The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) is asking the DOT to block United Airlines' (UAL) application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to launch BizJet Services, Inc. until UAL resolves disputes with the AFA over contractual obligations. The union contends that UAL is in violation of a 1985 Scope Side Letter, requiring the airline and its subsidiaries to conduct all flight operations with flight attendants on the United seniority list.
Although extremely rare, lightning can strike down an aircraft. The thermal and pressure shockwaves of a lightning flash can cause flameouts in jet engines, especially those with narrow nacelle inlets. And a strike also can create avionics and electrical system problems, especially in older aircraft. NTSB Investigator Jim Silliman, working out of the Chicago office, is investigating the fatal crash of a Sabreliner 80 in summer 2000 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Although they may not agree on when or if we've hit bottom, most aircraft financing professionals do agree that the business of buying and selling aircraft and the financing of those transactions have, like the stock market, undergone a ``market correction'' over the past year to 18 months. Joe Dini, senior vice president and division manager for GMAC's new business aviation finance division, says the market is ``returning to normalcy.'' That's good news for buyers and not such good news for sellers of used aircraft and some financing companies.
Alliance Aircraft is back with plans to build a family of regional jets in partnership with Harbin Aviation Industries Group, a division of China's AVIC II Group. The new StarLiner 100 program will include 35-, 44- and 50-seat variants, all using common cockpits, wings and empennages. The 35-seat version will be manufactured in Harbin, China, while the larger aircraft will be assembled in the United States. First flight of the StarLiner 100 is planned for 2003, with initial deliveries to Chinese operators expected in late 2004.
Given the string of negative economic news that has emanated from Corporate America since the economy started to go south after the ``dot com'' bubble burst about a year ago, it is no wonder that the market for previously owned turbine-powered aircraft has suffered. In retrospect, it seems ludicrous that anyone could have suggested that the seemingly endless productivity gains spurred by the introduction of new technologies could have made the economic cycle obsolete.
The NTSB's Web site now announces when the probable cause of general aviation accidents will be released. The agency's site already contains extensive information about aviation accidents and incidents, including a searchable database of preliminary and final accident reports. Further information about the new feature and forthcoming accident findings is available at www.ntsb.gov/aviation/pc_release.htm.
Getting a handle on jet fuel availability and pricing in the near and not so near future is an ongoing, ever-changing exercise that taxes the savviest of petroleum market analysts, let alone mere interested consumers. And yet, flight operations managers are expected to know what the Jet-A being pumped into their tanks will cost next spring.
Bombardier Aerospace has joined Aviation Week's The Next Century of Flight (NCF) -- a multimedia campaign designed to raise public awareness of the global aviation industry as it nears the 100th anniversary of powered flight. Since its 1998 launch, the program has reached millions via Aviation Week's specific NCF content, and through an aggressive campaign of advertising, direct marketing, exposure at public events, and industry sponsorship.
Airbus Industrie named former FAA Administrator Allan McArtor chairman of its North American operations. McArtor was president and CEO of Dallas-based Legend Airlines, which ceased operations in late 2000 after less than eight months of scheduled service. Legend fought a four-year legal, legislative and public relations battle to operate scheduled long-haul service from Dallas Love Field.
If you require employees to provide their own tools or equipment, Profit Plus can offer them a reimbursement plan. Acting as the administrator, Profit Systems enables participating employees to receive two checks every payday: the first for their time worked, and a second, tax-exempt check as reimbursement for the expense of their tools and equipment. The plan fully complies with IRS Section 132 requirements. It also can be used to increase participation in a 401K program.
National Air Transportation Association, Alexandria, Va., has named Jim Hackman as the recipient of its excellence in pilot training award. Hackman is a founding member of the Be-a-Pilot flight school advisory committee and has more than 14,000 hours of flight time.
With the scent of Jet-A lingering on his hands and the slight aftertaste of 5606 in his mouth, Fred was primed for an ice-cold beer. With the first swallow, the tiredness he felt after endless hours spent troubleshooting one system after another began to melt away. Finally, he could relax. He was about four beers into his downtime when the phone rang, shattering his hard-earned solitude.
Photograph: Bell 430 Helicentre Expands Into Coventry U.K. helicopter operator Helicentre has started operations from Coventry Airport in the West Midlands. The company gained some television exposure in 2000 when it flew in medical specialists and rail engineers to the scenes of the Shelby and Hatfield railroad disasters. Helicentre now is looking for a site near London, where it can provide ``rapid response charters'' for corporate customers in central London.
