Millions of innocent and often sentimental and valuable articles are forfeited at TSA screening points with no hope of retrieval. Now the TSA is deploying automated mailing kiosks (AMKs) by ReturnKey Systems in major international airports to offer the traveling public an alternative to forfeiture while affording the TSA a viable alternative to confiscation. The AMKs also return U.S. Postal Service to terminals serviced by the kiosks. USPS depositories disappeared from terminals in the wake of 9/11. ``We worked with and through Homeland Security, the TSA, the U.S.
Aviation Week Group's Web portal, located at www.aviationnow.com, increased the number of articles available from its publications to provide a larger view of the latest developments in the world of aviation, aerospace and defense. This new level of expanded editorial coverage is available for $4.95 per article, $8.95 per month or $69 annually. ``The expanded coverage in Aviationnow.com gives a great snapshot of news in aviation, aerospace and defense with a large sampling of articles selected from our entire portfolio of products,'' said Kenneth E.
AvCard has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for both its Hunt Valley, Md., and London, England, operations. Linda Kropp developed the concept and started the business at PHH Group while that company was entering the aviation industry. When PHH divested its aviation businesses, Kropp acquired AvCard and set about growing it. Today, AvCard, a division of Kropp Holdings, is a leading provider of aviation services and contract fuel to over 12,000 corporate, governmental and military cardholders worldwide.
The Outdoor Channel (TOC) will debut a new aviation series this summer, ``Wings to Adventure,'' which will take an in-depth look at general aviation. Cirrus Design Corp. has signed on as a sponsor for the series, which will include profiles of airplanes, flying destinations, aviation personalities, industry history, tips and equipment reviews.
GAMA and manufacturers have been working with the FAA to finalize a policy for test and experimental flights in RVSM airspace. One manufacturer had been advised to shut down its flight-testing program until such guidance was released, but then got an OK to continue the program. Wichita OEMs, which could collectively generate 60 test and experimental flights on any given day, were working directly with the Kansas City Center on procedures for handling the test flights.
When Honeywell's SPZ-8000 made its debut in the mid-1980s, it set new standards for performance, capabilities and display technology. In keeping with the GV's evolutionary design, Gulfstream chose a low-risk derivative of the GIV-SP's SPZ-8400 for the cockpit of its newest long-range business jet. The race was on to beat the Global Express to the market and Gulfstream wanted no unexpected twists en route to the winner's circle.
Joint venture Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. is relocating its headquarters from Fort Worth, Texas, to Reston, Va. Company officials said the move ``is consistent with our goal to enhance the company's visibility across the aviation industry and especially our global customer base, including the U.S. government.''
Ron Zilberbrand, who founded Jet Support Services in 1989, recently celebrated the six-month anniversary of his latest venture, the Zilberbrand Group, LLC. Zilberbrand and his son Jason formed the international aircraft sales and acquisitions company in June 2004. The Chicago-based firm is using agents in nine countries to identify aircraft that might be suitable for sale and was expecting to close several deals early this year.
Republic Airways Holdings has ordered another 16 Embraer 170s and holds options for 34, putting its total order at 39 firm and 61 options. Value of the firm order is claimed to be $400 million with deliveries from June of this year to mid-2006. The aircraft will be operated for Delta Connection. A previous order covered aircraft used on behalf of United Express. To date Republic has taken delivery of 13 E-170s.
Everyone based or employed at Concord, Calif.'s Buchanan Field has a stake in the outcome of the redevelopment proposal currently being considered for the airport. EMS operator Calstar (California Shock/Trauma Air Rescue), which fields a fleet of helicopters out of CCR, is no exception.
There was considerable hoopla a few years ago about the evolving Communications, Navigation and Surveillance systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM). Those were to be the follow-on group of technologies for the Future Air Navigation System - 1 (FANS-1) proposed by Boeing and FANS-A proposed by Airbus. FANS-X was to be CNS/ATM tailored for business jets.
CAE Group President of Civil Simulation and Training Jeff Roberts announced at the Falcon 7X debut that CAE will build its new Northeast United States business aviation training center in Morris County, N.J. In July 2004, CAE was awarded an exclusive contract by Dassault to provide entitlement training for pilots, maintenance personnel and cabin crew for the Falcon 7X aircraft. CAE will also provide training for the Falcon 900 EX/EASy and 2000 EX/EASy at the center.
LJSC, a Wichita-based engineering consulting company, received an STC for its RVSM package for the Learjet 24 and 25. The kit, which features two Rosemount pitot-static probes and twin Innovative Solutions & Support air-data computers, takes between eight and 12 weeks to deliver to an installation center and approximately two weeks to install. The installed price for the LJSC RVSM Learjet solutions range from $145,000 to $158,000.
