Agusta Aerospace said Skyline Helicopters signed a contract to buy an A119 Koala at the Helicopter Association International's recent Heli-Expo convention in Dallas. Skyline will use the aircraft for geo-seismic assessment, research and heli-skiing. Skyline is a charter operator based in British Columbia, Canada. Agusta Aerospace is an AgustaWestland company.
As the result of a TSO granted recently by the FAA, Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System (IDS) now can be installed on older aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins AP-105 and APS-65 autopilots.
As an aircraft mechanic of 29 years I have seen a lot of ignorance from some people about what our job is and it is very clear to me your publication has no clue about what a mechanic is. I would like to call your attention to "The Flying Maintenance Technician" (February 2006, page 64). Mechanics as flight attendants? What an insult. Do you and your staff have any idea what we go through to get our qualifications? I think not, or you never would have published an insult to a group of professionals such as you did with this piece of garbage.
The Cape Town Convention, which became effective March 1, will have a positive effect on aircraft-backed debt and leases in the long term but won't change ratings in the short term, Standard & Poor's said. So far, the United States and eight smaller nations have ratified the agreement, which creates an international electronic registry of interests and lien-holders on aircraft, and provides remedies for lessors or creditors in the event of default or insolvency.
Landmark Aviation named Jim Hopkins as its vice president, FBO operations. Hopkins will be responsible for strategy and leadership of the company's 34 airport facilities. Brian Watkins has been named vice president of technology. Mark Larsen has been named vice president of large fleets and government contracts.
While abstaining from recommending future FAA air traffic management policy during his speech at the Wings Club, Pelton responded positively when asked about Australia's tests of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) operations and its determination that the economics of ADS-B were superior to either installing or maintaining radar ground stations. Pelton said he had taken note of the Australian experience, as well as the results of the Alaskan Capstone tests, and that ADS-B was worth a careful look as part of a future U.S.
Leaders of key business aviation organizations are seeking common ground with airline executives though the auspices of respected veterans on both sides such as former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall, Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer and Ed Stimpson, the long-time head of GAMA and now chairman of the Flight Safety Foundation. The issue is user fees. Airlines are aggrieved, insisting that they pay -- but more precisely, their passengers pay -- a disproportional share of the operational costs of the ATC system vs.
I have some experience in flying the Mitsubishi MU-2. I first flew it in 1967 and have flown every model, with the exception of the "A" and "C". By way of qualifications, I have an ATP, Multi, CFI, CFII and am typed in the Gulfstream II and III. In flying the MU-2 alone, I have accumulated 15,000 plus hours of safe operation.
Rolls-Royce and Helijet International have signed an exclusive agreement on the supply of Model 250 engine service parts and support. Under the arrangement, Rolls-Royce will provide a custom package of parts and services designed to lower Helijet's DOCs. Helijet, based at Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia, Canada, will also benefit from its exclusive use of the Rolls-Royce Model 250 FIRST (Full-service Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team) network of repair and overhaul providers.
Flight Safety Foundation, Alexandria, Va., announced that Jay Donoghue will join the staff as director of publications. Most recently, Donogue served as editorial director of Air Transport World magazine.
Responding to industry concerns about the broad scope of a new rule regarding thermal and acoustic insulation installed on transport category airplanes flown under FAR Parts 91, 121, 125 and 135, the FAA has issued an amended final regulation that says when operators of aircraft manufactured before Sept. 2, 2005, replace insulation, only insulation blankets and materials used to insulate air ducts need meet the new, more-stringent flammability standards of Part 25.
THE NTSB'S INVESTIGATION into the Oct. 19, 2004, crash of Corporate Airlines Flight 5966 at Kirksville, Mo., Regional Airport has led to a flurry of safety recommendations that could result in changes to the way FAR Part 121 and 135 operators execute non-precision approaches. The captain, first officer and 11 of the 13 passengers on board the BAE Jetstream 32 (N875JX) were killed when the twin turboprop struck trees, crashed and burned just short of Runway 36 in night IMC. Two passengers survived, but suffered serious injuries.
