Edited by David RimmerMike Vines, in Santiago, Chile
B/CA sister publication Aviation Week&Space Technology, in partnership with Uruguay-based AviaGlobal Corp., has launched the first Spanish language aerospace information Internet portal to serve Ibero American interests. Visitors to www.AviaGlobal.com will find daily updated international, national, regional and local aviation and aerospace news to professionals and flying consumers. The portal, which will eventually also host a Portuguese language edition, went live at the recent FIDAE Air Show in Santiago, Chile.
It was Nov. 13, 2001, at Santa Monica Municipal Airport shortly after 2000 hours -- night VMC conditions prevailed. As a flight instructor and his student taxied to the run-up area for Runway 21, they were momentarily dazzled by the lights of a Cessna 340 sitting in the parking area for the Typhoon restaurant. All of the lights on the 340 -- even the strobes -- were on. The instructor commented to his student that pilots should be careful of their lights on the ground as a matter of courtesy to other pilots. He added that the 340 pilot ``must be in a rush.''
The NBAA is turning its attention to the emerging business jet market south of the border, having succeeded in exporting its expertise in running conventions and exhibitions to EBACE (the second European Business Aviation Conference&Exhibition will be held in Geneva on May 28-30).
Hersch, just in case your memory buds don't go back that far, the original Washington Airport was on the present site of the Pentagon. My dear late friend, John Doster from Allentown, gave his first checkride there in the late thirties, the first of 8,500 more. The present airpatch was virtually man-made, with megatons of fill scarfed into the Potomac, making it the handiest, most convenient airport-to-downtown of all the major airports in these United States. Land, taxi, shut-down, grab a car or limo, over the Potomac -- presto, downtown in no more than 10 minutes.
Edited by David RimmerMike Vines, at London Biggin Hill Airport, England
Jet Aviation has opened its first U.K. FBO and maintenance base. The $4.45 million facility comprises two renovated hangars totaling 17,020 square feet and a brand new FBO, all based at London Biggin Hill Airport. Jet Aviation's chairman and CEO, Thomas Hirschmann, said that his company had looked at potential sites at London Stansted, London Luton and Farnborough before settling on Biggin Hill in Kent. The proximity to the City of London, no slot problems and long opening hours were given as the reasons for the selection.
FlightSafety seems to have given up its ``hundred airplane'' rule. The company has announced that it has begun building a Level D full-flight simulator for the Bombardier Global Express business jet. In the past, FSI management liked to see a minimum population of an aircraft model to ensure there were enough trainees prior to investing in a dedicated simulator. In the case of new airplanes, the rule of thumb of 100 airplanes justified a full-flight sim. FSI has not announced where the simulator, to be completed late next year, will be installed.
The U.S. Department of Labor in April announced a new plan to help reduce ergonomic injuries. The plan includes industry-targeted guidelines, stricter enforcement measures, workplace outreach, advanced research and efforts to protect immigrant workers.
Photograph: CAAMS would recognize the technicians within categories that already exist -- apprentice, associate, journeyman and master journeyman. Paul Brou The aviation maintenance community is renewing efforts to establish an industry-set standard that would recognize corporate aircraft technicians who meet certain requirements.
In our February ``Manifest'' section (Briefing, page 14), we neglected to mention that Mike Mueller's promotion to director, FBO operations at Midcoast Aviation's Spirit of St. Louis Airport facility includes more than just the Spirit operation. In his expanded role, he continues to oversee the company's FBO at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and assumes new responsibility for the Spirit operation, as well as line service at St. Louis Down-town Airport, where Midcoast is headquartered.
This year's Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Fla., marked the introduction of a new aircraft to the air show circuit -- a 1965 Learjet 23. Piloted by air show veteran Bobby Younkin, the 38-year-old jet performs a 12-minute routine that includes loops, four- and eight-point rolls, forward and reverse Cuban eights and barrel rolls.
The European Union Parliament in late March adopted a new noise rule that effectively repeals a controversial ban on hushkitted aircraft. That ban was the subject of an international dispute that culminated in the United States filing a formal complaint with ICAO.
Northern Executive Aviation of Manchester, England, is operating the first U.K.-registered Global Express, aptly registered G-LOBL. The aircraft was completed at Marshalls of Cambridge, England, and delivered on February 19. Marshalls has completed three Global Express interiors to date, and two more are close to completion, according to a company spokesperson.
Meggitt Aerospace is transferring responsibility for its general aviation business to its S-TEC operation in Mineral Wells, Texas, and will consolidate U.S. manufacturing there. The S-TEC brand name will continue for its line of piston-engine autopilots. The MAGIC brand name will cover EFIS and electronic engine display products as well as future autopilots for turbine aircraft, according to Meggitt official Ken Paul. Round-dial instruments will continue under the purview of Meggitt U.K.
Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures, Inc. (AASI) will change its name to Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd. The company made the announcement after finalizing the acquisition of the assets of Mooney Aircraft Corp. in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio. The company has already taken major steps toward resuming Mooney aircraft production and spare parts support to Mooney owners, said Dale Ruhmel, executive vice president of operations and engineering. He stated, ``We've inventoried the spares and are in the process of calibrating and reconditioning the machinery.
