Aviation journalist William David ``Bill'' Wagstaff, 49, died on Feb. 8, following complications from surgery. A lifelong aviation, space and film enthusiast, Wagstaff was a full-time editor with Aviation International News from 1988 to 2003 where he specialized in rotary wing coverage. A graduate of the University of Iowa writer's program, ``Wags'' was a skillful writer and engaging story teller with a quick mind and eclectic interests. After departing AIN, he turned to freelance writing; his last article, ``Sounding the Wright Key,'' appears in this issue of B/CA.
Signature Flight Support, Orlando, has named David Best managing director, Europe. Operating from the company's base at London Luton Airport in the United Kingdom, Best will focus on growing and expanding Signature's FBO network throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He will also sit on the board of Signature's joint venture in Hong Kong.
The FAA will participate in tests of a new radar system at Southampton (U.K.) and Charles de Gaulle (Paris) airports to see how effective it is in detecting runway debris. QinetiQ says its Tarsier radar could take a bite out of the millions of dollars lost on FOD every year.
Piaggio America officially opened its new North American headquarters at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Fla., during an evening gala on Jan. 22. Entitled ``La Bella Macchina,'' the evening featured dozens of business jets, Piaggio 180s, and scores of Ferraris fanned across Jet Aviation's ramp, where they were admired by hundreds of tanned and taut glitterati. Previously located in Greenville, S.C., Piaggio now shares office and hangar space with Jet Aviation. Piaggio America, Inc.
The Air Group, a full-service aircraft management company in Teterboro, N.J., has added Steve Barlage as vice president of regional sales and general manager of the New York office. He joins the Air Group after 18 years with Boeing and is located at the company's Teterboro hub.
Welsch Aviation, the 55-year-old aircraft brokerage firm specializing in turbine aircraft sales and acquisitions, opened a new office in Seattle, to be headed by Kayne Jacobs. The company also has offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; Houston and Savannah, and an affiliate in Caracas, Venezuela. The Seattle office phone is (425) 802-7471. E-mail: [email protected]. Welsch Aviation's Web site is at www.welsch-aviation.com.
THE TELEPHONE RANG. A welcome call from goombody Julius Palermo, chief honcho at National Gypsum flight operations in Charlotte. Jules announced that he is retiring after 30 years with the company, as he is past 60 and holding. Gypsum is losing a jewel who is literally at the top of his game. Swimmers are over the hill at 20, golfers at 30 and wide receivers at 35, but good pilots at 60, well suh, they are the crme de la crme.
Jet Aviation Dallas now holds an amended STC to install the Bendix/King IHAS 8000 Integrated Hazard Avoidance System on Cessna Citation models 500, 550, S550 and 560. The IHAS 8000 provides weather, traffic and terrain information using a single panel-mounted display/controller with a consistent interface for all functions.
Anxiously searching for the correct circuit breaker to pull when the trim runs away wastes valuable time. Sporty's solution is brightly colored caps that can be snapped onto the top of most pull-type breakers. Available in red, yellow and green, the circuit breaker caps can help quickly identify the autopilot, electric trim, landing gear and other important circuit breakers. Not just for aircraft owners, the caps are also for maintenance shops, race cars and boats.
Archie Trammell's Radar Training Systems has introduced TSjournal, a new Web-based program developed in response to requests from large flight departments that wanted to make training accessible for many pilots. The initial Web release, found at www.tsjournal.aero, contains 122 pages of information, beginning with a fresh look at wind-shear accident causes, an analysis of a radar system, reviews of seven NTSB thunderstorm-related accident reports and other turbulence threats.
Flight Options, LLC, Cleveland, has named S. Michael Scheeringa as chief operating officer. Scheeringa most recently served as US Airways' vice president, Express Division. He has over 13 years of experience in the aviation industry.
Helicopter Support Inc. has consolidated five of its units in a new 180,000-square-foot facility in Trumbull, Conn. HSI previously leased six separate facilities around the state. HSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft but is an authorized service center for Agusta, Bell, Robinson and Schweizer and supports the General Electric T-700 and T-58 engines. There's more information at www.sikorsky.com.
Pilatus delivered 61 PC-12s worldwide in 2003, a 35-percent increase relative to Pilatus' sales in 2002, according to Tom Aniello, vice president and chief marketing officer for Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd. ``Our network of Pilatus Sales Centers experienced very strong activity in the corporate, owner-flown and concept segments during the second half of the year.'' Aniello continued, ``In addition, we're beginning to see the government and special missions market come alive in response to the introduction of the PC-12 Spectre last summer.''