GAMA announced that shipments of piston-powered airplanes increased by 155 units to 2,051, a 20-year high. Turboprop shipments increased from 272 airplanes in 2003 to 321 in 2004. Shipments of general aviation business jets also increased, up 14.1 percent from 518 units in 2003 to 591 in 2004.
The FAA has issued a new rule for FAR Part 91 operators carrying candidates for political office that eliminates compensation restrictions for transporting state and local candidates that did not apply to candidates for federal office. The rule change allows operators who do not hold either a Part 121 or 135 certificate to receive payments for carrying local or state candidates if the state and local election laws require such payment. Part 91 operators already were permitted to receive payment for carrying candidates seeking federal offices.
The February ``Fast Five'' (page 26) belongs in an April Fool's edition of your magazine. Why would a credible magazine waste two-thirds of a page on this hoax? It makes me wonder about you and B&CA. The Moller Skycar is about as viable as Dr. Langley's full-scale steam-powered airplane. Why not stick with real aviation products that have at least a chance of becoming a reality.
The National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) held its second annual ``Day on the Hill'' on Feb. 3, during which members conducted face-to-face sessions with 40 senators, House members and their staffs in Washington, D.C. Complimenting NARA President Susan Sheets, Dane Jenning, head of NARA's Government Affairs Committee and director of used aircraft at Cessna, said arranging all those meetings had taken weeks, but they came off ``flawlessly.'' Prior to the individual meetings, Sam Whitehorn, senior counsel of the U.S.
West Star Aviation, a Colorado-based repair, maintenance and modification facility specializing in Learjets, Hawkers, Falcons, Conquests and Citations, expects to receive this month an STC for its RVSM package for the Cessna Conquest II. The company's Conquest II RVSM solution, announced in April 2004, is to cover aircraft equipped with the Rockwell Collins APS-65, Sperry SPZ-500 or Meggitt 2100 autopilots.
Logbook Pro from Sporty's automatically organizes and keeps a running total of all flight time, and allows the user to extract data in various formats. Features include auto-fill, automatic time calculations and error-checking to ensure compliance with regulations. Users can customize columns, generate more than 60 reports or design their own reports. Logbook Pro comes in three editions: Standard, Professional and Enterprise. The optional Logbook Pro PDA add-on allows users to take their logbooks along for the ride.
Scott Crislip, Rolls-Royce president -- Helicopter and Small Gas Turbine Engines, presented the Rolls-Royce Annual Forecast of Worldwide Turbine Helicopter Demand at Heli-Expo. He reported, ``Civil helicopter deliveries are projected to total 5,144 units during the next 10 years, roughly the same figure as 2004's forecast. The associated value of this market is forecast to be $13.8 billion in airframes and $1.9 billion in installed engines.
The New Jersey Aviation Association, Trenton, N.J., named John W. ``Jack'' Olcott president, replacing Tom Carver, who was appointed New Jersey labor commissioner. Olcott, president of the NBAA from 1992 to 2003, is currently president of General Aero Co., Inc. Other appointments include: Steve Barlage, vice president of regional sales for The Air Group, to the position of secretary; Matt Boyle, senior vice president and chief counsel of Dassault Falcon Jet, to vice chairman; and Maria Renner, government affairs coordinator for D.M.
In its annual report, GAMA says that the general aviation industry made a strong recovery in 2004. Industry billings totaled $11.9 billion, the third highest ever and a 19.1 percent increase above 2003 billings. The total number of airplanes shipped in 2004 increased to 2,963, a 10.3-percent increase above the previous year. Speaking at GAMA's Annual Industry Review and Market Outlook, James E. Schuster, chairman of GAMA's board, said, ``Bonus depreciation, coupled with the continuing growth of the U.S. economy, helped make 2004 a turning point for our industry.
At the Jan. 18 rollout ceremonies for the Gulfstream G150 at the Israel Aircraft Industries production hangar at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, IAI executives said they plan to deliver up to 15 green aircraft to Gulfstream Aerospace in 2006 and hope that rate will increase. They said the tooling can accommodate up to four aircraft per month. First flight is set for May 18, and the flight-test program is expected to involve 75 flights consuming 235 hours.
Honeywell selected Soloy to develop an STC for installing its upgraded LTS101-700D-2 turboshaft engine on Eurocopter AS350B2 AStar helicopters. Honeywell expects the upgrade installation to be relatively straightforward since the new -700D-2 installation ``footprint'' is the same as that of currently installed LTS101. The -700D-2 is designed to provide 14 percent more takeoff power at sea level than the current LTS101, and 18 percent more power in hot-and-high conditions. Soloy has already begun the new engine installation on a B2 AStar at its Olympia, Wash., facility.
Honeywell engineer Don Bateman, inventor of the Ground Proximity Warning System, was named one of 13 people to be inducted this year into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in Akron, Ohio. Bateman, chief of technology for Honeywell's Commercial Electronic Systems business, led a team of engineers that developed GPWS in the 1970s and EGPWS in the 1990s.
