U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Daniel C. Burbank has become the second Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate to become an astronaut. He's slated to fly on the space shuttle Atlantis this month.
Internet jet charterer Flightserv.com has suspended service while attempting to secure additional working capital. The Atlanta-based company began service between Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey and Atlanta's Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in April using Cessna Citation IIs chartered from the Atlanta area. Company sources said it hopes to have flights available again this month and may consider acquiring its own aircraft rather than relying on independent operators for lift.
Confronted with recent budget cuts, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin has urged the public to support full funding for the agency's Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS). Terming SATS ``crucial technology'' for the United States' future transportation needs, Goldin said, ``SATS is very significant priority for NASA that will change life in America by providing doorstep to destination transportation.''
Accident investigators are examining whether a lightning strike caused the crash of a Sabreliner 80 flying near Michigan's Upper Peninsula, killing two pilots and injuring two passengers. The aircraft, registered to Colonels Inc. of Tecumseh, Mich., was reportedly cruising at FL 330 when lightning caused the aircraft's electrical systems and engines to malfunction. The airplane crashed about 10 miles west of Ironwood, Mich., while attempting an emergency landing.
Forty-some miles east of Tucson, in the high desert almost halfway to Cochise, there's a 7,520 foot peak called Mt. Glen. It's been the target of hundreds of aerial assaults since January, tempting nearby ranchers to think Mt. Glen had been designated as a close air support practice range for the Tucson Air National Guard. The sole attacking aircraft, though, wasn't a military F-16 or A-10. It was a civil-registry Raythe-on King Air 350.
Norwegian tour operator Aircontactgruppen AS has signed a letter of intent to acquire six new Sikorsky S-92 helicopters, to be offered on operating leases. The order is the fourth commitment for the new 19-seat utility helicopter, which is now in the midst of an extensive redesign program. Changes include a lengthened fuselage to accommodate a larger door for search and rescue operations, a repositioned horizontal stabilizer for additional stability and a shortened tail pylon to offset the weight of the stretch.
Midcoast Aviation broke ground on a $2.9 million expansion of its St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport FBO, with completion expected by mid-October. The project adds 31,000 square feet to the existing facility, doubling the workspace for cabinet, upholstery, stockroom and the machine shop. The latest expansion follows a series of investments to the FBO, including $3.2 million spent in 1997.
Since the introduction of aviation parts trading in the 1990s, e-maintenance has evolved into an economic tool that is rivaled by no other. Today, there are over 300 aircraft maintenance-related Web sites, and the number is constantly growing. The use of e-commerce, for the entire aviation industry, totaled about $43 billion worldwide in 1998, and by 2002, it's expected to top $1.3 trillion, according to Tom Toperczer, vice president of marketing for ComponentControl.com.
British Airways' Citiflyer Express has placed a firm order for six new BAE Systems Avro RJ100 airliners, with options for six new RJX-100 regional jets. The RJX options represent the second commitment for the new ``niche'' aircraft; Druk Air of Nepal launched the RJX program with an order for two of the four-engine jets earlier this year. Nick Godwin, BAE Systems' marketing chief, said the company is undergoing a ``challenging'' transition between Avro RJ and RJX production, and the 10 remaining RJ100s are due to be sold by early 2001.
FlightSafety International (New York) has promoted Ed Klonoski to center manager, and David Davenport was named assistant manager for the Atlanta facility.
Online charter booking service eJets.com has declared a marketing war, of sorts, on NetJets, and fractional ownership in general. In Wall Street Journal ads declaring ``50 percent off NetJets,'' the upstart takes aim at the cost of fractional ownership versus the cost of air charter.
Bombardier Aerospace delivered 116 business jets in the first half of the year, setting a new record for the manufacturer. Deliveries in the first six months were 38 percent ahead of 1999 deliveries and the manufacturer is likely to finish well ahead of last year, when 173 aircraft were delivered.
Airport wildlife managers have many choices when it comes to fighting the bird-strike threat, but Toronto's have gone as far as to enlist some summer help from within the enemy's camp. Three baby peregrine falcons will reside in a custom-built home atop the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's (GTAA) administration building at Pearson Airport, a vantage point from which they will hunt other birds and small mammals as well.
The National Air Transportation Association is now publishing a quarterly newsletter for participants in the group's Safety First program. The publication can be accessed online at www.nata-online. org/natasafety1steline-newsletter.htm.
Boeing is buying Jeppesen Sanderson for $1.5 billion from the Tribune Co. The Tribune Co. put the flight information services company on the block earlier this year after merging with Jeppesen parent Times Mirror, saying it wanted to focus on its core broadcasting, publishing and interactive businesses. No changes are planned in Jeppesen management, Boeing officials said, and the company will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the aircraft manufacturer. Jeppesen posted $235 million in revenues in 1999.
Bowing to what some see as political correctness, the Confederate Air Force will consider a referendum at the group's annual meeting in October that may result in a name change for the 49-year-old organization. If approved, the referendum will lead to the selection of four alternative names, which the general membership will vote on in 2001 and implement in January 2002.
National Association of State Aviation Officials (Silver Springs, Md.) -- Jack W. Ferns was elected secretary by the general membership of the organization.
NORDAM Group (Tulsa) --promoted Ronald C. Richman to vice president for the manufacturing divisions. Donald R. Clark was named vice president of the repair division, Meredith Siegfried was promoted to manager of international operations and Andrew Altendorf was appointed to the position of vice president of world aviation associates.
Should you leave the cockpit to deal with a passenger medical emergency? Corporate and air carrier passengers are becoming increasingly interested in the availability of defibrillation units and other medical aids on board aircraft. For the larger air carriers and corporate operators, flight attendants are available to deal with inflight medical emergencies involving passengers. But what about a corporate operation with two pilots and no flight attendant? Can one of the pilots aid a passenger having a medical emergency?
Jet Aviation is adding two Cessna Citation Bravos to its Europe-based Private Fleet. The first aircraft is scheduled to enter service in October, with the second going online in early 2001. Jet also is adding a Sikorsky S-76B to its U.S. Private Fleet program. The helicopter will be based in the Northeastern United States for use in the Washington to Boston corridor.
Bombardier Aerospace says it plans to build a new final assembly facility for the CRJ900 in Montreal. Citing the ``high degree of commonality,'' Bombardier said the $170 million plant also may be used to support CRJ700 production. Construction is slated to begin this month and should be completed by spring 2000. The manufacturer formally launched the CRJ900 at the Farnborough Air Show this summer, claiming 34 firm orders and 28 options.
B/CA has teamed with the Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) to produce CompAir, a computer program to help aircraft dealers, owners and prospective buyers compare turbine aircraft costs and performance. The CD-ROM also contains an archive of more than 200 B/CA articles focusing on more than 90 popular turbine aircraft. CompAir users can use the software and database to prepare professional presentations complete with photos, charts and text to help decision-makers evaluate and compare aircraft options.
Embraer has launched the Legacy -- a business jet variant of its 37-seat ERJ-135 regional jet -- with cabin volume as its major selling point. To obtain 3,200-nm range with eight passengers, the Brazilian manufacturer plans to use winglets, extend the ERJ-135's cargo hold to accommodate a 7,000-pound capacity fuel tank and upgrade to the ERJ-145's Rolls-Royce AE3007A1P engines.
