In July, Gulfstream Aerospace began offering to retrofit the more than 90 in-service G200 business jets with Safe Flight Instrument Corp.'s Enhanced AutoPower Automatic Throttle System (ATS). The Safe Flight AutoPower system -- which provides continuous thrust management during cruise, descent, approach and landing -- comprises a dedicated computer, two status display monitors and a modified throttle quadrant that includes the drive units and engage and disengage switches.
The latest addition to the Olympus IPLEX videoscope product offerings is the MX. Weighing 10 pounds, the MX can be worn by the operator with a shoulder strap during the entire inspection. The system features a 6 mm diameter insertion tube approximately 9 feet long, integral display and compact control unit that provides fingertip operation of controls for zoom, freeze, extended exposure, recording and brightness. The internal, rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides two hours of continuous operation, or four hours with an optional external battery.
Air Chart Systems has introduced its VFR Sectional Atlas, Western U.S. Edition. The full-scale, full-color reproductions of FAA/NACO Sectional charts are bound in an 11-inch-square atlas format. Book purchase includes Air Chart's Minuteman Update Service, published on the FAA's 28-day cycle. The chart numbering system eliminates folding and unfolding charts in the cockpit.
There was a conventional wisdom at work in the distillate market by the time June rolled around. It went as follows: Gasoline prices were very high compared with distillates such as heating oil and jet fuel. Therefore, refineries would tweak their runs as much as possible to produce the maximum amount of gasoline, which would lead to reduced production of those distillates.
Embraer flew a Model 190 to July's Farnborough air show after adding a third aircraft to the test program. According to the company, the program is on schedule with certification set for third quarter 2005. The fourth test aircraft is due to make its maiden flight in September. The largest member of Embraer's family, the Embraer 195, which has not yet received any orders, is due to fly by year-end with certification planned for second quarter 2006.
Flight departments will be tasked with providing more lift as the economy continues to recover, but often they're also being told to minimize additional costs.
The Hangar Inc., Memphis, has added Roger Brown as director of marketing and sales. David McNatt and Holt Hall have also joined the marketing team as regional sales managers.
Honda announced it will establish a U.S. subsidiary, Honda Aero, Inc., to focus on what it calls the world's largest aviation market -- in a location yet to be determined -- ``with plans to become operational by the end of the year.'' At the same time, Honda said it is establishing the Wako Nishi research and development facility in Japan, ``dedicated to the research and development of aviation engines.
Piaggio Aero Industries and its U.K. agent Sloane Aviation have delivered the first U.K. commercial P180 Avanti to Coventry-based charter company Euro Skylink. Jose Di Mase, CEO of Piaggio, said he expected Euro Skylink to begin operations with the aircraft this summer. The company will operate the aircraft in executive transportation and air ambulance roles.
B/CA and Conklin & de Decker will conduct their Second Annual Charter Operators and Management Tax Course in Van Nuys, Calif., on Sept. 9-10 at the Airtel Plaza Hotel. The course will cover the entire range of key tax issues confronting business aircraft management companies and charter operators, including federal excise taxes, state taxes, international fees, the FARs and Internal Revenue Service rulings. The fee is $895 for registration before Aug. 20 and $995 for registrations received after that date.
Ever since regularly scheduled long-range commercial flights turned the world into a global village, the general public has viewed flying as routine, predictable, even humdrum. But back in the 1930s, at the dawn of the golden era of aviation, when flying was much more art than science, swashbuckling, pioneering pilots kept the world breathless by performing aerial feats never before imagined.
ACSS, an L-3 Communications and Thales joint venture based in Phoenix, has named Kris Ganase president. Ganase was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer for the company.
Recurrent training for jet and turboprop pilots performed in actual airplanes may go the way of the dodo if insurers have their way. I well recall once failing an engine on a student, now an American Airlines captain, while conducting a multiengine training session. In his haste to act, the student shut down the operating powerplant. As we drifted in complete silence toward the prairie below, I realized that reality training is dynamic, yet fraught with potentially lethal outcomes.
While the entry-level market is expected to grow rapidly over the next several years, most of the original equipment manufacturers expected to claim a significant share of the entry-level business jet market -- such as Adam Aircraft, Cessna, Eclipse and Safire -- have already selected powerplants designed and built by Williams and Pratt & Whitney of Canada. Nevertheless, Honda's announcement appears to signal a dramatic acceleration of the Japanese automaker's intent to pursue the U.S. aviation market after nearly two decades of research and contemplation.
AAR Aircraft Services, Wood Dale, Ill., received the Diamond Certificate of Excellence in the FAA's Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards program. In addition, 126 individual AAR mechanics qualified to receive AMT awards in recognition of their commitment to training.
Embraer's senior manager for fleet maintenance support, Cezar Lima, received the Overhaul & Maintenance Award from Aviation Week's Overhaul & Maintenance magazine. Lima is based in So Jose dos Campos.
The NATA released its annual survey of general aviation employee compensation, including salary and benefit information for pilots, line-service personnel and maintenance technicians. The compensation information is divided by geographic region, company gross sales, employee base and size of location. Association Research Inc., an economic research firm based in Rockville, Md., conducted the research. The study is available for $50 for NATA members and $100 for non-members.
Skycorp at Snohomish County-Paine Field (PAE), Everett, Wash., has added a managed King Air to its FAR Part 135 certificate. For further information, contact Steen Bramer, director of aircraft management at (866) SKY-EXEC.
The U.S. version of Diamond Aircraft industries D-JET is to be offered with Ballistic Recovery Systems' high-speed parachute recovery system. The U.S. version of the aircraft will have a gross weight of 4,440 pounds (2,200 kilograms) against the 4,397 pound (1,999 kilogram) offering for European customers. Insurance considerations and higher average American passenger weights are driving the two versions of the single-engine unpressurized very light jet.
General Electric has delivered the first set of three CT7-8E engines for the US101/EH101, the heavy-lift helicopter AgustaWestland hopes will beat out the Sikorsky S-92 to become the presidential transport. GE delivered the first set of engines for the first model of the EH101 19 years ago. Since then, the GE-powered EH101 has amassed over 100,000 engine flight hours.
DURING HIS YEARS AS A MEMBER of the NTSB, John Goglia regularly sounded the alarm about a steady increase in maintenance-related accidents. As the only licensed A&P to ever serve on the Safety Board, Goglia's observations carried special weight. Recently succeeded by a Senate staffer, Goglia's clear, authoritative voice will be missed since his words of caution were founded in fact.
How to Use the Charts Aircraft Operating Costs are presented in a format that separates the data into seven separate areas: Mission Costs, Variable Costs, Fixed Annual Costs, Periodic Costs, Personnel Costs, Training Costs and Facilities Costs. Aircraft Category
The good news on the flight training front is that business is on the increase this year and the upward trend is forecast to continue into 2005. The major players of flight training -- CAE SimuFlite, FlightSafety International (FSI) and Pan Am International's business training arm SimCom -- across the board reported a welcome improvement in demand for simulator and classroom instruction at nearly all of their traditional facilities and also some unexpected areas.
