Comair's Cincinnati hub will become all-jet as of December 1. Comair President Randy Rademacher says ``customers have told us they prefer jet service over turboprops and we have listened.'' Comair retains a number of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops, but is steadily expanding its fleet of Canadair Regional Jets.
The FAA is conducting a series of nationwide meetings to help reduce the incidence of runway incursions. At the conclusion of the regional workshops, the FAA will lead a Human Factors Symposium on Runway Safety and a National Runway Safety Summit in Washington, D.C. to further define the causes and possible solutions to the problem. There were 322 reported runway incursions in 1999, despite a 1998 FAA plan calling for a 20-percent reduction. Further information about the scheduled FAA meetings is available at www.faa.gov/newsroom.htm.
The U.S. government has pushed back plans to begin the ``phase-down'' of older navigation aids, to reflect delays in implementing satellite-based systems. Reducing the number of VOR/DMEs, ILSes and NDBs now will begin in 2008 -- three years later than the DOT had projected in spring 1999. The military's TACAN system, which provides DME for civil users, also will go in 2008, a year later than planned.
MedAire's Medlink Worldwide program will now cover passengers on NetJets Europe aircraft. Medlink provides inflight access to physicians in the event of an onboard medical emergency, enhanced first aid and medical emergency kits for NetJets aircraft, and pre-travel medical briefings to reduce health risks while traveling. NetJets already offers the service to its U.S. customers.
Photograph: More of this to come A Canadair Challenger CL601-3R owned by South Korea's Ministry of Transportation performed the first landing at the new Inchon International Airport (IIA) on February 28. The test flight verified the workings of control tower systems, and additional proving runs with larger aircraft are planned for the coming months. IIA is slated to open in early 2001, replacing Kimpo as South Korea's main international gateway and airline hub for Northeast Asia.
Operations at Westchester County Airport (HPN) are proceeding normally, despite concern that President Clinton's acquisition of a home in nearby Chappaqua, N.Y., would lead to restrictions on air traffic. According to HPN tower chief Doug Alter, the FAA has yet to receive any formal request for a prohibited area encompassing the house, and the only change has been to enact a temporary flight restriction (TFR) when the president is in residence.
Airbus Industrie (Herndon, Va.) -- Retiring President and COO Nick Tomassetti will remain as president and CEO of AINA Holdings. Henri Courpron succeeds Tomassetti to head the manufacturer's North American operations, while Paul O. Mason becomes vice president of sales and marketing.
Ground support staff at Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) have agreed to a new contract with the fractional operator. The four-year labor agreement gives EJA's maintenance technicians, avionics technicians, aircraft fuelers and cleaners retroactive raises up to 43 percent, increased vacation, tool allowances, improved overtime compensation and other work rule changes.
HPSD, a United Arab Emirates-based management company, has purchased a minority interest in Britten-Norman and will create a new joint venture with the British aircraft manufacturer. The two companies are forming Britten-Norman Middle East to help market Britten-Norman products and support services throughout the region. In 1999, the manufacturer delivered two new aircraft and expects to deliver six aircraft this year. In addition to new aircraft sales, the company provides maintenance for existing aircraft and contract component manufacturing.
Aeroshell is now selling its entire line of aviation lubricants on the Internet. Although the company says it is focusing on private pilots who work on their own aircraft, products available on the Web site also include turbine engine oil and hydraulic fluid. Visitors to www.aeroshell.com also can find the locations of Aeroshell distributors and ask questions about engine performance and maintenance.
Crossair has leased a 66-seat British Aerospace ATP turboprop from British World Airlines, due to fleet shortages triggered by its maintenance backlog. Basel-based Crossair says it has assembled ``an international team of experts'' to study its ``operational and technical aspects'' following the fatal January 10 crash of a company Saab 340B.
The NTSB has recommended that all turbine-powered aircraft exempt from current flight recorder rules be equipped with ``crash-protected'' video recorders. If adopted, the mandate will first affect aircraft that carry passengers for hire, and take effect within five years of the FAA issuing a TSO (technical service order) regarding the devices.
