The FAA has certified SimuFlite's new Citation Ultra simulator to Level D standards at the company's Dallas training center. Built by CAE in Montreal, the simulator features a Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics suite, TCAS II, GNS-XLS flight management system and an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System. This spring, the simulator will be fitted with a ``change-out'' to the Citation Bravo model.
Gulfstream Aerospace has begun modifying a standard G-V for use in the development and test program. The Savannah manufacturer said the aircraft now being modified "will be the primary certification platform for the next-generation G-VSP's advanced PlaneView cockpit suite." The G-VSP development program and associated aircraft systems "have reached a level of maturity where we can begin modifying the flight test aircraft," said Pres Henne, Gulfstream's senior vice president of programs.
NASA is expected to release in the next few weeks an NRA (NASA Research Announcement) requesting proposals from companies and other organizations for participation in its Small Aircraft Transport System (SATS) program. The NRA will seek one-year demonstration projects that advance the goals of SATS, designed to increase availability of low-cost general aviation aircraft and access to small airports. The NRA is expected to draw more than just aviation companies; the states of Florida and Oklahoma, in particular, have expressed substantial interest in participating.
Schedulers and dispatchers met in Nashville at the NBAA's 12th annual conference seeking training and answers to their flight department issues. Over 1,300 S&Ds attended the three-day conference, with more than 50 classroom sessions on a variety of flight department issues. ``This is the first time that I have walked away from the conference having all of my questions and concerns addressed,'' said Paul Mainville, flight control officer at Knighthawk Air Express.
Executive Jet Management's, Cincinnati, manager of technical services, Michelle Schopp, received the FAA's ``Good Friend'' award for promoting, enhancing and supporting its ``Flight Standards mission.''
National Air Transportation Association has launched a tour of its "100 Most Needed" airports. In February, NATA President James Coyne hosted town hall meetings at Naples, Daytona Beach and Vero Beach, Fla., as well as a stop for a roundtable discussion in St. Petersburg.
Canadian manufacturer CAE reached agreement with BAE Systems-North America to buy that company's Flight Simulation and Training unit for $80 million (U.S.). BAE Flight Simulation and Training, based in Tampa, Fla., was formerly known as Reflectone. It manufactures transport and helicopter simulation equipment and provides training and support services for commercial and military customers. The Tampa unit has nearly 800 employees and posted revenues of approximately $80 million for the year ended December 31, 2000. "This acquisition will strengthen CAE's access to the U.S.
Gulfstream Aerospace parent General Dynamics announced formation of General Dynamics Aviation Services, a new aircraft service organization designed to meet the maintenance needs of a broad range of business jet operators. ``The extraordinary growth of business aviation over the past few years has created increased demand for maintenance and refurbishment services,'' said Bill Boisture, executive vice president of GD and head of the company's Aerospace Group.
The mergers and acquisitions that have taken place in the aerospace industry since the end of the Cold War have dramatically changed the corporate landscape. For example, in 1997, Boeing (which had already taken over Rockwell's military business) acquired long-time rival McDonnell Douglas, reducing the number of American large jetliner manufacturers to one. In Europe, home of the Airbus consortium, Aerospatiale, CASA and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace joined together to form the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS).
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has named Mark Harris as vice president of maintenance operations. Harris is responsible for the management and direction of all Collins Aviation Services maintenance service operations.
Cencal, a manufacturer of aviation flight bags, has a new line of technical tool bags. The Tech Bag can carry a computer, soldering and just about any tool you may need in the field. It has a detachable cellular telephone pouch that can be worn on a belt and it comes with one adjustable inside divider. Made from Dupont's Denier Cordura, the Tech Bag is soft sided and fully padded, so there is less chance of damage to the aircraft. The reinforced bottom gives additional support. Price: $135.99 Cencal Sales
Buying a used business jet can be similar to scuba diving in tropical waters, according to one of B/CA's readers who went shopping for a used light business jet in December 2000. If you get scuffed up by unknown rocks and reefs, you might become a bleeding bait fish for sharks, he discovered after a few rounds of negotiations with certain brokers. As soon as some brokers found his last name ended in ``M.D.,'' they started circling hungrily.
