Innovative Solutions & Support is now offering a Class 3 electronic navigation chart program along with its recently announced glass cockpit upgrades. IS&S's full-color electronic flight bag product will consist of electronic navigation charts powered by Jeppesen, and applications such as takeoff, en route, approach, landing, missed approach and go-around information. The e-charts will also display own-ship position to pilots through a digital representation of the aircraft's exact, real-time position on the ground or in the air.
An AirTran Boeing 717 taxied into a ditch and collapsed the nose gear after landing at Memphis International Airport. It was 2313 CST and the weather was VFR. The first officer stated that she landed on Runway 36R, was instructed to "make the next left turn, cross 36C on kilo and taxi to the ramp." She stated that once the airplane was clear of the runway and established on the taxiway, it was the appropriate time to be "heads-down" and complete the checklist. The captain stated that he saw Gate C16 to his left and turned the airplane toward the terminal.
DAC International has introduced the GEN-X EFB system with AC 120-76A, Class 2 flexibility and Class 3 reliability. The intuitive software shell, GENESYS, supports digital chart data from Maptech, Jeppesen or Lido. The document reader allows users to view, link and search all manuals. Applications such as weather, performance, checklist, camera and electronic logbook can also be controlled through the GENESYS shell, according to the manufacturer. Price: Varies with options DAC International www.dacint.com
Elliott Aviation is now offering EnVision, a new technology that allows aircraft owners to "see" the completed interior of their aircraft before refurbishments or completions begin. Elliott has partnered with Bonner Springs, Kan.-based Infusion Design to adapt existing high-tech computer modeling. The custom software will build floor plans, exteriors and 3-D interior vignettes for five basic airframes: Hawker 700, 900, 1000; Cessna Citation 650, 550 and 560; King Air 200, 300 and 350; Beechjet 400A; and the Dassault Falcon 10.
En route to Las Vegas, a Cessna 421B collided with terrain near Big Bear Lake, Calif. It was VFR and there was no flight plan filed. This was the first flight for the aircraft owner and his new pilot. A witness stated the airplane departed Runway 26 and rotated about 3,000 feet from the departure end with the flaps up. Just after liftoff, one engine "didn't sound right," but it didn't backfire. The aircraft yawed left then veered to the left, which is a standard maneuver to avoid overflying a school. The landing gear was still down.
A couple of decades ago, B&CA's Purchase Planning Handbook listed well more than a dozen piston twins suitable for personal business transportation use. In essence, these aircraft were designed for much the same personal business transportation missions as today's VLJs and coming PLJs, albeit considerably lower and slower flying than today's entry-level turbine aircraft.
-Jan. 21-24: NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, Phoenix. www.nbaa.org -Jan. 25: NBAA Business Aviation Regional Forum, Scottsdale, Ariz. www.nbaa.org -Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) Conference and Expo, Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates. www.dubaiairshow.org -Feb. 6-7: Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (ABACE2007), Hong Kong. NBAA, 1200 18th St. N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20036. (202) 783-9000. www.nbaa.org -Feb. 7: ABACE Japan Regional Forum, Nagoya. www.nbaa.org
EMTEQ's newest low-profile compact wash light incorporates high-intensity, surface mounted LEDs, multiple dimming options, improved aesthetics and use of advanced phosphor technology for better performance at warmer color temperatures, and constant current control for consistent light output, according to the manufacturer. ELW35 (the assigned part number) accommodates high operating temperatures and is 1.25 to two times brighter than similar offerings. Price: Varies with installation EMTEQ 5349 S. Emmer Dr.
Hammonds' Model G-90 ODAT (Omni-Directional Aircraft Transporter) brings a new dimension to ground service equipment, according to the manufacturer. The towbar-less transporter can be quickly transformed into a towbar tractor and a ramp maintenance vehicle that handles full-size snow plows and rotary brooms. It can be connected to a standard Hammonds G Series tractor with towing capacities from 30,000 pounds to 90,000 pounds.
At 1441 EST, a Robinson R44 II was substantially damaged, and its pilot seriously injured, when it impacted a parking lot following an attempted landing on a shipping trailer at the Port of Baltimore in Maryland. The aircraft was to be delivered overseas to its new owner; the pilot was a last-minute substitution doing a favor for the previous owner. The shipping agent explained that he witnessed the accident as he attempted to direct and assist the pilot with his landing.
A Hawker 700A registered to Juventude Ltd. and operated by Blue Star Airlines landed gear-up at Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood International Airport, Fla. The pilot-in-command who was flying the airplane reported the flight proceeded to the destination airport for a visual approach to Runway 9L. The checklist was read aloud by the copilot with no challenge response.
