Is there any doubt? After four years of comparing the financial performance of the world's top companies, it is obvious that organizations which operate their own business aircraft -- be they turbofans, turboprops or helicopters -- do significantly better financially than those that don't.
Sporty's is now selling a line of fire protection ideal for aviation. The Halon extinguishers meet FAR Part 135 and 155 requirements and are effective on gasoline, wood/paper and electrical fires. Halon leaves no residue, won't damage avionics or electrical equipment, and is colorless and odorless. The extinguishers are compact, too, allowing for very efficient use of the limited space aboard aircraft. Price: $51.95 to $150.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103-9747
Bombardier says it has upgraded the Challenger 604 flight simulator at its Montreal Training Center with Rockwell Collins' Head-Up Guidance System (HGS) -- certified for Category II approaches -- and Safe Flight autothrottles. The manufacturer plans to open an additional training facility in Dallas this fall, which will feature Learjet 31A, 45 and 60 simulators.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Carol J. Carmody for the NTSB for a five-year term while current member John Goglia was approved for a second term. Carmody has extensive experience in aviation regulation and legislation, including service with the Air Transport Association, ICAO, the Senate Commerce Committee and the FAA, where three of her 11 years were spent as deputy director for congressional services. Goglia, the first mechanic to serve on the NTSB, remained with the agency since the expiration of his first term. His new term expires on December 31, 2003.
Under the newly launched Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) project, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to sponsor a prototype aircraft that could lead to both a supersonic business jet for the corporate operator and to a stealthy, long-range multi-purpose supersonic aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. A QSP prototype could be flying by the mid-2000s, testing a range of advanced aircraft technologies.
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) went on a regional jet buying spree in mid-June, placing firm orders for 150 aircraft with options for 300 additional aircraft. The firm orders are for 50 Fairchild Dornier 728JETs, 50 Embraer ERJ 170s, and 50 Bombardier CRJs including 15 200s, 25 700s and 10 900s. GECAS also has options on 100 CRJs, 100 728JETs and 100 ERJ 170/190s. If all options are exercised, the total value of the transactions could reach $12 billion.
Photograph: The FAA's ice protection AD affects both long and short-body MU-2s. These two were photographed in early June at Orange County Airport (MGJ), Montgomery, New York. The FAA has given operators of all (approximately 400) U.S.-based Mitsubishi MU-2s one year to modify the twin turboprop's ice protection systems, at a cost of around $27,000 per aircraft.
Mather Aviation was appointed as a Raytheon Aircraft Co. factory authorized service and warranty center for the King Air and Beechjet product lines. The agreement returns factory authorized support to Mather's Hayward, Calif., FBO. The Hayward FBO, a recent TRAJEN, Inc. acquisition, said it provides maintenance, avionics, parts and custom technical support services for corporate operators.
If this year's sell-off in the Nasdaq is any indication, fractional ownership may prove to be counter-cyclical. As tech stocks tumbled, NetJets saw interest in shares increase, particularly in Silicon Valley, according to Executive Jet Chairman and CEO Richard Santulli. ``We picked up quite a few people who decided that discretion was the better part of valor and canceled whole aircraft contracts to come with us,'' he said.
Runways that lack Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches could receive some glidepath information under a new FAA initiative designed to prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents. Margaret ``Peggy'' Gilligan, the FAA's deputy associate administrator for regulation and certification, said the new approaches might use some aspects of GPS technology, but not in the short term.
With growth of the NetJets fractional ownership program continuing at a pace of six to eight new airplanes and 35 to 50 new owners per month, Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) in mid-June dedicated its new 200,000-square-foot operations center at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. EJA's old facility will be dedicated to training and houses a Citation V Ultra simulator, with Citation X and Citation Excel simulators expected over the next six months. Currently, EJA is hiring around 50 pilots per month.