For most operators, the answer to the question of when is an airplane or helicopter too old is straightforward: when its economically useful life ends. In the real world, that answer is not so simple. Given the wide variety of applications, geographic areas, regulatory oversight and economic drivers, aircraft once thought to be candidates for the wrecker's yard by one group are considered very useful by another.
AgustaWestland's EH101 helicopters have logged 26 hours flying under a 10-day evaluation by the Nordic Helicopter Consortium, which requires 60 to 100 helicopters over the next 10 years. The flight demonstrations took place at Yeovil, England and Cascina Costa, Italy using two different military marks of the machine and two of the civil development aircraft PP8 and PP9. The Nordic group consists of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Aviation industry leaders face an April deadline to develop recommendations on the future of aviation communications, but those leaders are sharply divided on whether to transition to an all-digital data link, called Nexcom. General aviation groups are concerned that a rapid transition to Nexcom would necessitate the installation of new digital-compatible communications equipment in aircraft before the data link is proved viable.
Raytheon Aircraft's Travel Air unit is adding the Bombardier Challenger 601 business jet to its fractional fleet to fill a niche for customers who need larger-cabin or longer-range aircraft. The Challengers will be the only used and the first non-Raytheon aircraft in the program. ``With the addition of the Challengers, Raytheon Travel Air will possess one of the broadest and most flexible programs in the fractional ownership industry,'' said Raytheon Travel Air President Gary Hart.
DB Aviation at Illinois' Waukegan Regional Airport (UGN) has taken delivery of one of the first Dassault Falcon 900Cs to be used as an FAR Part 135 charter aircraft. The aircraft seats 12 or sleeps six, and is equipped for flights in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums airspace on charter flights between Chicago and Europe. DB Aviation also operates a full service FBO and Part 145 repair station.
CitationShares, the $20 million fractional ownership venture between Cessna and TAG Aviation USA, has commenced operations at Westchester County Airport (HPN) near White Plains, N.Y. Launched in summer 2000 with an order for 50 new Cessna Citations, CitationShares is based on Cessna's 50-percent acquisition of TAG StarShares, the turboprop-oriented fractional business Wayfarer Aviation had started before TAG's U.S. unit bought the Rockefeller family's former flight department in 1999.
An industry working group, tasked with developing recommendations for regulating extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) for FAR Part 135 operators, is developing a draft advisory circular to codify best industry practices that must be followed to conduct ETOPS and other long-range operations. The working group continues its study of an appropriate Part 135 ETOPS threshold recommendation for a formal FAA rule, the lack of which was cited by ICAO as a deficiency.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) is seeking to block airline efforts to overturn regulations that mandate a 16-hour duty day for all pilots in scheduled domestic service under FAR Parts 135 and 121. At issue is a lawsuit filed by the Air Transport Association (ATA), which seeks to keep the FAA from enforcing a rule that could force the airlines to pay more overtime or hire additional crews.
Stuart Jet Center, Stuart, Fla., was purchased by Richard Schmidt, a real estate developer who operates a CitationJet, and Jerry Black, cofounder of Vail/Beaver Creek Jet Center in Vail, Colo. The new owners said they plan to renovate the existing hangar and office building and support several non-profit events at the airport. With the purchase of the FBO, the Martin County Commission has approved the assignment of a 24-year lease to the Jet Center.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley reportedly is holding fast to plans to close Meigs Field in 2002. Daley reached a compromise with former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar in 1997 under which the mayor could close the lakefront airport on February 10, 2002 and turn the site into a park. The Chicago Tribune quoted Daley as saying ``we're willing to talk about any issue'' regarding regional airport capacity issues but Meigs is ``off the table.'' Daley added, ``It is a beautiful piece of property. . . . It shouldn't be used for . . . people flying in and out.''
