FlightSafety International's new Falcon 2000 simulator at its Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) training center has received FAA Level D certification.
The newly formed Wireless Airport Association (WAA) is offering free membership to companies and individuals interested in airport-based applications for wireless technology. The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Airport Council International -- North America (ACI-NA) and the Air Transport Association (ATA) created WAA, with the group's first scheduled meeting planned for January 28-30, 2001 in San Diego. Further information and a membership application are available at www.wirelessairport.org.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and political analyst Norm Ornstein will address member airline CEOs at the Regional Airline Association's fall membership meeting, to be held in Washington, D.C., on November 1-2. An election analyst for CBS News, Ornstein is a ``resident scholar'' at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy.
Sino Swearingen's expanding dealer network has reportedly placed 18 firm orders and five options for the SJ30-2 business jet, now nearing the start of FAA-certification testing. Kelner Aviation of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada says it has ordered five firm and five optional aircraft. Sino Swearingen Monaco claims orders for eight and Deep Blue in Lensburg, Switzerland is said to have ordered five. The manufacturer now claims 175 orders for the $4.3 million jet, which it hopes to have certified by late 2001.
Bob Frenzel has decided to take early retirement from the Air Transport Association (ATA), where he has served as vice president for aviation safety and operations. Frenzel joined the ATA in 1998 after a 23-year career with UPS. Frenzel was one of the architects of Spring/Summer 2000, the joint FAA-airline initiative to reduce severe weather delays throughout the national airspace system. ATA President Carol Hallet said Frenzel intends to expand his ``second career'' -- as a professional singer.
Fboweb.com says it is in the process of making airport runway diagrams available on the Internet. The Web site features information on airports and related services, navaids, FBOs, weather and flight plan filing. In addition, the Web site has a ``clipping'' application that allows flight-plan filing and downloading with a Palm VII device.
Alberta Aerospace Corp. (AAC) says it has launched a $7 million initial public stock offering to fund ongoing development of the Phoenix FanJet -- a Stelio Frati design once known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. Production of an unpressurized, two-seat trainer variant called the Sigmajet is the company's first priority, with a pressurized, four-seat business jet variant (the Magnajet) following a year after the trainer goes into production.
FAA facilities and computer systems remain vulnerable to intruders, hackers and other security threats, according to an investigation by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). Responsibility for FAA security is dispersed among its Office of Civil Aviation Security, its Chief Information Officer and the individual command structures. This lack of central oversight adds to the security risk, the GAO said in its report.
Lufthansa City Line has ordered 10 additional Bombardier CRJ700s, doubling its order for the 70-seat regional jets. SAS regional affiliate Air Botnia has ordered five BAe Systems Avro RJ85 aircraft; the 79-seaters are earmarked to replace aging Fokker F28s on the carrier's Scandinavian route network. Air Kilroe partner Eastern Airways (UK) is leasing another BAE Jetstream 32, bringing its fleet to a total of seven of the 19-seat turboprops.
The tables above show results of a fuel price survey of U.S. fuel suppliers performed in October 2000. This survey was conducted by Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US) and reflects prices reported from FBOs nationwide. Prices are full retail and include all taxes and fees. For additional information, contact ARG/US at (513) 852-5110 or on the internet at www.aviationresearch.com.
Airlines have threatened to stop service to Katmandu's Tribhuwan airport after a spate of bird-strike incidents. At least four airliners were damaged; no injuries were reported.
Bombardier Business Aircraft President Rob Gillespie says that the Global Express program is progressing well, despite ``early growing pains'' and slow completions. Gillespie says the order backlog has reached 120 aircraft, with 18 already in service. The Global Express faces a new challenge from Gulfstream's G-VSP, although Bombardier officials claim that performance of the enhanced G-V will still be short of the Global.
