Jacksonville-based Unison Industries has been chosen to supply wiring harnesses and other electrical components for MD Helicopters' Explorer light-twin helicopter.
L-3 Communications' Modular Airborne Data Recording Acquisition System (MADRAS) has been certified for installation on BAe 146 aircraft. The combined flight data recorder and data acquisition system is designed to adapt to a variety of aircraft types with only minor changes. Launch customer for the MADRAS is Air Wisconsin, which operates 18 BAe 146s. L-3 hopes to outfit all remaining BAe 146 aircraft in service with the system and add additional corporate and regional aircraft.
Edited By Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, in Coventry, England
The Atlantique Group has opened an FBO -- Atlantic Executive Aviation -- at the West Midlands International Airport (CVY) near Coventry, England. Managing the new facility is U.S.-born Greg Edens, who once worked for Executive Air at Yeager Airport in West Virginia. ``We are out to change things over here,'' he says. ``Our plan is to bring the U.S. style of customer service and convenience to the U.K. for the first time.''
Santa Ana, Calif.-based West Coast Charters has added a Cessna Citation Bravo, and an IAI Astra and Westwind II to its charter fleet. The company now operates 21 aircraft at bases throughout the Southwest.
Penny and Giles Aerospace has formally changed its name to Spirent Systems Wichita. The company's telephone, fax and Web site addresses remain unchanged.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of your flight crew I would like to welcome you aboard. Our flight time to Portland tonight is . . .'' When asked whether they deliver regular announcements on corporate aircraft, many pilots respond: ``An announcement on a corporate aircraft? Why?''
Pacific Harbor Capital is selling three ATR 42-300 aircraft for Fortis Prop Jet. The three aircraft have been leased to American Eagle since their manufacture in 1987.
SimuFlite scholarship winners Rebecca D. Johnson, Julie A. Savage, Matthew A. Short and Andrew T. Vedock received Cessna Citation type ratings this summer. The scholarships were awarded through the University Aviation Association.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has created an awards program honoring individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace. The first Pinnacle Awards were presented in mid-September to the Flight Safety Foundation, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. and Frank S. Del Gandio, who manages the Recommendation and Analysis Division of the FAA's Office of Accident Investigation. Members of the school's Center for Aerospace Safety Education chose the recipients. ERAU says it will bestow Pinnacle awards every two years.
Aviacion General del Noroeste, S.A. de C.V. has opened the doors of its new FBO at Hermosillo International Airport in Sonora, Mexico. The FBO said it has the capability to handle commercial, corporate, executive, charter, cargo and general aviation aircraft. Services provided include fuel, ground handling, grant clearance permits and customer immigration permits.
Salaries for most general aviation employees -- including pilots, maintenance technicians and line service personnel -- increased in 2000, based on the results of a recent National Air Transportation Association (NATA) survey. Maintenance technicians and managers realized some of the largest gains as compared with 1999 salaries. The survey breaks down compensation by job title, region, equipment and revenues. NATA members that participated in the survey will receive a complimentary copy of the results.
Fairchild Dornier has named McDonnell Douglas veteran Louis F. Harrington as its new CEO, effective October 1. Harrington replaces Charles P. Pieper, who assumed the CEO role from Carl Albert when Pieper's firm -- New York investment bank Clayton, Dubilier&Rice and Allianz Capital -- acquired Fairchild in April.
The FAA has called for inspections and modifications to the collective control levers of some 6,000 U.S.-registered Bell 206 helicopters by February 2001. If issued as a final rule, the FAA's proposal would mandate Bell alert service bulletins (ASBs) issued in March (No. 206L-00-116) and May (206-00-93, Revision A), respectively.
A high priority on the FAA's wish list is improved forecasting of inflight icing conditions. Forecasting models under development at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Weather Service (NWS) rely heavily on observations of icing at the surface, and freezing drizzle is a particularly important indicator. Research projects aimed at identifying freezing drizzle and measuring ice accretion using ASOS technology was completed in 1999 and may help pave the way for improved forecasting of icing conditions.
These three graphs are designed to be used together to provide a broad view of the Galaxy's performance. Do not use these data for flight planning. For a complete operational analysis, use the Approved Aircraft Flight Manual, Operational Planning Manual and other flight planning data supplied by Galaxy Aerospace Corp. (GAC).
Sporty's Pilot Shop is offering a corporate pilot jacket similar to the A-2 (Army Air Corps) jacket. Underarm gussets and vents on the goatskin jacket provide additional roominess and cooling with side entry hand-warmer pockets, dual inside snapped pockets, hidden pen pockets, leather wind flap, quilted lining, knit cuffs and a hanging loop. Available only in black, the jacket comes in sizes ranging from 36 regular to 50 long. Price: $375 to $400 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103-9747
In business aviation, where flight availability is essential, Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Maintenance Steering Group Three (MSG-3) offer operators the same maintenance and time-saving options that the airlines use. The purpose of an RCM program is not to prevent failures of a component, but to mitigate the consequences of the failure to ensure the highest levels of reliability.
Organizational ``stovepipes,'' or vertical management hierarchies within the FAA have had a negative impact on major airspace modernization programs, according to the results of a DOT investigation released on August 29. Based on a survey of 1,056 members of the FAA's Air Traffic Automation and Communications, Navigation and Surveillance teams, the DOT's study revealed that ``turf-protection'' on the part of many FAA managers has curtailed the flow of information throughout the agency, leading ultimately to delays and cost overruns.
AOPA President Phil Boyer presented the group's Award of Excellence to Christopher Andrews for volunteer efforts promoting the interests of general aviation at Des Moines International Airport (DSM).
