Cessna Aircraft completed the first international delivery of its TTx, handing over the fixed-gear single-engine aircraft to a customer in Thailand. Cessna received certification of the TTx in July, marking a return of the former Corvalis program that had suspended production in late 2010. The new TTx is the first aircraft to sport the Garmin G2000 avionics system with a glass cockpit and dual 14.1-in. high-definition displays and touch screen controls.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has nixed plans to lease Midway International Airport (MDW) to private investors. Rahm suddenly canceled the process in September when only one lease bidder remained. A spokeswoman for the mayor's office was quoted as saying, “We set a high bar,” but “the companies did not meet that bar and could not make an offer that would meet what taxpayers deserve.” The lease, which was expected to generate billions of dollars for the city, would have involved the first major metropolitan U.S. airport to go under private control.
Flt.plan.com reports the highest number of monthly flight plans and weather briefings created in company history: 460,193 flight plans and 452,000 weather briefings for the month of August. The company saw a 3.3% increase in flight plans created for jets over August 2012, and a 3.8% increase for piston aircraft flight plans created over the same period in 2012. Helicopter flight plans rose 53% from a year ago.
Gulfstream Aerospace launched 24-Hour Support, an iPhone- and iPad-compatible application that provides customers with access the company's worldwide product support network. It is a comprehensive source for direct access to Gulfstream Technical Operations, 19 company-owened and authorized service centers, 13 authorized warranty facilities, 43 field service reps, spare part sales, and other key contacts. The app includes phone and fax number, email addressed, location information and operating hours. The app can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store.
The overriding benefit of a head-up display (HUD) system is facilitating the pilot's transition from instrument to visual flight near the ground for landing. What if the aircraft could be landed without “seeing” the ground? Take a look at the picture of a head-down display (HDD), synthetic vision PFD in Figure 1. That presentation would be the same at night, in VFR or in IFR. That image represents the future.
Mike Ward (Award Aviation Consulting Deer Harbor, Wash. )
In reference to the Cave Creek helicopter crash review titled “Command Presence,” (Cause & Circumstance, June 2013, page 56), I totally support your points on command authority. In 24,000 hr. of flying, there have been many times where I have had to work to retain that authority even when it was unpleasant or politically incorrect to do so. The best contribution your article made was to provide an argument for the professional pilot the next time a similar situation occurs.
West Star Aviation, East Alton, Ill., announced that Cristian Byman has joined the company as technical sales manager-Avionics at the East Alton, Ill., facility. Craig Winterrowd has joined the company as as regional sales manager in California. Awards and Honors
Jet Aviation Flight Services has added its first Gulfstream G650 onto its U.S. Part 135 air carrier certificate. It will be managed by the Van Nuys office. The G650 charter aircraft seats up to 13 passengers, sleeps five and includes a crew rest area. With a range of about 7,000 nm, its suitable for trips from Van Nuys to Madrid, Melbourne and Johannesburg.
CIRCOR, Corona, Calif., promoted Daniel Godin to vice president of Operations, North America. In his expanded role, he will continue to provide leadership for the company's Lean Manufacturing and growth initiatives.
Aug. 29 — About 1941 EDT, a Piper PA-28-161 (N9089N) was destroyed when it hit an antenna and terrain adjacent to Runway 2 and a post-accident fire ensued at Danville Regional Airport (DAN), Danville, Va., following a go-around maneuver. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was killed in the crash. It was VFR at the time of accident. The student pilot was flying the airport pattern on a supervised solo flight. Eyewitnesses observed the airplane attempt two landings preceding the accident landing attempt.
AVMATS Parts Support is the first company to part out an airworthy Gulfstream V, according to the company. This aircraft, s.n. 647, was recently purchased by AVMATS for the sole purpose of improving parts availability and reducing the cost of proprietary items. It widens the rotable pool and adds a needed new source for used and serviceable GV parts to the market.
AEROBridge, Washington, D.C., has been was warded the National Aeronautic Association's 2013 Public Benefit Flying Award for Outstand Achievement in Public Benefit Flying “for creating a nationwide network of volunteer aircraft owners, operators, FBOS and pilots will to donate their time, effort and funding for the alleviation of the suffering of those in need due to disaster or circumstance.”