The FAA has proposed a $95,000 fine against Grand Aire Express for maintenance discrepancies. The action comes just a month after the FAA hit the Toledo-based operator with a $195,000 fine for maintenance-related transgressions. FAA records allege that Grand Aire maintained a Fairchild Metroliner without reference to required maintenance manuals, and operated 41 subsequent flights with a broken intercom rocker switch. Grand Aire has 30 days to respond to the FAA's latest action. In most cases of this type, the two parties settle on a greatly reduced penalty.
Skyjet.com, a Web-based air charter booking service, has introduced MySkyjet, a new online auction for empty legs. The new service allows operators to post empty legs and solicit bids for the segments. As with other online auctions, the seller can determine a minimum acceptable price for the service. Customers also can post proposed itineraries on which operators can place bids. Skyjet says 235 charter companies operating more than 1,300 aircraft participate in its online booking system.
Photograph: Robert Johnson An offshoot of the proposed United Airlines-US Airways merger could be DC Air -- the first new entrant carrier to surface at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) in more than a decade. Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder and US Airways board member Robert L. Johnson is behind the venture, which plans to serve 44 cities with 122 daily departures, using 37 aircraft and crews wet-leased from United and/or US Airways.
Brazil and Canada have agreed to seek a negotiated settlement of their ongoing dispute over the use of government subsidies in regional jet aircraft sales. Officials from the two sides held preliminary discussions in New York on May 23; the next meeting was scheduled for June 22 in Geneva as B/CA's July issue went to press. Canada, however, still wants the WTO's approval to retaliate against Brazil for its continued use of ProEx, an export financing package the Geneva-based trade body declared illegal in August 1999.
The tables above show results of a fuel price survey of U.S. fuel suppliers performed in June 2000. This survey was conducted by Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US) and reflects prices reported from FBOs nationwide. Prices are full retail and include all taxes and fees. For additional information, contact ARG/US at (513) 247-1010 or on the internet at www.aviationresearch.com.
Photograph: Implosion makes way for airport development. GTAA Old ATC Tower Imploded at GTAA The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) demolished the old ATC tower in the infield of Canada's Lester B. Pearson International Airport as a part of the GTAA's $4.4 billion airport development program. The 10-year program includes the construction of a terminal building, to replace Terminals 1 and 2, two new runways and the construction of several new facilities in the airport infield.
Aircraft Belts has introduced a new concept in aircraft restraint systems -- the Dual Action Push Button Restraint System. The new Dual Action system can be released by pushing a button on the top or side of the buckle allowing what the company says is ``improved safety, operation and longevity'' over traditional single-button seat belts. The system meets FAA standards, is available in either polymer or metal housing, and only can be used in three-point configuration. Price: $400 to 584 Aircraft Belts, Inc. P.O. Box 845
Chalks Ocean Airways, one of the world's oldest continuously operated air carriers, has introduced a new Web site, www.chalksoceanairways.com. The site contains information regarding the company's history, a photo gallery, flight schedules and information about its five destinations: Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Paradise Island/Nassau; Bimini; and Walkers Cay, Bahamas.
Business aircraft come in many forms, running the gamut from small single-engine aircraft to the largest widebody jets. But the most distinctive -- and probably the most fun to fly -- has got to be Cessna's 208 Caravan on amphibious floats. Minneapolis-based Wipaire has the STC for CE-208 float conversions, and does around 20 a year. Though a few buyers have opted for straight floats, most choose the company's Model 8000 amphibious floats, which of course allow the flexibility of land or water operations.
Raytheon Aircraft says FAA certification of its new Premier I business jet will occur some time this summer, upon completion of the remaining 25 percent of the test program. Company spokesman Kevin O'Hara says avionics certification of the $4.85 million jet is nearly complete, and a fourth aircraft -- now in the paint shop -- will undertake function and reliability and single-pilot certification testing over the coming weeks. The aircraft's document package and manuals are complete, and the simulator is operational but not yet FAA certified, he adds.
