Early this year, the nation's controllers struck a deal with the FAA that would extend their labor agreement for two more years. The contract extension works well for both sides, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said. For management, it provides stability and continuity, avoiding divisiveness. For employees, Blakey told controllers, ``You hold onto a very generous contract -- particularly in these difficult times.'' The head of the controllers union, John Carr, added, ``With the enormous amount of work we are doing with the FAA on a wide array of subjects . . .
The FAA again delayed adopting the new FAR Part 145 repair station regulations -- this time until Aug. 6. The agency released the first rewrite in July 2001, but did not make the rules effective until April 6 of this year, believing that it would need 20 months to develop the appropriate industry and internal guidance material and train its own people. But the agency did not release even draft industry guidance until November.
The Flight Safety Foundation -- Airbus Human Factors in Safety Award has been presented to Douglas Schwartz, aviation director for AT&T and former director of standards for FlightSafety International, for improving pilot-training programs and for conceptualizing and helping to develop the Flight Operations Risk Assessment System (FORAS), a method of measuring risks to flight safety.
Jet Aviation West Palm Beach upgraded its sheet metal and structural shop with a new six-foot power shear and press brake. Both machines are digitally controlled. The new power shear cuts metal up to three-sixteenths-inch thick. ``We use the power shear mostly to build bulkheads, seatbacks and other aircraft parts,'' said Paul Knudsen, A&P mechanic. For structural repairs, Jet Aviation purchased a power press brake, which bends sheet metal up to one-half-inch thick.
Avidyne announced it has received FAA TSO approval and an STC for its FlightMax EX500 multifunction display with integrated data link. The system receives and displays current weather and flight information (such as suddenly imposed TFRs) in real time. Avidyne also certified its FlightMax DC50 Antenna Coupler, which allows the FlightMax EX500 to use a multi-mode (data link/comm or data link/GPS/comm) antenna, saving the installation costs of a dedicated data link antenna.
SimCom has installed the first of two MU-2 simulators at its Orlando training center. The new Marquise/Solitaire simulator was built to FAA Level 5 standards, and uses an actual MU-2 hull and interior. It is equipped with a Quantum 3-D, full wraparound visual-motion system with color day and night graphics and weather depiction, and has a complete factory avionics suite, including a Honeywell SPZ 500. The second simulator is scheduled to be available later this year.
When the TSA and NBAA were looking for a suitable general aviation airport at which to test the Transportation Security Administration Access Certificate (TSAAC) program, business aviation mecca Teterboro, N. J. (TEB) seemed the logical choice. Accordingly, the first person they called was Peter Bellini, aviation director and chief pilot for Becton Dickinson & Co. and president of the TEB User Group. ``They asked us if we'd take part in a trial operator security program for the airport,'' Bellini told B/CA.
Banyan Air Service, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., hired Ron Anders Jr. as piston maintenance service manager to head up the expanded piston maintenance division at the South Florida Service Center.
One year after Capitol Aviation merged into Silverhawk Aviation at Lincoln, Neb., Municipal Airport (LNK), the combined FBO reports business has doubled with resulting record profits. Silverhawk Aviation is a branded Phillips 66 dealer. Don Allen, Silverhawk's owner, said, ``Right now, the charter business is our number-one profit center, generating almost half of our net profits. However, we are on target to have one of our best years ever on the fuel sales side, and we expect it will soon surpass our charter aircraft sales.''
ADIZs and TFRs are becoming status symbols for local politicians and tools of private interests. New York City successfully sought its own ADIZ. TFRs were placed over Disneyland and Disney World, an action long sought by the theme parks. And all waivers for sports stadium overflights for banner towing and VIP transport were rescinded to the satisfaction of stadium operators. To the surprise of general aviation associations, all the new restrictions, except the Washington ADIZ, were removed when the homeland alert status was reduced to ``yellow.''
Although potential countermeasure suppliers may be salivating at the possible windfall, other industry representatives took a more cautious approach to anti-missile technology. Pat Hurley, Raytheon vice president of Electronic Warfare Systems, told Congress in March, ``There is no inexpensive, off-the-shelf, 100-percent effective, easy-to-install and socially acceptable solution. Not yet.
New Piper Aircraft unveiled two new aircraft models at the recent 2003 Sun 'n Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Fla. The new Piper 6X is a normally aspirated, fixed-gear version of the six-place Saratoga II, and the Piper 6XT is its turbocharged equivalent. Standard-equipped list price of the 6X is $336,000 and the 6XT, $356,000. Both models are powered by 300-hp Lycoming engines giving the 6X a top speed of 153 knots with the 6XT topping out at 165 knots.
Air France and British Airways will retire their Concordes, the companies announced on April 10. Air France currently operates five Concordes on five weekly roundtrips between Paris and New York's Kennedy International (JFK). BA currently flies five weekly roundtrips from London to New York. The airline also has one weekly roundtrip to Barbados in its program. BA says the end will come in October; Air France will discontinue its supersonic routes somewhat earlier.
CANADA'S TRANSPORTATION SAFETY Board (TSB) has completed one of the most thorough aircraft accident investigations ever undertaken with a final briefing on the downing of Swissair Flight 111. Over the last four years, the TSB's activities have led to the removal of one type of flammable acoustic insulation from most transport aircraft and to dozens of safety recommendations dealing with electrical system certification, pilot training and aircraft component fire testing.
The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced that it has signed a deal for an additional 10 New Piper aircraft with the University of North Dakota (UND). This brings the sale of new aircraft to the school to 77 since 1998, and the total number of New Piper aircraft in UND's fleet to 118.
TAG Aviation USA, Inc., San Francisco, has appointed Michael K. Moore to vice president, marketing and sales. Moore joined TAG Aviation in 1999 as vice president of aircraft acquisition and sales.
Tyler Camera Systems' Robinson R44 camera bracket requires only 30 minutes to install on the left or right side, weighs 40 pounds and can carry up to 105 pounds without airframe modifications. This allows carriage of the Ultramedia UM2, UM3 or the Wescam on any R44 helicopter. Price: Less than $10,000 Tyler Camera Systems 14218 Aetna St. Van Nuys, CA 91401 Phone: (800) 390-6070; (818) 989-4420 Fax: (818) 989-0423 www.tylermount.com
Mercury Air Centers, Atlanta, has appointed Gina L. Hicks manager of marketing and customer support. Before joining Mercury, Hicks was director of marketing and customer relations for Air Service Hawaii.
Further details on the AMS Standards Program will be provided this month at AS3, in Las Vegas, and at the NBAA Maintenance Managers Conference in Charlotte, N.C. Formal program launch is anticipated for later this year. For more information: Aircraft Maintenance Society, P.O. Box 103, Purchase, NY 10577; call (914) 933-7603 or go to www.amsbluesocket.com