The new two-inch Mini Gyro from Mid-Continent Instruments will serve as backup to the primary avionics suite of the Garmin and Executive Beechcraft C90 King Air G-1000 retrofit and Avidyne's Alliant King Air 200 program. The gyro is an electric, self-contained instrument that provides the pilot with a horizon reference during IMC. It's capable of being used as a primary or standby artificial horizon in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. With an average lifespan of 2,500 hours, the Mini Gyro is an ideal backup unit, according to Mid-Continent.
Mid-Continent Instruments has added a two-inch course deviation indicator (CDI) to its product line of certified instruments. The new CDI saves on panel space because it can be placed almost anywhere in the instrument panel. The MD200 offers a safety feature that moves the pointers out of view with an invalid signal. The rectilinear meter movement allows for precise and accurate reading by the pilot. NAV, GPS and VLOC annunciation are built-in and backlit by LED lighting, which provides enhanced nighttime and sunlight readability, according to Mid-Continent.
Tdata has released Version 1.44 of its maintenance tracking software. The improved version offers network file sharing, the ability to select a central file saving location for all users, file open as read-only or exclusive, upgraded reports to include on-condition items and the ability to track an unlimited number of aircraft. Price: $749 and up Tdata (800) 783-2827 (United States) 1 (614) 885-1169 (International) www.tdata.com
Categorically, we see the business expanding across the board." Executive Jet Management CEO and President Al Pod's observation succinctly summed up the state of the business aircraft charter industry at the close of 2006. Universally -- among both large and small charter providers -- the business appears to be up 20 to 25 percent over the same period a year ago.
A Beech F33 was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise when it was a short distance from William P. Hobby Airport, Texas. With the airplane still slipped up on it's nose due to the landing the FAA inspector who responded to the accident observed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank had "about an inch" of fuel in its tank. However, the pilot reported to the inspector that he visually checked the fuel before departing Houston and that both tanks were at the three-quarter level.
The production life expectancy of most high-performance piston singles and twins, plus some entry-level turboprops, may be even shorter than predicted by twin-turbofan VLJ proponents. That's because the price of admission to the jet set is being further reduced with the introduction of the single-engine personal light jet, or PLJ. Even the most ardent VLJ promoters see a market for less expensive entry-level single turbofan aircraft.
At 1709 EST, a flight attendant was seriously injured when a Challenger 600 maneuvered to avoid another airplane while on approach to Teterboro Airport, N.J. An FAA inspector reported that the accident airplane was descending through 3,000 feet on a northeasterly heading when the pilots received a resolution advisory from the airplane TCAS. The copilot was flying the airplane when the RA was issued and she did not initially respond to the advisory.
The private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured when a Cessna T303 collided with terrain near Rolling Prairie, Ind. It was IMC at the time of the accident. The aircraft was transporting employees of Two Rivers Marketing back to Iowa following a business meeting. The pilot was in contact with South Bend departure control and did not communicate that he was having any problems. Preliminary radar data indicate the airplane climbed to approximately 5,700 feet after takeoff and entered into a left spiral until radar data were lost.
A DOZEN PEOPLE were gathered in a conference room overlooking our federal city. Excepting me, all attendees knew each other well. The mood was relaxed, everyone having just had a weekend to chill.
Business jets operate over an impressively wide speed range. High-performance models typically can cruise at 450 KTAS to 480 KTAS, enabling them to dash from coast to coast in the United States in about five hours and between the United States and Europe in seven to eight hours. They're also able to fly as slow as 25 percent of cruise speed for takeoff and landing, enabling them to bypass congested commercial jetports and instead use thousands of small, general aviation airports conveniently sited close to most business destinations.
NAT Seattle and Satcom1 have teamed to provide an integrated airborne voice and data networking solution that combines NAT Seattle's JetLAN AR250 and Satcom1's Linux-based software into a single package. According to the company, the system is transparent to the installed satcom and can be used with existing Swift64 technology and the upcoming SwiftBroadband service without any changes.
At about 1442, a Cirrus SR-20 crashed into an apartment building in New York City. Both people on board were killed and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. There were no fatalities to anyone on the ground. The pilot and owner of the aircraft was New York Yankees player Cory Lidle; a California-based flight instructor was with him. The flight had taken off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and appeared to be sightseeing around Manhattan.
Five years ago, Raytheon hailed its new Premier I as the fastest, largest single-pilot business jet on the market. While that was and remains true today, the company's lightest jet was still very much a work in progress. The braking action was inconsistent at best. The baseline Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics package had plenty of unrealized capabilities. The biomorphic-inspired interior design was tres outré by business aircraft industry standards and it squandered available cabin space.
