In presentations at the Paris Air Show, Boeing Air Traffic Management asserted that ATM technology in combination with FMSes aboard aircraft in flight could produce direct benefits to airline operations in the United States, ranging from $4 billion to $8 billion annually. I If utilized globally, the company claimed the annual direct benefit to airlines could be as much as three times that amount.
Approach Aviation has released its new, multifunction ``Flash-Fire'' micro-light. This compact light has multiple uses, such as cockpit illumination, aircraft maintenance and emergency signaling. The included LightStick adapter converts the direct beam into an area light or wide-view strobe for emergency situations. The Flash-Fire utilizes opto-electronic technology with high-intensity LEDs for a super-bright light that can function for up to 100 hours without a battery change. Price: $19.95 Approach Aviation 142 Walcott St.
NEXCOM is intended to be the FAA radio system of the 21st century and enhance the FAA's ability to meet expanding ATC communication demands. It's an analog/digital system that will accommodate additional sectors and services, reduce logistics costs, replace expensive-to-maintain VHF and UHF radios, provide data link communications capability, reduce air/ground RF interference, and incorporate security features. When completed, the ground segment will have more than 46,000 radios installed throughout the FAA system. For more information, go to www.faa.gov/nexcom.
Savannah Air Center (SAC) is building a new 70,000-square-foot maintenance hangar to increase its capacity for large aircraft completion and modification work. The slab has been poured for the facility, which is scheduled to come on line late this fall and will accommodate a Boeing BBJ-class aircraft or multiple Gulfstream-class corporate jets.
If you are tired of folding and unfolding your sectional charts, this atlas from Air Chart Systems may be for you. The Eastern U.S. VFR sectional atlas is a full-scale, full-color reproduction of the FAA/ NACO sectional charts in an 11-by-11-inch atlas format. The book uses a grid numbering system and an exclusive ``Minute Man'' update service via the Internet, published on the FAA's 28-day cycle. The introductory price includes a one-year subscription to the update service. Price: $99.00 Air Chart Systems 12061 Jefferson Blvd.
OMF Aircraft's diesel-powered Symphony 135TDI completed its first flight in June in Neubrandenberg, Germany. ``We confirmed that the aircraft has good takeoff performance with a short takeoff roll, and steady climb performance,'' Derek Stinnes, OMF managing partner, said after the 90-minute flight. ``It's very quiet on the ground, with sound levels that are appropriate for the aircraft.'' The two-seat Symphony 135TDI is a diesel version of the Symphony 160.
Edited by James E. Swickard Mike Vines, in Birmingham, U.K.
Farnborough Air Show organizers (SBAC) are imbedding a three-day business aviation event within next year's week-long international aviation event, scheduled to run July 19-25. The business aviation park will be operated in conjunction with Farnborough Airport's owners and operator TAG Aviation. The show within a show will have a dedicated entrance and local parking, exhibitor chalets adjacent to aircraft parking and a shuttle service to the main exhibition. SBAC officials insist that they are not trying to compete with dedicated business aircraft shows.
Thunder Aviation, Chesterfield, Mo., has been awarded the Diamond Certificate of Excellence from the FAA for its participation in the FAA's Aviation Maintenance Technician Training Program. The award marks the first time that Thunder has been recognized for this milestone. Achieving Diamond recognition requires that at least 25 percent of a company's eligible employees earn individual training awards. According to Thunder, 100 percent of its eligible technicians earned individual awards.
Great Plains Airlines, Tulsa, Okla., leased three Fairchild Dornier 328 turboprops from Air France after it was unable to finance the acquisition of four 328JETs it has on order. Great Plains has two 328JETS and will use the turboprops to increase frequency on routes it is already serving and to begin service to a new destination. The airline will need to add the 328 turboprops to its operating certificate before they can be placed in service. CEO David Johnson said he hopes to complete the certificate work by early September, according to Aviation Daily.
Sporty's Electronic E6B is now available for your Palm-based PDA. The new flight software features the same design as the original E6B and makes quick work of navigational, weight and balance, or fuel calculations. The PDA must have Palm operating system 4.0 or newer. The software is not authorized for use during FAA exams. It is available as a download from sportys.com; instruction manual included. Price: $19.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County/Sporty's Airport Batavia, OH 45103 Phone: (800) SPORTYS Fax: (513) 735-9200 www.sportys.com
Shirley J. Mason, Vice President, Client Services/Research & Operations, ARG/US
Based on Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US) Salary & Benefit Report database, not only is the general trend toward fewer pilots per aircraft continuing, it is increasing. The average crewmembers per aircraft ratio declined 7 percent from 2.01 in the 2001/2002 data year to 1.87 in 2002/2003, While this single-year decrease may not appear consequential, the average pilot-to-aircraft figure also decreased 7 percent last year, making for a combined pilot-per-aircraft decrease of 14 percent over the last two years.
