Bombardier Aerospace is introducing its Skyjet in Russia. The company also announced it will establish a line maintenance facility at a yet-to-be announced location in Russia and locate a dedicated field service representative in Moscow. Skyjet recently extended its service area to include Moscow and St. Petersburg. The introduction of the Skyjet International Jet Membership Card into Russia marks the very first time that an international block-hour charter program has been made available in the region.
Gulfstream IV -- Perform a one-time inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator actuators to determine the part and serial numbers of each actuator. Also, conduct repetitive inspections of suspect actuators to detect broken damper shafts, and replace any actuator having a broken damper shaft. Operators also must report to the FAA any broken damper shaft found. Replacement of all suspect actuators with new or serviceable actuators terminates the inspection requirements of this AD.
Cortec's new VpCI-415 foaming alkaline cleaner is specifically formulated to clean and prevent corrosion on all types of aircraft. This cleaner/degreaser meets or exceeds MIL PRF-97937D, Type IV and is currently listed on the Qualified Products List (QPL). VpCI-415 is zero-VOC, near neutral in pH and is biodegradable (40 CFR 796.3100), offering users additional safety and environmental benefits over many alternative cleaners.
One of the hottest market segments for previously owned turbine-powered aircraft is the Gulfstream IV-SP and V. Demand for long-range corporate aircraft to facilitate travel to emerging international markets (especially China), along with long backlogs for new aircraft in this class, have combined to make late-model, low-time used Gulfstreams hot commodities.
The Helicopter Association International wants better low-altitude weather information, communications and surveillance in the Gulf of Mexico. In a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, HAI President Roy Resavage noted that a fleet of 650 helicopters transports about 11,000 people daily to and from more than 4,000 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf.
Dealing in used airplane parts can be somewhat risky for the uninformed. It's usually cost effective, often the only hope for older or out-of-production aircraft, and occasionally the salvation for a floundering exchange-overhaul deal. And it's a practice always subject to inspection. Most salvage yards will provide a buyer with traceability for purchased parts. This could be in the form of a tag-serviceable as removed, or, in the case of engines and props, logbooks.
Sentient Jet is now offering its card members telephone access to personalized medical expert assistance and consultation with The Cleveland Clinic. This benefit will be available to Sentient Jet members and their immediate families at all times, regardless of whether they are on a flight with Sentient.
In the effort to prevent helicopters from colliding with objects, Selex Communications, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica Inc., an Italian manufacturing conglomerate, has developed the Laser Obstacle Avoidance System (LOAM). The system uses an eye-safe laser to scan the area around the helicopter's flight path and then conducts an echo analysis to determine the presence of obstacles.
There's a new electronic fuel injection (EFI) system for the venerable Pratt & Whitney R-985. Developed by Tulsa Aircraft Engines in conjunction with RSW Products, the EFI is designed to increase the engine power, as well as reduce fuel consumption, vibration, and cylinder-head temperature that contribute to engine wear and breakdown and thereby lower the frequency and cost of maintenance. Weatherly Aircraft Co., maker of the 620-B agplane, has the exclusive distribution rights through at least 2006.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey recently announced greater scrutiny of service contracts the agency signs with private companies and consultants. In a memo to employees, she said new policies are needed ``to guarantee that safeguards against waste, fraud and abuse are observed.'' The service agreements, which cover software development, equipment maintenance and consulting, currently total $1.3 billion. Procurement policies will be amended to require competitive bidding on all support service contracts worth more than $1 million.
Bombardier received an order from Tokyo carrier Global Wings, Inc. for a Learjet 45XR business jet, boosting the number of recent contracts the Canadian airplane maker has received from Asian operators to four. Global Wings will base the Learjet 45XR in Osaka, Japan. The carrier already operates a 45XR, which received Civil Aviation Administration of China certification in January.
The Skytruck comes with complete dual flight instruments but minimal avionics. The aircraft we flew for this report had a dual Honeywell Bendix/King package, including dual KX-165 panel-mount navcoms, KR-87 ADF receiver, KT-76C transponder, dual KMA-24 audio panels, KFC-325 autopilot and optional RDR-2000 weather radar. Future plans call for installation of Chelton Flight Systems EFIS with 3-D terrain awareness system. Aircraft fitted with six or more passenger seats will require a stand-alone TAWS box, if they're not equipped with the CFS EFIS.
