Flight Options, the fractional operator backed by Raytheon, launched JetPass, a program that provides access to the Flight Options fleet of business jets in 25-hour increments that bypass the complexities of buying a fractional share in a particular aircraft. ``Many of our individual and corporate clients are looking for private flight options in addition to ownership,'' said John Nahill, chairman and CEO. ``JetPass offers the luxury and convenience of private jet travel with a smaller commitment.''
These graphs are designed to illustrate the performance of the CJ3 under a variety of range, payload, speed and density altitude conditions. Do not use these data for flight planning purposes because they are gross approximations of actual aircraft performance. Time and Fuel vs. Distance -- This graph shows the relationship between distance flown, block time and fuel consumption. The CJ3's high-altitude, high-speed cruise performance is so fuel efficient that there's little need to throttle back to achieve maximum range, except on the longest missions.
Air-to-ground weather data links, such as those provided by VDL Mode 2, AFIS/ACARS, radiotelephones and aeronautical cellular service, are yesterday's technologies. Practically all major avionics manufacturers are embracing ``Rock'' and ``Roll'' for high-speed satcom broadcast weather for pilots flying over the continental United States. We're not talking about a musical genre, but graphical weather services for pilots beamed down from XM Radio's Western U.S. (``Rock'') and Eastern U.S. (``Roll'') geostationary satellites.
Two U.K. general aviation associations have merged. The Business Aircraft Users Association (BAUA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association (GAMTA) have combined to form the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA). Mark Wilson, the chief executive of GAMTA, has become the chief executive of the BBGA and will continue representing the interests of manufacturers, maintenance facilities, operators and traders.
I call them ``tombstone phrases'' -- grim words, the critical things pilots say in the moments before a fatal accident takes place. Although rarely the last spoken words captured by a CVR, the tombstone phrase represents the final window of opportunity for a crew to take action and alter the trajectory of their fate. The words are particularly disturbing when they reveal a crew's doubt and anxiety -- right before that crew does nothing to keep the aircraft from crashing.
Pentastar Aviation -- a Michigan-based aircraft brokerage, charter, management and maintenance company -- has won several STCs recently. The first is for installation of Honeywell's enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) in Gulfstream IIs, II-Bs and IIIs. The second is for installation of the same EGPWS in Gulfstream IVs. The third is for installation of CMC Electronics' CT-10000 electronic flight deck organizer (electronic flight bag) in GIVs.
Minneapolis-based Meteorlogix announced a partnership with Avidyne Corp. to provide Avidyne's FlightMax customers access to Meteorlogix weather information on the ground or in flight. Meteorlogix weather data will appear on FlightMax Entegra and EX500 systems using Avidyne's Narrowcast and MultiLink datalink capability to update and alert pilots and crewmembers on current weather conditions as well as anticipated weather conditions.
Bombardier's regional aircraft order book continued to grow with a 20-aircraft deal valued at $512 million for the 50-seat CRJ200 from Spanish carrier Air Nostrum. Under the contract, Air Nostrum can convert the orders to other models. Additionally, the Canadian manufacturer announced sales of single CRJ200s to Adria Airways of Ljubljana, Slovenia, and another to Styrian Spirit of Graz, Austria.
Veteran public relations executive Dave Franson has formed the Franson Consulting Group to provide clients with advice and support in written and verbal communications, strategic planning, community and media relations, and government affairs. Franson has more than 30 years of experience as a senior executive and company spokesman. He previously held senior public affairs posts with AlliedSignal Aerospace, the NBAA, Cessna and Learjet. Franson Consulting Group is based in Wichita and can be reached at (316) 733-8821 or via e-mail at [email protected].
The U.K. High Court has requested an expeditious hearing by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the case against the new European Union regulation on airline passenger compensation and assistance. The European Regional Airline Association (ERA) provided evidence on the consequences of the costs of compensation and assistance to be provided by airlines to passengers in the event of cancellations. The president of the ECJ will now consider when the case should be heard, but there is no certainty that the court will treat the case as a priority.
On July 8, the House aviation subcommittee reviewed the chain of events leading to the evacuation of the Capitol and members questioned FAA and TSA officials about the communications breakdown and the government's corrective actions. The subcommittee also addressed DCA access issues in general. Subcommittee leaders have repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction that the government has taken no action to grant general aviation access to DCA.
