Business & Commercial Aviation

Staff
In its final report, the NTSB cited four probable causes of the crash of a USAir DC-9 on July 2, 1994 at Charlotte, North Carolina. They were (1) the pilots' decision to continue an approach into ``severe convective activity'' conducive to microburst, (2) their failure to recognize a wind-shear situation in a timely manner, (3) their failure to establish an appropriate attitude and thrust setting necessary to escape the wind shear and (4) a lack of real-time weather and wind-shear hazard information dissemination from ATC.

Staff
Business aircraft manufacturers are riding the recovery wave that is surging through most sectors of the world economy. The firms that doggedly pursued new product development during the lean years of the late 1980s and early 1990s now are reaping strong results. Other manufacturers, with less ambitious aircraft development strategies, also are enjoying a sales resurgence as an indirect result of the market activity generated by the front-runners.

Staff
The Italian government is expected to rule this month on a reorganization plan for Piaggio Aircraft, according to an official of this company that builds the Avanti turboprop. If approved, the plan would be a first step toward getting Piaggio back on a firm financial footing. Piaggio has been operating under Italy's equivalent of Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy laws since late 1994.

R.A.S.
The enactment of product liability reform legislation in 1994 removed a big item from the agendas of five major national general aviation trade groups: the AOPA, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and the NBAA.

E.G.T.
Leasing can tie companies to a contract and to an aircraft that changing conditions and requirements make undesirable. Because of this limitation, most firms would rather be aircraft owners. Nevertheless, according to Peter Redman, president of Cessna Finance, leasing still is an option exercised by companies with special requirements or by large businesses applying very sophisticated financial methods.

R.A.S.
Table: GA&Air Taxi Hours Flown By Turbine Aircraft (This table is available electronically. Please see the May, 1995 issue.) When President Bill Clinton signed the General Aviation Revitalization Act on August 12, 1994, he set off the beginning of what many in the GA community hoped would be an industry renaissance. The landmark reform legislation limits airframe and components manufacturers' product liability by establishing an 18-year statute of repose for all general aviation aircraft.

Staff
Mounting losses have prompted Mesa Air Group's Mountain West Airlines to pull out of Columbus, Ohio effective June 1. The carrier has operated as America West Express, serving Baltimore, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Indianapolis, Louisville, Kentucky, Toledo and Milwaukee.

Staff
Martin Aviation's new and significantly larger business aviation terminal is under construction at its FBO facilities on John Wayne/Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, California, where it has been located for over 72 years. An item in B/CA's April issue (page 16) inadvertently moved Martin to California's Long Beach Airport. Martin's new terminal at SNA is scheduled to open in the fall.

Staff
Helicopter Association International and other industry representatives met with DOT Secretary Federico Pea in late March to express their concern about continued air access over national parks. Air-tour operators have been hit with rules and proposed rules to limit their operations for the declared purpose of improving safety and reducing noise. Industry reps want to ensure that the DOT, not the Department of Interior, retains sole authority over airspace rules.

Staff
Dassault will introduce a Falcon 50 derivative in late 1996. The Falcon 50EX, an upgraded replacement for the Falcon 50, will feature a Collins Pro Line IV avionics suite similar to that installed in the Falcon 2000. AlliedSignal's new TFE731-40 turbofans will power the 50EX, providing better climb, cruise, range and fuel specifics. The new aircraft will be priced at about $15.4 million.

Staff
U.S. Coast Guard is proceeding with plans to stop operating Loran-C ground stations by 2000, despite efforts by thousands of Loran-C users to retain the system (B/CA, June 1994, page 15). The original Loran-C termination date was 2015. The Coast Guard cites a lean budget and the availability of GPS as reasons for an early phaseout. About 120,000 Loran navigation receivers are in aviation use. The FAA has yet to comment on the Coast Guard's stance.

Staff
Signature Flight Support reinstated handling charges and introduced two fuel discount programs at all 35 of its FBOs. Fuel discounts of up to 65 cents per gallon can be earned, based on the total volume of Signature fuel an operator purchases during the preceding 12 months. Lesser discounts are available to those who tank up to 50 percent of the aircraft's fuel capacity at a single fueling. A ``handling charge'' will be assessed to those who don't buy fuel and who are not exempted based on the annual volume of fuel purchased.

Staff
Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer made good on his promise and announced plans to resume production of Model 172s, 182s and 206s once the General Aviation Revitalization Act was signed into law. The centerpiece of the law is an 18-year statute of repose limiting aircraft and component manufacturers' exposure to product liability lawsuits.

