Here's how a couple of operators described their experiences with airborne television systems mounted in their business jets: -- An operator of a Midwestern-based Falcon 900 equipped with Airshow TV reports that his flight department is generally happy with the system, although some overheating problems with the multiple receiver/decoder unit (MRDU) have been experienced during ground operations due to the aircraft-specific mounting of the unit.
Jeff Shapiro has been named president of Bristol, Tenn.-based subsidiary Edwards and Associates. Edwards manufactures customization kits and sells used helicopters.
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has elected new officers for its technical operations council. H.M. Reininga of Rockwell Collins replaces Lockheed Martin's Dr. William F. Ballhaus as chairman. David R. Reilly, General Dynamics' vice president of engineering, is vice chairman. The AIA is a trade association representing aircraft, engine and component manufacturers.
Most approach/landing accidents occur at night or in IMC when the pilot who flies the approach continues on to land the aircraft. Many airlines and corporate operators believe the risk is reduced if the one pilot flies the approach and missed approach while the other monitors the approach progress and then lands the aircraft after obtaining sufficient visual reference. Logically enough, this operation is called a monitored approach.
Steve Jobs, Apple Computer's founder and $1-a-year CEO received a new Gulfstream V as a bonus from the computer-maker's board of directors. Apple rewarded Jobs for the company's increase in earnings and stock price since returning. The company will take a $90 million charge against earnings to cover the cost of the aircraft as well as any income tax liability Jobs would have incurred had the aircraft been treated as income.
Extex will now accept direct orders for parts it makes for the Allison 250 engines that power various light helicopters and turboprop aircraft. Called Extex-Direct, the new program is a response to supply-partner Aviall's signing of an exclusive, 10-year supplier arrangement with Rolls-Royce in November 1999. Previously, Aviall was the sole source of Extex-made A250 parts.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, in Birmingham, England
U.K.-based ``niche'' operator FRA Aviation plans to acquire Australia's National Jet Systems Group (NJS) in a bid to bolster its commercial flight and maritime surveillance operation. Pending regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close within the next several weeks, and is valued at $39.2 million. A unit of Cobham, Plc., FRA owns and operates one of the world's largest fleets of civil ``special mission'' aircraft, which are engaged primarily in providing air defense training for the British military.
A new California-based fractional operation known as XJETS is hoping for a summer start-up with up to eight refurbished Cessna Citation IIs. The company is seeking to raise $5 million in investment capital. Like other fractional operators, XJETS plans to sell aircraft shares ranging from one-quarter to one-sixteenth, but to owners mainly flying regionally in the Western United States.
The European Union's (EU) ongoing effort to restrict the importation of ``hushkitted'' U.S. aircraft has incited a formal complaint from U.S. government trade officials. Filed under Article 84 of the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation, the complaint alleges that EU regulations discriminate against U.S. equipment, while representing a ``stark departure'' from global aircraft noise standards developed by ICAO.
Battle Creek, Mich.-based Duncan Aviation has received an STC for installation of the Honeywell Aero-I MCS 3000i satcom system on Cessna Citation X aircraft. Duncan completed the first installation with a fuselage-mounted antenna in January.
Soloy is offering the engine conversion program for Eurocopter AStar AS 350-D, B and BA models it originally developed for Allison in the mid-1980s. Known as the Soloy AllStar, the conversion replaces the helicopters' original Lycoming engines with Rolls-Royce 250-C30M engines. Soloy's December 1999 purchase of the AllStar STC from Rocky Mountain Helicopters also marks the company's reentry into the helicopter retrofit business. The company says it has retrofitted more than 400 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft with Rolls-Royce Engines.
Ibis Aerospace is pricing its proposed AE270P turboprop at $1,895,500. The pressurized, single-engine turbine can be configured to carry up to 10 passengers in commuter configuration or six to seven as a corporate aircraft. The AE270P is a joint venture of Ibis and Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody. Ibis plans to display the aircraft at this year's Farnborough, Experimental Aircraft Association and NBAA shows. The AE270P will compete with such aircraft as the Pilatus PC-12 and New Piper's Malibu Meridian.
Salaries for aviation faculty at member schools of the University Aviation Association (UAA) are increasing, but still lag behind those of other college professors, according to a study by the organization. Assistant professors at aviation schools averaged $48,790 annually -- a 28-percent increase over the last study a decade ago -- while their peers at non-aviation schools averaged about $50,000. While salaries increased, enrollment and the number of aviation programs both declined 10 to 15 percent.
Schweizer Aircraft is partnering with Northup Grumman to produce an unmanned version of its Model 333 turbine helicopter for the U.S. Navy. Under the terms of the $93 million deal, Schweizer will manufacture nine airframes to be designated as Model 379 or Vertical takeoff and landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV). The aircraft is designed to carry a 200-pound payload, fly 110 nm and remain on-site for three hours at altitudes as high as 20,000 feet.
American Eagle plans to appeal a Dallas jury's decision to award $10 million to a former pilot who said he was wrongfully terminated for refusing to fly in icing conditions. The airline said Michael LaGrotte was fired for his ``failure to follow procedures,'' and accused him of lying on his employment application regarding prior drug use and other infractions.
Cessna is creating a leadership scholarship for students of Kansas State University's aviation maintenance and piloting programs in Salina, Kan. Juniors and seniors will be eligible for the annual scholarship, which is designed to help pay for the students' bachelor's degree, private pilot lessons or transitional curves for turboprop or jet training. Cessna has committed $250,000 to create the award.
Felton Garrison is the new Midwestern regional sales manager at the company's Oklahoma City sales office. Michael Lewis is the new regional sales manager based at the company's Teterboro headquarters.
NTSB investigators are examining issues of crew scheduling, crew pairing, intra-cockpit communications and dispatch policies, as well as the psychology of terminal area operations and training as it continues its examination of the June 1, 1999 crash of an American Airlines MD-82 at Little Rock, Ark.
In conjunction with U.K.-based Cabair, Orlando Flight Training (OFT) will offer pilot training that conforms to European Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) regulations. The Kissimmee, Fla., flight school is licensed by the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the FAA to conduct training. Candidates for the U.K. private pilot license must receive a checkride from the British Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) who is based at OFT. The school offers basic flight training as well as night qualification, a U.K. instrument rating and multiengine rating.
When the experts speak about ``causal factors,'' ``circumstantial factors'' and ``consequences'' they are using precise terms that we need to understand to assimilate what they are trying to tell us. Causal factor -- This is an event or item judged to be directly instrumental in the causal chain of events leading to the accident. An accident may have been attributed to any number of causal factors. Typical causal factors are ``system failure affecting controll-ability'' or ``fast and high approach'' or ``interaction with equipment.''
Ten aviation industry trade groups have joined forces to lobby the U.S. Senate to pass AIR-21 -- a bill that could ensure long-term FAA funding. AIR-21 recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 316-110, and is now the subject of Senate debate. As negotiations proceed, proponents of the bill have expressed willingness to compromise.
Boeing has installed the first set of production winglets on a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to be used in upcoming certification test flights. The tests will generate data for the BBJ and all other 737 next-generation aircraft equipped with the winglets, which are designed by Aviation Partners Inc. (API) and built by Hexcel Structures. Boeing Aviation Services (BAS) will retrofit the winglets at its plant in Wichita.
