Promising to make the arcane act of booking a business aircraft charter as simple as purchasing an article of clothing online -- and, in the process, open the hitherto upscale air charter market to a wider group of consumers -- a growing number of Web sites are springing into cyber-existence to service the burgeoning air charter industry. Retail Web sites open to the computer-savvy traveling public, as well as operator/broker support sites limited to the trade, currently abound online.
Sabreliner is now manufacturing primary structural components such as frames, ribs and longerons at its own manufacturing facility in St. Mary, Mo. Delivery time on parts will be reduced by as much as 75 percent over ordering from outside vendors, according to Sabreliner executive Ron Herman, who says the move also ensures ``an OEM fit'' for Sabreliner airframe structural components. Herman added that the new facility also can custom-manufacture airframe components for other business aircraft.
Galaxy Aerospace has told prospective owners it will ``guarantee'' a direct operating cost of $850 per hour or less for the first five years or 2,000 hours of operation. The manufacturer also is assuring owners of the Galaxy's reliability -- promising to pay for a backup aircraft if an AOG situation cannot be resolved within 72 hours by Galaxy's rapid response team. The backup guarantee applies to the first two years of Galaxy ownership.
Allen E. Paulson, a man who rose from humble beginnings to bring Gulfstream to the forefront of business jet manufacturing, has died in California at age 78 after a long battle with cancer. Paulson created the modern Gulf-stream Aerospace in 1978, by com- bining Rockwell's Oklahoma City-based general aviation division with Grumman Aerospace's corporate jet division in a $52 million deal.
Photograph: EAA members get acquainted under the Wisconsin sun. Clear prop! EAA Masses of faithful flying enthusiasts made their annual pilgrimage to Oshkosh, Wis., from July 26 to August 1, renewing old friendships, spending time with their families and also exploring what's newest and oldest in aircraft technology. The Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture has become an 1,800-acre aviation expo with a much broader based constituency than in its early years.
BFGoodrich Aerospace has launched a prototype avionics suite for general aviation aircraft, and expects FAA certification in 2002. Called SmartDeck, the suite is a self-contained primary instrument system, which fully integrates an aircraft's primary flight avionics and display equipment. SmartDeck was developed through a joint effort between BFGoodrich and recently acquired, Advanced Creations, Inc, (ACi) of Dayton, Ohio.
Raytheon Aircraft Co. President and CEO Hansel E. Tookes is now also chairman of the manufacturer. The appointment completed the transition of power from Art Wegner, who retired. Tookes, a former United Technologies executive and United Airlines pilot, joined Raytheon in September 1999.
The Houston Police Department has ordered two Schweizer Model 333 turbine helicopters. Now operating one of the United States' largest aerial law enforcement divisions, the department inaugurated helicopter patrols 30 years ago using Model 300Cs.
American Eagle has converted options for six more Embraer regional jets to be delivered in 2002. The arrangement allows the Dallas-based carrier to take delivery of RJs with 37 seats, 50 seats or possibly a 44-seat ERJ variant that Embraer has in the works. Eagle President Peter Bowler said he would prefer 50 seaters, but can do so only if American Airlines' pilots ratify a tentative contract agreement that expands the number of 50-seat RJs Eagle may operate.
Era Aviation (Anchorage) Kip Knudsen to general manager of FBO and facilities, Steve Hill to station manager for the airline division, Mike Le Norman to director of sales and marketing and Lillian Bunch to manager of reservations.
Forbes magazine has recognized WeatherTAP.com as ``Best of the Web'' in its summer Internet issue. WeatherTAP.com is a service of TAP Publishing, publisher of Trade-A-Plane.
Cessna is offering an Instrument Computer Based Instruction program (I-CBI) through the Cessna Pilot Center flight-training network. The new instrument-pilot multimedia training system is the next step for pilots after completing the private pilot CBI program. The I-CBI student kit consists of 28 fully interactive CD-ROMs, a textbook, Skyhawk pilot information manual, course syllabus, the FAR/AIM on CD, the course management module and an IFR flight organizer.
Summit Bank (Princeton, N.J.) -- Robert A. Ewing, vice president for the bank's Aircraft Lending Group, was elected president of the National Aircraft Finance Association.
Time is the most important factor dealing with any fire. You must discover it promptly and act to suppress it immediately while getting on the ground as quickly as possible.