When the AOPA polled its members on the most pressing issues this year, airport access came up as the number one priority, AOPA President Phil Boyer said. The results underscore the concerns of the general aviation and business aviation communities of the continuing battles over access, environmental and other restrictions at airports throughout the nation. Business aviation advocates are deeply involved in many of those battles, as some of them have the potential of becoming precedent setting.
LPS Laboratories is now offering a citrus-based solvent-designed degreaser. The formula removes adhesives, oil, grease, wax, tar, dirt and other contaminants in a matter of seconds. It evaporates, leaving a low residue. Citrus Degreaser does not contain any chlorinated solvents and has a flash point above 100F. LPS says it is safe to use on metal parts and equipment. Available in a 15-ounce aerosol, 1-gallon, 5-gallon or 55-gallon container. Call for pricing LPS Laboratories P.O. Box 105052 4647 Hugh Howell Rd.
ARINC Inc., Annapolis, Md.: Gerald Ford, vice president of corporate strategic planning, has been named a member of the Chesapeake Innovation Center advisory committee, Anne Arundel County's new business incubator, which will focus primarily on the development of firms specializing in homeland security/defense technology.
Air Power Software is now offering the Interactive Aircraft Budget Analyzer to corporate flight departments. The software program is designed to calculate the operating costs of 175 aircraft, including jets, turboprops, pistons and helicopters. The program allows the operator to create an instant budget by manipulating the preloaded information to address a flight department's particular usage amounts and/or costs. The budget analyzer also allows the user to create individualized budgets. Price: $199.95 Air Power Software 4955 S. Durango Dr., Ste.
Continental Airlines passengers can now use their cellular phones while the aircraft is taxiing after landing, joining American Airlines among U.S. carriers. Under Continental's new policy effective July 6, cellular phone use is permitted after landing when advised by the flight attendants. Previously, phone use was restricted until the aircraft door opened at the arrival gate. The policy on telephone use at departure remains unchanged -- phone use must be discontinued when the cabin door is closed.
In June, Friends of Meigs Field (FOM) formally requested that the Chicago Park District consider an alternative plan to preserve Meigs with park, education and recreational elements in addition to its airport function. The park district had not responded as of mid-July. At the July 9 news conference, FOM stated that practically all the features and activities for any park slated to replace Meigs could be incorporated into the airport itself or on the nearby lakefront.
The FAA denied the National Air Transportion Association's petition for a rulemaking that would allow on-demand charters to access DCA, saying it was ``not the final authority on security concerns but a joint partner with several federal government agencies,'' and that those decisions were primarily up to the TSA and other government agencies. The FAA forwarded the petition to the TSA ``for review and coordination.'' NATA said it was disappointed but not surprised.
The Meigs issue is still alive. Chicago Alderman Joe Moore introduced a resolution at a July 9 Chicago City Council meeting, calling for public hearings into the adverse effects of closing Meigs Field, ostensibly to convert it into a public park.
Frank Robinson personally inaugurated the first Robinson Helipad, landing an R44 Raven II on the 20-by-20-foot private rooftop helistop installed at a Honda dealership in Santa Ana, Calif. The Robinson Helipad deck was designed by Robinson engineers as a low-cost, lightweight helipad for helicopters with gross weights up to 3,000 pounds. The deck is composed of 24 10-inch-wide by 20-foot-long aluminum extrusions, which fit together in a tongue-in-groove arrangement, mounted on a separate beam support structure.
Ibis Aerospace selected a seat manufacturer and the interior completion center for its Ae270 Spirit aircraft. DeCrane Aircraft Seating Co. (DASC) will supply the seats and Southstar Aircraft Interiors will supply interior completions for production aircraft. Southstar Aircraft Interiors is a full-service interior completion and modification center located in southern Texas.
Western Aircraft, Boise, Idaho, has hired Jim Kuhn and Gary Freeman as regional sales managers. Both managers will work within Western's Aircraft Services division, which includes airframe maintenance and modification, engine maintenance, avionics, paint and interior.
The year-to-date accident statistics for U.S. jets and turboprops compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates show little change compared with the same first six months of 2002. January through June, the turbine fleet experienced 31 accidents, 13 of which involved fatalities totaling 28 passengers and crewmembers. This is a decrease of five in the accident total, but with six more fatal accidents and eight more fatalities than last year. In all of 2002, there were seven fatal accidents in which 20 people were killed.