Security continues to be a primary concern when operating abroad, which may explain the complaint of one pilot employed by a major corporation engaged in frequent international operations: ``I've never been fingerprinted so much in my life!''
Perhaps one of the single biggest regulatory changes operators will face in the next year will be the reduction of the required separation between aircraft over domestic airspace at higher altitudes. The new RVSM standards are cast in concrete -- do not wait for a last-minute change or regulatory relief. GAMA President and CEO Ed Bolen warns, ``It's not going to change. RVSM is going to happen on a date certain.'' Currently, the minimums are 2,000 feet separation, but come Jan. 20, 2005, that changes to 1,000 feet between FL 290 and 410.
Isabelle Blanchard has been selected as the 2004 Airport Manager of the Year by the Texas DOT. The manager of the Pecos Municipal Airport FBO Pecos Air Center, Blanchard has been a pilot since the age of 18 and teaches flight instruction at the airport, in addition to her managerial duties. Pecos Air Center is a full-service FBO with services and amenities that include aircraft parking, hangars, a passenger lounge, aircraft rental, aerial tours and aerial sightseeing, courtesy transportation, a pilots lounge and snooze rooms, plus 24-hour call out service.
Although the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to 1.25 percent at its June meeting, it's expected to issue another rate hike this month, and then yet another by year-end. But that last increase could be delayed if the economy softens more than anticipated. The economy was expected to reaccelerate this summer, but the risks of a slowdown are very real, and very worrisome to President Bush's reelection bid. Still, the real risks to the expansion come from abroad, not from inside the United States.
At the hearing, the FAA revealed it wants the Washington ADIZ made permanent. Linda Schuessler, vice president for system operations services for the FAA's Air Traffic Organization, said the agency had received required justifications for a permanent ADIZ from the Department of Homeland Security and the nation's security leaders and was moving forward with a formal NPRM. Under the Vision 100 FAA reauthorization legislation, the agency is required to submit a report to Congress to justify retaining the ADIZ.
Sky Connect LLC, Takoma Park, Md., named Michael Sullivan manager of international sales. Sky Con-nect offers satellite-based tracking and phone systems for rotorcraft, fixed-wing and marine applications.
Garmin's new GPSmap 296 comes with its sunlight-readable 256-color TFT display and self-contained topographic database. Detailed sectional-like shaded mapping and an extensive Jeppesen database help users visualize flight path in relation to nearby navaids, terrain, obstructions, etc. A ``Terrain'' mode provides TAWS-like warnings and alerts when proximity conflicts loom. A unique color instrument panel displays five vital instruments to serve as a backup to panel-mounted instruments. The unit can also be used in ground vehicles for road directions.
Bombardier Aerospace is proposing a new 100- to 135-seat aircraft family for airlines currently relying on aging DC-9, Fokker 100, Boeing 737 Classic, BAe-146, MD80 and other aircraft that are scheduled to retire by the end of the decade. Bombardier has dubbed the new family the CSeries. ``The market for the 100- to 150-passenger commercial aircraft segment is estimated at $250 billion U.S., or roughly 6,000 aircraft over the next 20 years,'' said Gary Scott, president, Bombardier New Commercial Aircraft Program.
NetJets President Bill Boisture has revamped NetJet's Flight Operations organization to prepare NetJets to operate under FAR Part 91K/FAR Part 135, and structure the company for the increased delegation and accountability required by the company's size and future growth. Flight Operations will be led by Senior Vice President of Flight Operations Dave MacGhee, a retired Air Force major general, who joined NetJets to assume this position. Gary Hart will also join NetJets as vice president of flight operations/director of operations.
A crowd of more than 225 Sikorsky employees and guests gathered July 12 at the company's Stratford, Conn., headquarters to kick off the VH-92 All-American Tour to showcase the aircraft and the companies it has partnered with to compete to produce the next presidential helicopter. An S-92 derivative, the VH-92 responds to the Navy's Request for Proposal for the VXX competition, the designation for the procurement of presidential helicopters.
In what is believed to be the largest interior completions contract ever signed, Jet Aviation Basel is to completely outfit ``nose to tail'' two Dubai Air Wing head-of-state Boeing 747-400s -- a two-year project. Both aircraft had been operated by United Airlines. The first aircraft arrived in Basel in May for cabin removal before departing for a heavy maintenance check in Singapore.
