Remember when DUAT was just about the only way to get an affordable, electronic briefing? Lately, a variety of Internet-based tools have been developed or otherwise enhanced for those who want to point and click their way through their flight-planning chores. Get ready to add some of the following URLs to your browser:
Effective October 1, employers must send requests for pilot/job candidate driver records to the candidates home-state motor vehicle offices, rather than to the National Driver Register in Washington. (A provision in the Pilot Records Improvement Act requires carriers to get a pilot's driver records before hiring.) But, the National Air Transportation Association worries that the state offices will not be prepared to assume the new responsibility and might delay the process.
Edited By GORDON A. GILBERTLinda L. Martin TRANSPORT CANADA TACKLES CHALLENGE OF CHANGE
Due to new Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs), the introduction of Nav Canada (the nation's ATC system operator) and other changes in the environment in Canadian aviation, Transport Canada gave aircraft owners and operators free rein to voice their opinions with those involved in policy making when it convened its annual Canadian Aviation Safety Seminar (CASS) in Calgary, Alberta in early summer.
Breitling's new ``Emergency'' wristwatch is equipped with a built-in ELT transmitter. To activate it, the pilot must unscrew a protective cap and pull out the antenna. (The antenna can be deployed only once, and then must be totally reconditioned.) The quartz-movement Emergency also provides a full range of time functions with analog and digital displays, a chronograph, timer, alarm and secondtime-zone indication. Price: $5,000, with black or yellow dial. Breitling U.S.A. Inc., 2 Stamford Landing, Stamford, Conn. 06902. (203) 327-1411; fax: (203) 327-2537.
Illinois, North Carolina and Minnesota have awarded contracts for the installation of several automated weather-observing systems (AWOS) at smaller, publicly owned airports. Columbus, Ohio-based Vaisala Artais will install its AWOS III-P at up to 30 sites in North Carolina over the next three years. Its AWOS III will be added at 12 sites in Illinois by year-end. Meanwhile, the Minnesota DOT is buying four NEXWOS in AWOS III-P configuration from AAI/Systems Management Inc.
Effective with model year 1998 serial number aircraft, Mooney Aircraft Corp. is renaming two of its high-performance, single-engine aircraft. The 200-hp, 168-KTAS normally aspirated M20J MSE will become the Allegro, and the 270-hp turbo-intercooled M20M TLSBravo will be just the Bravo.
The NBAA's convention department is offering a plentiful assortment of pre- and post-convention workshops in Dallas. Pre-registrations with payment are due by September 15. Registration also can be conducted on site. Here is a menu of the educational fare: -- Workshop on Aircrew Human Factors, September 21-22. Members: $600, non-members: $675. -- Flight Operations Manual Workshop, September 21-22. Members: $600, non-members: $675.
The new rule allowing single-engine aircraft to conduct FAR Part 135 revenue passenger operations under IFR carries an effective date of May 3, 1998. But, the FAA will soon publish a Special FAR permitting operators who already comply with the provisions of the new regulation to begin operations prior to the 1998 date (January, page 13).
Roy Norris, who has shared the helm at Raytheon Aircraft Co. since its formation three years ago, resigned August 13. The title of president now goes to Art Wegner, the company's chairman and CEO. Norris, a veteran of Cessna who also once headed marketing at Gulfstream, first came to Raytheon in 1993 as head of the then newly acquired Hawker line. A Raytheon spokesman said the resignation was ``voluntary.'' Norris plans to establish a consulting firm for manufacturers and will relocate to Savannah.
Mesa Air Group says it will ``vigorously challenge'' in court the lifting of half its Los Angeles United Express markets and their award to SkyWest. United signed a new marketing agreement with SkyWest in late July making it a full-blown United Express carrier at Los Angeles complete with livery, uniforms--and eight of Mesa's 16 markets.