Ranger Aviation recently broke ground on three ``deluxe'' hangars at Kissimmee Municipal Airport (ISM) near Orlando, with the first scheduled for completion this month. Leasing opportunities will be available on a limited basis. For more information, contact Kip Bonar at (407) 870-9033.
The Egyptian Government ordered two Gulfstream IVSPs for transporting high-level government officials. Egypt currently operates two G-IIIs, a G-V and two additional G-IVSPs.
DB Aviation at Waukegan Regional Airport (UGN) near Chicago is seeking new tenants for its sizeable ``corporate development area.'' The FBO says the $3 million construction project includes room for up to 20 ``corporate facilities'' of up to 90,000 square feet each, with hangar and office complexes built to suit each flight department. DB Aviation recently acquired four new fuel trucks to support its AvFuel operation, while adding a Cessna Citation S/II to its fleet of managed charter aircraft.
Providence is being in the right place at the right time. Walt Coleman, who is retiring this month as president of the Regional Airline Association, has been fortunate to helm the organization at a time when the introduction of new avionics, airframes and engines have propelled regional aviation to the forefront of commercial aerospace.
John Lawson, Bombardier Aerospace's president for business aircraft sales, has retired, but will continue to serve in what the manufacturer calls a ``senior advisory capacity.'' In announcing his retirement, Lawson cited the launch of the Global Express as the ``thrill of my career in aviation.'' Lawson is being replaced by Peter Edwards, Bombardier's senior vice president for international sales. Edwards has been with the company since 1995, when he joined as vice president for international sales for the Challenger and Global Express.
This month, Wisconsin Aviation will break ground on a 19,600-square-foot hangar at the Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison, Wis. The new hangar will feature four bays, each measuring 70 feet by 70 feet and furnished with heat, restroom facilities and a vehicle garage door with access from the parking lot. Wisconsin Aviation recently added an FAA-certified avionics repair station to its MSN operation, with approval to repair a variety of avionics including S-Tec, Sigma Tec, Northstar, BFGoodrich, Century and Garmin.
Piedmont Hawthorne has opened its new FBO at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) in Pennsylvania. The facility is located in the 62,000-square-foot hangar and office complex vacated when TYCO International acquired AMP, Inc., the previous tenant. Piedmont Hawthorne's interest follows the structure's purchase by the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority in December 1999. Piedmont Hawthorne now has 31 FBOs, including 10 in the Northeastern United States and three in Canada.
In the pioneering years of television, as Philo Farnsworth and his followers competed with Robert Sarnoff and his minions at the Radio Corp. of America to be the first to offer broadcast television, a demonstration was staged of airborne TV reception.
Operators of light jets and turboprops can enhance situational awareness in the cockpit with Avidyne's new FlightMax 850. The FlightMax 850 interfaces with several Collins and Bendix radar systems, as well as Honeywell's Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS), BFGoodrich's WX-500 Stormscope and Skywatch TAS and TCAS I to provide a new class of airplanes with the benefits of glass cockpits. Price: $17,995; $5,995 for optional EGPWS interface Avidyne 55 Old Bedford Rd. Lincoln, Mass. 01773
Kestral Aviation has acquired Alma, Mich.-based Hansen Flying Service and XL Leasing. Hansen, an aircraft charter and management company, operates a Cessna Citation Bravo and a Citation 501.
Hartzell Propeller owner and chairman James W. Brown, Jr.'s two sons have been named co-presidents of the Ohio-based manufacturer. James W. Brown III, who's been with the company since 1990, will head engineering and customer services, while his brother, Joseph, who joined in 1993, will oversee operations. Chairman Brown bought Hartzell, which traces its aviation routes to Orville Wright in the early 1900s, from TRW in 1988.
MD Helicopters parent company MDHI is purchasing U.K.-based Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) from Bombardier for an undisclosed sum. Bombardier acquired the company in 1997. SAS, with its subsidiaries Police Aviation Services (PAS) and Medical Aviation Services (MAS), operates a fleet of helicopters -- including five MD Explorers --and fixed-wing aircraft and offers aircraft maintenance, modification and completion services.
