GE Capital is offering what it calls ``bundled financing'' of various aircraft costs, including lease payments, training, engine maintenance and refurbishment.
KeraVision of Fremont, Calif., has received FAA approval for its INTACS prescription inserts to correct nearsightedness. KeraVision said the approval covers all classes of FAA-licensed private, commercial and transport pilots. The inserts are constructed from a clear, biocompatible plastic that has been used in contacts and cataract surgery. In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration approved the INTACS inserts for correcting -1.0 to -3.0 diopters of myopia, or about up to 20/400 vision.
The newly formed Wireless Airport Association (WAA) is offering free membership to companies and individuals interested in airport-based applications for wireless technology. The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Airport Council International -- North America (ACI-NA) and the Air Transport Association (ATA) created WAA, with the group's first scheduled meeting planned for January 28-30, 2001 in San Diego. Further information and a membership application are available at www.wirelessairport.org.
Flush with 31 orders and 31 options for its new Legacy business jet, Embraer says it expects to sell 240 of the ERJ-135 derivative over the next 10 years. Phoenix-based FBO Swift Aviation is the launch customer for the $19 million aircraft, which boasts a 3,200-nm range and 0.80 Mach cruise speed. Embraer's early results appear stronger than that of Fairchild Dornier's $13.5 million Envoy 3, which as of Mid-October had yet to find a single buyer.
Edited By Paul RichfieldBy Paul Richfield, in Washington, D.C.
Gulfstream President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Boisture said development of a supersonic business jet is likely to be a team effort, with European involvement the key to ``smoothing out regulation and certification issues.'' Boisture's comment underlines the Savannah-based manufacturer's growing frustration with Europe's Joint Aviation Authority (JAA), which has yet to certify the Gulfstream V despite the service entry of around 100 aircraft, including nine in Europe.
Flughafen Frankfurt/Main AG has acquired one percent of the Schiphol Group's interest in Brisbane International Airport in Queensland, Australia. Flughafen Frankfurt plans to increase its investment, and says the acquisition ``marks a long-lasting strategic cooperation between the two European-based airport groups.'' Schipol has operated BIA since the airport was privatized in 1997.
Bombardier Business Aircraft President Rob Gillespie says that the Global Express program is progressing well, despite ``early growing pains'' and slow completions. Gillespie says the order backlog has reached 120 aircraft, with 18 already in service. The Global Express faces a new challenge from Gulfstream's G-VSP, although Bombardier officials claim that performance of the enhanced G-V will still be short of the Global.
Alliance Coatings' disposable Kwik Kit can touch-up the urethane paint on very small areas of your aircraft. Mixing of the two-ounce package is done in a contained environment. Alliance says it can provide computer color matched kits for any aircraft urethane paint color. The kits have an aerosol or brush applicator. Price: Starting at $18.00 each, minimum order of 24 Alliance Coatings 1666 N. Magnolia Ave. Ste. G El Cajon, Calif. 92020 Phone: (619) 596-9191 Fax: (619) 596-9190
Bucking a recent trend, Delta Air Lines has replaced regional jets with mainline aircraft on three daily roundtrip Delta Shuttle flights between Boston Logan and Washington Reagan National. Boeing 727-200s will hold the line until January 2001, when the Delta Shuttle transitions to new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Delta Connection regional Comair had flown the route with 50-seat Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs).
Jeff Bordelon has been appointed regional turbine center manager, Dane McGuffe is JT15D regional engine manager for the Southeastern United States and Rob Haldeman has been named Rolls-Royce Model 250 regional engine manager.
Avionics Innovations has introduced its third generation AM/FM stereo with built-in CD player, designed to mount in the radio stack. Features include horizontal or vertical mounting, 24 station presets, 14- or 28-volt DC operation, 32-times oversampling, anti-shock floating mechanism, auto preset memory, repeat/random play and FAA-PMA approval. The AICD III also is compatible with both the six-disc and 12-disc changers for a complete AM/FM multi-disc CD system. Price: $1,595 Avionics Innovations 2450 Montecito Rd.