Grey Owl Aviation Consultants of Onanole, Manitoba will offer a two-day workshop on Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance on October 6-7 in Wichita. The course is designed to help line mechanics and supervisors erect ``safety nets'' to help them prevent aviation incidents created by human error. Human factors discussed in an interactive presentation style are communication, fatigue, distractions, teamwork and complacen-cy. The fee is $440 per person. Phone: (204) 848-7353 for further information.
Edited By GORDON A. GILBERTGordon A. Gilbert and Richard O. Reinhart, M.D.
A moral and legal controversy is brewing over the pilot's roll in responding to a passenger or cabin crewmember suspected of having a heart attack (see ``The Shock That Revives,'' June, page 72). While a medical emergency in the cabin may morally justify aid by the pilot, do FARs require him or her to remain in the cockpit? Several pilots at a recent human factors workshop expressed deep concern about being put into that position and having to make that decision.
Now heading Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.'s manufacturing operation is James T. Johnson, a 30-year aerospace veteran with top engineering and manufacturing credentials from Boeing. The former vice president and general manager of Boeing's Everett and Renton, Wash. production divisions now shoulders Gulfstream's mission to co-produce 60 aircraft by 1999.
The FAA's Office of the General Counsel has initiated a review of fractional ownership programs to determine whether they are being operated within the scope of FAR Part 91, or whether they should be considered commercial transportation and, therefore, subject to more restrictive oversight and regulation under Part 135.
As each new year's production of business jets is added to the fleet, the percentage of aircraft that meet FAR Part 36, Stage III noise standards increases. For example, by the end of 1976, there had been 2,500 business jets manufactured worldwide, of which only 20 percent met Stage III, according to figures reported by Grubb Associates, a Chicago-based consulting firm.
The aeronautics division of the Oregon DOT says the economic impact of the state's 57 general aviation airports totals $422.4 million, according to its recent analysis. That figure combines the economic impact of direct and secondary employment at airports, annual spending by airport tenants and visitors' spending at airports. When combined with figures from the 42 commercial service airports in Oregon, the total economic impact of airports came in at $11.5 billion.
Shell Aircraft, a division of the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, will conduct a six-month trial at England's London City Airport using a Dassault Falcon 50 to see if the airport will pass muster as an additional facility for its corporate jet operations. Shell says using London City will reduce flying times to and from European destinations and will bring greater access to takeoff and landing slots often denied at Heathrow. The company has been a long-time vocal advocate of general aviation access to Heathrow.
At the third annual Aircraft Owner/Operator Noise Abatement Symposium held in July at New York's Westchester County Airport, four people received awards for volunteering their services in the development of a light general-aviation noise-abatement videotape. The 30- to 40-minute video will depict the airport's recommended VFR arrival and departure routes and various landmarks, and will offer helpful tips for causing the least amount of disturbance over noise-sensitive communities.
Aviation Beauport is a new, 60,000-square-foot FBO on the English Channel island of Jersey, catering to U.S. companies seeking an advance staging post to the European mainland. The facility offers a passenger lounge, a conference room, crew rest area, hangarage for aircraft up to the size of a Falcon 900 and on-site customs.
Jane F. Garvey, who assumed FAA leadership as the first administrator to serve a five-year term, said she will be carefully scrutinizing the issue of whether fractional ownership programs should be governed by regulations designed for on-demand air charter operations and other commercial air services rather than for business aircraft operations. The FAA's Office of the Chief Counsel has been reviewing the situation for four months. (See Observer, page 58.)
Over the past decade, a number of options have been proposed to extend the useful lives of early-model Gulfstreams in the era of mandated aircraft noise reduction. While the Spey-powered variants are currently exempted from FAR Part 36, Stage 3 limits (thanks to a 75,000-pound MTOW threshold written into Part 36 and ICAO rules) the aircraft can be banned at particular airports through local ordinances.
Jim Rice, the company's founder, was promoted to president in addition to his responsibilities as chairman and CEO. Tom Stark, the former president, has been named president emeritus and senior vice president of the Future Works division.
