Bombardier is putting a complete support system in place for Challenger 300 operators in Europe. Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services GmbH (LBAS), located at Berlin-Schonefeld Airport, has received full Part 145 approval from the European Aviation Safety Association (EASA) and the FAA. LBAS has also received Honeywell service center authorization to support the HTF7000 turbofan engines powering the Challenger 300.
The Azerbaijan government has ordered an A319CJ Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ) for delivery in late 2005. The head-of-state aircraft will be fitted with 55 seats and have a range of 4,860 nm (9,000 km), which is sufficient to fly from Baku to all European capitals, and most major cities in Asia and Africa. State-owned AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) signed for the ACJ and three Airbus A319 airliners -- making it the first Airbus operator in the Caspian region. Airbus said that by the end of this year there will be over 30 ACJs in operation world-wide.
Pine cones contain the seeds of their parent evergreen, and to grow a new forest, you need a lot of them. Nature's way for replanting depends a lot on chance -- seed-bearing cones get carried by the wind or wild animals to fertile soil, where the seeds sink in and then water, sun and air work their magic and, eventually, a tree results. But if you want to better the odds, get a helicopter. With a special conical harvester slung below, the helicopter hovers over a well-coned tree, drops the device, and waits for it to slide down the tree.
ACCORDING TO The Atlantic Monthly, there's a new phrase in the lexicon of slurs: the Gulfstream Liberal. Great. This newest pejorative surfaced when a pattern was detected among certain well-heeled, left leaners who rush to Sierra Club fundraisers and anti-SUV rallies in -- brace yourselves -- business jets, the lay press's icon of gross self-indulgence and now, liberal hypocrisy.
If you think only the Big Corporate Guns of the flight training world provide quality courseware, you're overlooking a small yet notable organization that has provided solid instructional material to hundreds of thousands of aviators for almost 30 years.
Prior to the 9/11 attacks, the federal bureaucracy with which pilots had the most contact was the FAA. Today, it's the FAA and an aggressive transportation law-enforcement agency that didn't exist three years ago. The TSA was authorized by Congress in December 2001 and opened for business the following month.
J. Mesinger Corporate Jet Sales, Inc. has redesigned its Web site. Besides presenting the current inventory of aircraft for sale and a portfolio of information about aviation asset management, a password-protected area allows registered customers to track the status of their aircraft purchase or sale. The new site is up and running at www.jetsales.com.
Rockwell Collins has received the industry's first TSO approval for a multi-mode receiver (MMR) with Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) functionality. The Collins GLU-925 is the first to include LAAS and GPS landing system (GLS) in addition to ILS and GNSS. GLS holds promise for bringing flexible and economical precision approach capability to runways and airports not currently served by the traditional ILS. The system will be available for the Boeing 737-NG this fall, with other Boeing models to follow.
Athens Aviation Services (AAS), the main FBO at Athens International Airport, handled more than 400 private aircraft and some 70 charters during the Summer Olympics, which, it said, represented approximately 75 percent of all general aviation traffic during the games. Planning started 12 months in advance of the games, according to Jitte Boutens, AAS executive aviation account manager.
FOR THE CREW OF the Learjet 35A, the first leg of this mission was a chip shot -- a 70-nm repositioning hop from the charter outfit's homebase at Republic Airport (FRG) in Farmingdale, N.Y., to Groton-New London Airport (GON) on the Connecticut side of Long Island Sound. Once there they were to board two customers and fly them to a business meeting in Buffalo in the far northwestern corner of New York.
Ramp Check! During a recent ramp check at Pentastar Aviation at Oakland County International Airport, Mich., a Ford Tri-Motor aircraft received a flawless paperwork review from the local FSDO. Left to right: Pentastar Aviation Director of Flight Operations Bob Russell and FAA Inspector Nicholas Pipitone from the Detroit FSDO.
At the same time, Williams disclosed that it is within a few months of completing certification testing of another, previously undisclosed turbofan at the ``smaller end'' of its product line. The new engine is scheduled to be unveiled at this month's NBAA convention in Las Vegas.
