Edited by David RimmerBy Fred George, in San Diego New Round of Synthetic Vision Flights
NASA's goal of equipping aircraft with Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS), featuring ``super accurate'' terrain databases and three-dimensional terrain depictions, is one step closer to reality, following the completion of 100 flight test approaches flown in NASA's Boeing 757 test bed at Eagle, Colo., in late summer. Considering the high terrain adjacent to the runways, Eagle County Airport is a particularly appropriate site for such flight tests. As many as 20 jetliners, as well as many more corporate aircraft, arrive and depart each day.
One evening not long ago I was at a Manhattan restaurant sawing through an outrageously thick steak. At the table were my kid brother, Tom, and a long-time family friend, both of whom were hungrily packing away even larger slabs of meat. Vegetarians might have wept at the sight, but we had fun reminiscing and catching up on each other's lives. Our out-of-town guest said he was particularly happy to share the meal; he'd been putting in some long hours over the past few weeks and the evening was a welcome respite.
AirCare International has purchased the STARK Survival Co. and will combine STARK programs with its own FACTS training division. FACTS specializes in emergency procedures training for private, charter and corporate operators, conducted on-site and at training ``hubs'' in Los Angeles, Dallas and New York. STARK conducts on-site training for corporate flight crews and offers fixed-wing and helicopter open-water training in ditching, water evacuation, sea survival and underwater egress.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research wants to buy a Gulfstream V for atmospheric research. Funding for the purchase, modification and equipping of the aircraft will come from NCAR's primary sponsor, the National Science Foundation. NCAR currently operates a C-130 equipped for atmospheric research. The addition of the G-V, with its long range and the ability to take scientists and their equipment to 50,000 feet, will open up new areas of investigation beyond the reach of the C-130's 3,100-nm range and 35,000-foot maximum altitude.
The nation's regional airlines accounted for almost half the applicants for federal aid under the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act.
Executive Jet Aviation in September took delivery of Dassault Aviation's 1,500th Falcon Jet. The Falcon 2000 was the 29th to join the NetJets fractional ownership program, with more than 70 additional Falcon Jets on order. The first Falcon 20 was delivered in 1963. Executive Jet Senior Vice President Kevin Russell (left) accepted the aircraft from Dassault Chairman Charles Edelstenne at the manufacturer's Teterboro, N.J., headquarters.
September 18: A LET 410 UVP-E crashed on takeoff from Guatemala City, Guatemala, killing the pilot and seven passengers and seriously injuring the copilot and four additional passengers. Operated by Atlantic Airlines, the flight was destined for San Pedro Sula in Honduras, a 161-nm flight. Guatemalan aviation officials are investigating the cause of the crash, the third for a LET 410 in the past year.
Westchester Air CEO Millie Hernandez-Becker has received the Northeast Region Businesswoman of the Year Award from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes major accomplishments achieved in the areas of business and economic development, leadership and quality of service, and innovation in promoting the growth of Hispanic businesses.
While airlines of all sizes digest the business challenges created by the September attacks, Chalk's Ocean Airways -- the latest incarnation of the legendary South Florida seaplane carrier -- is facing some unique challenges and offering some unique solutions. Like many of its larger peers, 82-year-old Chalk's responded with staff furloughs across all departments, 20- to 25-percent schedule reductions, and a thinning of its active fleet from four full-time aircraft to three operating on a part-time schedule.
Pratt&Whitney Canada has delivered the 1,000th PW500 engine to Cessna. ``The PW500 engine family was born with Cessna and grew with Cessna, which makes this milestone all the more special,'' said P&WC president and CEO Gilles Ouimet. The PW500 turbofan family currently has three members. The PW530A powers the Citation Bravo. The PW535A entered service with the Citation Ultra Encore. The PW545A powers the Citation Excel.
Sikorsky is seeking to establish its first equity partnership in China. A possible joint venture with Shanghai Little Eagle Science&Technology Co. would produce light civil helicopters for the Chinese market. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to discuss forming a new entity, to be called Shanghai Sikorsky Helicopter Co.
The PremierCare Certification System, a qualification program for line-service technicians at Avitat, is being introduced by ExxonMobil Aviation. ``The PremierCare Certification System is designed to help ensure that FBO line-service technicians meet the extremely high level of service that the general aviation community expects,'' said Richard Oldham, U.S. General Aviation Manager of ExxonMobil Aviation.
Area firefighters received realistic aircraft fire training at Chesterfield, Mo.'s Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), the primary GA reliever for the St. Louis area. Nearly 200 SUS personnel and firefighters from surrounding communities used a $1.1 million full-scale aircraft simulator that can be configured to replicate GA, airline, cargo and military aircraft. The computer-controlled unit simulates fire conditions with propane burners placed throughout the structure.
Start-up Max-Viz, Inc. is developing compact IR Enhanced Vision Systems for taxi and approach applications. The Portland, Ore.-based company was founded by President Gregg Fawkes and Vice Presidents Roger Watson and Richard Kerr, who have backgrounds in infrared and head-up display technologies. Max-Viz's first offering, dubbed Taxi-Max, uses an infrared sensor mounted in an aircraft's tail cap, radome or belly to display the ground environment, including obstacles and other aircraft, on an MFD or a dedicated liquid crystal display.
SimuFlite has begun its third major facility expansion at DFW in six years, breaking ground for a 70,000-square-foot north wing that will add six more simulator bays plus classroom and office space. The GE Capital business unit also announced that its simulator fleet expansion for 2001 remains on schedule with Gulfstream V, Citation Ultra/Bravo and Citation Excel sims now on line, and a Beechjet 400A and a King Air 350 due by the end of the year.
Westchester County Airport (HPN) telephone numbers have a new prefix not yet published in the airport databases. Numbers listed with the 285- prefix have been changed to a 995- prefix. If you dial the ops number with the old prefix, you'll get an out-of-service message with no further information. At press time, directory assistance did not have the new prefix.
Shell Aviation and Avfuel Corp. have agreed to accept each other's credit cards and provide seamless billing for their respective cardholders. The alliance, effective November 1, allows holders of either card to use them at any Shell or Avfuel fueling location worldwide. The companies will exchange billing information to allow their customers to receive a single statement of both Shell and Avfuel purchases. Shell Aviation has about 700 AeroShell-branded operations in 85 countries. Avfuel has more than 800 branded locations, primarily in the United States.
Mooney Aircraft Corp., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July, has retained First Equity Development Corp. of Westport, Conn., as a financial advisor. First Equity would assist Mooney in a sale or potential investment. Over its five-decade history, Mooney has produced more than 10,500 aircraft of which 7,500 remain in operation.
Raytheon Technical Services Co. has won a five-year, $11 million contract to repair and calibrate test equipment at the FAA Logistics Center Depot in Oklahoma City. The award was for a one-year base period with four one-year options.
Bombardier offers Learjet 45 operators Dependability Plus in several flavors. Under the basic program operators of new airplanes can cover all scheduled airframe maintenance plus tire and brake wear through monthly payments at a set flight-hour rate. Other options include guaranteed trade-in value or the option of covering all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and parts and labor when it's performed at Bombardier-authorized facilities. Operators can even receive limited reimbursement for work they do themselves.
