Westchester County Airport (HPN) officials in White Plains, N.Y., recently presented their annual noise-abatement awards to local operators and unveiled a new brochure designed to encourage transient-operator compliance with the voluntary curfew. A total of 27 local operators were recognized for eschewing flying during the midnight to 6:30 a.m. curfew throughout 2001. Bristol-Myers Squibb garnered awards in each aircraft category -- jet, turboprop and helicopter.
Years ago there was an exchange (probably apocryphal) between Ronald Reagan and a fault-finding young person. The latter spoke of the technology -- computers, video, telecommunications , etc. -- that has become the fabric of modern life, and then dismissed Reagan and his doddering contemporaries saying, ``What would your generation know? You didn't grow up with these things.'' ``No, `` Reagan supposedly replied. ``We didn't grow up with them; we invented them.''
Uvex Safety has expanded its line of Genesis safety eyewear, adding a new patriotic design and a wider selection of lens tints. The Uvex Genesis ``Patriot'' features a red, white and blue frame and an imprint of the American flag. The bottom of the right lens (out of the field of vision) is inscribed with the words ``United We Stand.'' The company has also added a selection of task-specific lenses to the Genesis line as well as the Spectrum Control Technology lens, which absorbs select wavelengths of radiant energy into the lens. Call for pricing
The use of stabilized approach procedures is a key ingredient in the final stages of a descent to landing. A stabilized approach procedure means that all checklists are complete and the aircraft is properly configured and following the appropriate vertical flight path at the proper airspeed. In general, an aircraft should be stabilized before reaching an altitude of 1,000 feet agl for an instrument approach, or 500 feet for a visual approach. These altitudes represent limits -- not targets. The prudent pilot will have the aircraft stabilized at a higher altitude.
Dassault Falcon Jet, Teterboro, N.J., has promoted field service representatives Larry Burns (Northeast region), Gary Tchorzewski (mid-Atlantic region), Charles ``Chuck'' Woody (Southwest region) and Jim Walizer (Upper Midwest region) to the newly created position of customer service manager.
The Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to promote professional growth and enrichment for its members. It does this by providing networking opportunities, obtaining educational assistance and educating the public on the role of women in the industry.
The U.K.'s London City Airport (LCY) has selected Daon's biometric authentication solution to update its security for all of its 1,600 personnel who work in restricted and secure zones. The identity management system known as Daon Engine employs fingerprint, iris or voice authentication methods and was due to be commissioned in November.
Schubach Aviation, an air charter company based in San Diego, Calif., added a Citation X, the 13th airplane in a fleet that includes a variety of aircraft ranging from King Airs to Hawkers.
Strong letter to Follow! The AOPA is ``insisting'' that it participate in a government study to compare the costs of providing flight service station (FSS) services by the FAA vs. the costs of contracting services to commercial companies. Actions based on the study could change the way FSS services are provided to pilots. In personal meetings with FAA officials and in a follow-up letter, the AOPA asked that it have input on the key document, the ``performance work statement,'' that will direct the course of the study.
Other highlights from the ERA gathering included: -- The Dutch company Rekkof is seeking support among the airline members to restart Fokker 70 and 100 production. Jaap Rosen Jacobson, president of Rekkof and owner of VLM Airlines, an all-Fokker 50 operation based in Belgium, met with other Fokker operators on the idea during the assembly. Rekkof first attempted to restart F70 and F100 programs in 1998 but shelved the plans because of the Asian financial crisis.
An important consideration in managing a descent is an understanding of the performance limitations of certain flight instruments, particularly the VSI. As we learn in primary instrument training, the VSI is quite rightly a secondary instrument. Although it can provide essential information, what pilots may fail to consider is that by its design, it tends to lag actual aircraft performance.
Thunder Aviation, St. Louis, has named Ron Scheer as director of operations. He will be responsible for the operations of all aircraft maintenance services, including charter and flight school maintenance, as well as purchasing.
