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The FAA has deployed its 44th and final installation of the Air Route Surveillance Radar in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Known as ARSR-4, the new system is designed to provide three-dimensional aircraft position and weather information with more accuracy than the earlier generation long-range radar systems it is replacing. Other planned uses include providing weather data to the National Weather Service and aircraft position data to the U.S. Air Force, Navy and U.S. Customs service. The ARSR-4 radar is a joint FAA/Department of Defense initiative.
Reliance Aviation has opened a full-service FBO at Florida's Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood International Airport (FLL), on a site previously occupied by Maxy Aviation. The eight-acre facility, located at the airport's northeast corner off Runway 9L, provides maintenance, refurbishment, charter services, sales, management, fuel services and exterior painting.
A funny thing happened in Washing-ton recently. Somebody actually came up with an idea to advance the science and art of aviation instead of a scheme to restrict flying. Specifically, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin asked Congress to give the agency $69 million over the next five years to fund a research initiative called the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS), an effort to inspire a combination of high-tech and low cost in a new generation of flying machines. NASA, the White House and Congress have been justifiably criticized for
JetOne, a start-up fractional operator of two used Cessna Citation IIs, has contracted with DaimlerChrysler Aviation (DCA) to manage its entire flight operation. The deal calls for DCA to provide complete aircraft management, including crews, maintenance and scheduling. Waterford, Mich.-based JetOne also has relocated its offices to DCA's headquarters at Oakland County International Airport (PTK) and says the Citations may be added to Automotive Air Charter's FAR Part 135 certificate at a later date.
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive affecting Pilatus PC-12 aircraft equipped with pneumatic deicing boots. The AD requires crews to activate wing and tail deicing boots at the first sign of ice accumulation. The PC-12 is the latest in a series of aircraft -- most are twin turboprops and older business aircraft -- affected by a similar AD. The action stems from the fatal 1997 crash of a Comair Embraer Brasilia near Monroe, Mich., and other icing-related incidents.
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has placed firm orders for 150 regional jets with options for 300 more, deals that could be worth nearly $12 billion if all options are exercised. The RJ purchase -- the largest ever by an aircraft lessor -- provides a vote of confidence for the bigger regional jets now under development, while giving short shrift to the airline labor concerns that had appeared to place the future of such aircraft in doubt, at least in the United States.
From rags to riches, riches to rags. Marion Harper was president of McCann-Erickson advertising agency and flew around the globe in an executive DC-7C. But let's start from the beginning. I never could figure out why some parents bestowed girl's names on their sons -- like, for instance, Florence or Shirley. But, in 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Harper in downtown Indiana named their newborn son Marion.
With your TFE731 engine in computer mode, you cycle the engine computer off. The engine starts a runaway acceleration. You cycle the computer on and the engine returns to normal. The fuel control P3 drain must be checked for obstructions or engine cowls blocking the drain. P3 pressure is vented from this drain when the computer is off. If blocked, it will increase bellows pressure and cause the engine to accelerate. If no blockage is observed, replace the fuel control. Courtesy of Duncan Aviation.
Fairchild Aerospace says it has changed its name to Fairchild Dornier Corp. in order to ``better reflect the rich heritages'' of the two companies. The change comes in the wake of Fairchild's acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier&Rice, a New York-based leveraged buyout firm. The transaction included the injection of $400 million in growth capital, plus nearly $800 million in debt financing from a consortium of German banks and institutional investors.
Superior Air Parts, Inc. named Don Decker as its sales representative for Latin America. Decker will be located at the regional distribution office in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which also will serve as the headquarters for Latin American operations. Superior Air Parts, Inc. provides FAA/PMA-approved replacement parts for Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines.
Under the terms of a new agreement, Petroleum Helicopters' Aeromed-ical Services Division will supply pilots and maintenance technicians to the air medical program of St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junc-tion, Colo. St. Mary's serves Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.
