At least one CEO believes ``we're going to see some slowdown in activity'' among potential new aircraft buyers due to concerns over the possibility of the economy slowing. While the executive, who wished to remain anonymous, told B/CA he hasn't seen any dramatic impact yet in new aircraft sales, he said it's no secret that when corporate profits are under pressure, people don't buy airplanes at the same rate. He observed that much of the economic growth in recent years has been driven by productivity gains, which he said may become more difficult to sustain.
Eight students from China have graduated from the flight-training program at the University of North Dakota's (UND) Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. After completion of additional flight training in China, the students, all of whom are now commercial, multiengine, instrumented-rated pilots, will become flight crewmembers on Xinhua Airlines Boeing 737s.
Hartzell Propeller, Piqua, Ohio, has named Mark Runge aviation maintenance technician of the year for the FAA's Great Lakes region. Runge has worked as a technician at Hartzell's factory service center for over eight years and his expertise includes extensive work with the FAA engineering staff for propeller certification and STCs.
Polaris Motor Srl. is now offering a line of flying inflatable boats in the United States. The flying boat comes with two-place seating and an option of two types of Rotax two-cylinder, two-stroke engines. With a useful load of 419 pounds, the boats have a service ceiling of 10,000 feet and can hold over 10.5 gallons of fuel. Utilizing a fiberglass monolithic hull, the boat portion is stronger than the usual catamaran floats used on ultra-lights and can land/take off in two- to three-foot seas.
Online charter booking service eBizJets has signed major league baseball player Alex Rodriguez as its celebrity spokesman. The Texas Rangers shortstop recently signed a record-breaking 10-year, $252 million contract with the team. There is no word on his compensation for the air charter endorsement.
Tag Aviation opened an aircraft acquisition and sales office at the company's Palm Beach, Fla., location. Pat Hatch, who had been TAG's Palm Beach base manager, has moved to the company's Acquisitions and Sales Division as regional vice president. He will assist TAG's aircraft management clients in acquiring and selling aircraft, providing similar services for outside clients and assisting with the inventory and resale of aircraft. A former U.S.
By now you've had a peek at the brave future world of CNS/ATM (that's communication, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management for those mired in the analog present.) What you've seen some 15 to 20 years distant is an automated ATC in which ground air traffic management software collaborates with airborne FMS software to maintain aircraft separation and to ensure the most efficient use of the airspace. Controllers and pilots remain in the loop, but primarily to deal with the exceptions, the unique situations that require human intervention.
Pilot hiring by fractional aircraft providers soared last year, according to AIR, Inc., the Atlanta-based firm that monitors pilot hiring. AIR said fractionals hired 1,363 pilots in 2000, a 134-percent increase over the 581 pilots hired by fractional providers in 1999. Overall, the industry hired a record 19,027 pilots last year, an increase of nearly 21 percent over 1999.
Once all the dimples were deliberated, chads charted and George W. Bush declared winner of the Florida vote and, thereby, the presidency, a bellow began to emanate from Washing-ton, echoing all the way to the Grand Canyon and back again. Steve Bassett was shouting for joy, for redemption. His man had won; or more precisely, his enemy had lost.
Air tour operators believe the nomination of Colorado Republican Gale Norton to be secretary of the interior ``is a very positive development,'' said Steve Bassett, president of the U.S. Air Tour Association.
The Arkansas Environmental Federation (AEF) presented its Diamond Award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership to Dassault Falcon Jet's Little Rock, Ark., facility. The group lauded Falcon Jet for improving its pollution output while increasing production.
Photograph: Kenneth Ricci Flight Options founder, chairman&CEO Flight Options, a fractional ownership program featuring pre-owned business jets, began operation in 1998 and today claims over 600 customers. The Flight Options fleet numbers 82 aircraft, including Citation IIs and IIIs, Hawker 800s, Falcon 50s, Challenger 601s and Gulfstream IVs. Kenneth Ricci, a 6,000-hour ATP and an attorney, is Flight Options' founder, chairman and CEO. Will an economic slowdown hurt the phenomenal growth of fractional programs?
ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) met in Montreal in January to address a number of issues, including adoption of new Stage 4 aircraft noise standards. The new noise standards were the most controversial issue on the agenda.
The FAA, attempting to find ways to accommodate growing numbers of turbine-powered aircraft in high-altitude airspace, is expected to require aircraft operators to meet reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) requirements in the United States, probably in the 2004-2005 timeframe. The agency has scheduled a meeting in March with a cross-section of industry organizations to discuss its plans and seek input before publishing an NPRM, part of an effort to get the word out to operators who will be affected. The planned implementation of
Lynx Air International has launched service from Fort Myers' Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), using a single Fairchild Metro III turboprop. American Eagle will provide ground and gate support for the start-up carrier at RSW.
Photograph: Kman K-Max The U.S. State Department has ordered five Kaman K-MAX helicopters to support counterdrug efforts in Peru, with deliveries planned for April 2001. The $21 million deal marks the first K-MAX sale to the U.S. government, and the first application of the single-seat, helicopter in a law enforcement role. Pilots and mechanics from Peru's National Police will fly and maintain the helicopters, which will be used mainly to transport supplies and equipment to anti-drug forces in the field.
The FAA also has delayed until July 16 the effective date for a final rule modifying service difficulty reporting requirements for air carriers and repair stations. It delayed the rule to give the agency more time to review concerns provided by various commenters as well as to disseminate guidance to help with compliance. The requirements originally were to take effect on January 16.
The FAA officially delayed until April 1 new routes for air tour operators over Grand Canyon National Park ``pending resolution of some safety issues.'' The FAA originally delayed the implementation of the routes until December 28, 2000 pending a review of operator complaints that the new routes posed a safety risk. The FAA noted it still intends to implement the route system by spring, in time for the summer tour season.
Horizon Air has taken delivery of the first of 15 firm and 15 optional Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 turboprops. Service entry is expected by the middle of this month, following the completion of FAA-mandated proving runs for the 70-seat aircraft. Seattle-based Horizon Air is the U.S. launch customer for the Q400, which has enjoyed stronger sales in Europe. This year, Horizon plans to replace its older 37-seat Dash 8-100s with newer Q200s of the same size.
A student and flight instructor in Utah Valley State College's Professional Pilots degree program has won a John Deere all-terrain vehicle in Air BP's ``Gator Grab'' promotion at the NBAA convention. Aaron Kennington says he attended NBAA 2000 to check out new flight simulators.
Adam Aircraft says it is moving forward with certification plans for the proposed Adam M-309 twin turboprop. The Englewood, Colo.-based manufacturer hopes to begin production of the six-place, pressurized, centerline-thrust composite aircraft in 2003. Pricing will be announced early this year, and will be comparable to aircraft of similar size and performance, according to the manufacturer.
Flexjet, Bombardier's fractional jet ownership program, signed an agreement under which all Flexjet flight crewmembers will receive MedAire's Management of Inflight Illness and Injury (MIII) training, in addition to having access to MedAire's Emergency Telemedicine Center for first-hand communication with emergency physicians if health problems occur en route. MedAire had been providing training and assistance for Flexjet's Challenger flights, but those services now will include Learjet 31A, 45 and 60 aircraft.
Heli Air Monaco combines the practicality of a ``traffic avoidance'' helicopter air-shuttle with a glamorous hop from Nice, France to Monaco. At the Monte Carlo end of the six-minute flight is an international heliport (customs included) with two cantilevered over-ocean landing pads. The Heli Air service is scheduled at three times an hour throughout the day with a fleet of Eurocopter singles and twins.
General Motors has tapped Piedmont Hawthorne to find a buyer for its fleet of three Saab 2000s. The automaker previously agreed to provide the aircraft, formerly used for corporate shuttles, to Pro Air in an unusual arrangement allowing the airline to operate feeder flights for its scheduled 737 service from Detroit City Airport while providing a revenue share and seat availability to G.M.
These are synopses of accidents used by Canada's Transportation Safety Board in its study of events similar to those that downed Swissair Flight 111. You'll notice that the common factors are speed of propagation and, in most cases, a delay in taking immediate action to get the aircraft on the ground.
