Like most people in the world of work, you've likely heard a lot about the Internet and all it has to offer anyone with a computer and a modem. But so far, you may not have heard what the Internet has to offer business aviation. We've been spending a little time in ``cyberspace'' lately, and discovered plenty of compelling reasons for you to sit in front of your PC, crank up your modem and see what's out there. Even if you're a regular user of one of the online services, you may have wondered what other areas of the Internet have to offer aviation.
Rockwell International filed a formal protest with the U.S. General Accounting Office, objecting to the Pentagon's decision to award the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) contract to Raytheon Aircraft. Rockwell's action follows the protest filed by Cessna in July (B/CA, August, page 17). Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin, head of another team competing for the JPATS contract, withdrew its protest, saying it held little hope that the decision would be overturned.
The ``R'' Series life rafts from Revere Aerospace Products are fully reversible and, thus, ready for boarding upon deployment. Arches and canopy inflate automatically. Puncture- and damage- resistant polyur-ethane fabric is lightweight and stows compactly, according to Revere. The ``R'' Series is equipped with two mooring lines-one short (for inflation) and one long (for safe mooring away from the aircraft). Reversible ramps facilitate boarding. The raft has a 15-second inflation time and is approved for a 150-percent overload accommodation.
Owners of approximately 280 Convair recip and turbine aircraft ranging from the Model 240 through the 990 now must turn to Tracor Flight Systems in Mojave, California for product support. In late July, the Austin company finalized its purchase of the Convair line from General Dynamics' Convair Division of San Diego. Tracor has assigned responsibility for the Convair aircraft family exclusively to the company's modification and maintenance facility in Mojave.
Continental Connection GP Express is pulling out of Denver by the end of this month, with the exception of three Essential Air Service routes. The carrier cites the high costs connected with the new Denver Airport and the dominance of United and United Express Mesa.
In an attempt to promote future cooperative efforts in aviation between the United States and the Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.), Vice President Al Gore signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that primarily goads both parties to ``take measures to strengthen cooperation on civil aircraft certification.'' The memorandum is the prelude to a bilateral airworthiness agreement (BAA) to standardize certification procedures between the two governments.
For the half a dozen major FBOs in gleaming new facilities clustered along the western flank of Mexico's Toluca Airport (MMTO), the first phase of a monumental effort has been launched. The larger purpose is to transform this out-of-the-way, single-runway airport in a dusty industrial complex into a bustling international business aviation headquarters and service center.
National Air Transportation Association is leading an 11th hour effort to get Congress to repeal the 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax hike on avgas as well as jet fuel used by commercial operators. The tax is scheduled to go into effect October 1. Legislation previously introduced would not repeal the tax on commercial use of avgas (B/CA, April, page 22). Separately, effective September 1, New York State's Petroleum Business Tax on aviation fuel was decreased eight cents a gallon-from $0.1387 per gallon to $0.0559 per gallon.
The two hotels in the immediate area that Toluca's FBOs are currently recommending are the Holiday Inn and the DelRay. Both are modestly priced, comfortable and conveniently located. Each has several restaurants and a bar/lounge with relatively standard offerings. For those who wish to explore for more exotic or sophisticated fare, ask your FBO or handler for recommendations. One nearby, attractive restaurant with a wide range of well-prepared Mexican dishes is DonGu in the Hacienda del Parian.
At Dusseldorf's Rhein Ruhr Airport (EDDL), the European Business Aircraft Association (EBAA) reports arbitrary slot allocations seriously restrict corporate access on some days and provide no slots on other days. The EBAA has written the German Ministry of Transport and the European Union for immediate relief.
For the first time, three organizations-the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), the International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA) and the International Air Transport Association-will be meeting jointly in what can be none other than a safety extravaganza. The November 6-9 event, called ``Managing Safety,'' will be held at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, and will herald the FSF's 48th annual International Air Safety Seminar and the IFA's 25th international conference. A feast of aviation safety topics awaits the 500 aviation professionals who are expected to attend.
Robert E. Whitehead was officially appointed associate administrator at space agency headquarters. In March, he had taken over the Office of Aeronautics as acting chief after Wesley Harris was reassigned to NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin's office.
``The most advanced visual system yet developed for commercial flight simulators'' is FlightSafety International's claim for its new VITAL ChromaView visual-enhancement system already slated to be installed in two general aviation simulators. This new technology, when combined with VITAL's panoramic MultiView display, is said to provide a ``superior'' visual environment and, thus, to improve the effectiveness of simulator training due to more realistic scenery detail and weather conditions.
While regional aircraft lead the way in active noise canceling, business aircraft might soon catch up. Two systems for King Airs-one from Stevens Aviation of Greenville, South Carolina and the other from Elliott Aviation of Moline, Illinois-were slated for certification in August.
A heliport developer has concluded that the creation of a New York City heliport on a retired aircraft carrier is financially feasible. The study is being sent to the FAA for review. Meanwhile, the estimated start-up date is now early in 1997, about a year later than scheduled (B/CA, September 1994, page 34). Plans call for the USS Guadalcanal, an amphibious assault helicopter carrier, to be converted to a full-service heliport and moored in the Hudson River.
Because it's growing and changing so quickly, the Internet isn't something you'll ever learn completely. The best you can hope to do is try to keep up with major issues. The online services, such as America Online, CompuServe, Delphi and the like, have developed discussion groups devoted to Internet-related topics. In your interest group, you can post all the ``dumb'' questions you can think of, just ``lurk'' in the background and learn from discussions between other users, and download pertinent files for further information.
The past two years have been eventful and generally positive for owners of Twin Commanders, and the first annual fly-in and convention of the Twin Commander Flight Group (TCFG) on June 15-18 in Oklahoma City attested to it. The meeting attracted more than 50 Commander aircraft and about 250 operators and industry representatives from around the world.
Two ``government'' Learjets made headlines in the last year for the worst of reasons. One was a U.S. Air Force C-21A that crashed on April 17 near Alexander City, Alabama. The accident claimed all eight persons aboard, including an assistant Air Force secretary and a major general. The other was a Phoenix Air Learjet 35A operated under contract to the California Air National Guard for which it flew training-support missions. Called ``Dart 21,'' this aircraft crashed when attempting an emergency landing with an electrical system fire.
High Altitude Radiation Monitoring of Vermont Service (HARMS) has developed a tracking system to monitor aircraft occupant exposure to ionizing radiation, an occupational hazard on certain high-altitude flights. HARMS issues a badge on a quarterly basis to its customers. Then, the badges are collected and analyzed by radiation-specialist physicians after the next quarter's badges are sent out. Customers are notified immediately of unusually high readings. Price: $150 per person for badge and service. High Altitude Radiation Monitoring Service, P.O.
Two free videotape productions-one from the AOPA and the other from King Schools of San Diego-provide tips on cutting aircraft noise and living in harmony with airport neighbors. The AOPA introduced its 20-minute videotape, ``Flying Friendly,'' narrated by AOPA President Phil Boyer, this spring. Flight departments, airport managers and local pilot groups will find the video to be a well-illustrated how-to production, suggesting and showing safe noise-reducing flying techniques.
Honeywell's FANS 1 system was certificated in June, enabling operators of Boeing 747-400s to take a significant step toward implementation of CNS/ATM. So what does that mean? If you're confused by new terminology being bandied about in the avionics and ATC worlds, don't worry; you're probably not alone. Industry observers are referring to the ongoing changes in the way airplanes and pilots relate to ATC as ``revolutionary as the jet engine,'' so perhaps it's fitting that those changes be accompanied by a whole new set of acronyms.
