The FAA certified new Raytheon Beechjet 400A and Cessna Citation II simulators for FlightSafety International. The Beechjet, FSI's third, is based at the company's Raytheon Learning center in Wichita, while the Citation is based at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta.
Skyway Airlines parent Astral Aviation has named James P. Rankin as its new president and chief executive officer, roles he has held on an interim basis since June 2000. Rankin, 37, has worked at Midwest Express Airlines since 1995, most recently as assistant chief pilot and MD-80 captain.
Airport authorities at Akron Canton Regional Airport (CAK) in Akron, Ohio; Houston Southwest Airport (AXH) in Houston; and Westerly State Airport (WST) in Westerly, R.I., have started runway improvement programs. Akron Canton Regional Airport was approved for $3.7 million for its program, with initial funds allocated for the first of three phases. Construction will begin with the lengthening of Runway 1/19 to 7,000 feet; completion is expected by the end of this year.
Air BP assumed operational control of commercial refueling at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The move is the result of an agreement between Air BP and Sunoco, the former airport refueling operator, under which Air BP will supply jet fuel and manage refueling operations at the airport.
U.K.-based BBA Aviation will buy Gulfstream's engine overhaul and repair operations in Dallas, and Gulfstream will purchase BBA's maintenance centers in Dallas, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and West Palm Beach, Fla.
Ron Filler, 60, a test pilot under contract with S-Tec Corp. who had a 16-year career as an FAA certification test pilot, died January 8 from injuries sustained in the crash of a 1974 Bell 206 JetRanger, N152LA, earlier that day.
The Arkansas Environmental Federation (AEF) presented its Diamond Award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership to Dassault Falcon Jet's Little Rock, Ark., facility. The group lauded Falcon Jet for improving its pollution output while increasing production.
Alcohol can cause disorientation due to its combined effect on the lower brain and inner ear, and those circumstances can exist for many hours. Even if you established an alcohol cutoff time 12 hours before flight, as you enter the clouds and transition to IMC you could experience a spinning sensation.
Transport Canada has reduced the maximum speed of the Bell 407 from 140 knots to 100-110 knots as a result of the fatal Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) accident that occurred on December 29, 2000 in the Gulf of Mexico, south of Sabine, Texas. Prior to this incident there were three non-fatal accidents in which the tail boom was severed by the tail rotor, resulting in the same speed restrictions. After installation of airspeed-actuated pedal stops, the 407's original 140-knot design speed limitation was reinstated.
The U.K.'s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) opened its new Swanwick Center on December 19, 2000, though at least a year of work remains before the facility is fully operational. Located at Fareham in Hampshire, the $935 million facility is one of two new ATC centers NATS is developing in a bid to increase the capacity of airspace in and around the United Kingdom. The second, Scottish Center at Prestwick, Scotland, is slated to open in 2007/8.
Flexjet, Bombardier's fractional jet ownership program, signed an agreement under which all Flexjet flight crewmembers will receive MedAire's Management of Inflight Illness and Injury (MIII) training, in addition to having access to MedAire's Emergency Telemedicine Center for first-hand communication with emergency physicians if health problems occur en route. MedAire had been providing training and assistance for Flexjet's Challenger flights, but those services now will include Learjet 31A, 45 and 60 aircraft.
The FAA in January launched its new Automatic Dependent Surveillance --Broadcast (ADS-B) technology in the Bethel area of Alaska, beginning what it called ``one of the most innovative air traffic tracking technology advancements since the advent of radar.'' ADS-B will enable air traffic controllers to provide a number of ATC services to small aircraft that operate in remote regions where such services have not been available.
The Helicopter Association International, Alexandria, Va., has named the following pilots as award recipients: Timothy Tucker, chief pilot at Robinson Helicopter, for its Outstanding CFI award; Toni Lotscher, deputy chief pilot at Swiss Air Ambulance, for the Robert E. Trimble award; and Jim Gardner, pilot for KFOR-TV, for the Pilot of the Year award.
