With the onslaught of winter and the price of Jet-A hovering around $2.00 to $3.50 per gallon, the Energy Information Agency (EIA), a subgroup of the Department of Energy, said that future price changes for jet fuel remain uncertain. Factors such as home heating oil value on the commodities market, seasonal temperatures and the supply/distribution of crude oil all have an effect on jet fuel cost.
Twin Commander, Arlington, Wash., has announced that Vice President and General Manager Bill Hurley is retiring after more than 30 years of service with the company.
Signature Flight Support, Orlando, has named Nicole Adas as customer relations manager for its West Palm Beach International Airport facility, and has named Matthew Huff as vice president of its Dallas-based aircraft sales operation.
Horizon Air's maintenance technicians have ratified a two-year contract that makes them ``the highest paid [mechanics] in the regional airline industry,'' according to the Seattle-based carrier. Horizon President George Bagley thanked the company's Trans-port Workers Union leadership at the signing of the collective bargaining agreement, saying the airline now can focus on the new aircraft poised to enter the Horizon fleet this year. These include 17 new 70-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets and 15 new Dash 8-Q400 turboprops.
Advantext's new, CD-ROM-based maintenance tracking and invoicing system is aimed at FBOs and maintenance facilities. The Electronic Billing and Information System (EBis) initiates and tracks work orders, labor hours by employee, parts inventory, billing and customer management, and can produce complete estimates and final billing as soon as the work is completed. EBis was created by Aero-West Specialties and is marketed directly through Advantext. Price: $2,995, single user Advantext 340 Morgantown Rd. Reading, Pa. 19611
Northwest Airlines has offered to buy the remaining 60 percent of Mesaba Airlines stock is doesn't already own, in a move reminiscent of Delta Air Lines' recent acquisitions of Comair and Atlantic Southeast Airlines. The action came despite Northwest's repeated denials that it would acquire Mesaba, one of two Northwest Airlink carriers. Northwest already owns the other, Memphis-based Express Airlines I.
Sherwin-Williams, Andover, Kan., has named Mary Keefer as operations manager for the new aerospace service and training facility and Kathy Kopf as the facility's color systems manager.
Photograph: Executive Aircraft's FBO at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport EAC Executive Aircraft Corp. (EAC) has launched a $6.5 million refurbishment and construction project at its facilities in Newton and Wichita, Kan. The Newton (EWK) expansion is focused on doubling the company's paint, completions and hangar capacity by summer 2001, and includes the addition of a 32,000-square-foot production building and a 14,000-square-foot hangar.
Olympus Industrial Products' Eye-Trek system enables remote inspection display in an eyeglass format. Eye-Trek is compatible with Olympus portable inspection systems and allows the user to perform inspections regardless of light conditions. The glasses incorporate a ``free-shaped prism'' that allows an optically eccentric surface to be produced within the face-mounted display. Eye-Trek glasses weigh 3.9 ounces and require a 200- to 240-VAC, 50/60 Hz adapter. Price: $990 Olympus Industrial Products Group 2 Corporate Center Dr.
Bombardier says that the wing-mating of the Continental business jet has been completed and that development of the super-midsize jet remains on schedule. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries manufactured the wing in Japan and delivered it to Bombardier's Wichita factory in September. The next major milestone in the program is slated to be the hanging of the two Honeywell AS907 engines, which are currently undergoing testing.
Delta's Comair subsidiary planned to go ``all-regional jet'' at its Cincinnati hub and headquarters this month. Comair, the first U.S. carrier to operate regional jets, recently took delivery of its 100th Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) and expects to begin service with the new CRJ 700 series in first quarter 2001. The carrier and fellow-Delta regional carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines have firm orders for 104 additional CRJ variants and options for another 396 of the aircraft.
Buyers of new Raytheon King Airs, Beechjets, Premier Is and Hawkers who finance their purchase through DaimlerChrysler Capital Services have until the end of the year to be eligible to receive a new Mercedes-Benz C-Class car. The offer is limited to customers who place their order by December 31, 2000 and take delivery of the new aircraft by December 31, 2001. The finance company is using the car giveaway to help launch its new line of financing options for Raytheon aircraft.
While the potential of PED interference with aircraft communications and navigation is well recognized, further documentation of incidents can help database development and other efforts designed to stem the tide of PED problems in flight. NASA's ASRS collects and disseminates information on PED interference. Pilots who experience PED interference are encouraged to submit a report. Forms are available online at http//asrs.arc.naa.gov.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey says the general public is ``worried'' about aviation safety and that aviation professionals should try harder to correct their misconceptions.
ExxonMobil will consolidate its lubricant business in Europe but will continue to market both the Esso and Mobil brands. The integration follows the recent regulatory approvals to dissolve the Mobil-BP joint venture. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., the new global aviation lubricants team is managed by Margaret Parnell.
FlightSafety International, New York, has promoted Eugene Cromartie to assistant manager of the Houston center, named Gerry McRae as the new manager of Toronto's training center and promoted Chuck Gallagher to assistant manager at the San Antonio learning center.
Dassault Falcon Jet has acquired Atlantic Aviation's New Castle Airport operation in Wilmington, Del. The purchase includes Atlantic's 179,000-square-foot shop and office facility. This will become Dassault's East Coast Service Center and is already approved as a repair center for Honeywell TFE731 engines and Rockwell Collins and Honeywell avionics.
FAA officials are investigating reports that a 300-pound pig flew from Philadelphia to Seattle along with 198 other passengers aboard a US Airways Boeing 757. Various accounts described the pig -- which flew on the floor of first class -- as a ``service animal,'' like a Seeing Eye dog. All was quiet until the aircraft was taxiing to the gate in Seattle, when the pig became agitated and started squealing, running down the aisle and trying to gain access to the cockpit.
Securaplane's airborne video camera systems are designed for inflight entertainment, safety and security. The lightweight systems, which can interface directly with existing Securaplane security systems, provide aerodynamic 360-degree views, and do not require remote boxes. Cameras are available in high-resolution color and monochrome types. Securaplane says the system is designed to fit any airframe. Price: Starts at $8,700 Securaplane 10800 N. Mavinee Dr. Tucson, Ariz. 85737 Phone: (520) 297-0844
SoftComm Products has introduced the Centurion Model C-100 automatic noise reduction (ANR) headset, with -18 dB noise control. The Centurion does not require an external power source; instead it operates off of the radio's microphone voltage. In the event of a power failure, a ``fail-safe'' system automatically converts the headset into a -24 dB passive system. In addition, the headset features dual volume controls and a push-to-talk switch on the dome of the headset for emergency use. The Centurion weighs 15.3 ounces and is rated for temperatures of -40 to +120F.
Boeing says it has received ``a great deal of interest'' in an 86-seat version of its 106-seat 717 airliner, which began life as the McDonnell Douglas MD-95. Soft sales have left the 717's future in doubt, and the Seattle-based manufacturer has attempted to market the DC-9 variant as a regional jet. A recent marketing sweep in Europe is said to have generated interest from some 11 airlines, and the 717-100X concept is now under review.