The FAA has approved reinforced cockpit doors made by Cascade Aviation Services for de Havilland Dash 8 turboprops. Meanwhile, the Everett, Wash.-based company is developing doors for Embraer EMB-120s and the Fairchild Dornier 328 jet and turboprop. The new Kevlar and stainless-steel door weighs 48 pounds, 38 pounds more than the original non-secure door. Horizon Airlines has been testing the doors since January on its Dash 8-Q200s. Airline spokeswoman Cheryl Temple said the heavier doors did not affect the aircraft's weight and balance.
At ceremonies in Derby, England on Oct. 4, Gulfstream and Rolls-Royce celebrated the delivery of the 1,000th Tay engine, destined to power the 500th Gulfstream IV.
Coventry Airport in the British Midlands wants to erect a new terminal building capable of handling up to one million passengers per year. Steve Guynan, company secretary for freight carrier Air Atlantique and Coven-try Airport, said, ``As soon as we get the go-ahead our aim is to get the terminal up and running as soon as possible, which hopefully will be next year. We are hopeful and confident that given the explosion of low-cost carriers around, that maybe one or more will find Coventry a welcoming home.''
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM), already in effect in much of the world's increasingly crowded airspace, are scheduled for adoption by the United States. Specifically, the domestic, or DRVSM, plan is to initially implement 1,000-foot vertical spacing between FL 290 and FL 410 by the end of 2004, according to an NPRM released in May.
The Aviation Suppliers Association, Washington, D.C., in September announced the results of its board of directors election. Bill Cote of Volvo Aero Services, LP and Mitch Weinberg of International Aircraft Associates, Inc. have been re-elected, joined by new member Jay Rosenberg of International Airline Support Group.
Aero Twin is developing a TPE331-powered Cessna Caravan. The installation is said to reduce takeoff distance by at least 10 percent, improve climb and cruise performance, reduce fuel burn and increase overhaul intervals from 3,600 hours to 7,000 hours. The 1,060-shp Honeywell TPE331-12JR is flat-rated to 850 shp, thereby enabling it to develop takeoff rated power to 8,500 feet, according to Tony Cestnik, president of Anchorage, Alaska-based Aero Twin. Installation cost is about $600,000, including a new four-blade Hartzell propeller.
Jet Aviation is making several improvements at its Dallas Love Field base, including expanding its transient ramp space and parking space and renovating the FBO's lobby. The work is expected to be completed in early 2003.
Lionel Morrison made history in his Cirrus SR22 on Oct. 3 when he was the first to deploy the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) in an actual emergency. En route between Dallas Executive Airport (RBD) and Addison Airport (ADS), Morrison partially lost control of the aircraft when the left aileron began to separate from the wing, remaining attached only by a single hinge. The aileron had been removed and reinstalled during maintenance at Addison. He was able to regain control but, due to heavy control forces, was unconvinced the aircraft could be landed safely.
Forecast International/DMS projects 4,558 regional aircraft, worth some $88.5 billion, will be built between 2002 and 2011. The aircraft total includes 3,580 regional jets and 978 turboprops. The regional aircraft market is currently in the midst of a downturn and Forecast International/DMS predicts that annual production will decline both this year and in 2003. Growth in annual production is expected to resume in 2004. Production of 477 regional aircraft, including jets and turboprops, is forecast this year, followed by 459 aircraft in 2003.
LZ Aeronautical Industries, a consortium of Czech manufacturing companies, is introducing its L-420 turboprop aircraft to the American market. The U.S. iteration of the popular -- 1,100 units delivered -- L-410, the L-420 is powered by a pair of 778-shp Walter M601Fs, two-shaft, reverse-flow turboprops with a water injection system to enhance the aircraft's hot/high performance. The five-blade AVIA Hamilton propellers have an automatic Beta lock.
Despite the fact that we learn to trust our eyes implicitly, we should all recognize the fact that they can be fooled, and that things are not always as they appear. If you're not sure you buy that, a few simple tests might help convince you.