A lot of activity has occurred within FAA-dom since we published "Advanced RNAV Procedures on the Horizon" (B&CA, June 2005, page 42), but little, if any, benefit of this program has yet translated into reality for the business aviation community. Still, the cards have now been mostly dealt by the FAA and it's time for business aircraft manufacturers to play the hand given them.
The Detroit Free Press noted 26 pilot reports of illumination by lasers from the ground in a one-hour period on Feb. 13 between 1830 and 1930 in the vicinity of Detroit Metro Airport. Evidently the hits were from a relatively low-power red laser normally used as a presentation pointer. Red lasers can dazzle and distract pilots, especially at night. More expensive and powerful "green" lasers can damage an eye's retina or cornea. As we go to press, David Banash awaits sentencing under provisions of the Patriot Act for illuminating aircraft near Teterboro Airport, N.J.
Beginning Jan. 1, European en route ATC charges billed by Eurocontrol were lower in 23 of the 31 member states. The organization said the average overall decrease is 3.5 percent, but Bosnia-Herzegovina has cut by 18.8 percent, Sweden by 16.4 percent, Switzerland by 14.2 percent, and Germany by 11.5 percent. Those with increased fees include the Czech Republic at +31.6 percent, Croatia +17.9 percent and Greece +13.6 percent.
The NTSB called for the FAA to impose stricter requirements on EMS flights in a special report released Jan. 26. The Safety Board undertook the report after investigating 55 EMS accidents in a three-year span between January 2002 and January 2005. The Board noted that while carrying patients or organs, EMS flights are required to operate in accordance with FAR Part 135 regulations, but positioning flights conducted without patients on board can operate under Part 91.
AS A DEMONSTRATION, instructor, ferry and sometime engineering test pilot for de Havilland Canada, I had the best flying job in the world. One day in the early 1970s, I got a plum assignment to deliver the first of six new Twin Otters to Royal Nepal Airlines and spend three months training its new pilots, first in the French Alps, later in Kathmandu.
Intelligence | 11 ?228-137? GAMA: 2005 Best GA Year Ever ?228-137? Eclipse Wins Collier Award ?228-137? Flexjet Is Launch Customer for Learjet 40XR ?228-137? Chinese Close to Allowing Civil Helicopter Ops Over Shanghai ?228-137? NTSB Calls for FAA to Impose Stricter Requirements on EMS Flights Edited by James E. Swickard Commentary 7 | Viewpoint By William Garvey Road Hazards 84 | Cause & Circumstance By Richard N. Aarons
Cutter Aviation has taken over from WingsPoint Aviation Services at the McKinney, Texas, Airport. "This is a strategic move for Cutter that expands our FBO footprint throughout the Southwest," said CEO Will Cutter. "As of 1991, over a dozen of the world's largest companies have moved their headquarters to the area. As more companies have come to McKinney to do business, more have stayed.
Sandel Avionics has received European Technical Standard Order (ETSO) authorizations from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its ST3400 TAWS and SN3500 EHSI systems. Similar to the U.S. FAA TSO, which both systems had already received, the ETSOs confirm that avionics dealers, installation centers and aircraft operators are legally entitled to recommend and use both products (www.sandel.com).
Waterbury-Oxford Airport (OXC) and its tenant Keystone Aviation are expanding together with parallel airport infrastructure and FBO facility expansion allowing OXC to attract a steadily growing population of turbine business aircraft. The Connecticut DOT, which owns OXC, and the FAA have extended the main runway to 5,800 feet and added ramp space and access roads.
It was around 2040 when the Aerospatiale AS350B lifted off from Ocean Reef Club Airport, Key Largo, Fla., heading for nearby Speedway Heliport. The pilot checked in with the tower at Homestead Air Reserve Base and was told to proceed direct to the speedway facility. The controller then said there was no traffic to report and told him to switch to the "race control frequency," which he did, telling the new controller that he was two nm southeast, inbound.
NBAA, Washington, D.C., has promoted Marti Smith to director, regional forums and static displays. Smith will be responsible for management of the static displays at the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, EBACE, LABACE, ABACE and regional forums.