Two former Executive Jet Aviation executives have launched a firm to provide financial and management support for start-up aviation businesses. Co-founder Paul Schweitzer says the company, known as ``41,000 Feet,'' will allow ``entrepreneurs to focus on developing his or her idea,'' and leave administrative and financing issues to others. Schweitzer and partner Scott Liston claim to have four ideas in development and are seeking others online at www.41kfeet.com.
Avcon Industries hopes to receive certification for a long-delayed cargo version of Learjet 24, 25, 35 and 36 series aircraft by the end of the year. The FAA cleared the way for the STC with a partial exemption from FARs governing how smoke, flames or noxious gases are prevented from entering the cockpit. Avcon's Larry Franke says the rules were intended for larger aircraft, adding that full compliance with them would have made the retrofit cost-prohibitive.
Winfair, parent company of South Florida charter operator Hop-A-Jet and Santa Monica, Calif.-based Air Castle, has acquired the Air Credit Alliance for an undisclosed sum. Former National Aircraft Finance Association President Joseph L. Dini founded Air Credit Alliance. He will remain with the Bedford, Mass., company as president and chief operating officer.
Readers of the Modifications Directory should note that B/CA relies on the representations of the many companies it contacts for information while compiling the data. As B/CA has cautioned in the past few editions, because of the heightened emphasis on enforcement by FAA inspectors, particularly with respect to records, documents and the provenance of parts, operators should take great care to ensure that any modification under consideration complies with applicable FARs.
Pointing at an x-ray of my lower lumbar, my back surgeon explained his diagnosis and my dilemma. I needed surgery to fuse three vertebrae. It was the only viable option to correct a deteriorating situation. I thought my flying career was over. After 20 plus years of constant increasing LBP, which my HMO could never correctly diagnose, my lower lumbar sent a message I could no longer ignore. One night the pain curve accelerated sharply and was so intense I sweated profusely.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and political analyst Norm Ornstein will address member airline CEOs at the Regional Airline Association's fall membership meeting, to be held in Washington, D.C., on November 1-2. An election analyst for CBS News, Ornstein is a ``resident scholar'' at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy.
SimuFlite's QuickTurn division has added Turbo Commander 690 pilot training to its offerings. The new training program is available at the company's Grapevine, Texas, facility using a Collins avionics-equipped Frasca flight-training device. Initial and recurrent training last from two to five days. Legendary air show performer Bob Hoover was the first to fly the new simulator.
You can't expect much wisdom from the politicians and bureaucrats who populate Washington, but occasionally somebody from out of town shows up with an interesting idea. The latest to fit that description is John King, one half of the John and Martha King team that has produced and distributed some five million aviation training videos over the past 25 years. Addressing an NTSB General Aviation Accident Prevention Symposium in late September, King called for a major course correction in how student pilots are taught.
AviationNow.com, the Aviation Week Internet portal, has introduced eight new content channels tailored to individual users' areas of interest and expertise. The new channels include breaking news and information in business aviation, commercial aviation, eBiz, maintenance/safety, finance, space and military. The Web portal also features links to B/CA's Web site, job listings, aviation reference materials and Aviation Week's Next Century of Flight educational program.
Bader Field in Atlantic City, N.J., has signed a three-year contract with South Jersey Air (SJA) to provide fixed base services. Jim Towland, SJA's owner, said he plans to refurbish the terminal and include a pilot's lounge, vending machines and weather service. The airport now offers 100LL fuel, and Jet-A sales are planned. At present, Bader Field is restricted, with no takeoffs on Runway 22, and no landings on Runway 4.
Business jet deliveries will this year, but will remain strong over the next decade, according to Honeywell's annual Business Aviation Market Outlook. The aerospace giant says that fractional ownership will play an increasing role in business aviation's growth in the next decade. Fractionals are projected to account for 11 percent of the business aviation fleet by 2011, up from four percent this year. Honeywell says that more than 20 percent of business aircraft deliveries during this period will be to fractional owners.
