Bombardier has appointed Execujet Australia, at Kingsford-Smith Airport, Sydney, as a Learjet Authorized Service Facility. Under this agreement, Execujet will provide maintenance for all of the Learjet models as well as sales support for the entire Bombardier line of aircraft.
Many operators edit (or in some cases, rewrite) their checklists to incorporate company SOPs and adjust the flow of cockpit tasks. In order to train the way you fly and fly the way you train, these modified checklists and SOPs should be handed over to the training center long before your scheduled session so instructors can review them and get them into the syllabus for your session.
Pratt&Whitney Canada has appointed National Airways Corp. (NAC) of Johannesburg, South Africa, as a recognized maintenance facility for the PT6A, PT6T and JT15D engine models. NAC's staff is authorized to perform line and light maintenance, hot-section inspections and minor repairs.
The October 2000 crash of a Bombardier Challenger 604 has claimed a third victim. Experimental test pilot Eric Fiore died of his injuries in a Wichita hospital in mid-November. Fiore had sustained burns over 80 percent of his body in the crash. Also killed were test pilot Bryan Irelan and flight test engineer David Riggs. Bombardier employees have established a memorial fund for the crewmembers' families. Donations may be sent to Challenger Fund, c/o Mid-American Credit Union, P.O. Box 7708, Wichita, Kan. 67277-9891.
FlightSafety Boeing, Seattle, has appointed Paul Hinton as its vice president of flight training and international operations and Pat Gaines as executive vice president.
The FAA says it is launching a year-long study of how large transport aircraft are certified and monitored during their operational life. In announcing the initiative, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey said the study will ``give us a fresh look at the entire life cycle of airplane safety.'' A team of experts will examine the safety factors used in the design, construction, certification and operation of new transport aircraft.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has voted to allow Canada to block $2 billion in Brazilian imports over seven years -- the latest broadside in the two nations' ongoing conflict over subsidized regional aircraft sales. Should Canada choose to impose such sanctions, they are likely to take the form of punitive tariffs on a long list of Brazilian imports including steel, tobacco, sugar and textiles. The Brazilian response, observers say, would be to restrict Canada's exports to Brazil.
Eclipse Aviation reports it has raised an additional $65 million from investors in the proposed Eclipse 500 light business jet. Investment in the company now totals $125 million, all from private investors. Eclipse Chairman and CEO Vern Raburn says the money validates the company's concept, adding that the aircraft will be delivered ``on schedule, on budget, and at the price and performance we guaranteed, despite claims to the contrary from industry skeptics.'' Deliveries of the $837,500 Eclipse 500 are expected to begin in summer 2003.
The FAA has awarded an STC to Midcoast Aviation for installation of Honeywell's AIS-1000 OneView Airborne Information System on Bombardier Challenger 604s. Installation time is about three weeks and can be performed at Midcoast's St. Louis Downtown-Parks facility.
The Alaska Air Carriers Association Annual Conference and Trade Show has been scheduled for February 28 through March 3 in Anchorage. The theme of this year's gathering is ``Raising the Bar.'' Further information is available at (907) 277-0071.
BFGoodrich says it will sell its Performance Materials business and acquire Raytheon's electro-optical systems division. Chairman David L. Burner says the moves are aimed at completing BFGoodrich's transformation into an aerospace and industrial products company.
Edited By Paul RichfieldMike Vines, in Birmingham, England
Metro Business Aviation, a subsidiary of Harrods group, has become the latest owners of Battersea Heliport. London's only commercial helicopter landing site, Battersea provides full airport services to business and commercial helicopter operators and to emergency services. Air Harrods is a frequent user of the facility. Metro said it will retain the staff of eight currently employed at the heliport, but declined comment on any future plans including the building of a new terminal, a proposal already submitted to London's Wandsworth Council for approval.
FAR Part 135 operator RSVP Jet has been acquired by its director of operations, Power Johnson, and Stephen Connor, director of maintenance. The two are 11-year employees of the operator
When the subject of cabin environment comes up, the most frequently asked question among business aircraft operators is, how do you protect the interior of the aircraft from the coughing passenger?
In an attempt to manage delays at La Guardia Airport, the FAA conducted an early-December 2000 lottery among airlines wishing to add flights at the congested New York City facility. AIR-21 legislation, passed by Congress last spring, would have authorized an unlimited number of additional flights between La Guardia and smaller cities on aircraft seating fewer than 71 passengers. Alarmed at the possible gridlock that would ensue, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- operator of La Guardia -- slapped a moratorium on new flights in September 2000.
What happened is pretty clear -- half the world watched the drama of Sunjet's Learjet 35 unfold on CNN on October 25, 1999. Why this routine business charter, carrying golfer Payne Stewart, ended up the way it did is entirely unclear. Nevertheless, the NTSB believes lessons can be learned from its investigation into the matter.
The Logbook Organizer Internet system is designed to allow manufacturers, corporations, individuals and other users to follow aircraft (fixed wing and rotary wing), engines, APUs, propellers, spares, parts and subparts anywhere in the world. The system has combined maintenance tracking and logbook functions so that new data are entered only once. Each logbook automatically adds hours, cycles and landings, thereby eliminating redundant entries.
More than 40 years after co-founding the company, Electrosonics President Robert A. Kauffman has retired. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of Garrett Aviation Services, Electrosonics installs cockpit upgrades and inflight entertainment systems at facilities in Columbus, Ohio, and McKinney and Addison, Texas. Garrett executive Geoff Hunt will assume Kauffman's former duties as Electrosonics' vice president and general manager.
