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.
Adelaide-based Surveillance Australia -- a division of National Jet Systems --has acquired two additional Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8Q-200 turboprops for maritime patrol missions. Prior to delivery, Toronto's Field Aviation will equip the two aircraft with long-range fuel tanks, enlarged windows, a Raytheon SV1022 search radar, FLIR and a daytime TV camera. The new additions will join three similar aircraft flown from bases at Broome, Darwin and Cairns, enforcing Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone out to 620 nm from the coast.
Paris, France-based Federation Aeronautique Internationale awarded its Honorary Group Diploma for Aeronautics 1999-2000 to the Bombardier Aerospace team that developed the Learjet 45 business jet.
Ogden Corp. says it plans to sell its aviation and entertainment divisions in a bid to ensure a ``solid operating platform'' for its energy business, which owns powerplants and related infrastructure. R. Richard Ablon has resigned as the company's chairman and CEO, to be replaced by Scott G. Macklin as president and CEO, and George L. Farr as non-executive chairman of the board. In announcing the move, Ogden said its third quarter earnings will be ``substantially below'' analysts' estimates.
The Global Express' six, eight-by-seven-inch EFIS tubes are the most visible parts of its Primus 2000XP avionics system, especially because of the display configuration flexibility built into the system. The left- and right-side MFDs, for example, can be configured to show system synoptics, thereby making more information available to the crew than the EICAS alone can present. Bombardier's choice of colors, symbols and graphics is consistent and conventional, thus helping to accelerate the pilots' learning curve.
Operators that plan to continue flying their Gulfstream IIs and IIBs overseas well into the future not only need to outfit their airplanes with hush kits, they need to make sure their airplanes comply with reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) for flying on transoceanic routes. By 2000, G-II and G-IIB operators are expected to be able to purchase from Honeywell and Garrett an RVSM package that does not involve any major changes to the airplane's pitot-static system and will permit the autopilot to operate smoother in the altitude-capture mode.
Russian flagship carrier Aeroflot chose AlliedSignal to supply Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems for the airline's eight Ilyushin IL-76 transport cargo airplanes.
Fairchild Aerospace division Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH has been awarded a contract to update and refurbish a total of 26 Alpha Jets including 20 for the Thai Air Force and another six for the United Kingdom's Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
FlightSafety International (La Guardia Airport, N.Y.) -- John Fox was promoted to assistant manager of FlightSafety International's San Antonio learning center.
Air Group Aviation, formed by Jim Haynes and Ben Bartel, has begun what it says will be a string of acquisitions of aviation service companies aimed at building a $500-million national company serving business aviation needs within five years. The group's first deal was announced September 1 and involved the acquisition of Tyler Jet Completions, Inc., in Tyler, Texas, which was founded in 1995 to support completions needs of Tyler Jet's resale operations.
When aviation loses one of its own in an aircraft accident, it is a sober reminder that the laws of physics can be unforgiving, even for the most experienced pilots. But given the many times that Donald D. Engen ex-panded the envelope during his long and illustrious career, we can look back on his accomplishments and say with certainty that few airmen have advanced the cause of civil and military aviation safety as much as he did.
Development of Sukhoi's proposed S-21 supersonic business jet (SSBJ) is not likely to proceed without a large external investment, according to sources at the recent International Aviation and Space Salon held at Zhukovsky airport near Moscow. The company previously said it had ``frozen'' the S-21's design, and could fly a prototype by 2002. According to Mikhail Simonov, Sukhoi's general designer, profits from military sales could fund the first Sukhoi SSBJ.
In a $66.4 million transaction, Worldwide Flight Services, a leading provider of ground services to the industry, purchased Miami Aircraft Support and Aerolink International.
Syracuse Executive Air Service purchased three new King Air aircraft for its charter fleet: a 300 and an A100 (both eight-passengers) and an E-90 (seating six passengers).
Accelerated Cost Recovery System: The 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act's ACRS provided more accelerated depreciation schedules than previously available for certain types of assets, with the intention of spurring new investment activity. Accelerated Depreciation: A method of depreciating an asset for tax purposes that substantially outpaces fair market depreciation. The goal is to create tax benefits that increase after-tax income, thus freeing up cash to invest for future purchases.
Nav Canada has announced C$107 million in fee reductions for Canadian-registered aircraft and foreign-based aircraft utilizing its air navigation services.
A look at the purpose of travel can lay the foundation for its cost analysis. Companies have two reasons for travel: (1) strategic and (2) operational. Strategic trips have high risk and high reward potentials. They include merger and acquisition efforts as well as critical customer or sales meetings. In other words, a strategic trip has a large impact on revenues or the state of the business.
The growing pilot shortage has led Northwest Airlink regional Mesaba Airlines to create direct-hire programs with Western Michigan University and the University of North Dakota. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has a similar arrangement with Virginia-based Atlantic Coast Airlines. All three schools operate large, FAR Part 141 flight schools and offer ab initio training to foreign airline customers.
A voluntary test program designed to enhance safety while troubleshooting new air traffic control concepts is moving forward in Alaska. Called ``Capstone,'' the initiative will see the creation of non-precision GPS approaches at 10 remote village airports, with co-located automated weather observation system (AWOS) equipment.
Raytheon Aircraft is relocating its parts inventory from a company-owned facility in Salina, Kan., to a state-of-the-art support facility in Grapevine, Texas, as part of an effort to improve responsiveness in its product support business. ``We used to think that if we can design an airplane, we ought to be able to handle logistics, but our effort turned out to be sub-optimum,'' said Chairman Art Wegner in a recent meeting with B/CA editors. Ryder will manage the new facility, and encompasses its five acres under one roof.
Raytheon Aircraft contracted with the government of Greece to provide 45 T-6A trainer aircraft, a ground-based training system and integrated logistical support.
AlliedSignal selected Unison Industries as the sole provider of overhaul and repair services for all ignition exciters used on AlliedSignal main propulsion and APU turbine gas engines.
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.
FlightCam (www.flightcam.net) is a new Web site that hosts real-time images of sky and runway conditions at rural airports in Alaska's interior. The project created by Jim Buckingham, a University of Alaska Fairbanks Ph.D. candidate, is now using remote video at three airports chosen for their lack of weather reporting and high commercial traffic: Anaktuvuk Pass, Kaltag and Ruby. A variety of government and industry groups are supporting FlightCam, including the FAA, the DOT, the NWS and at least three FAR Part 135 operators.