Kelly Aviation's Cabin Pressure Monitor (CPM) senses the local pressure environment while operating independently of other aircraft or spacecraft systems. The CPM serves as a backup monitoring system on pressurized aircraft and indicates when supplemental oxygen is needed on non-pressurized aircraft. The unit has a user-programmable altitude alert function, simultaneous audio, vibratory and visual alarms, and a lighted digital display for nighttime viewing.
The FAA is spending $2 million to examine cabin air quality and study chemical and biological threats in airliners. The Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research, led by Auburn University, will pool the efforts of researchers from seven universities in the study. The FAA plans to provide $1 million in funding in the first year and $500,000 in each of the second and third years, with matching funds provided by the private sector.
Axis Jet, a new-entry aircraft sales and management company based in Sacramento, Calif., says that six turbine aircraft now form the basis of its its managed fleet. The company now has a Citation II, a CitationJet, a King Air 200 and three King Air C90Bs under contract. ``We're very pleased with the early growth of Axis Jet,'' said co-owner Matt Bosco. Axis Jet was formed in July.
Southern Star Avionics has developed a new glareshield expansion fairing to provide additional instrument panel space in 500-series Citations. The panel fits over the existing glareshield, and involves relocating the annunciator panel, fire and thrust reverser controls to free up center panel space. The modification is sold as an STC kit. A partnership between Mobile, Ala.-based Southern Avionics and Star Aviation, Southern Star expects the kit to be available in second quarter 2004. For more information, call Ben Montgomery at (251) 650-0600.
Ed Bolen took the reins at the NBAA as the association's new president and CEO on Sept. 7. He previously was president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). As he took his new position, two popular senior NBAA executives, Bob Blouin and Pete West, announced their resignations despite entreaties from past and current NBAA board members to stay on with the association. Failing that, the board moved quickly to install a new head of operations.
Guardian Jet Center broke ground on a new executive terminal at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif. The terminal will add 5,500 square feet of operating space to the existing 46,000 square feet of hangar and office space. The terminal will include an expanded passenger lounge, larger flight planning area with real-time computer weather service, a pilot and crew exercise center, crew sleeping quarters and a conference facility. The Guardian Jet Center, began operations in November 2002.
Aviation Partners, Inc. has received certification for its Hawker 800 blended winglets. ``Blended winglets transform a standard 2,510-nm Hawker 800 into a 2,690-nm-capable Hawker 800SP,'' said API Sales Director Gary Dunn. He claimed a Hawker 800SP will fly 30 minutes longer, 180 nm farther, 18 knots faster and with a 2,000-foot higher initial cruise altitude compared to a standard Hawker 800. Hot/high airport performance is improved with blended winglets and operators will enjoy improved second-segment climb.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., has appointed Bill Walker as a CF34 engine technical representative for its Challenger program. In addition, Tony Russo has been named manager of Duncan's avionics installation and repair satellite shops in Van Nuys, Calif., and Burbank, Calif.
NBAA MEMBERS HAVE a lot to celebrate at this month's convention in Las Vegas. The economy has turned around. Flight hours are up. And, in a month or so, after the elections are over, it may be possible for corporate pilots to file direct, point-to-point flight plans without having to deviate around half a dozen temporary flight restriction (TFR) areas.
JetCorp, Chesterfield, Mo., a full-service FBO located at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), has named Michella Ballard to the position of marketing coordinator.
American Express Co., Newburgh, N.Y., recently named Daniel C. Jackson chief pilot of its flight department, replacing R. John Bates. In addition, James C. Oakes has been named assistant chief pilot.
According to a report issued by the FAA, FY2004 appears to be the fourth year in a row of reductions in the most serious types (Category A and B) of runway incursions. Agency officials said on Aug. 31 there had been 25 Category A and B incursions to date during the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. There were 32 of these incursions in FY2003, 37 in FY2002, 53 in FY2001 and 67 in FY2000. The FAA's strategic plan sets a performance goal of no more than 40 incursions for the current fiscal year and no more than 27 serious incursions for FY2008.
FlightSafety International, Flushing, N.Y., has announced three promotions: Julie Goodridge is now assistant manager at the company's West Palm Beach, Fla., Learning Center, Chuck Milhiser is assistant manager at the Tucson Learning Center and Charles (Chip) White is manager of the Long Beach, Calif., Learning Center.
