Planning to take delivery of a Boeing Business Jet, Airbus 319CJ or any other airliner-size business aircraft? If you're a U.S. operator, most likely you'll be prohibited from carrying any passengers or cargo until you first obtain an FAR Part 125 operating certificate or a Part 125 deviation authorization from the local Flight Standards District Office.
New York City is pursuing its plans to privatize La Guardia and Kennedy airports. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey currently manages the facilities under the terms of a lease set to expire in 2015. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has repeatedly complained about Port Authority operation of the facilities, saying ``we're losing passengers, we're losing business and we're losing prestige because of the Port Authority's management.'' The authority also operates Teterboro and Newark Airports in New Jersey.
NASA has created a new Web site for its Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). The new site provides downloadable reporting forms, current and past issues of ASRS publications, ASRS immunity policies, and other aviation safety reports and links. In conjunction with the FAA, the ASRS collects and analyzes air safety information from aviation operations personnel. Information is submitted voluntarily and the identity of participants remains confidential. The address for the new site is http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov.
The GPS Wide Area Augmentation System is experiencing more delays, and it now appears that commissioning will take place at year-end, approximately three months later than the most recent schedule. A ``system glitch'' during a 60-day test run caused the delay. Although not Y2K related, the problem appeared over the New Year's weekend, and related to algorithms that govern communication between WAAS ground stations and the geostationary satellite that broadcasts WAAS corrections.
The FAA and U.S. Department of Agriculture have published a new manual to help manage wildlife hazards at airports. According to the FAA, aircraft-wildlife collisions cost $300 million, resulting in 500,000 hours of aircraft down time. The new book provides operators with plans for wildlife hazard risk assessments, employee training and management plans required to deal with the dangers. In an agreement with the FAA, the USDA's Wildlife Services office will provide assistance to local airports that have wildlife hazards.
Sermatech and Samsung Aerospace have formed a joint venture to apply protective coatings to turbine engines. The new company, known as Sermatech Korea, is based at Samsung's Changwon, Korea, factory.
Despite statements on Kansas City, Mo.'s official Web site saying the facility is ``ripe for aeronautical development,'' Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport has closed. After a protracted legal and public opinion battle over the airport's fate, residents voted in favor of a plan that would close the former U.S. Air Force base. A rail-truck freight hub developed by Kansas City Southern Railway will replace the general aviation facility.
James Hall, the chairman of the NTSB, spent $400,000 of the board's money in 1999 for a detailed analysis by the RAND think tank on how the Safety Board operates and what could be done to make it function better. The resulting report and recommendations concerning the nation's aviation safety arbiter are both thought provoking and troubling.
A key to achieving greater productivity from your aviation asset is ``quality'' utilization. As John Sheehan of Wilming-ton, N.C.-based Professional Aviation, Inc. points out, there may be no such thing as over-utilization, but there can be mis-utilization of the corporate aircraft. While in-house business aircraft may average 500 hours of flying time a year, they're certainly capable of being operated 700 to 1,000 hours annually, as fractional operators have shown. Sheehan asks, does your company consider ``alternate'' uses for its aircraft?
Continental Airlines has acquired a minority stake in Gulfstream International Airlines, a privately held Beech 1900C operator that has provided regional feed as a ``Continental Connection'' carrier for the past three years. In December 1999, Gulfstream initiated service from San Juan, Puerto Rico to St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Maarten and St. Kitts, with new service to Tortola and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands slated to begin this month. Gulfstream says closer ties with Continental will not affect its code-share deals with other carriers.
BFGoodrich (BFG) plans to restructure its landing gear business, resulting in the elimination of at least 500 jobs and the ``partial closure'' of the company's Euless, Texas, plant. An offshoot of last summer's merger with Coltec Industries, the restructuring will save around $35 million annually, BFG says, along with another $25 million saved by combining the two companies' headquarters.
CIT Aerospace (New York) -- Walter Valarezo joins the finance company's Fort Lauderdale office. The Boeing and McDonnell Douglas veteran will oversee marketing and business development in South America and Southern Europe.
In a ruling that could cost Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as much as $100 million, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that proceeds from landing fees must be used for airport operating expenses, not added to a municipality's general fund as alleged in an Air Transport Association (ATA) lawsuit. The ATA's Carol Hallett claims LAX now will have to refund $100 million in airline landing fees, funds the trade group says were diverted from airport programs that benefit its member airlines. The city of Los Angeles pushed the Supreme Court appeal, after the DOT and U.S.
Photograph: Low aircraft utilization led UPS to pick the Boeing 727-100 for passenger charters. United Parcel Service (UPS) is a growing presence in the leisure charter market, nearly three years after it began hauling passengers in five converted Boeing 727-100 freighters. According to Paul Martins, UPS's manager of air charter services, the goal in creating the passenger operation was to increase aircraft utilization, enhance the UPS brand, and most importantly, to turn a profit.
Beginning this summer, operators of transport-category aircraft will be able to participate in aircraft parts auctions on the Internet. The project is a joint venture between SITA, a Geneva-based telecommunications company, and AAR Corp., an aircraft parts supplier headquartered in Wood Dale, Ill. Among other features, the Web site will serve as a parts clearinghouse and central location for auctions, reverse auctions and inventory listings.
We incorrectly stated that UNC Airwork is a subsidiary of BBA Aviation (January, page 40). When Dallas Airmotive acquired Airwork in December 1998, the Airwork name was retired.
Many factors determine a manufacturer's approach to corrosion control. Some can be imposed by certification authorities. Others may be developed through field service experience. Here is how two of the companies handle corrosion:
United Technologies has acquired Space Age Aviation, a supplier of turbine engine components. Space Age will become part of UTC's Pratt&Whitney Canada Service Centre operation.
Columbia Air (Groton, Conn.) -- Bridgette A. Barker joins the full service FBO as dispatch supervisor and also will handle public relations for the company.
