Business aviation is only as effective as its access to structured airspace, and for that reason, the ongoing (and Byzantine) process of aviation rulemaking and harmonization among the 27-member European Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA) bears close watching, business aviation advocates argue.
The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) has raised approximately $2.7 billion in an early July IPO. EADS resulted from the 1999 merger of Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, France's Aerospatiale Matra and Construcciones Aeronauticas (CASA) of Spain. EADS, which is the world's third-largest aerospace manufacturer, also owns 80 percent of Airbus Industrie. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are the world's first- and second-largest aerospace companies, respectively.
Swearingen Aircraft rolled out the first conforming SJ30-2 light jet prototype in mid-July. Speakers at the San Antonio ceremony included Ed Swearingen, representatives of the aircraft's Taiwanese investors and Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.). The SJ30-2 is expected to begin flight testing in late September and will be followed in the test program by static test aircraft and two additional conforming prototypes by early 2001. Swearingen says it has 164 orders for the $4.8 million aircraft, which is designed for single-pilot operation and a range of 2,500 nm.
Aviation Week&Space Technology (AW&ST) has named Bombardier the ``Best-Managed Large Aerospace Company.'' The award, which was based on criteria created by the magazine and Standard&Poors Compustat, follows recent increases in the manufacturer's revenues and shareholder return. AW&ST said it named Bombardier because of its technology, plant and equipment resources, research and development investments, and strong record of financial operating performance.
In 1986, the NTSB offered funding to the Department of Labor for a new study to evaluate the aviation maintenance technician as a skilled professional. The Department of Labor turned down the offer, claiming the funding would be better suited elsewhere. Today, maintenance managers say the shortage of technicians is due to low pay, image and a lack of professional standards.
Since their inception, maintenance cost control programs have grown from basic engine parts insurance to full-blown maintenance department protection programs. Originally, coverage was limited to ``off the rack'' plans with few options. Today's operators can choose customized programs with cross protection between providers. If you want to protect it, someone probably will cover it for a price.
The Clinton administration's goal of reducing the commercial aviation accident rate 80 percent by 2007 remains the FAA's top priority, though the new administration that takes power in January 2001 could send the agency in new directions. The cornerstone of the current initiative is the Safer Skies agenda, an effort to address the root causes of the majority of fatal aircraft accidents. At the top of the list are Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), approach and landing accidents, uncontained engine failures and runway incursions.
BAE Systems North America is planning to acquire Lockheed Martin's Aerospace Electronics Systems (AES) for $1.67 billion. AES, which manufactures space and defense electronics systems, comprises three units: New Hampshire-based Sanders, New York-based Fairchild, and Space Electronics and Communication of Virginia. BAE's bid reportedly bested Northrop Grumman's by $100 million. The deal is expected to face some opposition on Capitol Hill, since BAE North America's parent company is foreign-owned and AES's primary customers include the three branches of the U.S.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) selected Sandel's SN3308 electronic horizontal situation indicators (EHSI) as the primary navigation instrument for two of its new Eurocopter AS350-B2s. The Vista, Calif.-based avionics company has firm orders to equip six additional Eurocopters with the SN-3308. Using a three-inch display, the EHSI is designed to combine the functions of an HSI, remote magnetic indicator (RMI), moving map, marker beacon, and GPS.
BBA Aviation promoted Bruce S. Van Allen to president and CEO of BBA Aviation North America, Elizabeth Haskins as president and CEO of Signature Flight Support and T. Peter Whitehead as chief executive of BBA Aviation Europe. BBA Aviation serves business aviation, regional airline, helicopter and commercial aviation markets through its primary operating companies, Dallas Airmotive, Signature Flight Services, International Turbine services and the APPH Group.
Edited By Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, in Birmingham, England
Bell Helicopter Textron has approved Alan Mann Helicopters Ltd. of Fairoaks Airport, Surrey, England, as a Customer Training Facility to conduct helicopter factory ground and flight training. This is the third such Bell center worldwide (the others are National Airways Corp. Pty. Ltd., in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Helitech Pty. Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia).
