The FAA has launched limited operation of its Multi-Sector Oceanic Data-Link System for aircraft operating over the Atlantic Ocean. Data link is intended to reduce or eliminate voice communications between controllers and flight crews, and to increase the accuracy and timeliness of ground-to-air communications. The service is expected to be available throughout the Caribbean by year-end and then be expanded to cover the New York Air Traffic Control Center's North Atlantic sectors.
A new Internet site has been created to match operators requiring maintenance and refurbishment services with companies providing those services. Called AvQuotes, the site allows operators to post job descriptions and schedule aircraft viewings in order to attract bidders that can meet their time and scheduling requirements. Service providers that have registered and paid to participate can access a separate site for a password-protected list of jobs awaiting bids. The company says that more than 50 service providers are participating thus far.
If you want air carrier-grade security to prevent unauthorized access to aircraft and other sensitive areas, Ross Technologies' new ExitSentry system may be the answer. Airlines and airports use ExitSentry to prevent people from going the wrong way in exit-only paths. Equipped with two surveillance cameras, the system also provides evidence in the event of a security breach. The system is in place at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and is being installed in eight cities served by Southwest Airlines. Price: Varies with Installation
A Colorado appellate court has upheld a lower court's ruling in favor of a pilot who sued a former employer for defamation -- a case that could be the first legal test of the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA). Fired from his job as a corporate pilot for Sky Fun 1 and sued for alleged damages inflicted on the company's aircraft due to a lightning strike, John Schuttloffel filed counter-charges after William Kitchen, his former boss, described him to a prospective airline employer as ``not a good pilot'' and ``a threat to passengers.''
Ground handling is no less important a part of your flight operations than a well-briefed and executed low approach. Taxiing, parking and securing your aircraft requires a heightened vigilance due to insidious hazards. The ``Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents'' published by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group states that eight percent of all accidents (involving jet aircraft heavier than 60,000 pounds gross weight) occur while the aircraft is taxing, loading or parked.
Cutter Aviation appointed Joe Moss as acting general manager for the Santa Monica, Calif., facility. Specializing in New Piper Aircraft sales, Cutter also offers airframe and engine maintenance, parts, and avionics installations and repair.
Former HAI chief Frank Jensen and attorney Carroll Dubuc have formed an organization to help settle aviation-related business disputes out of court. Saying that mediation helps lower costs, maintain business relationships and avoid unwarranted publicity, Aviation Mediation and Arbitration providers, LLC (AMAP) will provide dispute resolution at a ``reasonable, fixed expense.'' Dubuc, who is the AMAP's executive director, can be reached at (703) 558-3663.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport has reopened Runway 9-27 after a nine-month, $4.9 million rehabilitation. The central Florida airport is home to the annual Sun 'n Fun fly-in.
Armed with a recent $7.4 million grant, Salt Lake City's Westminster College is planning to launch an Aeronautical Institute. Westminster officials say that aviation degrees from the college will combine relevant business and management coursework with flight training to help graduates prepare for the job market.
The Air Line Pilots Association has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into Jumpseat Fraud, or the theft of air travel by individuals posing as flight crew. According to a warning sent to Northwest Airlines crews by pilot union leaders, several Internet sites contain information about flight crew procedures for gaining access to airline jumpseats. ALPA has asked its members to check the credentials of prospective riders, including company ID, pilot and medical certificates.
The periods when technologies change present the biggest challenges to all involved. Someday, pilots and controllers will be monitoring their systems as aircraft are automatically and smoothly sequenced to their destinations with great efficiency and safety -- or, at least, so we are told. In the meantime, we have to survive any way we can, and survival with today's hodgepodge of ground and inflight automation can be difficult if not hazardous at times.
The FAA has certified Honeywell's One View direct broadcast TV system for in- stallation on Gulfstream III and IV aircraft. The manufacturer anticipates approval for the Challenger 604 and Global Express shortly. Honeywell also says that its Total Aircraft Infor-mation System -- which includes Inflightmail airborne e-mail, airborne credit card validation, Flight Operations Quality Assurance and other functions -- has been flight-tested and FAA certified.
Atlantic Coast Airlines (Dulles, Va.) has named Bill Lange as its senior vice president, maintenance and operations. Lange is a former executive vice president of World Airways, president and CEO of Pan Am Express and COO of Jetstream Aircraft. The carrier also promoted Bill Poniatowski to senior director of maintenance. Formerly director of maintenance at ACA, Poniatowski spent eight years at British Aerospace.
AirLifeLine and Lifeline Pilots, both of which offer free air transportation to critically ill people and their families, have agreed to affiliate. AirLifeLine President Jon Wurtzburger says the agreement will make the services ``more accessible for Americans in their time of need.'' Lifeline, which will become the Midwest affiliate of AirLifeLine, provides service in 15 Midwestern states, while AirLifeLine operates throughout the United States. The groups expect to fly more than 4,000 missions in the next year.
French manufacturer OBSTA is ex-panding its Balisor line of high voltage line warning lights to the United States and Canada. Balisor can be installed on power lines, buildings, TV and radio towers, and any other obstacles to air navigation. When installed on high voltage lines, the system draws power directly from the lines. Price: Varies with installation OBSTA 12, bd. des iles 92441 Issy les Moulineaux, France Phone: +33-1-41 23 50 10 Fax: +33-1-41 23 50 11 www.obsta.com
Alaska Central Express has agreed to a Fleet Management Program with Pratt&Whitney Canada. Under the terms of the 15-year, $21 million deal, P&WC will provide all engine service for the carrier's PT6A-65B-powered Beech 1900 fleet.
Avionics shops may soon be able to say ``ADEOS'' to many of the delays and red tape experienced when seeking FAA approval for equipment installations. Short for AEA Designated Engineering Organization Service, ADEOS is the first of a group of private-sector initiatives, or Designated Maintenance Organizations (DMOs), the FAA will launch in the coming months.
Wescam (Flamborough, Ont., Canada) -- David J. Smith joins as vice president of commercial sales and Heinz Kraus was named vice president of quality and performance.
Honeywell's RDR-4B wind-shear detection radar, recently certified with a smaller 24-inch antenna, will shrink again in size during the next two to three years, thus making it suitable for installation in business aircraft. This is the first time, since Rockwell Collins introduced the TWR-850 radar, that a solid-state radar has been designed specifically for business aircraft applications.
Manx/British Regional Airlines is Jetstream 41 launch customer for BAE Systems' Material and Component Repair and Overhaul program (MACRO). MACRO is a power-by-the-hour program already in use with 10 Jetstream 31 operators worldwide.
