Business & Commercial Aviation

Billion-dollar aircraft orders notwithstanding, UAL Corp.'s investment in its new business aviation unit -- United Biz Jet Services, Inc. -- will be a modest $4 million during the subsidiary's first year of operations. Start-up expenses are expected to reach $3.05 million, so United estimates that it will have $950,000 in working capital when operations are launched around a single leased aircraft in November. ``UAL is committed to funding entry into the business aviation industry at a level sufficient to ensure success, so the

Nav Canada and ICAO will host the 2001 International Oceanic Conference from October 2-4 at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. This year's theme for the annual oceanic airspace management event is ``Improving Customer Service Through Advanced Technology.''

Russell W. Meyer, Jr. Chairman, Cessna Aircraft Co. A Harvard-trained lawyer and former U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot, Meyer was chosen by investors to help oversee development of the fledgling American Aviation Co. That six-month assignment went on for years as the company evolved into Grumman American. In 1974, Dwayne Wallace, Cessna's legendary chairman, selected Meyer as his successor, and he has been with the company ever since.

James C. Christiansen, 54, executive vice president and chief operating officer of TAG Aviation, has resigned in order to ``pursue fresh opportunities.'' Formerly president of Wayfarer Aviation, Christiansen joined TAG when it acquired Wayfarer -- an evolution of the Rockefeller family's flight department -- two years ago. Since then, he has led the effort to integrate the two companies.

Citing health reasons, AirNet Systems founder Gerald G. (Jerry) Mercer, 54, has stepped down after 26 years leading a company that grew from humble beginnings to become the nation's largest carrier of canceled bank checks. Joe Biggerstaff, 45, recruited as Mercer's eventual successor and named as the company's CEO in April 2000, succeeded Mercer as AirNet's chairman on August 2.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will host its annual Industry/Career Expo on November 7 and 8 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Aspiring aviation professionals and seasoned professionals can interview with hiring pros from more than 100 companies including manufacturers, airlines and service providers. Among the companies planning to attend this year's expo: Boeing, Gulfstream and Signature Flight Support, as well as American, Continental and Southwest Airlines. The expo is free and open to the public. Further information is available online at www.embryriddle.edu.

With scheduled air service between smaller communities waning, at least one FBO is attempting to fill the void with reduced-cost charters. Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Business Aviation Services has created Share-A-Ride, which, as its name implies, matches travelers with similar itineraries who want the convenience of air charter without bearing the full cost.

TAG Aviation is expanding to Palm Springs, Calif. The desert city will become TAG's 50th aircraft base with the addition of a managed Falcon 50. TAG says it will ferry the aircraft at a reduced price for charter customers traveling from certain Southern California cities, as well as Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas. There are now almost 150 aircraft in TAG's managed fleet.

The Orleans Parish Levee Board, overseer of New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW), has decided to sign a 50-year lease with Santa Monica, Calif., based American Airports Corp. (AAC) to manage the facility. The panel voted 5-2 in favor of AAC, the only competitor for the contract. The next step for Lakefront is federal ap-proval, but city officials said they are confident the agreement would pass because the FAA had previously reviewed the proposal.

After a long and hard fought battle by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), the FAA has decided to go to final rule on changes to FAR Part 145, which contains repair station regulations. The effective date of the change is April 2003 and guidance material from the FAA is expected to follow. The changes to the regulation include a requirement for an FAA-approved training program, but excludes a quality assurance program.

Of the $247 million spent on U.S. aerospace research and development in 1999, industry provided around $169 million; the federal government provided $65.8 million. Source: National Science Foundation

Cessna Aircraft was handed a stunning courtroom loss in August when a Florida jury ruled the Wichita manufacturer was responsible for a light-airplane crash that severely injured three people and awarded damages totaling $480 million. It is believed to be the highest verdict in aviation history. The awards, which concluded a three-week trial in Escambia County Circuit Court in Pensacola, comprised $80 million in compensatory and $400 million in punitive damages.