Following an assessment of the country's civil aviation authority, the FAA's International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA) has determined that the Bahamas now falls into Category 2 -- meaning it no longer complies with ICAO safety standards. Although Bahamian carriers serving the United States can maintain their current levels of service under what the agency terms ``increased surveillance,'' they can only expand service if the Bahamas returns to Category 1 status -- signifying ICAO compliance -- or if the carriers wet lease aircraft from U.S.
At least one CEO believes ``we're going to see some slowdown in activity'' among potential new aircraft buyers due to concerns over the possibility of the economy slowing. While the executive, who wished to remain anonymous, told B/CA he hasn't seen any dramatic impact yet in new aircraft sales, he said it's no secret that when corporate profits are under pressure, people don't buy airplanes at the same rate. He observed that much of the economic growth in recent years has been driven by productivity gains, which he said may become more difficult to sustain.
Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman who overcame formidable opposition to ensure that highway and aviation taxes are spent for their intended purposes, is abandoning the legislative fray for good. He planned to retire from Congress effective January 31. First elected to the U.S. House in 1973, Shuster became head of the transporta-tion panel when Republicans took control in 1995.
Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 21 Continuum has been certified for use aboard Gulfstream II and IIB aircraft. The installation includes the Collins FDS-2000 Flight Display System, which also is available and certified for the G-III. Duncan Aviation completed the installation and STC for the aircraft depicted.
FlightStar's Bill Giannetti was named by the FAA as a pilot proficiency Examiner (PPE) for the Dassault Falcon 10. Giannetti is president and CEO of the Savoy, Ill.-based charter operator. A former FAA pilot examiner, he has been flying since 1974 and has more than 12,500 hours of flight experience.
Photograph: Kenneth Ricci Flight Options founder, chairman&CEO Flight Options, a fractional ownership program featuring pre-owned business jets, began operation in 1998 and today claims over 600 customers. The Flight Options fleet numbers 82 aircraft, including Citation IIs and IIIs, Hawker 800s, Falcon 50s, Challenger 601s and Gulfstream IVs. Kenneth Ricci, a 6,000-hour ATP and an attorney, is Flight Options' founder, chairman and CEO. Will an economic slowdown hurt the phenomenal growth of fractional programs?
The Air Group has opened its seventh sales office at Palm Beach International Airport. Former Jet Professionals, Inc. (JPI) general manager Elizabeth Larson is heading up the new office. The charter operator says a Hawker 700 is now based at the South Florida facility.
Aviation Sales Co. sold its Dixie Aerospace Bearings new parts operation to Wencor West, Inc. Atlanta-based Dixie Aerospace distributes multiple lines of aircraft bearings, carbon seals, sealants, adhesives, lubricants and epoxies. Aviation Sales now consists of six maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses.
The continuing robust fleet buys of regional jets have been a boon to FlightSafety International. The training company has already put 10 simulators for the Canadair RJ and another 10 for the Embraer ERJ 135/145 in operation and plans to install another 16 CRJs and eight more ERJs in its training centers in the years ahead. It also has committed to putting a Fairchild Dornier 728 simulator in service, and anticipates others will follow. The Level D simulators, valued at some $12 million each, are being built by FlightSafety's manufacturing division outside Tulsa.
Heli Air Monaco combines the practicality of a ``traffic avoidance'' helicopter air-shuttle with a glamorous hop from Nice, France to Monaco. At the Monte Carlo end of the six-minute flight is an international heliport (customs included) with two cantilevered over-ocean landing pads. The Heli Air service is scheduled at three times an hour throughout the day with a fleet of Eurocopter singles and twins.
Transport Canada has awarded an Aircraft Type Certificate for the 70-seat variant of Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet. U.S. type approval is expected in the near future. The CRJ700 series will enter service with French regional carrier Brit Air in the spring. Other CRJ700 buyers include American Eagle, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, GECAS, Horizon Air, Lufthansa and Maersk Air.
