Alberta Aerospace Corp. (AAC) says it has launched a $7 million initial public stock offering to fund ongoing development of the Phoenix FanJet -- a Stelio Frati design once known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. Production of an unpressurized, two-seat trainer variant called the Sigmajet is the company's first priority, with a pressurized, four-seat business jet variant (the Magnajet) following a year after the trainer goes into production.
Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group has opened a new aircraft interior refurbishment center to complement its maintenance facilities at Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia, Canada. The move bolsters the Montreal-based company's West Coast and Asian business, which has seen a rise in demand for custom-refurbished aircraft interiors. The Vancouver center will specialize in upholstery, cabinetry, sheet metal and avionics installations.
Labor considerations have led American Eagle Airlines to become the first U.S. carrier to buy the new, 44-seat variant of the Embraer ERJ-145 family of regional jets -- the ERJ-140. The decision to buy 44-seaters follows American Airlines pilots' refusal of their latest tentative contract -- a deal that would have removed the current 67-aircraft cap on the number of RJs (with 45 seats or more) that Eagle may operate.
This month, Fairchild Dornier is to begin using the full-scale test rig for the 728JET's fly-by-wire control system, just weeks after Belgian subcontractor SABCA first cut metal for the new regional jet. SABCA will build the cockpit structure and a section of rear fuselage for the 70- to 85-seat regional jet; CASA/EADS in Spain will build the aircraft's wings and tail sections.
A healthy back is strong, flexible and pain-free. Its three natural curves are in their normal balanced position, supported by a surrounding cast of strong back, abdominal, buttock and leg muscles.
Depending on the Class of the ETM/IETM selected, electronic publications are designed to benefit the user in a number of ways. Some of the benefits include reduction in the amount of external support required to maintain complex systems and the mitigation of improperly posted or out of date information.
Wyvern Aviation says it will more than triple the number of audits performed in the second half of this year in response to the ``burgeoning demand for air charter.'' The company says it has stepped up its auditor training classes to meet the demand. Another reason for the increased auditing pace is Wyvern parent FlightTime.com's desire to have all aircraft available online be Wyvern-audited and approved. Wyvern President Walt Lamon says that FlightTime.com is funding the additional audits.
I am struck with the sturdiness of accident statistics in the face of society's best efforts to produce more palatable outcomes. The NTSB, for example, just reported that the total number of persons who died in 1999 in transportation accidents was 43,986 -- down two persons from the total that fell victim to such mishaps in 1998. Two people! And look at the breakouts by transportation category -- highway fatalities rose from 41,501 in 1998 to 41, 611 in 1999. Deaths at roadway/railway grade crossings declined from 431 to 402.
It used to be part of the accepted wisdom of the used aircraft sales fraternity that prospective buyers were more concerned with hours and cycles than calendar years when evaluating potential buys. Now that many popular models are passing 20 years or more, age may become a greater factor, particularly in view of the FAA focus on aging aircraft. Fractional ownership programs are rapidly changing utilization rates.
Central Florida's Kissimmee Airport (ISM) says traffic increased between nine and 17.6 percent during June, July and August. The airport is being upgraded from Class G to Class D airspace this month.
Century Aerospace and VisionAire are still seeking additional funds to make their proposed aircraft designs a reality. VisionAire President Jim Rice says it will take another $70 million to get the twin-engine Vantage through flight-testing. Rice recently joked to B/CA Show News that the company's finances ``depend on what day it is,'' admitting that he ``probably wouldn't'' have embarked on the Vantage Jet project if he had known how long it would take.
An agreement that allows Continental Express pilots with two years of regional jet experience to enter a hiring pool at Continental Airlines is rumored to be ``dead in the water'' due to slow growth at the mainline carrier. Sources say some veteran ConEx pilots have declined jobs at Continental, fearing a loss of seniority and possible posting to junior domiciles, principally Guam.
Computerized technical manuals are silently revolutionizing the aircraft maintenance industry by helping the technician isolate problems quickly, and in the process reduce downtime and costs by more than 10 percent. These electronic publications can reduce the numerous volumes of maintenance manuals, microfiche and work cards that are used to maintain engines, airframes, avionics and their associated components.
FAA facilities and computer systems remain vulnerable to intruders, hackers and other security threats, according to an investigation by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). Responsibility for FAA security is dispersed among its Office of Civil Aviation Security, its Chief Information Officer and the individual command structures. This lack of central oversight adds to the security risk, the GAO said in its report.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) has awarded a capital improvement contract to the Michael Baker Corp. worth more than $10 million. Expected to begin April 2001, the project includes reconstruction of the main terminal aircraft parking apron, construction of a new north parallel taxiway and an upgrade of the Extended Runway Safety Area on Runway 3. Baker also plans to modify the airport's ILS, replacing the ``endfire'' glideslope antenna with a ``capture effect'' antenna.
Major aviation training facilities such as FlightSafety International, SimuFlite, Pan Am/Simcom and Bombardier pilot training centers will soon display safety posters for their students, courtesy of B/CA. The new posters focus on the conclusions of Flight Safety Foundation Task Force studies of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) avoidance and approach and landing accident reduction (ALAR). The posters are part of an NBAA Safety Committee effort to standardize training for CFIT avoidance and ALAR.
These three graphs are designed to be used together to provide a broad view of CJ2 performance. Do not use these data for flight planning. For a complete operational analysis, use the Approved Aircraft Flight Manual and flight planning data supplied by Cessna Aircraft Co.
Honeywell is working on a new turbofan series in the 3,000- to 6,000-pound-thrust range that one day could replace its TFE731 powerplant. Development will begin with the creation of a gas generator for the new turbofan as well as the MPC531 auxiliary power unit proposed for the next generation of ultra-large jetliners. Both the TPE331 turboprop and TFE731 were developed from APU cores.
Gulfstream Aerospace has introduced a Web site dedicated to Gulfstream charters. The site allows registered users to search from among more than 90 Gulfstreams available for charter worldwide. The Gulfstream Charter Services pages at www.gulfstream.com will offer the ability to check availability, seating arrangements and maintenance information; view aircraft photos; and get quotes online. Catherine Smith, director of Gulfstream Charter Services, says ``the improved service is expected to double Gulfstream's charter business in the coming year.''
Four thirty nine Hotel, Albuquerque. I have an amendment to your clearance.'' Those words often make pilots wince as they contemplate burying their heads and hands in the cockpit to reprogram the FMS and other systems in response to new directions from ATC.