Embraer has delivered three special mission Legacy Executive aircraft to the Indian government. India ordered five Legacies and holds options for two more. Two of the delivered jets are assigned to the Indian Air Force and one will serve with India's Border Security Force.
The International Business Aviation Council and the NBAA released two new products relating to single-pilot operations of very light jets (VLJs) and other technically advanced aircraft, produced in cooperation with the NBAA Safety Committee. The first product is a new supplement to the International Standard for Business Aviation Operations (IS-BAO) set of best practices. It provides guidance for applying IS-BAO to the VLJ and single-pilot environment with particular attention to safety management.
NOTHING IS MORE important in business aviation than the safe transport of company personnel. Equally significant is the perception of safety. Passengers must feel secure and thus able to concentrate on business when traveling on company aircraft.
Skytech President John K. Foster delivered the company's 250th Piper PA-46 aircraft, a Meridian, to Michael Bell, a real estate and insurance executive from Rockville, Md. The PA-46 designation applies to three Pipers: the Malibu, which previously used a Continental engine; the Lycoming-powered Mirage; and the turboprop Meridian.
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS) is now approved by Russia's Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAAR) to perform line and base maintenance work on Russian-registered Bombardier aircraft at its Berlin, Germany, facility. The FCAAR certification covers work done by LBAS technicians at the Berlin facility as well as locations in the Russian federation and elsewhere.
These graphs are designed to provide a rough approximation of the performance of M28-05 Skytruck under a variety of range, payload, speed and density altitude conditions. Do not use these data for flight planning purposes, particularly because PZL Mielec and Skytruck do not provide complete flight planning data.
American Legend Aircraft Co. has won FAA approval for its Legend Cub aircraft. The FAA issued a Special Light-Sport Aircraft certification for the two-place, single, which is powered by a 100-hp Teledyne Continental O-200 engine. The aircraft has an empty weight of 850 pounds and has optional floats for water takeoffs and landings.
Inventory Locator Service and Forecast International will offer a series of new products that combine ILS's pricing and supply/demand data for aircraft and engine parts with Forecast International's 10-year forecasts and existing fleet data. The companies hope to provide current and future market trends to help airlines, manufacturers, suppliers and maintenance companies develop better strategies and pricing models.
Pacific Avionics & Instruments has earned ISO 9001:2000 and AS9100 accreditation. Part of the Innotech Execaire Aviation Group, Pacific Avionics is a Vancouver, Canada-based avionics wiring and systems integration specialist.
Executive Aircraft Completions of Tulsa, has acquired AVHAR Services, Inc. of San Antonio, and renamed it Executive Aircraft Completions -- San Antonio. The unit will continue operating in its current facilities for the near term. EAC said AVHAR's expertise in avionics and electrical engineering and certification complements the Tulsa firm's mechanical systems, structures, interiors and certification capabilities, and will extend its presence to the San Antonio area.
The British may prohibit foreign-registered aircraft from basing on their soil. The prohibition would include U.S.-registered aircraft. A portion of the Department of Transport proposal states, ``it would be appropriate to take steps to ensure that all private aircraft permanently based in the U.K. are operated under requirements equivalent to those contained in the appropriate harmonized European standards. This could best be achieved by amending the Air Navigation Order to prevent foreign-registered aircraft from being based in the U.K. by limiting the time (e.g.
Rockwell Collins has gained TSO approval to broadcast ADS-B on Mode-S transponders. The approval covers the Rockwell Collins TDR-94/94D transponder, the first to fully meet the international RTC DO-260A standard ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the necessary data that support surveillance applications. The FAA approval will enable enhanced traffic situational awareness on the airport and during flight.
Pegasus Interactive has introduced a series of advanced computer-based training (CBT) programs for users of the Garmin GNS 530 and 430. Volume 1 of the new VFLITE GNS 530/430 series builds on the success of the company's scenario-based, guided simulation programs for GPS, and complements its original, award-winning VFLITE GNS 530/430 Interactive Guide. Developed with input from Garmin, the FAA and top CFIIs, the new program uses the VFLITE training methodology to teach challenging tasks on the GNS 530 and 430 units.
