NASA has awarded a $150 million research contract to Raytheon for the agency's Air Traffic Management System Development and Integration (ATMSDI) program. NASA hopes ATMDSI will result in increased activity at capacity-constrained airports, improved air routings, air traffic controller productivity gains and more effective use of high density air space. Raytheon's team includes representatives from Honeywell, technology consultant Booz Allen and Hamilton, software developer Seagull Technology, major universities and airlines.
US Airways and its pilots' union have reached a tentative agreement on a regional jet ``mini-deal'' that allows the addition of up to 35 RJs, but reduces their maximum seating capacity from the 69 now allowed to 50. Additionally, the deal specifies that one out of six pilots hired by US Airways will come from the company's wholly owned regional carriers, and guarantees a set number of block hours for mainline pilots.
Military aviation has a long history of requiring briefings prior to each sortie. This requirement is standard regardless of aircraft. This policy also has been adopted by most airlines, albeit somewhat modified to include a crew briefing, a departure briefing, a pre-takeoff briefing and an approach briefing. It can be argued that the single, most important briefing is the crew briefing since it may set the tone for the entire flight. However, this assertion is not universally accepted.
Aircraft completions consultant Aerospace Concepts of Canada (ACI) has tapped Bryan Landry to manage the completions of all client aircraft. Landry was preflight supervisor and modification line manager for the Bombardier Global Express and will be based at ACI's Montreal headquarters. Fred Denson, former maintenance director of Toyota's AirFlite, is joining Aerospace Concepts as director of technical completions, overseeing work at Bombardier's Tucson and Long Beach, Calif., completion centers. AirFlite is the world's first Global Express operator.
Photograph: More of this to come A Canadair Challenger CL601-3R owned by South Korea's Ministry of Transportation performed the first landing at the new Inchon International Airport (IIA) on February 28. The test flight verified the workings of control tower systems, and additional proving runs with larger aircraft are planned for the coming months. IIA is slated to open in early 2001, replacing Kimpo as South Korea's main international gateway and airline hub for Northeast Asia.
The FAA has submitted a rule for White House Office of Management and Budget review requiring terrain awareness and warnings systems (TAWS) on turbine aircraft with six or more seats. Aircraft operating under FAR Part 91 and Part 135 will be affected by the rule, which the NBAA and other groups opposed on the basis of cost and operational concerns.
United Airlines has removed its fleet of nine British Aerospace ATPs from service and is selling them through BAE Systems. The aircraft formerly operated flights under the United Feeder Services (UFS) banner for United Express.
Under the FOARC recommendation, fractional ownership is defined as a system of aircraft exchange involving two or more airworthy aircraft that meets five stipulations: (1) The provision for fractional ownership program management services by a single fractional ownership program manager on behalf of the fractional owners; (2) One or more fractional owners per program aircraft, with at least one program aircraft having more than one owner;
Operational and political issues associated with the massive influx of new jet aircraft are expected to be the top priority of the larger U.S. regional airlines for the rest of the year. Despite their apparent customer acceptance, some say RJ proliferation has increased the pressure on the U.S. air traffic control system, created no small measure of airline labor discord and threatened scheduled air service to small communities.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is targeting 12- to 18-year-old aviation and space buffs with its annual Summer Academy program. The one- to eight-week sessions take place at ERAU's Daytona Beach, Fla., campus and offer students the opportunity to learn about aviation careers, visit area aerospace facilities and take basic flight instruction. Options for more-ambitious and better-heeled campers include programs leading to the first solo, private pilot license and instrument rating.
Grand Canyon air tour operators and their government regulators are still awaiting the NPRM formalizing the new Special Flight Rules Area over the Grand Canyon. The new rules will restrict flight paths over noise-sensitive zones and Native American cultural sights. Local FAA officials are hoping for a five-month grace period that will give them sufficient time to educate operators about the new rules.
According to an account in the NBAA International Operations Bulletin, the pilot of a Raytheon Beech King Air 300 was arrested upon landing in Luanda, Angola for wearing an ``improper uniform.'' The pilot -- who was wearing a golf shirt -- was released a few hours later after paying a $1,100 fine.
A Cessna Citation X, flown by factory demonstration pilots Jim La Pine and Randy Brooks, set a Federation Aeronautique International Category C-1i airplane world speed record between San Jose, Calif., and Farnborough, England on March 4. The Citation X flew the 5,008-mile distance in 10 hours 27 minutes, including a 20-minute refueling stop in Newfoundland. Average groundspeed for the 2,813-nm first leg was 489 knots, factoring in the four-knot headwind and 504 knots for the 2,195-nm second leg.
Horizon Air temporarily suspended one of its senior check airmen who said he refused to fly an aircraft for safety reasons. The February 11 incident is a rare public example of a relatively common dilemma: What is the pilot's responsibility when concern for safety and the apparent interests of one's employer conflict?
AirNet Systems (Columbus, Ohio) -- Founder, board chairman and CEO Gerald G. (Jerry) Mercer is relinquishing his CEO position. Current President and COO Joel E. (Joe) Biggerstaff will become CEO in addition to his other responsibili-ties. James Ernest ``Ernie'' Riddle has joined the company's board of directors, and Wynn Peterson has joined the courier operator as vice president of corporate development.
McKinney Aerospace (McKinney, Texas) -- The company has named Don Rose as general manager of production, Karen Cooper as director of design and Kim Toland as director of human resources.
Flight Center at Seattle's Boeing Field (BFI) has named Jeff Stilwell to be its new general manager. Stilwell most recently was chief pilot and flight department manager for Ranier Aviation, and was chief pilot for GTE Corp. Flight Center recently expanded its business to include aircraft charter and management.
The SunBorne Cos. have completed One InterPort, a three-story, 60,000-square-foot office building adjacent to Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. Signature Flight Support has leased more than half the structure, but 33,000 square feet remain for office and aviation-related users. The building features mountain views, a restaurant and a 15,000-square-foot executive terminal.
A Learjet 60 operated by the FlexJet fractional ownership program overran the runway at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming on March 12. The NTSB is investigating the possibility that black ice on the 6,299-foot runway contributed to the accident. The overrun caused the nose gear to collapse, but there were no injuries. There were no passengers onboard the flight, and damage to the aircraft was said to be minor.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Paul Richfield Soloy Dual Pac Targets OEMs
Soloy Corp.'s new President David A. Stauffer, 44, says at least two airframe manufacturers are studying the company's Dual Pac turboprop mod for use aboard ``clean sheet'' aircraft designs. A successful bid would provide a much-needed boon to the Olympia, Wash.-based business, which suffered a major setback in 1999 when the FAA consented to allow commercial IFR flights in single-engine aircraft.
