The light, compact Mini System Case from Olympus America allows the user to make bright, sharp internal weldment inspections ``in the field'' without removing and disassembling equipment. This portable inspection system, weighing approximately 25 pounds, includes an Olympus Series 6 Videoscope, an onboard computer, a CCU, internal floppy disk drive, light source and six-inch diagonal LCD. The display can mount on the Videoscope handle or on a telescoping pole in the case. Price: $12,000 to $16,000, depending upon equipment options Olympus America
Commander Aircraft Co. (Bethany, Okla.) -- Keith Martinich was appointed vice president of sales and marketing, directing the company's Northeast region sales efforts for high-performance piston engine sales.
An advanced Bombardier Dash 8-100/Q200/Q300 full-flight, FAA Level D simulator will be installed in 2000 at the new FlightSafety Atlanta training center.
The first documented aircraft bird strike fatality in North America was on April 3, 1912 near Long Beach, Calif. Cal Rogers was flying a Wright EX along the beach at a low altitude and struck a gull. The bird became jammed in the controls of the aircraft causing the crash and Rogers' death.
Bell Helicopter says it has started a ``nationwide campaign'' of lawsuits against companies and individuals who counterfeit its aircraft and parts. Bell claims to have discovered a number of instances in which refurbished UH-1 military helicopters were fraudulently sold as civil Bell 204s, with some constructed entirely from bits and pieces. Such aircraft, Bell says, ``misrepresent the quality, safety and reliability of Bell aircraft, misleading the consumer.'' Bell built thousands of UH-1s, but Model 204 production amounted to just 72.
CAMP Systems International (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) -- Hector Ortega is the new national sales director for this provider of business aircraft maintenance and inspection programs. In addition, John J. Corcoran is the firm's Miami regional representative, Troy Asmus is the Dallas rep and Kurt Feriks represents the company in the New York City area.
Mercury Air Center at DeKalb Peachtree Airport, the host of the Static Display at the October 12-14 NBAA convention in Atlanta, invites all comers for some Southern hospitality. After visitors get an eyeful of the attractively appointed aircraft, they can stop in for refreshments at a special reception hangar, sponsored by Phillips 66, and a bit of entertainment, sponsored by Galaxy. The hangar will be open during convention hours.
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).
Two Texas-based general aviation specialists -- AvLink and Jet Associates -- are collaborating on the development of a national fractional aircraft-owners network. AvLink will function as manager and dispatcher for the program.
Textron Financial Corp. (TFC) of Providence, R.I., has bought the aircraft finance division of Green Tree Financial Servicing Corp. -- a subsidiary of Conseco, the large consumer finance company -- as part of a larger deal that is to be completed by the end of the third quarter. Green Tree, which is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., finances avionics and aircraft overhaul, painting and refurbishing, as well as new and used aircraft. The terms of the agreement, which also included acquisition of Green Tree's franchise finance operation, were not disclosed.
The newly formed team of Honeywell/Racal and OmniPless has launched the SCS-1000 Mini-M Aero satcom for small to medium-size business jets. The unit is a single-channel aeronautical communications system that provides standard or secure voice, fax and personal computer data transmission. Components include antenna, antenna control unit, power supply unit, telephone unit and handset. Honeywell offers its OneLink communication service to SCS-1000 customers.
Air-filled Aircraft Recovery Cushions from Pronal can lift corporate jets up to 22 feet for maintenance procedures. Each of the five cushions in the set has three sections: a base of three inflatable elements -- each 13.0 by 6.4 feet when inflated -- capable of supporting a towering group of cushions topped by an upper dihedral-shaped element. The cushions are designed to mate with the wing or the fuselage. Bottom cushions have eight handles for gripping and moving.
The FAA's Alaskan Region has awarded a $3.9 million contract to UPS Aviation Technologies -- formerly II Morrow -- to provide 150 avionics shipsets as part of the Capstone program. The UPS package will include ADS-B equipment, the Apollo GX50 GPS navigation system with moving map display, the Apollo MX20 multi-function cockpit display and a Universal Access Transceiver data-link radio. UPS won the contract after successfully testing its system at Bethel, Alaska, in late August, aboard a UPS King Air and a Cessna 208 Caravan provided by PenAir, an FAR Part 135 operator.
EarPlanes from Cirrus Healthcare were designed to lessen ear pain that passengers might suffer due to rapid changes in aircraft cabin pressure. These earplugs are made of hypoallergenic silicone, which provides an airtight seal between the product and the ear canal. A ceramic pressure regulator obstructs the flow of air into and out of the ear canal. One pair is good for one round trip. Price: $5 each pair Cirrus Healthcare Products P.O. Box 469 Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 Phone: (516) 759-6664
IDD Aerospace Corp. of Redmond, Wash., is under contract to provide lightplates and push-button displays to the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group for all Boeing production aircraft, including the Boeing Business Jet.
Raytheon Aircraft contracted with the government of Greece to provide 45 T-6A trainer aircraft, a ground-based training system and integrated logistical support.
Photograph: FBOs intent on customer satisfaction do not discount the cosmetics: bricks, mortar and interior design, pleasingly presented. Paul Brou How does it feel to be valued? Judging from the comments of FBO managers affiliated with the major chains as well as independents, they are willing to just about stand on their heads to satisfy you, the customer. FBOs at your based airport want to keep your business, and those you visit as a transient customer would like you to become a regular when you are in their airspace.
The 1999 General Aviation Industry Awards program has named this year's winners. David Faile, Jr. of Fairfield, Conn., has been named the Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year; Harry Shannon of Winter Haven, Fla., was selected as the Aviation Maintenance Technician of the Year; and Daniel Derby of Greensboro, N.C., was chosen as the Avionics Technician of the Year. Paul Poberezny, founder and chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association, has been inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio.
International Turbine Services, a division of BBA Aviation, has introduced a new rotable exchange program, providing parts in support of all series of the PT6 and JT15 engines.
