Strap into the cockpit of any $20-million-plus business jet and you expect to find full-performance FMSes capable of providing 3-D navigation for virtually all phases of flight. So, when we recently belted into the left seat of a Challenger equipped with triple UNS-1 boxes, our expectations were quite high. We were not disappointed.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has established a department of human factors and systems. Daniel Garland, chairman of the department, said the program grants two degrees: (1) a bachelor's degree in experimental psychology that prepares the graduate to design ``human-centered'' products and systems for aviation and (2) a master's degree in human factors and systems that will graduate ``human factors experts qualified to run design teams and conduct human factors investigations.''
Let's face it--no workplace is perfect, even in the ``most perfect job in the world.'' Every business environment has its share of gripes and disagreements. Unfortunately, when even minor discord festers in the hangar and the cockpits of corporate aircraft, it can quickly snowball into serious operational problems that can result in sore feelings, dissatisfied passengers or even tragedy. ``I'm never going to make chief pilot at this rate.'' ``What do you mean that's my job? You're the first officer--I'm the flight attendant.''
The following are target dates for emerging aircraft. These dates, supplied by the airframe manufacturers, are subject to change--and frequently do--as a result of design revisions, funding, testing delays or extensions, and/or the resolution of unforeseen problems. Each month, this table will endeavor to show the most-current schedule. Manufacturer Model Milestone Target Date AASI Jetcruzer 500 Turboprop Certification 3rd Quarter 1998
A group of U.S.-based investors has purchased Austin Jet of Texas from Rene Charvillat of London, England, who owns a number of aviation-related businesses in the United States and England. Since 1979, Austin Jet has sold helicopters and turbine aircraft worldwide, and has offered completions, service, avionics installation and repair. Loy White continues as president of the company.
The -20 has the best specific fuel consumption of any of AlliedSignal's second-generation, fuel miserly TFE731 engines. That's readily apparent as soon as you look at the EICAS readout in cruise.
So, you'd like to know where all this cockpit automation is going? Just look at your kitchen or your pickup truck or your latest wristwatch. There is an unavoidable trend in the flow of automation. If it can be done, it will be done. That trend is driven by efficiency, safety and an infernal human drive to do new things. In aviation that trend is mitigated by safety concerns and the pace of bureaucracy, but it is there. All cockpits--from ab initio trainers to hypersonic, trans-atmospheric transports--will become more automated.
In 1993, a federal blue-ribbon panel sponsored by the FAA predicted a shortage of fully qualified pilots would begin to manifest itself by 1995 and would continue to impact the entire aviation industry through 2010. For once, it looks like the prediction was right on the money.
National Helicopter Corp. of New York City, the operator of the East 34th Street Heliport, will not be evicted until a court decision is reached on its pending request for Chapter 11 protection. The New York City Economic Development Corporation served eviction papers on National this spring, saying National owes the city $700,000 in back rent. National denies it. Johnson Controls, still the current operator of the 60th Street Heliport (which the city is trying to close), is waiting to take over at 34th Street if the bankruptcy filing is rejected (June, page 26).
Borge Boeskov, president of Boeing Business Jets, unabashedly is a space salesman. ``There's no doubt in my mind that we're bringing a new dimension in space and flexibility to the business aircraft operator,'' Boeskov says with conviction. That's somewhat of an understatement considering that the BBJ offers two and one-half times the floor area and cabin volume of conventional ultra-long-range business aircraft.
Garmin becomes a contender for the panel-mount avionics stack with its introduction of the GTX 320 Class 1A transponder. This solid-state, 200-watt unit has a single-circuit-board design, measures 7.7 inches deep and weighs 1.6 pounds. The GTX 320 will fit into the existing installations of other popular transponders using optional adapters. Fourteen- or 12-volt operation is available. Price: $1,495. Garmin International, 1200 E. 151st St., Olathe, Kan. 66062. (913) 397-8200; fax: (913) 397-8282.
Iowa's annual Airport Conference, organized by the Iowa DOT, is scheduled for October 9-10 in Ames and will include various general aviation topics. In the planning stage are FAA safety seminars on Global Positioning Systems and weather operations, pilot regulations on certification and medical requirements, maintenance topics and navigational systems for general aviation. For regis-tration information, call (515) 237-3302.
Two federal legislators, who are not members of the powerful aviation subcommittees, have introduced legislation in the House and Senate that would restrict the FAA's emergency certificate revocation and suspension powers. It would force the agency to follow certain procedures and demonstrate that just cause existed for taking emergency action.
The Honeywell/Pelorus Satellite Landing System (SLS-2000) is the first differential GPS system (DGPS) ground station to receive FAA certification, and the agency is expected to commission the system for the world's first operational use at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport shortly. Next begins the chain of FAA certification of airborne equipment to use the ground station, starting with the airlines. Newark International is among other U.S. airports working on installation of the SLS-2000.
The Department of Aviation Sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and the Renewable Aviation Fuels Development Center (RAFDC) will host the second International Conference on Alternative Fuels on November 6-8 to discuss new directions in GA fuel development. Max Shauck, Ph.D. would like ethanol, a compound that can be produced from feedstock and from the waste streams that come from some industries, to replace 100LL.
As promising as Thermion's system might be for helping fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft combat ice, the company believes that as much as 75 percent of its business could eventually come from non-flying applications, mostly outside aerospace.
New from BFGoodrich Avionics Systems is the Stormscope WX-500 Series II Weather Mapping Sensor. The sensor was designed to detect electrical charges generated by thunderstorms within a 200-nm radius of the aircraft and to display the information on the new generation of multifunction displays. The sensor provides two modes of operation: strike mode and cell mode. Other features include heading stabilization and 360-degree and 120-degree views. Price: $5,995 (includes processor and omnidirectional antenna). BFGoodrich Avionics Systems, 5353 52nd St. SE, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Flightcrews using the MagnaStar C-2000 airborne telephone now can get a CHIP (Cockpit Headset Interface Panel) from Teledyne Controls that will allow them to place or receive calls using the aircraft's audio panel--without removing their headsets--and then to go back quickly to the normal headset function. Price: $4,590. Teledyne Controls, 8414 154th Ave. NE, Redmond, Wash. 98052. (206) 861-6906; fax: (206) 885-1543.
June's Paris Air Show attracted 1,853 exhibitors--up 13.4 percent over the participation in the 1995 show--and 121,908 aviation professionals, according to the Salons Internationaux de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace. Attendance of 216 official foreign delegations from 97 countries and the fact that foreign exhibitors accounted for 62 percent of the total exhibitors attested to the show's ``internationalization.'' The value of the contracts signed or deals closed reached $11.3 billion.
The Galaxy's Collins Pro Line 4 avionics suite looks a lot like the system installed in the Astra, except for its five-tube configuration, which includes a centrally positioned EICAS display. Standard Pro Line 4 equipment includes a dual-channel autopilot, dual attitude-heading reference systems and dual digital air data computers, all of which give the aircraft potential for RVSM certification. The package also in- cludes dual ARINC 429 Pro Line comm/nav/ ident radios, including dual DMEs, ADFs and integrated radio tuning units.
An organization's 50th commemorative year does come but once in its lifetime, and the NBAA is planning to celebrate its golden anniversary with a shindig in Dallas not to be forgotten. Booth sales for the NBAA's 50th Annual Meeting and Convention are booming with a total of 3,242 and counting, while an estimated 190 aircraft will be on static display at Signature Aviation/Dallas Airmotive facilities on Dallas Love Field.
