While the rest of the country debated the results of the U.S. presidential election, the AOPA says its political action committee (PAC) achieved virtually complete success on Election Day, with victories for almost 90 percent of AOPA-supported House and Senate candidates.
Stevens Aviation's Lexington, Ky., facility (LEX) has been designated as an authorized Raytheon/Beechcraft service center. The Lexington location is now authorized to perform maintenance and repairs to Beechcraft airframes, engines and factory systems.
Regional airline traffic continued to increase in the first six months of the year, based on Regional Airline Association and AvStat Associates statistics. Revenue passenger miles increased 20 percent over 1999, with load factors rising to 62.3 percent and average trip length topping 292 miles. Regionals carried 40.5 million passengers in the survey period, with the top 20 carriers accounting for 91.6 percent of those carried. The gap between the top three carriers -- American Eagle, Comair and Continental Express -- and those in the bottom of the top 20 continued.
Flightserv.com, which operated public charters between Atlanta's Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (DKB) and Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey aboard corporate jets earlier this year is now planning public charters aboard DC-9s. The company was planning to launch Skysaver service between Norfolk, Va.; Orlando; and New York's La Guardia Airport as B/CA went to press. Skysaver will charter aircraft from Largo, Fla.-based Southeast Airlines.
AVMATS, Oshkosh, Wis., President and CEO A.C. ``Butch'' Giessman was named as the FAA's ``AMT of the Year.'' With over 20 years experience as an IA, Giessman holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering.
Remember, when you were a little kid, that sense of excitement that percolated through you as Christmas approached? And remember how time seemed to almost stand still for a couple of weeks beginning in mid-December? How it was almost unbearable to wait for the Big Day to arrive, particularly those years when there was one big special present -- a bicycle, or a new baseball glove or maybe even a remote-controlled airplane -- that you really really wanted, but didn't know whether you'd receive?
The first customer took delivery of a New Piper Malibu Meridian on November 7 at the manufacturer's Vero Beach, Fla., factory. New Piper President and CEO Chuck Suma and about 65 other executives and plant workers were on hand for the delivery to Richard and Rosemary Dumais of Richardson, Texas. The couple then flew to Key West, Fla., for a short vacation. New Piper says it planned to deliver 24 Meridians by year-end and will produce another 114 in 2001.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule mandating employers to create ergonomics programs to help prevent on-the-job musculoskeletal injuries to workers. Employer programs also must create remedies for such injuries.
Sabreliner is testing a new noise reduction package that will use both insulation and electronics to reduce inflight cabin noise. The system incorporates the same technology used in noise canceling headsets, using strategically placed speakers and microphones that counter aircraft noise with electronically generated noise. The opposing sounds, known as opposite wave technology, then effectively cancel each other out. The manufacturer is flight-testing the system on a Sabreliner 80 and hopes to expand it to other Sabreliner models.
China is becoming a hotbed for business and general aviation aircraft and has now added the first scheduled Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) service. Shandong Airlines has taken delivery of the first of five CRJ200s, with the remaining aircraft to be delivered through 2001. The airline currently operates a mixed fleet of Boeing 737s and Saab 340s. Although Shandong is the first carrier to offer scheduled CRJ service in China, China United Airlines operates five CRJs configured for corporate use.
North American Jet, located at Palwaukee Airport in Wheeling, Ill., will expand its hangar and office space in first quarter 2001. The new construction will add 25,000 square feet of hangar storage space and increase the ramp space to more than 175,000 square feet. Kenneth Ross, North American Jet president, said the expansion will allow them to provide, ``unparalleled line service, ease of access to our FBO and increased maintenance facilities to ensure that our customers' needs are addressed.''
Jet Aviation, Teterboro, has named Antonio Scenna as the aircraft management division's new chief pilot. Scenna, who has over 11,000 flight hours, manages the day-to-day flight operations and has served as a pilot for the company's Challenger 601/604 aircraft. In addition, Jet Aviation's U.S. charter division has hired Ronald Manning as the southwest regional charter sales manager.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded contracts to Boeing and Lockheed Martin to study the next generation of GPS satellites. Both companies will develop plans over the next year for future GPS technology under the terms of the $16 million grants. The first of the new generation satellites is expected to be launched in 2009 and will remain operational until about 2030. Likely participants in the next phase of actual hardware development also include ITT, Rockwell Collins and Ball Aerospace. Contracts for that phase will be awarded in 2002.
Aviation safety regulators in Australia have launched a nationwide campaign designed to raise pilot and operator awareness of issues surrounding aircraft pressurization systems. Held in four cities this fall, the workshops featured information on operating pressurization systems, tips on using cockpit checklists, advice on hypoxia and its effects, and maintenance requirements.
What could be more basic than the air we breathe? For that matter, how safe is the air we breathe in our work and long-distance travel environment, modern aircraft cabins and cockpits?
MD Helicopters has sold the first MD Explorers for use in the potentially lucrative U.S. law enforcement market. New York's Suffolk County Police Department has ordered two of the twin-turbine helicopters, scheduled for delivery in summer 2001. The Suffolk police will outfit the helicopters for both aerial law enforcement and aeromedical transportation. A department spokesman cited the Explorer's cabin size and NOTAR system as factors in the decision.
As Bombardier looks to the Middle East for partners, Gulfstream is turning to the Far East, simultaneously leasing a G-IV to Metrojet and naming the Hong Kong-based company a Line Service Facility for G-IVs, G-IVSPs and G-Vs. The two companies are jointly pursuing G-IV certification with Hong Kong civil aviation authorities and expect to launch charter service with the aircraft in first quarter 2001. Under the terms of the agreement, Gulfstream also has agreed to lease back the aircraft for customer demo flights in the region.
Sporty's is now offering the Cross-Country Checklist, a booklet that pro- vides step-by-step checklists starting with a preflight weather briefing through flight-plan filing. The booklet includes six multi-page checklists, one for each trip. Sporty's said even though the checklist was designed for the VFR pilot, it also is useful for IFR flight. Price: $9.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103-9747 Phone: (800) LIFTOFF Fax: (513) 735-9200 www.sportys.com