Air France launched ``Dedicate'' to provide direct flights from Paris to remote business destinations using new Airbus A319s with a two class (business and economy) 82-seat layout. The first two destinations are the Congo and Equatorial Guinea. Five more destinations will be added throughout the year if traffic rights are granted and include Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The FAA is considering an NRPM intended to help prevent fuel tank explosions by requiring fuel inerting systems that would reduce the flammability of fuel tank vapors on the ground and in flight be installed on Boeing and Airbus models whose air conditioning systems could cause heating of center-wing fuel tanks. The new fuel tank system replaces some of the oxygen in the fuel tank with inert nitrogen gas, preventing flammable vapors. The NTSB has long advocated both eliminating ignition sources and reducing fuel tank flammability.
Palwaukee Service Center, Wheeling, Ill., has appointed three new managers. Tom Wyman was named manager of the avionics service department, Peter Gioviano was named project manager and Bob Lavallee was named services manager.
Peltor has introduced a new aviation headset. The Peltor Sport LE has a noise reduction rating of 24 dB and a folding headband for easier stowage. The Sport LE features patented liquid/foam-filled earseals and a noise-canceling electret microphone. The Microphone boom rotates for left or right side placement, and the earphone volume control is located behind the earcup. A carrying bag is included with every headset. Available through distributors only Aearo Company Attn: Peltor Service Department 90 Mechanic St.
Mooney unveiled all-glass integrated cockpit versions of its Ovation2 and Bravo models in early February. The new Ovation2 GX and Bravo GX models will be available this fall equipped with a complete Garmin G1000 integrated avionics flat-panel system including the GDL69A Weather uplink and infotainment unit, the GTX 33 Mode S transponder, and an STEC 55X two-axis (roll and pitch) autopilot. Certification is expected by midsummer. The company indicated the current technology panel will continue as standard on the current Ovation2 DX and Bravo DX models.
These three graphs are designed to provide a broad sketch of the API 800SP's performance compared to the basic Hawker 800, based upon projections from API's engineering team. Special thanks to API's Bob Benveniste, plus Kent Baines and Sky Rudolph at AeroTec for all their efforts. Do not use these data for flight planning. Time and Fuel vs. Distance -- This graph shows the performance of the 800SP flying an 800-pound payload at 0.70 Mach recommended long-range cruise and 0.74 Mach high-speed cruise.
Aviation Technology Group, Inc. has selected Albuquerque as the manufacturing site for its high-performance, two-seat Javelin jet, ATG President George Bye announced. ATG expects to employ more than 200 persons in manufacturing and engineering as the company begins production of the Javelin in the next three to four years. The New Mexico State Investment Council has approved a significant investment in ATG.
The SJ30-2 successfully met its 12-psi cabin pressurization test objectives to be certified with a sea level cabin altitude at 41,000 feet and 1,800 feet at its max certified altitude of 49,000 feet, Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. announced on Feb. 16. The company stated that its twinjet's fuselage successfully withstood an ultimate 31.40 psi, a 167-percent safety factor over its worst-case limit loads, which the company believes is a new record for both general aviation and airline aircraft.
Australia will be the site of the first large-scale demonstration of Boeing's Air Traffic Management (ATM) concepts. Established in 2000, ATM's charge is to improve air traffic systems throughout the world. Boeing is the project coordinator with the Air Traffic Alliance, a partnership of EADS and Thales. Airservices Australia will provide ground equipment and Qantas will provide the pilot training and aircraft.
Air Chef is replacing its in-house Concierge Club loyalty and rewards program in favor of Sperry & Hutchison's Aviation Points Exchange (APEX) program, which can provide a broader range of rewards and has no cap on points. S&H's APEX is a nationwide program designed specifically for aviation businesses and uses S&H's Greenpoints digital rewards currency.
Sabreliner is offering an RVSM compliance package for the Model 65. The company will perform the necessary configuration work, which includes wiring and the installation of a second air data computer rack for $34,500. With an available maintenance credit and other incentives, the company said some operators can qualify for full RVSM compliance for under $110,000. The complete RVSM package includes a second ADC-80K air data computer, an ALI-80 altimeter and an upgrade of an existing ADC-80K.
Raytheon Aircraft Customer Support will conduct six regional Maintenance and Operations forums for Beechcraft and Hawker owners through March, highlighting current developments in technical support, spares, warranty and technical publications. The manufacturer has made significant efforts to strengthen its customer support programs, addressing parts availability, AOG resolution, customer communications and warranty claims. In addition, a Hawker Jet Operators Conference will be held in Little Rock, Ark., on April 26-28.
