Congratulations on a grand tribute to the all-star team that made BCA the unique jewel of business aviation. The staff photo review is so appropriate in this very special industry (aka elite club) of aviation zealots. It is a glowing trip down memory lane. It has been an honor to serve with all of you and I am sure Dave is smiling proudly up there. BCA proves it is not lonely at the top.
Hypoxia is a silent killer and pilots often are unaware of their condition because lack of oxygen affects their judgment. Technicians who fly regularly or who participate in pressurization system maintenance flights need to be prepared as well for this invisible, tasteless danger. To help increase awareness of hypoxia's threat, the military exposes pilots to high-altitude pressure simulators.
*Agusta A109E, A109S and A119 helicopters -- Inspect the pilot and copilot doors' emergency release system. If any interference is found between the lower hinges of the doors and the housing on the helicopter structure, rework the housing slot of the lower hinge. *Cessna Caravan 208 and 208B airplanes -- Inspect the left and right wing wire bundles and repair or replace damaged wire.
As the world's first all-digital air carrier, DayJet, the Boca Raton, Fla.-based startup, has relied on breakthroughs in both emerging aviation and computer technologies, offering a new and unique travel option. The concept of "Per Seat, On Demand" jet service offers the efficiency and convenience of corporate jet travel with the affordability and availability of traveling with scheduled airlines. But you won't hear the word "scheduled" bantered among the DayJet faithful. Instead, they insist, "DayJet sells time."
A Skyship 600 blimp is patrolling the Florida Straits for the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy as part of a six-week joint evaluation of the airship's effectiveness in the patrol mission. The lighter-than-air (LTA) craft and its crew of three pilots, two mechanics and 15 ground crew members began operating from Boca Chica Naval Air Station on June 30. The airship, which is owned and operated by Airship Management Services (AMS) Inc., Greenwich, Conn., is leased to the government. The contract, including mission equipment, is valued at approximately $1 million.
*Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., announced that Mark Burns has become president of Gulfstream Product Support and General Dynamics Aviation Services, replacing Larry Flynn, who's moving on to take over sales and marketing.
Boeing has teamed with a Canadian company to develop a commercial heavy-lift aircraft that combines helicopter rotor systems with a neutrally buoyant airship. Calgary, Alberta-based SkyHook International has contracted Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems Rotorcraft Division outside Philadelphia to design the JHL-40 and build two production prototypes for certification in Canada and the United States. The aircraft is expected to fly in 2012.
MJET -- providers of integrated engineering, completion, customization and maintenance services for commercial and business aircraft -- has begun its first corporate conversion of a Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet at the company's facility at Trudeau International Airport in Montreal. The reconfigured aircraft, which will be operated by Corpac Canada Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta, is scheduled for delivery in January 2009.
ERA Training Center has begun operating its facility at the Lake Charles, La., Regional Airport, near the headquarters of ERA Helicopters. The 7,600-square-foot facility houses two FAA-approved Flight Training Devices for the Eurocopter AS350B2 and EC 135, and will be dedicated to training personnel involved in EMS, airborne law enforcement and business aviation rotorcraft operations.
Sentient Flight Group has been engaged in a massive effort to integrate its aircraft operations/regulatory requirements and its "back office" accounting and billing functions ever since the merger that created the company. Simultaneously, Sentient has continued to add new acquisitions to the mix.
*Northern Jet Management, Grand Rapids, Mich., announced that Dennis Sweet, Kurt Stoddard and Nancy Nyhof have joined the Flight Operations team as pilots.
Weighing in at 2,400 pounds each, the two PW R-2800 CB17 double-row radial engines are rated at 2,500 hp for takeoff up to 3,700 feet altitude, using 61.5 to 62.0 inches MAP, 2,800 rpm and ADI fluid injection, assuming 115/145 octane (purple) aviation gasoline is available. When (blue) 100LL fuel is used, manifold pressure must be reduced to 59.5 inches Hg on takeoff, in accordance with an FAA-approved supplement to the AFM. Maximum output, though, only drops to 2,400 hp, assuming ADI injection is used. Takeoff rated power is limited to five minutes.
I would like to comment on your very interesting summary of the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigation in the June Cause & Circumstance (page 77). At the end of the latest AAIB update are the words, "The analysis is concentrating on identifying abnormal combinations of parameters." Here I seriously wonder if we are not back into time-honored ground and what was drummed into me years ago: Accidents usually happen due to more than one thing going wrong at the very same moment, when defects previously dormant rear their ugly heads!
In April 2001, United Air Lines announced its surprising intention to develop a fractional ownership business jet division as an alternative air transport offering for its high-end travelers. The company said it planned on ordering some $4 billion-plus worth of Gulfstream 200s, IV-SPs, and Vs, as well as Falcon 50EXs, 2000s, 2000EXs and 900EXs. It also had a deal with Airbus whereby the UAL unit would operate as many as 15 Airbus Corporate Jets under FAR Part 121 charter rules.
The original Sabreliner, serial number 282-001, was completed on April 18, 1963, and was originally used as a demonstrator by Remmert-Werner, the St. Louis-based marketing arm of OEM North American Aviation. Today, the venerable Model 40, renamed Sabre One, continues flying up to 150 hours a year, serving as Sabreliner Corp.'s company airplane, as well as a test bed for possible product improvements.
*During testing on April 10, the Fairey Rotodyne transitioned from vertical to forward flight. The transition was made in straight and level steady flight. The big autogyro logged more than 80 flights since its first on Nov. 6. *New VFR cruising altitudes put aircraft on courses of zero to 179 degrees at odd thousands plus 500 feet; those at 180 to 359 degrees cruise at even thousands plus 500 feet. The rule, which applies to VFR aircraft below 29,000 feet, becomes effective Aug. 15.
In the June edition of its Business Jet Monthly, JPMorgan's Global Equity Research department declared, "The market for used business jets continues to cool from unsustainably high levels." Although strong orders recorded at the recent European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition "are indicative of a still healthy new market, the used [aircraft] data are beginning to look more and more like the data from [the year] 2000, particularly for heavy jets, when inventories rose off their lows but before pricing declined significantly.
Pilatus Aircraft delivered its first PC-12 NG. The aircraft features a number of improvements over its predecessor, including a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite, a cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P turboprop engine that provides 15 percent more power than its original engine. The $3.8 million aircraft received both EASA and FAA certifications in March.
A recently issued amended STC will enable European operators of King Air 200GTs to modify their aircraft with performance-enhancing winglets from BLR Aerospace. The FAA granted an STC amendment to the Everett, Wash.-based company in April, and EASA approval was granted in May. Earlier, EASA had certificated BLR's King Air 200 and 300 winglets.
A half century ago, commercial jetliners were making their debut, but business aviation had yet to embrace turbine power. Big radial piston twins, mostly World War II-vintage transports, bombers, patrol planes and trainers converted for the carriage of executives, were then the mainstays of the business aviation fleet.
CAE, the big Canada-based simulator manufacturer and trainer, announced it has purchased Sabena Flight Academy, which includes its ab-initio training base in Mesa, Ariz., its 40-aircraft fleet that includes an Eclipse 500 and its six-simulator training center in Brussels, Belgium. Begun as a unit of Sabena Airlines, the Sabena training organization later became an independent entity. Its Belgium center's full flight simulators include an Avro RJ85/100; Airbus 320, 330 and 340; and Boeing 737 and 737NG. The two JAA- and JAR-approved bases employ some 135 people.
King Aerospace, Ardmore, Okla., announced that Richard (Rick) Penshorn is the company's new president and general manager. John Hartzler is the new chief operating officer and Lloyd Landburg is the new chief inspector.
