Signature Flight Support has reached agreement with Sabreliner Corp. to acquire the Midcoast Aviation FBO at Lambert Field in St. Louis, one of the most venerable business aviation operations in the nation. Sabreliner also recently sold its Premier Turbines overhaul business to Dallas Airmotive, a Signature affiliate.
Executive Jet Management, Cincinnati, a provider of aircraft management and charter services worldwide, has named Ronald Silverman vice president of client relations, Northeast United States. In addition, Executive Jet has appointed Frederick Robinson as chief pilot, in which capacity he will be responsible for supervising more than 300 company pilots.
Epps Aviation, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Ga., was presented with its second consecutive FAA Diamond award for AMT training. In addition, Epps' Avionics Manager Mike LaConto received an individual Diamond award.
The FAA wants air carriers and repair stations to strengthen their hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling training and documentation. A proposal printed in the May 8 Federal Register would cover FAR Part 135, 119 and 121 carriers, whether or not they carry or handle HAZMATs, as well as Part 145 repair stations. The proposal would add training requirements that the FAA said would ``set clear standards'' and ensure uniform compliance by making most previously issued Advisory Circulars mandatory.
Donald D. Spruston Director General, International Business Aviation Council, Ltd., Montreal, Canada After serving seven years with the Canadian Air Force flying C-130s, DC-3s and a VIP Convair 580, Spruston spent 24 years at Transport Canada, eventually becoming his country's director general of civil aviation. He joined IBAC in 1999. 1 When and why did the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations -- IS-BAO -- program begin?
Admiral James Loy left an impression with some attendees at the June 4 GAC meeting that, while the TSA is interested in listening to ideas that would improve general aviation security and would be willing to pitch those ideas to other government entities, it is not the job of the TSA to defend light aircraft to those entities.
Airline pilots can now apply online to become Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs) and carry guns to defend their cockpits. The first regular training class is expected to start this month. The initial group of pilots deputized with heavy publicity in April was described by the TSA as a ``prototype class.'' Pilots must pass psychological and physical screening, complete 48 hours of training and requalify twice a year. The TSA pays for training costs and equipment, including a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun for each FFDO.
Safire Aircraft announced that Robert Stangarone has been appointed vice president, marketing and public affairs, effective immediately. Stangarone had been managing director of Broadgate Consultants, Inc., of New York City. Prior to that, he headed corporate communications for Fairchild Dornier. Early in his 30-year aviation career, Stangarone served as managing editor of B/CA. He is a rated commercial pilot with instrument and multiengine ratings and more than 2,000 flight hours. Safire has also moved into a new facility at Miami's Opa Locka Airport (OPF).
GAMA President Ed Bolen is pleased with U.S. House and Senate measures that would modify the process for checking the backgrounds of foreign student pilots who seek flight training and transfer the program from the Department of Justice to the TSA. Bolen observed that the TSA has conducted background checks on more than one million people since the agency was formed about one and one-half years ago.
Whether you carry the minimum paperwork or half a filing cabinet's worth, keeping your onboard documents organized is essential. To assist in this effort, Sporty's has introduced its Aircraft Document Portfolio. It contains plenty of room for all the aircraft's manuals, logbooks and much more. The 10-by-16-inch, vinyl portfolio includes a screened white space to write the aircraft make, model, N-number and owner's name. Price: $8.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County/Sporty's Airport Batavia, OH 45103 Phone: (513) 735-9100 Fax: (513) 735-9200 www.sportys.com
Joseph Leo Schneider, the oldest active pilot and certified flight instructor in the United States as of 1997, died after a brief illness on April 14 at the age of 99 years, nine months. Schneider received his pilot's license in 1939 and began instructing fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. Over the years, he logged over 23,000 hours, more than 18,000 while teaching hundreds of students how to fly. He received much recognition from his aviation peers, including being named Oklahoma State Pilot of the year in 1974.
It turned out not to be a disgruntled controller. Reuters and the BBC reported that after a 12-hour search May 19, the source of infantile squeals and cries on the London Luton approach frequency was little Freya Spratley. A defective baby monitor in her home near the airport was the culprit. Authorities took action reminiscent of the classic direction-finding scenes in World War II movies.
Executive Jet Management (EJM) in May added three new aircraft to its charter fleet: a Hawker 800 based at Pease International Tradeport (PSM) in Portsmouth, N.H.; a Learjet 60 at Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) in Kenosha, Wis.; and a Gulfstream IV-SP based at Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno, Nev. EJM now manages 109 aircraft in over 50 locations throughout the United States for retail charter and to support the NetJets fractional aircraft ownership program.
