In the early days of aviation, one of the major technical struggles for achieving flight was finding the sweet spot between the center of balance and the center of lift. Otto Lilienthal steered his gliders by shifting his body. The Wrights developed wing warping, whereby simple metal cables twisted the wings to produce roll. As aircraft complexity increased, the relationship between engine torque and prop wash (known as the P-factor) was taken into account to maintain balanced flight.
Rockwell Collins' largest acquisition to date — purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, ARINC, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group — will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The companies announced the “definitive agreement” for the purchase on Aug. 11, with the deal expected to be finalized within 90 days.
In 1990, Congress adopted sweeping noise legislation that called for the phaseout of Stage 2 airliners by Dec. 31, 1999. The business aviation community strongly objected to any similarly timed phaseout for business jets, because hushkits either weren't available for many models and a number of the aircraft were still too young to put out to pasture. Objectors also argued that aircraft weighing less than 75,000 lb. were inherently quieter than their larger counterparts.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., named Andy Johnson manager of the company's Gulfstream Learning Center in savannah. He replaces Chip White who is now manager of the company's Orlando Learning Center.
United Aviation Services (UAS) of Dubai predicts 3,000 business aircraft will fly into and within Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with 11% of all visitors traveling by private aircraft for the tournament, set to run from June 12 through July 13. Play will take place in a dozen cities throughout Brazil. Ammar Al-Mahmoud, director of the UAS charter division, said the vast country is “underserved” by airlines, a condition favoring private jet travel.
Blackhawk Modifications, Inc., Waco, Texas, has reorganized its sales organization into two groups: Domestic and International. Sales managers in the Domestic groups will report to Edwin Black, vice president of Domestic Sales. The international group will report to Bobby Patton, vice president of International Sales. Sam Jantzen has been named as the company's vice president of Marketing. His aviation career includes positions with Cessna, Fairchild Aircraft, Commuter Air Technology and Raisbeck Engineering.
Cirrus Aircraft is beginning initial production work of the first conforming Vision SF50 jet, and plans to launch an 18-month certification program for the single-engine “personal” jet early next year. Three aircraft will be used in the flight testing, which the Duluth, Minn.-based manufacturer hope will conclude with type certification award in late 2015. The company, which has more than 170 people working on the SF50 program, reports more than 500 deposits for the $1.96 million aircraft.
A “disabled” passenger today can range from someone on crutches after a skiing accident to renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who has managed to survive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) decades longer than his doctors predicted.
The General Aviation Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives has topped the 200 member mark, or almost half the 435-seat chamber. The advocacy group is composed of both Republican and Democratic members of Congress and as Craig Fuller, president of the Aircraft and Pilots Association noted, “This level of bipartisan agreement is nearly unheard of in the modern political climate, and it is a true testament to the importance of general aviation.”
Steven J. Twist (Vice President and General Counsel Services Group of America Scottsdale, Ariz. )
Your article “Command Presence” (Cause & Circumstance, June 2013) is grossly one-sided, is contradicted by every single eyewitness, omits reference to critical physical evidence, and as a result, has done a disservice to your readers. We trust in the future if you write about this horrific tragedy, you will attempt to be fair and balanced out of respect to the victims. Vice President and General Counsel Services Group of America Scottsdale, Ariz.
FAA is soliciting comments on the next round of recommendations to streamline and improve pilot training and certification standards. The agency considers the push to revise the standards as a key component in a multipronged effort to improve the general aviation fatal accident rate. The agency has been working with an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to develop recommendations for streamlined standards that would emphasize risk management skills.
Water utility is now possible for operators of Brantly helicopters with the recent certification of floats. Neoprene treated fabric floats, developed and manufactured by Garrett Corp., measure 168-in. long by 20-in. diameter, weigh only 40 lb., are interchangeable with regular gear and allow top speed of 90 mph.
The founders of Marquis Jet have struck a potential $1.4 billion deal with Beechcraft to launch new “private membership” venture, Wheels Up, which will be anchored around a fleet of King Air 350i's. The agreement includes firm orders and maintenance for 35 aircraft, with options for up to 70 more. Deliveries will begin this year with the remaining firm orders to be delivered at a rate of 1-1.5 per month, running through 2015. The options would then continue over the next few years.
If pond scum is a problem in your life, I've a suggestion: Crank up a pair of Wright R-1820 Cyclones fitted with fat Ham Standard paddles. The green goo doesn't stand a chance. Nor does any other aquatic thing less than a Grumman Albatross, which boasts just such a mechanical hurricane.
The FCC gave a Blanket License Radio Station Authorization for Ka-band aeronautical earth stations to ViaSat, Inc. The 15-yr., renewable license permits operation of the ViaSat Mantarray, low-profile airborne antenna on the ViaSat Ka-band satellite fleet of ViaSat-1, WildBlue-1 and Anik-F2. As the first license of its kind, this approval is another step toward the launch of the ViaSat Exede In the Air Service, the company says.
SimCom Training has completed the first initial training course for the new Total Eclipse using its recently qualified level-D full-flight simulator equipped with new IFMS avionics. The six-day course includes ground school, 14 hr. of brief/debrief time, and 18 hr. of simulator training. “The new simulator is extremely realistic and allows you to train for every conceivable emergency,” said Mike Bryant, the first customer to complete the new program.
The UVair FBO Network has added Great Circle Flight Service at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as their newest location. Great Circle operates 24/7 and provides customs and immigration support, licensed contract A&P technicians, lounges, courtesy transportation and on-site rental cars, among other amenities. The UVair Network now has 20 FBOs offering branded fuel, Bravo Rewards, acceptance of the EPIC Card and the UVair Fueling Card.
Yes, a picture can be worth a thousand words, and until recently, an aviator had to create a mental image of destination weather using charts and obscure abbreviations to make the final Go/No-Go decision. However, thanks to the Internet, it is now possible for a flight crew to actually see the current conditions at a wide variety of locations, including mountain passes, highways, runways and even FBO ramps.
The National Weather Service has a good “go to” website for access to weather cameras. For my locality it brings up SLC as the regional center (www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc). When I click on the “Weather Cameras” link on the left side of the screen I get an abundance of choices of weather cameras and viewing directions; some are “looped” or animated. (It is useful to watch the trend over the last 30 min.) Also, pilots might find the Weather Underground website useful since it lists an extraordinary number of weather collection stations (www.wunderground.com).
To no one's surprise, Richard Santulli is a major force in aviation once again. Before founding NetJets, the former Goldman Sachs wunderkind had begun RTS Helicopter Services, a leasing operation that grew to become among the largest such organizations in the world. RTS wound down as Santulli turned his focus to NetJets, but after severing relations with the fractional operation in 2009, the following year he founded Milestone Aviation Group.
A young American company is reporting steady progress in its development of a water-cooled, six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged 350-hp “Flat-V” diesel engine intended to replace gasoline power plants on light general aviation aircraft and for use in unmanned aerial vehicles. Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc. (EPS) says its Vision 350 has now undergone heat-load and high- altitude tests, along with vibration testing when fitted with aluminum Hartzell props.
