The FAA has proposed a $900,000 fine against American Eagle for transporting an oxygen generator aboard a passenger flight and for improperly labeling generators for transport as cargo on Federal Express on seven occasions. The eight alleged instances occurred during 2000. According to the agency's notice, the carrier also failed to properly train employees in the labeling of the generators, which are banned from passenger flights. American Eagle has 30 days from receipt of the proposed penalty in which to respond to the FAA.
Although the September 11, 2001, terror attacks caused ``extreme economic hardship'' for his membership, Helicopter Association International President Roy Resavage declared the helicopter industry ``down but not out'' as the group's annual Heli-Expo opened in Orlando in February.
Honeywell has been selected by Airservices Australia (AsA) to provide ADS-B demonstration air and ground equipment. The demonstration program will be conducted in the region near Bundaberg, Queensland. ADS-B aircraft broadcast their GPS-derived position and altitude information through a data link to ground stations, where the information is processed to allow precise, radar-like tracking information that allows air traffic control to provide positive separation and other services over areas without radar coverage.
The FAA has issued a letter to officials in Stratford and Bridgeport, Conn., warning them that the agency is ready to invoke condemnation authority to acquire land necessary to ensure airport safety at Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR). The FAA wants to create a 1,000-foot and 800-foot buffer zone on Runway 6-24, a task that would include relocating a section of South Main Street in Stratford.
Rolls-Royce of North America has signed on to support an expansion of the National Aviation Heritage Invitational to include a second competition to coincide with the 2002 Dayton Air Show on July 20-21. The second competition will be in addition to the now-Western regional held to coincide with the Reno Air Races, which will take place September 12-15. The 2001 Reno competition was canceled due to the events of September 11. The competitions are held to recognize excellence in the preservation and restoration of vintage aircraft in airworthy condition.
Telex's new single-sided Airman 750 headset weighs 2.4 ounces and features a miniature, amplified noise-canceling microphone. The unit offers a flexible mic boom that pivots to either side of the head, a stainless steel headband with overhead cord, and a replaceable ear cushion. Price: $232 Telex Communications, Inc. 12000 Portland Ave. S. Burnsville, Minn. 55337 Phone: (952) 884-4051 Fax: (952) 884-0043 www.telex.com
General aviation groups pressed international leaders to recognize the differences between large commercial and business/ GA operations at a high-level ICAO meeting on aviation security in mid-February. Both the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (IAOPA) presented papers at the conference discussing GA security.
Congo: Travelers are advised to exercise extreme caution when traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The country has been at war since 1998 and the situation is volatile. Extreme caution is recommended in moving around the capital, Kinshasa, and curfews, which can change on short notice, should be strictly adhered to. Travel in all areas outside Kinshasa should be avoided. All travel to the area surrounding Goma and the Nyiragongo volcano should be avoided. Source: Australian State Department
Maintenance/Services -- Aerodynamics, Inc., Oakland, has promoted Scott Swain to the position of director of maintenance. Swain has served as the company's lead mechanic/foreman and for the past six years as service manager. -- Aircraft Parts Corp., Farmingdale, N.Y., has appointed Gerald Palanzo as its chief operating officer. Palanzo joins APC from Fabricated Metal Products, where he served as president and COO.
Under the banner of Winter Olympics security, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson got the feds to pay for seven new CTX (baggage screening X-ray) machines to supplement two machines already installed at Salt Lake City International, plus 84 ETD (explosive trace detection) devices. The city's Department of Airports executive director, Timothy L. Campbell, proudly noted that the federal government paid $12.7 million for the equipment, not to mention absorbing the cost of adding 400 new personnel, including five canine teams, to the airport's security staff.
The crowning event of the year in the pro golf community takes place on what many consider one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. The Masters Tournament, to be held the week of April 8-14 at the Augusta National Golf Club, has been known for excitement ever since Gene Sarazen hit ``the shot heard `round the world'' in 1935, scoring a double eagle on the par five 15th hole, tying Craig Wood and forcing a playoff.
Aeromedix.com's Security X-Ray Protective Film Bags use a flexible lead fabric to protect photographic film from scanner fogging. The bags feature a nylon outer shell and come in two sizes. The 7.0-by-9.0-inch bag holds most auto-focus cameras and several rolls of film, and the 9.5-by-13.25-inch bag can hold up to 50 rolls of film. The bags were tested at the University of Wisconsin, which determined that they were 50 to 300 percent more effective than standard lead-foil bags. The bags come with a 30-day, unconditional return privilege.
