A new feature of the latest edition of the NBAA's annual Airport Noise Summary is a listing of business jets and their noise output in dBA and EPNdB. The list also includes each aircraft model's stage category under FAR Part 36. The main part of the 43-page publication is a summary of the noise abatement procedures and advisories of 655 U.S. airports. Copies of the new edition of the summary are available from the NBAA at (202) 783-9253 or at its Web site at www.nbaa.org.
International Federation of Helicopter Associations is ``strongly opposed'' to the proposed type certification basis developed by Garlick Helicopters for military surplus Huey helicopters (August, page 16).
The Minimum Safe Altitude Warning system is not being implemented widely enough, says the Flight Safety Foundation. ``Any airport with approach radar that fails to include MSAW capability is missing a golden opportunity to make flying safer,'' says the FSF's Robert Vandel. The FSF pointed out that only the United States and Israel use MSAW extensively. Safety investigators are looking at a malfunctioning MSAW as a possible factor in the August 6 crash of a Korean Air Boeing 747 on Guam.
Changes in type certification rules and procedures proposed by the FAA likely would paralyze the STC market, say aviation interest groups. The AOPA, GAMA and the National Air Transportation Association are responding to the FAA's proposal to require that design changes for current aircraft and components comply with the latest amendments to airworthiness rules (July, page 25). Presently, aircraft and their systems are ``grandfathered'' under the regulations in force at the time a design received its original type certificate.
Pratt&Whitney Canada obtained Transport Canada certification for its 1,002-shp PT6B-37, the turboshaft engine in Agusta's new single-engine A119 Koala. The seven-passenger helicopter is scheduled to receive FAA certification shortly (March 1996, page 24).
Midway Island is again available as a convenient fuel stop, but at least one corporate operator will not be using the facility again because of its encounter with birds. According to a report in a recent issue of the NBAA's International Operations Bulletin, an operator's Gulfstream IV hit two birds when on approach to Midway Island causing ``minor damage.'' The operator said flocks of albatross hover over the arrival and departure ends of the runways and ``will not move for anything.''
Cold weather is just ahead for many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing with it winter storms, blowing snow, overcast skies and degraded visibility. Even if visibility is good, certain sky and ground conditions can blur the distinction between IMC and VMC. Pilots who depart from or arrive at certain airports may find themselves in a whiteout--a meteorological milk bowl containing smooth, unbroken snow-covered ground, a uniform overcast sky and light reflections that make ground and sky visually inseparable.
Financially beleaguered Mahalo Air was forced to shut down scheduled operations in early September when it was unable to pay an insurance premium. President Mike Yocum was looking for outside investors to help get the carrier airborne again, albeit on a reduced schedule.
The second annual Regional&Corporate Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference is being sponsored on October 26-28 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. by Speednews, a market-intelligence newsletter for the aviation industry. Business aircraft manufacturers and engine makers will give product line updates. Other topics on the agenda include aircraft market forecasts from major OEMs and industry analysts, supplier and maintenance issues, and industry trends in the corporate and regional aviation market. The registration fee is $885. Phone (310) 203-9603 to register.
The first new airport in England in 10 years recently opened to general aviation eight miles from Sheffield in Northern England. Scheduled services at Sheffield City Airport are expected to begin before year-end. The airfield's single, 4,000-foot runway is ILS-equipped. For more information, phone Sheffield at +44 1142 452221, or fax +44 1142 402653.
FAA corrected errors in the original versions of two newly adopted rules. The effective date of the rule to allow IFR commercial passenger flights in single-engine aircraft is May 4, 1998, not May 3 (September, page 28). And the correct phone number for FAA information on new flight data recorder requirements is (202) 267-8166 (August, page 9).
Larger corporate aircraft and airliners flying in Canada will benefit from a revised proposal from Nav Canada that defers new ATC user fees for at least four months beyond the originally proposed deadline.
General aviation activity worldwide (excluding China and the C.I.S.) during 1996 remained at the same level as in 1995, according to ICAO, when 38-million hours were flown. Of this total, an estimated 20-million hours (52 percent) were flown for business and personal purposes. There were approximately 337,910 active GA aircraft worldwide in 1996.
Some Washington policy makers seem willing to acknowledge civil aviation's vital role in the pursuit of our national economic and social goals, but turning that understanding into an enlightened funding plan seems as elusive as ever. Consider the preliminary report of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission (NCARC), delivered late last month to the DOT.
Dassault has started installing Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 head-up displays on U.S.-registered Falcon 2000s. The displays are currently certificated for Cat I manual approaches and Cat II autopilot approaches. FAA approval to use the HUD for Cat III approaches is expected by year-end (August, page 14). JAA approval for the displays on European-registered Falcon 2000s was received in September 1996 (February, page 13).
FAA plans to replace the systems by which FSSes provide information to pilots. OASIS (Operational and Supportability Implementation System) consists of new software and hardware to enable FSSes to provide for even more weather data. Current systems are not only unable to accommodate growth, but their capabilities are often compromised by a lack of spare parts. The OASIS contract was awarded to Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Fla.
For less than $1 million, you can buy a business jet that can operate out of a 4,000-foot strip, then soar into the mid forties in less than 20 minutes and cruise at more than four times its stalling speed. What makes this possible? Primarily, the aircraft's prodigious thrust and slippery aerodynamics. As a result, you can blow through the limits of a jet's operating envelope as easily as a parking valet converts tire tread into rubber smoke.
Dan O'Neal is the new director of operations for this air charter, aircraft management and maintenance company based at New York's Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. O'Neal was previously chief pilot for ARCO.
Bell is operating the XV-15 both in support of its 609 civil tiltrotor program and as a basic tiltrotor research vehicle. To that end, the company has embarked on a three-year exploration of GPS precision approaches in conjunction with NASA Ames research laboratory.
Safety Net Resources of Miami has launched Emergency Medical Link (EML) to provide inflight emergency medical support on a worldwide basis. EML's basic service cost of $1,295 includes responses for up to three incidents. Each additional incident response costs $200. For more information, contact Safety Net Resources at (800) 383-0477. In August, a similar service was introduced by AirCare of Olympia, Wash. Phoenix-based MedAire pioneered this type of service in 1985 with its MedLink program.
Chemtronics has developed two new electronics dusters--the most powerful in the company line--to rid sensitive instruments of particulates. Both the Ultrajet Duster and Ultrajet All-Way Duster (capable of cleaning at any angle) are made of ultra-pure refrigerant HFC-134a and are nonflammable and ozone safe. Suggested retail prices: Ultrajet Duster--$5.50 for 5 ounces; $8.95 for 8 ounces. Chemtronics, 8125 Cobb Center Dr., Kennesaw, Ga. 30152. (770) 424-4888; fax: (770) 424-4267.
American Eagle in early September took delivery of the 500th ATR from Aero International (Regional), 12 years after the first ATR 42 was delivered to Command Airways of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., now merged into American Eagle's Flagship Airlines. The ATR 72-210A was the third of a most recent Eagle order of 12 -210A aircraft, with deliveries continuing through May 1988.
