Elliott Aviation, a Midwestern aircraft sales and service organization, has received FAA approval for its RVSM package for the Beechjet 400 and Diamond MU-300. Elliott's RVSM solution utilizes the aircraft's Honeywell avionics suite, with a new Honeywell AZ-252 Advanced Air Data Computer, AM-250 Barometric Altimeter, BA-250 Barometric Altimeter Display and AL-800 Altitude Preselector/Alerter replacing the existing air data and altimetry equipment.
The effective date for domestic RVSM -- Jan. 20, 2005 -- is almost upon us, and if you are not already operating under a Letter of Authorization (LOA), you need to get moving. Even though the approval process is getting more efficient as the various Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) become more experienced in handling applications, approvals can still take months to obtain. And if your aircraft, crews and maintenance procedures are not certified by that January launch date, you will not be permitted to operate above FL 280.
At GAMA, Bolen demonstrated, as had his predecessor, Ed Stimpson, that a trade association did not need to adopt a shrill, combative approach to issues to get the attention of legislators and regulators. He is known for respecting the professionalism of staff members at every level and for his cooperative approach to other aviation associations, large and small. ``Ed is held in high regard by leaders across the political spectrum for the many valuable contributions he has made to the aviation industry,'' said board Vice Chairman and Search Committee Director Kenneth E.
The Corporate Aviation Association has named Panorama Flight Services its ``Preferred FBO'' at Westchester County Airport, N.Y. (HPN). The association, which currently consists of 417 member flight departments, negotiates fuel discounts for its members at FBOs across the United States. The association's board annually selects a ``preferred'' FBO at multi-FBO airports based not only on fuel pricing, but crew and passenger amenities, quality of service and quality of facilities. Panorama's preferred tenure runs through June 2005, at which time it will be reevaluated.
The federal Department of Homeland Security has asked the general aviation community to increase its awareness of and reporting on suspicious activity. The DHS advisory referred to the Security Guidelines for General Aviation Airports and encouraged operators to incorporate a list of commonly employed security procedures, including securing unattended aircraft, verifying crew and passenger identification, and matching baggage to passengers.
The TSA named Art Meinke federal security director at Orlando International Airport (MCO). He was promoted from deputy federal security director at MCO. Fluent in Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese, Meinke has worked as general manager for United Airlines at MIA and as station operations manager in Brazil and Singapore.
The CJ3 has the most powerful and integrated Pro Line 21 avionics suite of any light jet. Three eight-by-10-inch flat-panel adaptive display units, left- and right-side PFDs and left-center MFD, are standard equipment, along with dual, panel-mount radio tuning units for the front and rear remote-mounted Pro Line 21 CNS radio packs, and a single FMS-3000 with standard multiple waypoint VNAV and aircraft performance computer. Engine instrument indications are provided by the top portion of the MFD.
Bose's Aviation Headset X uses patented noise-canceling technology to electronically identify and reduce unwanted noise, allowing improved intelligibility of radio and intercom audio. Electronics monitor current demand and instantaneously adjust the voltage to maintain maximum performance. A smart shutoff feature detects when you've stopped using the headset for longer battery life -- up to 40 hours from just two AA batteries (applies to portable version only). The headset includes a magnesium alloy headband, center torsion spring and adjustable headband sliders.
A noisy revolution has been going on in the air charter industry over the past half decade. Inspired by fractional ownership programs and the conveniences they offer upscale users, there has emerged a new phenomenon -- the super brokerage, or card membership program -- that has galvanized the opposition of many traditional operators.
Concorde Battery Corp. has introduced its new FAA-PMA on the RG-131 battery. This is a direct replacement for 605, CA 54 and 1201, CA 154 nickel-cadmium batteries. The RG-131 is used as an uninterruptible power supply for avionics, instru- mentation and emergency lighting. The initial check for RG-131 is required 12 months after installation or after 2,000 hours of operation, whichever occurs first. Subsequent capacity checks are due every 12 months or after every additional 1,000 hours.
Even though business aviation has had a spectacular safety record in recent years, accidents still occur. And should one of your aircraft and those aboard come to grief, as a maintenance manager it will undoubtedly fall to you to help put things to right. You'll have a lot to do -- possibly much of it unfamiliar and upsetting -- and little time in which to do it. So, having in place a disaster plan that is simple, known, thorough and proven will help make the chaos of the moment less intense.
Mercury Air Group, Inc. opened a $30 million working capital line of credit with Bank of America to buffer it from fuel price swings. The credit line is in the form of a revolving secure loan with a three-year term. ``As fuel prices rise, this line of credit will provide Mercury with the financial flexibility necessary to meet the needs of our customers and suppliers,'' said Joseph A. Czyzyk, president and CEO of the company.
