Pilots are another step closer to having up-to-the-minute, graphical weather displays in their cockpits, thanks in part to an NASA/DoD/industry initiative. NASA chose proposals from eight industry teams to develop Aviation Weather Information AWIN systems for commercial and general aviation aircraft.
A predicament in which Gulfstream Aerospace is delivering green aircraft faster than the company's facilities can complete them may force the company to select two or three outside completions centers on an interim basis to help reduce the backlog of unfinished G-IVSPs and G-Vs. For example, of 43 G-Vs delivered at press time, Gulfstream says 23 were in, or waiting to start, the completions process at one of three company facilities. Except for "unique situations," customers of new aircraft are under contract with Gulfstream for completion services.
People who know what to do before an emergency arises are most likely to react quickly and do whatever is necessary to save their lives, and it increases their chances of survival in an accident," said Dan Johnson, Ph.D., a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers' Cabin Safety S-9 Subcommittee. Johnson added, "There is considerable evidence to support this assertion, evidence based on actual accident reports as well as on experimental studies," he added.
Airport tenants and operators would be stuck for the increased cost of aircraft deicing under possible new rules being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to prevent pollution from aircraft deicing. The EPA is conducting a preliminary study and data gathering, including looking at alternative and innovative deicing practices. Comments on the EPA's notice are due July 27. Phone (202) 260-7150 for details.
Joe Vreeman has been appointed vice president of customer support for this regional aircraft manufacturer's customer support organization. Craig Fahning joined the company as president of corporate aircraft sales.
In celebration of B/CA's 40th anniversary, each month throughout 1998 we will present excerpts from the top features published 40 years ago. We hope you find them interesting and fun. From the July 1958 issue:
FAR Part 150 noise-compatibility programs have been submitted to the FAA for the following international airports: Daytona Beach, Fort Worth Meacham and Indianapolis. The FAA is scheduled to approve the submissions by October.
Jim Clough joined this airframe manufacturer as manager of styling and design. His home base is Bombardier's completion center in Tucson, where he will work on Learjet 31A and 60 production aircraft, along with the Challenger 604.
A restitution payment of $2 million as part of one of the largest settlements ever in a case involving suspected unapproved parts will go to the Center for Aerospace Safety Education (CASE). Associated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., CASE will use the money to promote aviation safety through research and education programs.
Bill Koch has been promoted to senior vice president and general manager, responsible for the company's FBOs in the eastern United States and internationally. Bill Moltenbrey was promoted to senior vice president finance and administrative planning.
Bombardier expected to receive U.S. and Canadian certification of its Montreal-based Global Express simulator and flight training device just prior to this month's certification of the ultra-long-range business jet. The simulator will operate as an FAA Level C system until 1999 when Level D approval is planned. The FTD will have a Level 7 approval.
With the help of Chrysler Pentastar in Waterford, Mich., Gulfstream Aerospace launched an aircraft management program. Through Gulfstream Management Services, customer aircraft scheduling, the crew and maintenance management will be provided through Chrysler Pentastar. Monthly fees for the program vary depending upon the operating costs associated with each customer's actual use of the aircraft.
Operators have until July 14 to comment on the FAA's proposal to upgrade from Class C to Class B the airspace within a 25-nm radius of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The comment period was extended in response to a request by the AOPA, which said the proposal "does not adequately accommodate" GA's needs.
Ted A. Fuhrer is the new vice president and general manager of the General Aviation Division. His predecessor was Robert J. Hirvela, who retired in February.
Developers of the Centennial InterPort AirBusiness Campus, a planned FBO/hotel complex, still are slated to break ground soon at the airport. "We're fairly comfortable that we can work through the difficulties in spite of a four- to six-month delay; no one objects to our plans. But we are concerned about the threat to the airport's AIP funds," said Michael K. Packard, manager of SunBorne Development, the driving force behind the construction project (November 1997, page 20).
Another pilot trapped by a hurried, unstabilized, approach. We've often discussed in this column the dangers of unstabilized approaches. The following accident is not unlike those that have gone before, yet it demonstrates how quickly a routine operation can become tragic when a pilot allows himself to become rushed by the system.
In celebration of B/CA's 40th anniversary in 1998, each month throughout this year we will present excerpts from the top feature articles published 40 years ago. We hope you find them interesting and fun. From the June 1958 issue:
"We were appalled when the FAA called 'robust' its proposed inadequate $1.7 billion for Airport Improvement Program funding through 2002," said Henry Ogrodzinski, president of the National Association of State Airport Officials, in an interview with B/CA. He also is concerned that the agency's proposed new $4 ceiling on passenger facility charges won't benefit small airports. But he praised a flexible-share proposal for the state block grant program that would enable funding of more small airport projects.
The next decade will see a profusion of airborne, datalink-based applications designed to work with avionics being developed for the aeronautical telecommunications network-the so-called Internet of the airways. One of the first ways ATN is being introduced to business aviation is by providing a whole new range of weather products to the cockpit. What's more, the stuff is here already.
Boeing and Airbus are working together to develop curriculum for teaching pilots to cope with aircraft upsets. Tailored to large, swept-wing aircraft, the training package includes both written materials and videotapes. One portion of the material is aimed at classroom or self-study courses, while another is designed to be incorporated into simulator sessions. The companies plan to make the package available free to their customers, but they also are exploring ways to disseminate the package more broadly to training organizations and/or to interested corporate operators.
Galaxy Aerospace reports that the company received RVSM group certification for the Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX, and a service bulletin is now available. According to Mike Wuebbling, vice president of customer service and product support for Galaxy, the upgrade cost for operators will be two-fold: (1) $17,500 for the bulletin itself and (2) an outlay in the $27,000 to $33,000 range for the equipment necessary to modify the aircraft-depending upon who does the job.
Tracor, an Austin, Texas-based defense contractor that also is involved in business jet engine hush kits, is being acquired by the United Kingdom's General Electric Co. Under an agreement signed between the two firms, Tracor will be integrated with GEC-Marconi's North American Group. GEC-Marconi also is teamed with Honeywell in the development of a business jet HUD. London-based GEC is not affiliated with General Electric of the United States.
The next time you see a finance source, insurance agent or consultant concerning a Falcon Jet, you may be surprised to discover how much they know about Dassault and its products. On an afternoon in May, more than 100 officials from financial institutions, insurance companies, aircraft management firms and the consulting industry attended a Dassault Falcon Jet first-an Aviation Professionals Conference.