Stripping aircraft paint can be a tough, hazardous job. Peabody, Mass.-based Solvent Clean is trying to change that with D-Zolve GL 15-33, a non-acidic, non-flammable water-borne paint stripper. Formulated with no carcinogens or chlorinated components, D-Zolve dissolves the bond between the substrate and primer, causing the paint to lift off the surface in a single film that then can be removed with high-pressure water or a rubber squeegee.
The FAA has proposed $60,000 in fines against Royal Air Freight of Waterford, Mich., for allegedly failing to investigate the backgrounds of 13 new-hire pilots. The Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) requires that an air carrier conduct a background investigation, no later than 90 days after allowing an individual to begin service.
Honeywell plans to develop PC-based training software for FlightSafety International students receiving initial type ratings in Honeywell FMZ-2000-equipped business and regional aircraft. The new software will enable flight crews to develop FMS proficiency on ordinary laptop or desktop computers. Honeywell says the software, known as PC-FMS, will utilize authentic FMS aircraft code, resulting in a realistic training experience. Rockwell Collins has a similar system already in use at FSI.
Cessna and Honeywell plan to launch on-line services -- Cessna's CPDXpress and Honeywell's Maintenance Programs and E-Engines -- late this summer and in early 2001, respectively. The programs were announced at the NBAA Maintenance Managers Conference in New Orleans. CPDXpress is an online spares management and warrantee system that provides automatic e-mail re-sponse and real-time tracking on parts, orders and claims. System access is available to retail customers and authorized service stations with a login account and password.
As fatigue and sleep debt increases as a major factor in incident and accident prevention, more studies are appearing to assist flight crews and their flight departments in the management of crew rest. The challenge in such a program is the difficulty in quantifying and determining when fatigue and sleep debt reach a true level of performance impairment and then dealing with it. For example, when we need nutrition, we feel hungry and when we need fluids, we are thirsty. Both sensations are quickly relieved by ingesting food and water.
Eurocopter says it has sold the first EC135 helicopter for use in U.S. law enforcement to the Broward County Sheriff's Office in South Florida. The new helicopter is scheduled for delivery in September and will augment three Eurocopter AStars in the Broward fleet. Shreveport, La.-based Metro Aviation will complete the helicopter, which will be outfitted with such options as a rescue hoist, Night Sun, forward looking infrared radar (FLIR) and LO-JACK tracking systems.
AeroCaribe Flight 7831, a BAE Systems Jetstream 32, crashed in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas on July 8, killing all 19 people aboard. The cause of the crash is unknown, though Mexican authorities are said to be reviewing the aircraft's flight data recorders. Local news accounts say the crash occurred shortly after the pilots reported a route deviation due to bad weather. The twin turboprop reportedly was en route from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco state.
Transport Canada will now publicize the names of operators found guilty of violating the country's Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs). The new policy is intended to make air carriers ``more accountable to the Canadian public,'' Transport Minister David Collenette said. Offenders' names, offenses and penalties can be found at the ministry's Web site at www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/index_e. The information previously was available only by specific request under Canada's Access to Information Act.
The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has awarded its 2000 New Product Award to Raytheon Aircraft for development of the Premier I. The annual awards are meant to recognize ``the benefits that come from the research and engineering of new products,'' according to the NPSE. Raytheon's engineers were cited for developing automated technology to build the Premier I's composite fuselage in only a week with four employees per shift. Certification of the Premier I, originally expected in the spring, is now anticipated to occur this summer, Raytheon says.
Ranger Aviation opened an FBO at Kissimmee Airport in central Florida, offering services for corporate and general aviation operators. Located six miles from Walt Disney World, the FBO provides fuel, maintenance, aircraft cleaning, hangar accommodations, and helicopter and limousine services. Judy Bennett, flight support operations manager, said the FBO's staff had more than 20 years of aviation experience, and can offer an alternative to the already congested area airports.''
