The Airport Council International -- North America and aeroVISTAS.com are teaming up to add more e-commerce features to AirportHub.com. The partners plan to add online auction and electronic RFP capability this month, which the partners say will help reduce the cost of goods and services in addition to opening up new markets to small businesses. AirportHub.com currently offers industry news, business and employment opportunities.
Intheairnet says it is developing a ``next-generation'' inflight entertainment and information system, relying heavily on the Internet, for corporate aircraft and the airlines. Calling the new system a Virtual Aircraft Network, company officials say it combines traditional elements of current IFE systems with e-mail and Internet access. Board chairman of the venture is Michael Rogerson, whose Rogerson Kratos company also will develop components for the new system. Rogerson Kratos makes avionics display systems for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
With the GNS 530, Garmin has taken the functionality of the GNS 430 and increased the viewing area to 5.5 inches. The avionics system combines an IFR GPS, comm, VOR, LOC, glideslope and color moving map into a 4.3-x-6.25-inch package that complements most panels. A built-in Jeppesen database contains important information including airports, VORs and intersections, and can be updated through a front-loading data card. The GNS 530 is upgradeable to WAAS TSO C146 for stand-alone approach procedures. Price: $14,995
SimuFlite's QuickTurn division has introduced Cessna 400 series pilot training at its Grapevine, Texas facility. QuickTurn also offers Cessna Citation I/II and Beech King Air training.
Concern over the vulnerability of government-operated business aircraft to heat-seeking missiles has led Gulfstream to offer an electronic missile jamming system as a retrofit option. The system chosen was Sanders' AN/ALQ-204 Matador, a combat-proven infrared countermeasures system (IRCM) that has been installed on a variety of civil and military aircraft.
Women in Aviation, International (WAI) has relocated its headquarters from western Ohio to Daytona Beach (Florida) International Airport. The group will be based in a building owned by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. WAI President Dr. Peggy Baty says the new location is larger and will enable the organization to provide more services to it members.
Professional Aviation Associates (Atlanta) has named Michael Goggin and Steven Newman as sales representatives for the Atlanta office and Bob Neal as outside sales representative for the south central United States.
Trego/Dugan Aviation says it has spent over $1 million on improvements to its FBO at North Platte Regional Airport in Nebraska. Improvements include a new fuel farm, an increase of hangar space to 30,000 square feet and a remodeled passenger terminal.
French turboshaft specialist Turbomeca and Chinese engine supplier AVIC II have agreed to collaborate on future helicopter re-engining projects. The two companies previously teamed up to retrofit the Z-9 -- a Chinese-built variant of the Eurocopter Dauphin 2 helicopter -- with Turbomeca Arriel 1 engines. Turbomeca Chairman Jean-Bernard Cocheteux said the deal ``underlines the company's strength in a growing market.''
International Corporate&Cargo Services (ICCS) has added ICCS Monterrey, Mexico to its FBO Network. Previously known as Aeroservicios Monterrey and located at Mariano Escobedo International Airport, the new FBO is equipped with a pilot's lounge, passenger waiting room, hangar parking and a meeting room. ICCS's FBO chain includes facilities in Toluca, Chihuahua, Morelia, Cuernavaca, Ciudad Juarez and del Norte Mexico.
While he didn't need Harrison Ford's assistance, actor Paul Newman's Sabreliner 65 made an emergency landing at New York's Albany International Airport due to an electrical problem. Newman, three associates and two crewmembers were en route from Glens Falls, N.Y., to White Plains when the pilot made the precautionary landing. The actor was returning from a visit to his Double H Hole in the Woods Camp for seriously ill children in Lake Luzerne. He and his guests completed their journey by rental car.
Photograph: The Helitanker conversion of the Erickson Air Crane (Sikorsky S-64) can refill its 2,000-gallon water tank in around 45 seconds from any water source at least 18 inches deep. Pilots can select eight different flow rates up to a maximum of 30,000 gallons per hour. Erickson Air Crane The federal government's National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in mid-August asked U.S. and Canadian helicopter operators to participate in the fight against wildfires in 11 western states.
Cambata Aviation International has opened its newly renovated ``StarPort'' FBO facility at Orlando-Sanford Airport (SFB) in Florida. Designated a Phillips 66 Aviation Performance Center, StarPort offers 24-hour fuel services, two 30,000-square-foot hangars and 18-hour on-site maintenance with 24-hour on-call service. The FBO will operate two jet fuel re-fuelers -- one with 3,000-gallon capacity, the other with 2,200 gallons -- and one avgas truck holding 1,200 gallons.
Dassault Falcon Jet (Teterboro) has named James Edward Perrey as the new field service representative in St. Louis. Juan J. Leon has joined the international marketing team as director of sales for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
The FAA has awarded Level D certification to Flight-Safety International's Sikorsky S-76C+ simulator. The simulator is located in West Palm Beach, Fla., and is the first Sikorsky Level D simulator.
United Airlines' Air Line Pilots Association chapter has agreed to enter into a ``Partnership Agreement'' with the airline and the FAA to help collect safety information. The safety enhancement program is designed to use information to correct rather than punish flight crew actions. The parties expect to implement the new program early this fall.
Three-four years back, a wealthy executive from the upscale community of Greenwich, Conn., was zitzing along on a United flight. Obviously, he had his snoot in the booze and the flight attendant refused to serve him any more sauce. He then arose from his seat, dropped his trousers and brookies and defecated on the serving cart in front of horrified passengers. Nacherly, on landing he was met at planeside by the fuzz and escorted to the slammer. His penalty for this egregious behavior? Fifty big ones plus paying all the passengers' fares. Fir him, chump change.
The National Safety Council has given an Occupational Health/Safety Award to Johnson Controls World Services for operating without occupational injury or illness at Teterboro Airport from 1995 to 1999.
Showalter Flying Services is nearing completion of its new 11,000-square-foot FBO at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) in Florida. Scheduled to open November 4 during the National Air Transportation Association Airports and FBO Industry Symposium, the $1.8 million facility offers Internet access, a pilot's lounge with showers and ``snooze'' rooms, and a meeting area with room for 50. Additional improvements include the refurbishment of the FBO's two fuel tanks, and renovations to the company's existing hangars are planned.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey assured EAA members, several of whom are senior or retired airline pilots, that the FAA has progressed to the second phase of studying its mandatory age 60 retirement rule for airline pilots during her ``Meet the Boss'' forum at AirVenture 2000 in Oshkosh, Wis.
Experimental Aircraft Association Aviation Center (Oshkosh, Wis.) has appointed Stephan Brown to the position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
Raytheon Aircraft also enjoyed a strong first half of this year, delivering 282 aircraft, including 34 Hawker 800XPs, 26 Beechjet 400As and 89 King Airs. Military aircraft, Bonanzas and Barons accounted for the remaining deliveries. The manufacturer delivered 50 percent more aircraft than in the same period in 1999.