Contract negotiations on behalf of Executive Jet Aviation's (EJA) 1,600 Teamsters-represented pilots are set to begin this month in Columbus, Ohio. Issues at the fore include pay rates and work rules for Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) crews, pilot home base or ``gateway'' arrangements, scheduling and retirement benefits. Details concerning the BBJs were addressed in the form of a separate Letter of Understanding the union signed in the spring.
If you are looking for PDA software that can provide aircraft-specific information at one touch, you might want to consider EFB-Pro. The software is tail-number specific and calculates performance and weight and balance. The start-up page allows ATIS information to be entered in the same order that you hear it, and the values can then be used to calculate density and pressure altitudes.
Regulations for oxygen systems are tied directly to human physiological parameters, requiring that masks be capable of providing specific oxygen flow rates at various altitudes, and sustaining specific oxygen partial pressures in the user's trachea (windpipe) while breathing at a specified rate. For pilots, FAR Part 25.1443 requires that a demand system provide sufficient oxygen mass flow to sustain a mean tracheal oxygen partial pressure of 122 mm Hg up to a cabin pressure of 35,000 feet.
Safair of South Africa has leased three new ATR 72-500s to privately owned Indian regional Jet Airways of Mumbai. The new aircraft will supplement Jet Airways' existing fleet of five ATR 72-500s on its network of 38 destinations within India. This figure is due to rise to 46 after these aircraft and two more Boeing 737NGs go into service in 2001/02. The three aircraft are valued at $50 million on Safair's books, and add to their 50 aircraft portfolio, which consists of Lockheed Martin C-130s, MD-80s, Boeing 737s and CASA 235s.
Mesa Air Group finalized its planned purchase of 40 Bombardier CRJs with options for 40 additional aircraft. The order includes 20 70-seat CRJ700s and 20 86-seat CRJ900s, valued at $1.2 billion. The aircraft will be deployed on Mesa's code-share flights for America West. CRJ700 deliveries are slated to begin in early 2002 with CRJ900 deliveries expected in first quarter 2003.
Precise determination of the level of hearing loss requires an audiometric evaluation by an accredited hearing specialist, called an audiologist. Usually your doctor will recommend one, but you can locate an accredited audiologist on your own by telephoning the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at (800) 638-8255.
Lower than expected Beechjet and King Air deliveries have led Raytheon Aircraft to lay off 470 hourly workers at its Wichita factory. The job cuts are in addition to the previously announced elimination of 450 salaried employees. Raytheon had expected to deliver 508 aircraft this year and has lowered that figure to 468 aircraft. Although the manufacturer says that orders for newer aircraft such as the Hawker Horizon, Hawker 800XP and the Premier I remain strong, sales are lagging for older models such as the Beechjet and King Air.
The ILA 2002 International Aerospace Exhibition in Berlin promises to be a great success, according to Dr. Gustav Humbert, president of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI). To date, bookings for the show, to be held May 6 to 12, are up significantly over the 2000 show, which saw participation by more than 1,000 exhibitors. For the first time, the exhibition will feature a separate International Helicopter Center with conference facilities.
Honeywell received FAA approval for two avionics systems providing ``airliner-style'' situational awareness to general aviation aircraft. The FAA granted technical standard orders (TSOs) for the Bendix/King KTA 870 traffic awareness system and the KMH 880 multi-hazard awareness system. The KMH 880 provides the same traffic detection capability as the KTA 870 in a system combined with the Class B terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS).
Five nations are off-limits to U.S.- registered aircraft: Iraq, Sudan, Libya, North Korea and Afghanistan. Source: Air Security International Of 13,000 students enrolled in Airframe&Powerplant training programs in 1999, 5,070 graduated and 3,750 joined the aviation maintenance workforce. Of 27,000 students enrolled in A&P programs in 1991, 11,500 graduated and 5,250 chose aviation as a career track. Source: Aviation Technical Education Council
The American Association of Airport Executives elected new officers and directors at its annual conference and exhibition in May. Jim Koslosky, aeronautics director of Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Mich., was elected chair; Cheyenne, Wyo., Airport Manager Gerald Olson is now first vice chair; Bonnie Allin of Tucson was elected second vice chair; and Morristown (N.J.) Municipal Airport Director Bill Barkhauer was elected secretary/treasurer.
Manufacturers and operators can provide identification and traceability of large or heavy parts with the Portable Pro-Pen from Marking Methods. The system comes with a battery pack, but also can run on 110/220 VAC. The self-contained unit is equipped with a screen, detachable keyboard and software that does not require a separate computer. The Pro-Pen can be used either horizontally or vertically and is capable of marking characters on a wide variety of materials, in 0.04- to 1.2-inch increments.