ERDA has introduced a new, fully powered seat designed for installation in business aircraft of virtually every size between the Learjet 45 and Boeing Business Jet. Dubbed the ``Command Chair,'' the seat features ergonomic design, full berthing, an automatically retractable footrest extension, and a full range of customized seating positions. Maintenance technicians will appreciate the ease of service, with all major components accessible either by removing two screws from the backshell or through the quick-release seatpan.
Atlantic Coast Airlines and Atlantic Coast Jet have selected 14 University of North Dakota aerospace students and graduates as interns. Once the students have accumulated 600 hours total time and completed their internships they are guaranteed job interviews with the carriers.
TAG Aviation has selected MedAire to train its pilots to cope with inflight medical emergencies. MedAire will teach the pilots CPR, automated external defibrillator use and crew resource management. The coursework will be a standard part of TAG's initial and recurrent pilot training. MedAire plans to expand its MedLink telemedicine center in Phoenix. Based in the emergency room of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, the call center responds to reports of inflight medical emergencies and other health-related inquiries from aviation providers.
In a previous article, we discussed the crew briefing and why it was essential (``Uniting a Flight Crew,'' April, page 76). But for the cockpit crew, the crew briefing is only the first briefing of many. One could easily argue that a highly effective crew conducts an almost continual briefing as the flight progresses from the chocks at Point A to the chocks at Point B, but this constant exchange of information and planning does not have a hard format or structure. It takes place as things occur.
Fractional aircraft owners are happy with their investment and rate service as the most important factor in their judgment, according to a recent study by the Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US). The most common complaint among fractional owners regarded the use of charter aircraft in lieu of their aircraft. Though fewer than five percent of 1999's respondents said they would consider owning an entire aircraft, an increasing number responding to the current survey said they might consider ownership within the next five years.
The NTSB hearings into the crash of an American Airlines MD-80 at Little Rock, Ark. (Cause&Circumstance, March, page 98) brought to light an MIT-Lincoln Laboratory study on weather penetration that startled the lay media and some aviation watchers on Capitol Hill. The research seemed to suggest -- or at least was interpreted by some to sug-gest -- that air carrier pilots routinely, and, perhaps, thoughtlessly, penetrated level five thunderstorms in terminal areas. Could this really be happening?
Wisconsin Aviation broke ground for a hangar complex at Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA). The four-bay hangar will house individual and corporate aircraft. Each bay will have heat, restrooms and a vehicle garage door with access from the general parking lot.
The Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee approved $12.1 billion in funding for the FAA for fiscal year 2001, but FAA Administrator Jane Garvey said the $6.35 billion approved for FAA operations falls short of the agency's needs. Garvey said the figure represents a $250 million decrease in the FAA's operations budget, which will trigger ``substantial delays in a system already strained'' by rapid growth. The legislation was expected to come before the full Senate for approval as B/CA went to press.
Cirrus Design will move Cirrus SR20 fuselage fabrication to its Grand Forks, N.D., facility this summer. Wing construction will continue at the company's Duluth, Minn., plant.
Users of small private and public airports, heliports and other facilities now can get instant, accurate weather information with the new DigiWX system from Belfort Instrument. Although not approved for FAR Part 135 operators and IFR conditions, the DigiWX offers a low-cost weather solution in other circumstances. Weather sensors mounted on an easy-to-install 15-foot tower provide wind, temperature, barometric pressure, dew point and other readings to DigiWX handheld units within a five- to 10-mile radius.
Edited By Paul RichfieldBy Paul Richfield, in Memphis
Northwest Airlink feeder Express Airlines I celebrated the arrival of its first Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) at its Memphis (MEM) base on May 16. The 50-seat jet is the first of 54 CRJs Northwest Airlines (NWA) ordered in 1999; the first 42 have been earmarked for Express I, while the remaining 12 could go to Express I or Mesaba Airlines, NWA's other regional partner.