I have been delinquent in writing about some previous columns. So here goes. 1. Regarding Mrs. Garvey and “Bitchin Betty” in “She Knows Her Way Around” (Viewpoint, February 2008) software engineers are notorious for getting things past marketing. Some of the working phraseology such as calculating, re-calculating, etc., can be wholly explained by watching re-runs of “Star Trek” such as when Kirk and Spock ask the computer to do things like calculating the warp effect if they do a gravity assist from the binary star system Zoerk 7.
The new south terminal at San Francisco is a substantial addition to the main terminal and represents a major stage of growth. Ten airlines will occupy the $14 million facility when it is fully operational. A ground speed indicator under development for several years is now being marketed by NARCO. Weighing 1.7 lb. and fitting into a standard 3 1/8-in. hole, the indicator costs $395 and attaches to any NARCO DME.
On the evening of Dec. 29, 1972, a Lockheed L-1011 departed New York's JFK Airport, on a scheduled FAR Part 121 flight to Miami International Airport (MIA). Around 11:32 p.m, the crew received clearance and began the approach to Miami. The first officer lowered the landing gear but noticed that the nose gear down and locked indicator light did not illuminate. The pilots canceled the approach and entered a holding pattern at 2,000 ft. so that they could investigate the problem. They recycled the gear with no change.
The aviation community lost two more exemplary members over the summer. Paul Poberezny, the founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the creator of the world's largest general aviation air show — AirVenture — passed away at the age of 91 from cancer in Oshkosh, Wis., on Aug. 22. And John Marino, who spent nearly four decades as a FlightSafety International executive at the organization's academy in Vero Beach, Fla., in China, and in Washington, D.C., died on Aug. 16 following a long battle with cancer. He was 65.
While the objective of the North Atlantic Data Link Mandate is safety, data link equipage is also the enabling technology for reduced lateral and longitudinal separation (RLongSM) programs that will be introduced in the immediate future in the North Atlantic Track System. As such, it is expected to facilitate increased capacity and offer operators more options for preferential flight levels and tracks. Here is a description of the separation reduction programs and phased introduction schedules:
Landmark Aviation's Aircraft Management & Charter division has been approved to operate to and from Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). Landmark will now be able to provide both corporate aircraft management and FAR Part 135-non-scheduled air carrier services.
Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., named William Brown director of global security. He will manage activities to protect Gulfstream employees, assets and property. William Gibson was appointed director, Product Support Global Distribution. He previously spent 10 years at Honeywell, most recently as senior manager, customer operations for its Space and Defense segmant.
In September, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) gave medals to Brian Bosman and Brandt Hershman, the Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives and Senate leader, respectively, for leading the repeal of the state's aircraft gas tax — good for about 40 cents per gallon — as well as a 7% tax on aircraft parts and labor.
Elliott Aviation has installed a Honeywell Primus Epic CDS/R Phase V and NZ-210 WAAS FMS upgrade in a Hawker 800XP. Elliott will obtain the STC for the FMS 6.1 version 03040 with Epic CDS/R and the legacy SPZ-8000 EFIS. In addition to the Honeywell installation, the aircraft will receive a 48-month inspection, full paint, full interior and structural inspections. The retrofit reduces the weight of the aircraft by 50 lb.
Constant Aviation, Cleveland, Ohio, was selected as a 2013 NorthCoast 99 winner as on of the best workplaces in Northeast Ohio. This is two in a row for Constant Aviation.
Criticized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for lax safety oversight, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has responded in part by banning domestic business aircraft operators from conducting international flights until they demonstrate compliance with new safety standards. The DGCA's decision comes in the wake of an ICAO audit that found that operators were inadequately prepared for long-distance flights. ICAO officials also cited India as among 13 nations with the worst record for air safety oversight.
Question: What happens when two hot air balloons collide during ascent? Answer: Not much. Oh, the aeronauts in their respective baskets get to hurl silly insults at one another, but that's about it. As is demonstrated at any five-year-old's birthday party, balloons are wonderfully pliable structures. So, the inflight bumping of two really big ones roughly equates to buxom grande dames embracing at afternoon tea. A malleable non-event. This I know from first hand experience.