While business aviation catering can be prepared in any number of ways to satisfy your or your passengers' tastes, often overlooked is what can happen when catering isn't prepared properly or has been mishandled. Consider these two episodes of food-related illness. A BBJ departed England for Africa. At cruise, the pilot was served a fresh tuna sandwich. Forty minutes after eating, he experienced heart palpitations and then appeared to have a heart attack. Within 15 minutes, he was unconscious.
TRADE: National Manufacturing Week March 18-21, Chicago More than 1,850 exhibiting companies, representing 80 major product segments, will present innovative manufacturing solutions in more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space. www.nam.org SPORT: The Players Championship at Sawgrass March 18- 24, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Tiger Woods will be vying to become the first back-to-back champion in the 28-year history of this golf tournament. www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r011
Eurocopter and Bell Helicopter will race neck and neck over the next 10 years for the world's commercial helicopter crown, but the U.S. manufacturer will likely win in revenues and Eurocopter in the number of deliveries. That's the scenario spelled out in detail by Forecast International/DMS of New-town, Conn., in its latest forecast of the ``World Commercial Rotorcraft Market Through 2010.''
Greg Evans President and CEO Universal Weather&Aviation, Inc. A Universal employee since 1979, Evans has worked in marketing, sales and flight operations. He helped the company expand in Europe, Russia, the CIS and the Far East, and is overseeing its push into electronic delivery of information to customers and vendors. A prominent business aviation flight service provider, Universal was founded in 1959 by Evans' father, Tom, a Houston meteorologist.
cabotage (ka b-tazh) n.(1) Trade or navigation in coastal waters. (2) The exclusive right of a country to operate the air traffic within its territory. [French, from caboter, to sail along a coast, perhaps from Spanish cabo, cape, from Latin caput, head.]
-- January 18 -- A Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander ditched off Beef Island in the British Virgin Islands; the pilot and four passengers were uninjured. The FLY BVI aircraft experienced dual engine failure shortly after taking off from the island on a sightseeing flight. -- January 22 -- A Cessna 402 en route from Sturgis to Ann Arbor, Mich., crashed and burned during a climb to 3,000 feet, killing the pilot.
Bradley International Airport (BDL) tenants voted in February to form a corporate and business aviation association within the next month and a half. The new association would address issues affecting the Windsor Locks, Conn., facility as well as other Connecticut airports. For more information, contact Dean Saucier at [email protected].
Banyan Air Service added a second maintenance shift at its Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport facility. Maintenance services are now available until midnight, five days a week. The company recently hired 10 technicians, bringing its maintenance staff to 65.
Steve Bassett appears to be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. The outspoken United States Air Tour Association president is joining Air Vegas Enterprises -- parent company of Grand Canyon air tour operator Air Vegas Airlines -- as executive vice president.
Onetime B/CA contributor Harley D. Kysor, Jr. has died in Ridgefield, Conn., at the age of 84. Kysor began his aviation career as an Eastern Airlines pilot in the 1950s and 1960s. He later formed one of the first aviation consulting businesses. A pioneer in business aviation consulting, Kysor conducted aircraft feasibility studies for major corporations and performed safety audits of charter operators.
The National Air Transportation Association, speaking for U.S. domestic FAR Part 135 operators, urges caution in implementing domestic RVSM. In a letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, NATA Vice President Jeb Burnside recommended a longer phase-in period than currently planned, citing both operational and economic concerns.
At least three bizjets were among the more than one dozen aircraft intercepted for Olympic TFR violations. As we went to press, Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters from Utah's Hill Air Force Base intercepted three jets that strayed into the ``Olympic Ring'' airspace, escorting one to the ground at Salt Lake and diverting another to land in nearby Brigham City just outside the restricted ring.
Aviation Supplies&Academics (ASA) is now shipping an updated Advisory Circular 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices -- Aircraft Inspection and Repair, which contains Change 1 to the AC. This change incorporates error corrections, new main- tenance information and additional information on pitot-static systems and human factors. ASA is providing a free download of the update at its Web site. Price: $18.95 (paper version) ASA, Inc. 7005 132nd Pl. S.E., New Castle, Wash. 98059
