Bell Helicopter Textron and Air Methods Corp. have entered into a ``strategic alliance'' to develop new products. The first project planned for the two companies is development of an EMS interior and single-pilot IFR package for the Bell 427 light-twin helicopter. Air Methods, which operates aeromedical transportation services and develops technology for other companies in the EMS field, will be the preferred provider of the EMS-equipped 427. Bell claims more than 80 orders for the 427.
Midcoast Aviation says it now has two Hawker 700 and two Hawker 800 landing gear available for customer use while their own gear is undergoing overhaul and inspection.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has developed a draft of a proposed fatigue countermeasures program that would better assessment of fitness for duty for FAR Part 135 pilots in an attempt to get around the issue of ``reserve time'' stipulations for scheduled air carrier crews. The challenge for the Part 135 community is to find a means of assessing a pilot's fitness for work when they have less than 10 hours notice for a trip.
Near collisions with military aircraft are reported to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) at the rate of about three per month, and involve all types of aircraft from general aviation trainers to commercial airliners. The actual number of near-midair collisions (NMACs) is estimated to be much higher.
Aeronautical Communication International (ACI) -- an international joint venture comprising Honeywell, Sextant, Airsys ATM and Sofreavia -- has delivered the first version of Aeronautical Telecommunications Network router software to the FAA. The program is designed to help implement ATC data-link service in U.S. airspace.
The FAA has awarded an STC to Airwolf Filter Corp. for its Apollo DTM-4 high-capacity spray system. The DTM-4 is designed for installation on the Robinson R44 helicopter.
New Piper Aircraft has chosen Hartzell Propeller's four-blade propeller system for the Malibu Meridian. According to Hartzell, the system adds three knots to the Meridian's cruise speed, reduces takeoff distance and increases rate of climb, while also reducing interior noise and vibration levels. New Piper says the Meridian certification and first customer deliveries are on schedule for this summer.
BP Amoco Group finalized an agreement to acquire Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO). The purchase will enable Air BP to expand service to the West Coast region with the creation of a Long Beach, Calif., office. Air BP Americas claims to be the number one marketer of jet fuel services to more than 600 locations in the United States.
Mercury Air Group named Jeffrey D. Smith to the position of eastern regional director and Tina M. Muse joins as manager of sales and marketing. Additionally, Mercury purchased two FBOs, Fort Wayne Air Service and Consolidated Airways, located at Fort Wayne International Airport in Indiana. With this purchase, Mercury Air Group now operates 18 FBOs nationwide.
Rockwell Collins plans to acquire Sony's Trans Com division, a manufacturer of inflight entertainment systems. The former Sony unit will be combined with Rockwell's IFE business known as Passenger Systems, resulting in a projected $500 million in revenues in 2001. Rockwell Collins recently announced a joint venture with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to create an inflight entertainment network for airline passengers.
Piedmont Hawthorne will acquire the Gen-Aero and AVSAT FBOs from Fairchild Aerospace at San Antonio International Airport (SAT). The former Gen-Aero facility includes a 6,748-square-foot FBO terminal and 124,000 square feet of hangar/shop space. AVSAT features 3,449 square feet of office space and a 31,000-square-foot hangar.
After seven years of debate, legislation restricting the government's ability to seize the property of private citizens -- including aircraft -- was signed into law on April 25. Known as the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, the new law will force the government to prove that property targeted for seizure is connected to a crime, while making it easier for people to reclaim property seized in error.
Oregon State University is sponsoring an aviation conference, June 12-16, on ``The Revolution in General Aviation.'' Topics range from aviation as an economic development tool to zoning laws affecting airports. For more information visit www.odot.state.or.us./aero/ or call (503) 378-4880.
About the only time rules really are in black and white is on the printed page. Hand those pages over to people, and individual perspectives begin to shape perception and meaning. In the case of the FARs -- how the rules are interpreted and how they are enforced -- those shifts can be frustrating and costly.
JAXPORT, which operates Jacksonville's airports, says that more than 90 percent of the available aviation space at Cecil Field, which was decommissioned as a Naval Air Station seven months ago, has been leased. Tenants include Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Air Kaman.
Williams International's FJ44-2C engine has received FAA certification. The 2,400-pound thrust engine will power the Citation CJ2 and features a fuel heater system that eliminates the need for anti-ice additives. Less powerful versions of the FJ44 power the Citation CJ1, Raytheon's Premier 1 and the proposed Sino Swearingen SJ30-2.
UND Aerospace (Grand Forks, N.D.) -- Kirk Peterson, avionics manager at UND's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, has been named avionics technician of the year by the FAA flight standards district office.