We like to think that once we've emerged from the murky gray and planted the tires on the touchdown zone that the worst is over. From that point, it's a routine matter of deploying the speed brakes, pulling back on the thrust reversers and applying the requisite braking to bring the aircraft to a halt. And while most of the time that's exactly what we do, we tend to take the systems that bring us to a stop -- particularly the brakes -- for granted.
Corporate pilots face many challenges and complexities in today's aviation environment. Some of these are common to all flight crews: crowded airports and airspace, security threats, the runway incursion problem, etc. Others, such as operations at unfamiliar airports, frequent use of uncontrolled airfields, and unpredictable schedules, are more unique to corporate aviation. Among all of these concerns, however, I would suggest that none causes corporate aviators more consistent consternation than does the issue of crew ground transportation. ``Seriously?'' you ask.
While the recent GAC meeting with the TSA reflected the cordial and open relationship developed over the past year, new concerns arose in the minds of some of the general aviation representatives. First, they note that the TSA is no longer the ultimate government authority on civil aviation security matters, and second, they worry that general aviation is perceived as an intrinsic threat to security by many in government (although no longer by the TSA).
As aircraft braking systems become more sophisticated, so do the problems with which their control algorithms must contend. One such problem is landing gear dynamic instability, which can be induced by the aircraft's braking system. As braking pressure is modulated, the gear strut can actually move fore and aft, causing the wheel speed sensors' readings to fluctuate. If the controller reads these fluctuations as tire slipping, it might make further modulations in brake application to correct what appear to be slipping or skidding tires.
DuPont Aviation, Wilmington, Del., has hired Mark C. Weeks as a pilot. Prior to joining DuPont, Weeks worked for a charter firm on Long Island, N.Y. In his new position, he operates the company's Hawker 800 aircraft.
The NBAA says that the FAA began compliance evaluations of the seven NBAA members that have been issued TSA Access Certificates (TSAACs). All seven are based at Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB). Depending on the results of the evaluations, which began June 16, the program may be made available to FAR Part 91 operators nationwide.
The Department of Homeland Security is investigating countermeasures to protect airliners from shoulder-fired missiles. According to Penrose ``Parney'' Albright, DHS director of plans, programs and budgets in the Science and Technology Directorate, the department will issue two contracts directly and fund anti-missile research through the interagency Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), which evaluates anti-terror technology for the DHS and other departments.
Elliott Aviation announced that the FAA has presented its Moline and Omaha service facilities Diamond Awards of Excellence for aviation maintenance training. In addition, Moline's Steven Antes was given an individual Aviation Maintenance Technician Diamond Award. The FAA awards program encourages maintenance technicians and their employers to participate in initial and recurrent maintenance training courses.
John W. (Jack) Olcott left the NBAA presidency at the end of June. He will work full time at General Aero Co., a business that he owns. General Aero is based at the Morristown, N.J., Airport. Olcott told The Weekly of Business Aviation he would be engaged in process management for companies interested in improving safety, security and management of their flight departments. He also said he would continue to serve on the FAA's FAR Part 135 review committee, saying that both FAA and NBAA officials asked that he remain engaged in the committee's work.
Ice, snow, slush and water aren't the only culprits when it comes to runway contamination. Surprisingly, the very runway markings on which we rely can cause us a good deal of grief in the wrong circumstances. It has long been known that if the skid-resistant properties of painted surfaces are not maintained, all it takes is a little rain to make them slick as ice. That lesson was relearned in summer 2001 at O'Hare Airport in Chicago when a Boeing 737 was instructed to ``keep the speed up'' and taxi off at the end of the runway.
Official graphical depictions of all TFRs are available on the FAA's Web site. Text descriptions of the TFRs are generally difficult to interpret and then must be plotted on a crew's own chart. The graphical depictions were officially only available for Flight Service Station personnel to use on pilot briefings, although Jeppesen and the AOPA, among others, have posted them on their Web sites for general use.
IN THE COURSE OF MY working life -- and that goes back to shagging balls as a kid -- I've had bosses of every stripe, ranging from full-speed entrepreneurs, to go-slow rake leaners, to corporate chess masters; they've included bullies, beauties, brainstormers and beanballers, clock-watchers, clock cleaners, powers and cowards. There were lessons to be learned from them all. Recent events have caused two to stand out from that long parade of characters. One, a woman, was smart, able and courageous. And still is.
