.
Ask corporate pilots about their experiences with computer-based training, and their responses almost always are negative. ``Been there; done that; didn't like it,'' is a pretty fair summation of the prevailing sentiment toward CBT. Those attitudes may not be entirely fair in light of advancing computer technology, however. And many pilots argue that more creative use of CBT can increase proficiency and standardization, and save money.
Raytheon Aircraft reported the only August new-turboprop sale to an overseas customer-a King Air C90B. There were two new jetprop sales recorded in August 1994. The month's total included three resales, compared to 23 during August last year. Late reports added three resales to July's total, bringing the number to four. There still were no new-sale reports for the month. International customers have purchased a total of 14 new and 101 used propjets so far during the first eight months of the year.
Downtown Airpark (Oklahoma City)-Adriano Davila has joined this repair station as director of international sales. Greg Groves was named interior department manager, replacing Ed Smith, who retired.