Staff
Hawker Siddeley Canada's Orenda Aerospace has frozen the design of a 600-hp, fuel-injected, twin-turbo V-8 powerplant for aviation applications (B/CA, December 1994, page 30). Toronto-based Orenda hopes to certify the engine by the end of the year. The company has signed a contract with Stevens Aviation of Greenville, South Carolina to distribute the engines for initial installation in King Air 90s. The $100,000 engine will produce 500 hp at 25,000 feet.

Staff
Sunrise Jet Center at California's John Wayne Airport is now operating from a new, larger facility. The terminal and hangar complex provides an outdoor deck overlooking the ramp, a passenger lounge, a crew lounge with shower and sleeping rooms, a kitchen, a conference room and overnight hangaring. Even an animal run, complete with water and biscuits for the traveling pet, is offered.

Staff
Canadian government terminated a multi-million-dollar contract with Micronav International of Sydney, Nova Scotia to supply microwave landing systems to Canadian airports (B/CA, July 1993, page 28). A government official said current ILS technology and future application of satellite-based approach systems will be less costly and more efficient than continuing MLS development.

G.A.G.
Rotorcraft standards--An NPRM offers revisions that will make FARs and JARs covering standards for both normal- and transport-category rotorcraft virtually uniform. The NPRM also introduces safety improvements, clarifies existing regulations and proposes other changes (February 1995, page 18).

Staff
Airport litigation--Under an FAA NPRM, rules of practice for the filing of complaints and adjudication of compliance matters involving federally assisted airports would be contained in a new FAR Part 16. Currently, such rules are covered in Part 13: Investigative and Enforcement Procedures (September 1994, page 22). Storage tanks--The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to clear banks and other lending sources from liability for cleaning up leaking underground storage tanks (August 1994, page 22).

R.B.P.
Overflights (which require payment in advance) can be facilitated with use of Air Routing's Royal Bank of Canada card (Air Routing).

Staff
Air taxi operators of turbine aircraft question if an NTSB recommendation calling for upgraded flight data recorders is appropriate to its segment of the industry. The National Air Transportation Association says no, it is not, and labels ``unacceptable'' the Safety Board's remarks that a cost estimate of up to $70,000 per aircraft is ``reasonable.'' The NTSB wants the upgraded FDRs on FAR Part 135 aircraft with 10 or more passenger seats (B/CA, April, page 22).

Staff
The following companies provide ground-side communications access to satcom-equipped business aircraft: Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC) 2551 Riva Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 266-2329 Avicom Japan Ltd. Business Coordination Department Kenchiku-Kaikan 5-26-20 Shiba Minatoku, Tokyo 108 Japan +81 3 5443-9291 Comsat/KDD Consortium Comsat Aeronautical Services Comsat Corp. 22300 Comsat Dr.

Staff
New ICAO standards recommend the installation of GPWSes on GA aircraft used in international operations, but mandate the systems on overseas-bound commercial aircraft that weigh more than 33,000 pounds and meet certain other criteria. By the end of 1998, ICAO expects to issue a requirement that business and other general aviation aircraft weighing over 12,500 pounds MTOW, seating more than nine passengers and operating internationally must have GPSWes.

Staff
Litton Special Devices acquired the assets of Aeronetics from AAR Manufacturing and relocated the company to Litton's headquarters plant in Springfield, Pennsylvania. Formerly based in Carol Stream, Illinois, Aeronetics produces nav displays, gyros, control panels and data converters. In addition to nav displays, Litton Special Devices builds electromechanical actuator systems. For inquiries as to continued product support, contact Litton at (610) 328-4016.

Staff
Senator Wendell Ford (D-KY) has introduced S.682--the Clinton administration's proposed legislation requiring some or all FAR Part 139 certification requirements to apply to airports served by airline aircraft with nine or fewer passenger seats. Part 139 standards currently apply only to airports served by air carriers with more than nine passenger seats.

Staff
A transponder landing system (TLS) is scheduled to be installed at Wisconsin's Watertown Municipal Airport, and will be available for pilot demonstration approaches to the annual convention of the Experimental Aircraft Association in July. Advanced Navigation and Positioning Corporation of Hood River, Oregon, the system's supplier, is seeking FAA certification for it, and says its TLS is intended as interim technology prior to the implementation of GPS.