AlliedSignal and Honeywell will divest portions of their respective aviation electronics units in return for U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) approval of the planned merger of the two companies. Honeywell will divest its TCAS business; AlliedSignal will divest its search and surveillance weather radars; space and navigation business; Chesire, Conn., operations; and MEMS
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, Birmingham, England
Charter and corporate aviation activity at London City Airport (LCY) is growing rapidly, according to handing agent Lynton Aviation and resident charter operator London Executive Aviation. Russell Search, Lynton's handling manager for corporate movements, says LCY is very popular with financial, U.K. government and European Commission clients due to its proximity to London's financial and business districts.
Imagine flying with an instrument panel display system that produces a virtual VFR window to the outside world, one that provides a clear, daylight view of terrain and aircraft attitude in three-dimensional perspective.
Nav Canada has announced C$107 million in fee reductions for Canadian-registered aircraft and foreign-based aircraft utilizing its air navigation services.
Embraer's derivative ERJ-135 regional jet has entered the U.S. market with launch customers Continental Express and American Eagle. The Brazilian manufacturer claims 139 firm orders and 180 options for the 37-seat aircraft, a shortened version of the 50-seat ERJ-145 already in service worldwide. The ERJ-135 first flew in July 1998, and obtained FAA certification on July 19, 1999.Production of the aircraft will now proceed at the rate of three units per month.
Keytech division of Keystone Helicopter Corp. and Avionics International Supply finalized negotiations for the representation of Keytech's engineering services.
The Internet-based corporate pilot employment service now offers resume preparation services for pilots. The firm also is offering employers blind-box ads that can confidentially forward responses to them or have the responses screened by Avcrew.com to determine whether the candidates are qualified. Employers also can look for qualified pilots by reviewing resumes and classifieds or utilizing search and screening services. Flight departments seeking temporary pilots can use the ``contract pilots online'' section of the Web site.
Century Aerospace has nixed San Diego as a possible final assembly location for its six-seat Century Jet 100. According to Don Coburn, head of sales and marketing for the firm, ``too much opposition from the community'' was the reason. He explained that both the proposed Montgomery Field and Brown Field locations received thumbs-down responses from airport neighbors.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, Fla.) -- Dennis J. Rowley has been named director of industry safety initiatives at the university's Center for Aerospace Safety Education.
Pennsylvania's state government has released $5.2 million for safety and maintenance projects at 43 public-use airports statewide. The funds, administered by PennDOT's Bureau of Aviation, will be used for land acquisition, environmental planning, runway and taxiway reconstruction, maintenance, security and lighting. A state fuel tax is the source of the funding.
Maintenance Errors, Accidents, Incidents and Problems If anyone doubts the advantages of developing an awareness of maintenance human factors in an organization, consider these numbers and factors: The FAA says data show an average of just under 50,000 flights are dispatched each year with maintenance discrepancies. The dependability of equipment has grown significantly since the Wrights' first flight. Accident Cause 1903 1992 Machine 90% 20%
Indianapolis International Airport information oscar, time 0305 Zulu, winds 140 at 12 gusting to 22, visibility one mile in fog, light rain, sky conditions overcast at 500 feet, temperature 15, dew point 11, altimeter 29.85. Arriving aircraft expect ILS Runway 23 left, NDB Runway 23 right. Advise on initial contact you have oscar.''
Executive Jet Management (EJM) has added four aircraft to its growing managed aircraft fleet. The aircraft include a Gulfstream IIB based in Oxford, Conn., and a Falcon 50 based in Islip, N.Y. A Cessna Citation V Ultra and a Citation V, both based in Cincinnati, will be used in support of the company's NetJets fractional ownership program. EJM plans to add 25 managed aircraft before year-end, and now manages 49 aircraft in 28 locations.
Precise Flight has certified a new ``pulselight'' system that may be tied to an aircraft's TCAS processor for control. So equipped, the aircraft becomes the aerial equivalent of a ``big flashing Christmas tree,'' in the presence of other transponder-equipped aircraft, according to Precise Flight's Scott Philiben.
FlightSafety Canada received Transport Canada interim Level C certification for its advanced Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 full flight simulator . . . Eastwind Airlines, a low-fare carrier based in Greensboro, N.C., fired its CEO and two other senior managers.
Garrett Aviation Services (Phoenix) -- Gregory Thomas has been named vice president of supply chain management for all of the company's operations. He is responsible for managing all aspects of the firm's spare parts business.
Canada's air traffic controllers have signed their first collective bargaining agreement with Nav Canada, after months of often bitter negotiations. The three-year contract includes an average 30-percent pay raise, a 36-hour work week and shorter shifts, with more controllers on duty during peak traffic periods. Nav Canada says the concessions will allow it to reduce its historical dependence on overtime.
The NTSB says U.S. skies were safer last year, with the aviation death toll dropping from 976 to 683 from 1997. Commercial airlines suffered just one fatality in 1998; a ground crewman killed by a propeller strike. The air taxi segment showed an increase with 45 fatalities, up from 40 the year before. Overall, general aviation fatalities decreased from 646 to 621 from year to year, and foreign-registered aircraft accounted for 16 fatalities last year.
Mercury Air Group entered into an agreement with National Airlines for services to be provided by three of its operating units: Mercury Fuel Sales and Service, Mercury Air Cargo and RPA Airline Automation Services.
In these days of instant gratification and Internet millionaires, the concept of public service seems almost quaint, a leftover from the 19th century instead of a buzzword of the New Millennium.
Eurocopter's ``Euromil'' partnership with Russia's MIL and Kazan Helicopters has agreed to study the feasibility of the MI-38, a new large helicopter for civil and military use. MIL will handle the general design, while Kazan will build the fuselage and rotor blades and complete the final assembly. Eurocopter will be responsible for the cockpit and avionics, and Pratt&Whitney Canada's PWC 127 engines will provide power.
ARINC has released new versions of its SkySource WebASD and WebAirport flight-tracking services, which display real-time aircraft, airport and weather information using an Internet connection.
FlightSafety International (La Guardia Airport, N.Y.) -- John Fox was promoted to assistant manager of FlightSafety International's San Antonio learning center.