Operators of early model Hawkers may soon have an RVSM option available to them. U.K.-based Raytheon Aircraft Services Ltd. is flight-testing the package for Hawker 700 and ADC-80-equipped Hawker 800 model aircraft. RVSM is now required for certain flight levels across the North Atlantic and will extend to European airspace soon. Raytheon says 11 operators have already committed to the new RVSM solution for which CAA and FAA approvals are expected later this year.

Mexico City to Get New Airport A decision is expected this month on the location for a new airport to open in 2006 in Mexico City. According to a report issued by Pedro Cerisola, Mexico's secretary of communication and transportation, two locations are being considered: Texcoco (21 miles from Mexico City) and Tizayuca (53 miles from the city). Although the Mexican government has approved the construction of the airport, specific details still must be worked out. The next step is a full review of the airport plan by the Politica Aeronautica Nacional.

The FAA's recently issued Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regard-ing fractional ownership operations has generated more than a little discussion among flight departments and charter operators. Based on the comments received through the NBAA's Airmail system, the trade group has agreed to develop an ``issue list'' to help focus on areas of the proposal that could be modified or improved before the FAA issues its final rule, in spring 2002.

Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., has made the following appointments: James McQueeney as vice president and general manager of the company's Oklahoma City and Mexicali, Mexico, facilities, Dan O'Malley as general manager of Mexicali facility and James Gallagher as entry into service program manager for all G-IV aircraft. Superior Air Parts, Dallas, has appointed Tim Archer as senior vice president, Brent Henman as vice president of strategic programs and Robert Williams as vice president of product distribution.

Photons needn't be X-rays. Most radiation -- such as light -- is non-penetrating and can't pass through matter. Whether it's the friendly glow of a firefly or fire, photons are responsible. In a light bulb, electrons in the hot filament shake off visible light photons; a radio transmitter jiggles electrons, shaking off photons in an electromagnetic wave that you pick up with your receiver.

Bombardier Aerospace flew its new Continental business jet for the first time on August 14 in Wichita. The aircraft reached an altitude of 17,500 feet and speeds of up to 200 knots during the two-hour flight, which was designed to investigate the Continental's handling qualities and systems functions. Jim Dwyer, manager of Learjet flight test programs and Continental Project test pilot, flew the aircraft with test pilot Ed Grabman.

European regulators have confirmed the go-ahead for the third and final phase of Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) expansion across from the continent as of January 24, 2002. A key milestone in the RVSM program, the decision by the RVSM Provisional Council will expand the RVSM coverage area from FL 290 to FL 410, adding six additional RVSM flight levels.

Bombardier Aerospace continues its executive realignment with the appointment of James Hoblyn, previously vice president of marketing and programs at its business aircraft division, as managing director of FlexJet Europe. Hoblyn will oversee Bombardier's European fractional ownership program. ``James has been involved with FlexJet Europe dating back to its start-up in 1999. In addition, he brings to the organization a strong knowledge of the European market and proven expertise in business strategy,'' said Clifford Dickman, president of Bombardier's Business JetSolutions.

The moment had arrived. Suddenly the normally courteous and gentle Tracy Lyznicki became the flight attendant from hell.

Clearly, Robert Frost was a poet with an aviator's heart. Pilots quite rightly fear both fire and ice.

C.A.S. Handling, the ground service provider for Exxon Avitat at New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN), has agreed to manage and operate a new FBO at Stewart International Airport (SWF) in New Windsor, N.Y. Occupying space once held by Worldwide Flight Services, the renovation to the C.A.S. facilities, which include a new passenger and crew lounge, should be completed by early September.

Each day, many man-hours are wasted hand-scrubbing vehicles, machinery, walls and floors. Goodway's GPW-1000 electric powered high-pressure washer replaces inefficient cleaning methods with economical high-pressure washing. The unit saves labor, decreases downtime and reduces costs. Designed for easy handling, transport and storage, the GPW-1000 features stainless-steel construction, steel reinforced hose, stainless-steel wand, five quick-disconnect nozzles and a soap container.

Sikorsky's S-76 civil helicopter will soon benefit from new technologies developed for the company's S-92 and RAH-66 Comanche programs. The aircraft is to receive an uprated engine, a new digital cockpit, a quieter tail rotor and a more comfortable interior featuring active noise and vibration control. FAA certification of this latest round of S-76 improvements is slated for 2004.