Photograph: Ribbon-cutting at the new TI hangar. McKinney Aerospace Texas Instruments (TI) has opened a new flight department headquarters and McKinney Aerospace a new maintenance facility at McKinney Airport (TKI) in McKinney, Texas. The 33,750-square-foot TI facility features amenities such as a ``color corrected'' lighting system and electrical, cooling and compressed air ports in the hangar's two aircraft servicing areas.
Faced with increasing air traffic delays in the Northeast and Midwest, the FAA is creating a two-year plan to reduce or eliminate air traffic trouble spots. The air traffic attack begins in the New York metropolitan area, where five major air-ports -- JFK, LGA, EWR, TEB and HPN -- generate an inordinate amount of air traffic and congestion.
The Wolfsberg-Evektor partnership says its Raven 257 utility aircraft flew for the first time at Kunovice in the Czech Republic on July 28. The four-hour test flight went according to plan, test pilots said, though modifications to reduce drag are planned. FAR Part 23 certification is sought, and the company hopes to begin flight testing toward this goal by early 2001.
Agilent Technologies has introduced the Agilent XLT and Agilent Heartstream FR2 Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Both devices utilize SMART Biphasic technology and provide defibrillation therapy to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The XLT and FR2 are designed as ``user-friendly'' defibrillators for use in public settings such as airplanes, airports, stadiums, golf courses and offices. Price: Approximately $3,000 Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2401 Fourth Ave., Ste. 500 Seattle, Wash. 98121-1436
A pledge of community support has led Mesa Airlines to reverse its decision to discontinue air service between Hobbs and Albuquerque, N.M. The Phoenix-based carrier had planned to terminate service on the non-subsidized Essential Air Service (EAS) route on October 19, citing costs associated with the shift from FAR Part 135 to Part 121 operations. Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein said Lea County officials had ``agreed in principle to share the burden of these additional costs.''
UltraTech International's new Ultra-SpillGuard captures spills and overfills when delivering fuels and chemicals by tanker trucks. The flexible containment pad features a tapered sealing ring that accommodates a broad range of sump diameters. Constructed from a resistant urethane, the Ultra-SpillGuard folds to allow storage into a side box or any compact area. UltraTech said SpillGuard's rugged, yet lightweight, construction is reusable and easily cleaned with absorbent pads. Price: $189.00 UltraTech International, Inc.
The tables above show results of a fuel price survey of U.S. fuel suppliers performed in September 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) 247-1010 or on the internet at www.aviationresearch.com.
The FAA has called for inspections and modifications to the collective control levers of some 6,000 U.S.-registered Bell 206 helicopters by February 2001. If issued as a final rule, the FAA's proposal would mandate Bell alert service bulletins (ASBs) issued in March (No. 206L-00-116) and May (206-00-93, Revision A), respectively.
Applications for Women in Aviation International's (WAI) annual training and educational scholarships are now available at the group's Web site. More than 30 awards will be presented at WAI's annual conference in Reno in March 2001, including CRJ, Learjet 45 and Challenger 604 type ratings, maintenance training scholarships, and other training scholarships and grants in business aviation, general aviation and the airlines. This year, the organization presented more than $460,000 in awards to 39 women.
Raytheon Aircraft Charter and Management added four aircraft to its charter certificate, including a Dallas-based Beechjet 400A, two King Air 350s -- one in Youngstown, Ohio, and the other in Hayward, Calif. -- and a Falcon 2000 in Fort Smith, Ark.
BBA Group CEO Roberto Quarta is leaving the company in March 2001 to join a private investment firm. Current group finance director Roy McGlone will succeed Quarta and has already been named deputy chief executive. After his departure for Clayton Dubilier and Rice, Quarta will become BBA's non-executive chairman. BBA Group's Aviation Services Division has expanded over the past several years to include ownership of such aviation service providers as Signature Flight Support, Dallas Airmotive and Precision Instruments and Avionics.
Million Air has named Steve Hirschfeld as its manager of quality control. Hirschfeld's responsibilities include training and safety programs for all of Million Air's FBOs. As a result of recent surveys, the company has instituted a ``Licensed Line Technician'' program. The program also requires all line technicians to complete the ATI or National Air Transportation Association Safety 1st Program.
French aerospace giant Snecma has completed its acquisition of Sopartech, the company that controls Labinal, the French aircraft engine and equipment manufacturer. Snecma manufactures numerous aircraft components including Messier-Dowty landing gears, braking systems and thrust reversers, and is an equal partner with General Electric in the manufacture of CFM56 engines. Snecma says it plans to integrate complementary businesses such as Labinal's Turbomecca-Microturbo engine manufacturing arm and its aircraft systems division to increase market share and penetration.
Flight Ice has received FAA certification of the TKS ``Known Ice'' protection system for Cessna Caravan 208, 208A and 208B aircraft. The TKS system exudes ethylene glycol-based fluid from porous titanium panels attached on the leading edge of airfoils. Flight Ice said the system does not alter the performance or handling characteristics when compared to a clean airframe. This is the third approval for Flight Ice, including approvals obtained on Cessna 210s and the Beech Baron 55/58. Price: $54,000 plus installation Flight Ice, Inc.
Santa Ana, Calif.-based West Coast Charters has added a Cessna Citation Bravo, and an IAI Astra and Westwind II to its charter fleet. The company now operates 21 aircraft at bases throughout the Southwest.
Sikorsky's S-92 helicopter underwent extreme temperature testing at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle this summer. In the course of three and one-half weeks of tests, engineers subjected the medium-lift helicopter to temperatures ranging from -40F to +122F to examine engine and system reliability. The tests simulated such weather extremes as blizzards, spending a full day on the ramp in Saudi Arabia, and being left outside overnight in Alaska.
Barring any last minute hitches, New Piper expected to receive FAA certification for the Malibu Meridian as B/CA went to press in late September. Customer deliveries were expected to begin immediately with Sales and Marketing Vice President Larry Bardon saying that at least four aircraft would be in customer hands by the start of the NBAA convention this month. A now-resolved software problem with the Meggitt avionics system delayed Meridian certification in its final stages. New Piper plans to deliver 35 aircraft this year and produce 103 Meridians in 2001.
Tamworth Air Services has created Aeroskills, a CASR Part 147 maintenance training program at its base at Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. Founded on a two-year, full-time, FAA/JAA-approved mechanical and avionics training curriculum, Aeroskills was created to prepare technicians to work on the entire aircraft, not just on individual systems.
Kaman Aerospace will continue to supply structural components for Boeing's 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft under the terms of a three-year follow-on contract. The extension is worth up to $98 million to the Bloomfield, Conn., parts and aircraft manufacturer.
The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has asked turbine engine suppliers to submit proposals for the next generation of supersonic-capable powerplants. DARPA says its goal is to create the ``multiple breakthrough technologies'' needed to power future long-range supersonic aircraft, while also addressing concerns over sonic booms and emissions.