Raytheon Aircraft said its T-6A trainers were ``part of the protective air umbrella'' at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece. The Hellenic Air Force uses the T-6A for training pilots, but 20 of its fleet of 45 T-6As are equipped with hardpoints that can accommodate rocket and/or gun pods. They took delivery of their first T-6A in July 2000.
Salina, Kan., Municipal Airport (SLN), which had shut down Runway 17/35 on May 3 for resurfacing, reopened the 12,300-foot runway on July 31. The project, which included runway resurfacing, new high-intensity runway lights, resurfaced taxiways and a new backup power generator for airfield lighting, cost $2.7 million, of which $2.4 million came from FAA Airport Improvement Program funds.
NetJets Inc. will purchase 50 AirCell ST 3100 satellite communications systems from Iridium Satellite LLC for its Raytheon Hawker 400XP light business jets, Iridium said in August. The systems will provide worldwide data and voice services to NetJets on the ground and at all altitudes through Iridium's 66 low-Earth orbiting satellites. The satellite phone systems will be installed into the 400XPs before their retail delivery at Raytheon Aircraft Services in San Antonio.
Bonanza and Baron orders soared after Raytheon announced the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system would be standard equipment. A total of 44 G1000-equipped aircraft -- 34 Bonanzas and 10 Barons -- have been ordered with deposits. ``We expected a strong response but 44 orders in this short time is spectacular,'' said Randy Groom, president of Beechcraft.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong and test pilot Scott A. Crossfield will present the 2nd Annual Harry B. Combs Award during the opening general session of the NBAA's 57th Annual Meeting & Convention on Tuesday, Oct. 12 in Las Vegas. Through the Combs Award, the National Aviation Hall of Fame annually presents $20,000 to an individual or group completing a project that advances the promotion or preservation of America's air and space heritage, with special emphasis on the individual pioneers who defined America's aerospace horizons.
Part of any recurrent training program should be a review of the various visual and sensory illusions to which pilots may succumb and that lead to spatial disorientation. The following descriptions of the more common illusions are excerpted from the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Section 8-1-5, ``Illusions in Flight'':
WX2ME is a service that enables pilots to access real-time aviation weather reports using text messages on any text-messaging capable cell phone. Designed to enable pilots to have instant access to METAR and TAF reports, WX2ME functions with most cellular networks in North America. The service was developed by Toronto-based Wagjag Inc. and Mobile Elements. Price: $5 per month or $55 per year Wx2ME Wagjag Inc. 623 Euclid Ave. Toronto, Ontario M6G 2T6 Canada (416) 516-6888 www.wx2me
Synthetic vision is generating or creating an artificial ground or object reference from a database built from real-world data. Enhanced vision is modifying, clarifying or detecting the real world by any means and displaying it in a form the pilot can interpret as if he or she were seeing it.
Airbus, SITA and Tenzing have teamed to offer inflight phone and Internet services that allow passengers to use their own mobile phones, laptops and PDAs and to be billed through their normal mobile operator or Internet Service Provider (ISP). Typical international roaming rates will apply for mobile use, and laptop and PDA connectivity will be charged on a usage basis, the companies said.
For those whose mission requires flying with night-vision goggles, Honeywell has FAA certification for its new night-vision-enabled KI 825 Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI). The KI 825 combines traditional heading and navigation functionality with a moving map display in a 3 ATI format (3.26 inches by 3.26 inches). The EHSI is visible in darkness or bright daylight. Ferris-wheel compass card headings are displayed in all operating modes.
Elliott Aviation has received FAA STC group approval for RVSM packages for the Beechjet 400 and Diamond MU-300 aircraft. Elliott's RVSM solution uses the Beechjet/Diamond's native Honeywell avionics suite. The non-compliant Honeywell air data/altimetry hardware is replaced with a Honeywell AZ-252 advanced air data computer, AM-250 barometric altimeter, BA-250 barometric altimeter display and AL-800 altitude preselector/alerter. Elliott says the architecture of the system requires very little rewiring to the aircraft, minimizing downtime for installation.
The tank's empty. There's no more 80-octane Avgas being produced. The AOPA confirmed that the last known refinery of 80-octane aviation gasoline, Kern Oil, has stopped producing the fuel. The association said its online airport directory will give pilots information on the 22 airports that still have supplies of 80 octane. The AOPA also lists holders of STCs that can convert aircraft engines to run on 100LL gas. The association, however, expressed concern about the long-term outlook of 100LL, which is a ``high-cost, low-volume product'' for refiners.
News of the settlement reached between the families of five Oklahoma State University basketball players and the estates of two pilots killed in the crash of a chartered Super King Air 200 in January 2001 recently came out. It's a sobering reminder of how things can go wrong -- dead wrong -- on a seemingly routine flight. Into the Graveyard
