US Airways is applying pressure on its Air Line Pilots Association chapter for relief from the 70-aircraft restriction on operating regional jets in its pilot contract. In a December 2001 release, the airline complained that it must operate more regional jets to compete effectively with Delta and Continental on the East Coast. It cited figures that in November, Delta had approximately 215 regional jets and Continental had 131, while US Airways is, and will be, contractually restricted to 70 regional jets.
Collins has developed a computer-based CJ-1 avionics training program to give pilots a head start on their type training at FlightSafety International. The interactive CD-ROM program provides both overview information and interactive training. It covers CJ-1 avionics theory, description, operation and procedures. The course is presented in modules, each of which includes a knowledge assessment (test) that allows pilots to start their FlightSafety training ``with a validated level of knowledge.''
An integrated Traffic and Terrain Collision Avoidance System (T2CAS) packaged in a single LRU will be available from Aviation Communication and Surveillance Systems (ACSS). ACSS uses its own TCAS and TAWS technology and a fourth-generation, 24-channel GPS receiver from CMC Electronics in the new T2CAS. ACSS is an L-3 Communications and Thales company. It makes the TCAS 2000 and a line of S-band transponders. CMC Electronics is the former Canadian Marconi Co., now owned by a private investment group.
International Jet Interiors, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., has appointed Jay Massar as its operations manager and Tom Norden as chief inspector. Pilatus Aircraft, Broomfield, Colo., has promoted Thomas Bosshard to chief operating officer. Bosshard will be responsible for all activities relating to the completion, delivery, product support and modification of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Bosshard previously managed maintenance and completion services for Swissair Technics in Switzerland.
Three tall Kahikatea trees at New Zealand's Rotorua Regional Airport are jeopardizing the safety of the Avro regional jets that frequently use the airport. The Rotorua Airport Authority said that approximately 16 feet need to be trimmed from the top of each tree, because they extend into the departure path, decreasing the effective length of the runway. The trees grow on the north side of the airport on the land owned by the Ngati Rangiteaorere hapu (tribe).
Horry County, S.C., has an embarrassment of riches. The county, which includes Myrtle Beach, has four general aviation airports but only needs three. Its airport advisory committee tasked Delta Airport Consulting to study the situation and will soon consider a plan by Delta to close two of its GA airports and replace them with a brand new facility. Loris Airport houses only four airplanes and doesn't meet current FAA standards. Delta estimates it would cost about $27 million to bring Loris up to spec -- about what it would cost to build a whole new airport.
Gulfstream's version of the next-generation Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite has the best human engineering of any advanced avionics system we've flown to date. Experienced pilots, not lab technicians, are the ultimate decision makers in the system design. Gulfstream's goal is to preserve a common type rating for the G-V and G-VSP. Pilots already qualified in the G-V should have little trouble making the transition, based upon our observations.
The FAA's flight activity data are flawed, limited and need to be improved before certain safety trends can be identified, the NTSB found in a report to Congress.
Turbomeca has launched the development of a new 1,200-shp turboshaft engine for helicopters. The Turbomeca Ardiden engine completes the company's family of helicopter turbine engines. Certification is scheduled for 2005. Major features of the new engine are: a gas generator composed of two centrifugal compressor stages coupled to one HP turbine stage; a two-stage power turbine; and dual-channel FADEC. Turbomeca estimates the market for the Ardiden at 1,500 engines over the next 15 years.
BellSouth made the 14,000th Corporate Angel Network flight during the group's 20th year of service. Nine-year-old leukemia patient Sarah DiNardo, accompanied by her mother, made the milestone flight from Teterboro to Atlanta. The child is a patient at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and lives in La Grange, Ga. BellSouth, headquartered in Atlanta, has participated in the Corporate Angel network since 1998 and made nine flights in 2001.
As you pass the age of 50 -- it's amazing how fast that happens and how old you feel when your first AARP application arrives in the mail -- you have to face the fact that the end of your time as an active corporate pilot is approaching. The question is: When? Some pilots never want to leave the flight deck. Others look forward to slowing down their professional flight activities as they approach the last years of middle age.
Raytheon has been awarded a one-year contract that with future options is worth a potential $1.22 billion for lots 9 through 13 of the JPATS training system. The award includes production of the T-6A Texan II aircraft plus ground training devices. To date, the U.S. Air Force and Navy have ordered 168 aircraft, and the new order plus options covers the production of 234 aircraft.
Pratt&Whitney Canada now offers quick turnaround heavy maintenance (HEMA) line services at its St-Hubert, Quebec, and Bridgeport, W.Va., service centers. The HEMA line combines all major activities related to heavy maintenance, simplifying the maintenance process and reducing times as much as 50 percent.
Fargo Jet Center, Hector International Airport (FAR) Fargo, N.D., has purchased the assets of Valley Aviation, a neighboring FBO, after its former owner dissolved the company following his retirement. ``The acquisition of these assets enhances our ability to serve our customers' needs,'' said Fargo CEO Patrick Sweeney. With the purchase, the jet center has over 190,000 square feet of hangar, office and technical space and has hired several of Valley Aviation's employees.
CAMP Systems President Todd Hamilton has resigned from the company to pursue other business interests. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ken Gray, a three-year CAMP veteran, will replace him as president.
On schedule to open in April, Wing Aviation is getting its $8 million Montgomery County Airport (CXO) facility in Conroe, Texas, ready for potential Gulfstream maintenance customers. ``Between the Houston and Dallas area there are over 60 Gulfstreams and we plan to attract them by providing one of the most comprehensive aviation service facilities in the area,'' said Brian P. Wing, vice president of Wing Aviation.
A former long-time TAG Aviation staffer and her brother have launched Elite Aviation, a suburban New York air charter, management and brokerage firm. Elite was created by John Brescia, a financial advisor to small businesses and high-net-worth individuals, and his sister Addie Campagna -- a 22-year veteran of TAG and its predecessors Wayfarer and Wayfarer Ketch. Campagna was a senior flight services representative at TAG prior to her retirement in 2001.
-- December 6, 2001: Neither of the two pilots aboard a Convair 340 were injured when they were forced to ditch in the Atlantic Ocean near Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. The Trans Air Link freighter had taken off from Fort Lauderdale International Airport, where it had stopped to clear customs while en route from Nassau, Bahamas, to Opa-Locka Airport near Miami. The right engine failed shortly after a precautionary shutdown of the left engine, leading to the ditching. Fuel management is being examined in the investigation. The pilots sustained minor injuries.
The creator of what was termed ``the affordable fractional'' (B/CA, September 2001, page 46) has revamped the program and is now attempting to sell leases rather than ownership positions in used aircraft.
Miniaturization of electronic components has found yet another application in a new onboard ``covert'' security system marketed by Conquest International Corp. of Plainville, Kan.
Midcoast Aviation, Cahokia, Ill., has promoted Mike Mueller to director of FBO operations at its Spirit of St. Louis Airport facility in Chesterfield, Mo.
Aero Quality Sales has created its own network of independent service centers to support the range of batteries its sells. Aero Quality of Stamford, Conn., distributes Saft and Marathon Nickel Cadmium batteries and Concorde, Gill-Teledyne and Hawker Energy Products lead-acid batteries. Each of its 13 authorized service centers commits resources and training to perform battery service exactly according to the specific requirements and procedures of each individual battery manufacturer.