TME (UK) Ltd. has designed a body restraint system for use in air-rage incidents. It can be used as an initial restraint device or, if required, as a full restraint system for a violent person. The system attempts to minimize the risk of injury and at the same time gives the crew time to defuse the assailant's anger. The system comes with restraints for the upper body, leg and wrist, and a multipurpose strap. Both the T-shaped body and Y-shaped leg restraints are made of polycarbonate and have a strap made of webbing and spring metal.
When it comes to calendar age, there are more than 5,000 jets and more than 6,000 turboprops in service that are 20 years or older. Production has ceased for most of these designs, but, unlike many piston-powered designs, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or a successor company remains in business. Most provide some level of support.
Embraer has revealed a number of new regional jet orders: Air Moldova ordered two firm ERJ-145s with two options; Axon Airlines of Greece signed a letter of intent for four ERJ-145s with two options; Regourd Aviation of France signed an LOI for one firm and one optional ERJ-135LR; Pan Europeenne Air Services (France) signed an LOI for one firm and one optional ERJ-135; Casablanca-based Regional Air Lines signed an LOI for five firm and five optional ERJ-135s; LOT Airlines of Poland ordered five ERJ-145s, bringing its total to 11 of the type.
Skyways, Sweden's largest regional airline, won the Airline of the Year Gold Award at the recent European Regions Airline Association (ERA) convention in Interlaken, Switzerland. In making its decision, a panel of European aviation writers compared airlines in terms of financial growth, technical achievements, passenger approval and other criteria. Eurowings of Germany came in second; Aegean Airlines of Greece won the bronze award.
Wyvern Aviation says it will more than triple the number of audits performed in the second half of this year in response to the ``burgeoning demand for air charter.'' The company says it has stepped up its auditor training classes to meet the demand. Another reason for the increased auditing pace is Wyvern parent FlightTime.com's desire to have all aircraft available online be Wyvern-audited and approved. Wyvern President Walt Lamon says that FlightTime.com is funding the additional audits.
Gulfstream Aerospace has introduced a Web site dedicated to Gulfstream charters. The site allows registered users to search from among more than 90 Gulfstreams available for charter worldwide. The Gulfstream Charter Services pages at www.gulfstream.com will offer the ability to check availability, seating arrangements and maintenance information; view aircraft photos; and get quotes online. Catherine Smith, director of Gulfstream Charter Services, says ``the improved service is expected to double Gulfstream's charter business in the coming year.''
Sikorsky Aircraft and Honeywell have completed 42 hours of flight testing of the first enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS) designed specifically for helicopters. The new system will display terrain and obstacle information on EFIS or weather radar displays and features tail-strike and bank-angle alerts, and auto-rotation and landing-gear position awareness reminders. The team hopes to achieve FAA certification before the end of the year, and the Mark XXII EGPWS unit could be available for new and used Sikorsky S-76 helicopters by early 2001.
TAG Aviation's worldwide fleet has grown by 39 aircraft since the beginning of the year, bringing the total of charter and managed aircraft to 153. The new aircraft include four Gulfstream Vs in the company's U.S. fleet of 122 aircraft. TAG's European fleet has added a Falcon 900, two Learjet 45s and a Citation Excel, raising its total to 31 aircraft. ``Equally exciting are the five Global Expresses we have in completion that we will deliver to our clients before the end of the year,'' says Jake Cartwright, CEO of TAG's U.S. unit.
Ingenuity and resourcefulness remain the watchwords of the aircraft modification business. That was made clear as B/CA contacted scores of companies to update the mod directory for this year. Increasing utility, performance, safety and comfort are evident in many developments both large and small. In years past, we have reflected on the number of aircraft that were considered obsolete until some noodler developed a modification that could breathe new life into old designs.
Two former Executive Jet Aviation executives have launched a firm to provide financial and management support for start-up aviation businesses. Co-founder Paul Schweitzer says the company, known as ``41,000 Feet,'' will allow ``entrepreneurs to focus on developing his or her idea,'' and leave administrative and financing issues to others. Schweitzer and partner Scott Liston claim to have four ideas in development and are seeking others online at www.41kfeet.com.
