National Association of State Aviation Officials (Silver Springs, Md.) -- Jack W. Ferns was elected secretary by the general membership of the organization.
Potential injury or death can result from carbon monoxide emitted by a cockpit heater. Sporty's offers a Carbon Monoxide Alarm that is ideally suited for aircraft use. The alarm audibly warns when unsafe levels reach 70 parts per million. Measuring 1.0 x 2.5 x 4.0 inches, the alarm features a continual self-testing microprocessor, low battery alarm, and operates up to one year on a standard nine-volt battery (included). Price: $60 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103-9747
Aeromedix is now an authorized distributor of Woodside Biomedical's ReliefBand, which offers an effective remedy for motion sickness without the adverse side effects normally associated with anti-nausea drugs. The three ReliefBand models available are the original 144-hour disposable RB-6, a new 48-hour disposable version and the reusable 144-hour RB-R. ReliefBand is an FDA-approved, drug-free device that uses an electrical pulse to stimulate the P-6 meridian.
Actor Harrison Ford starred in a real-life drama recently, rescuing a sick hiker in his Bell 407 helicopter. Ford -- an avid pilot and the owner of several aircraft -- is a volunteer rescue pilot near his Jackson, Wyo., ranch. As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. The 20-year-old hiker vomited in the helicopter just as Ford, his copilot and an emergency medical technician were about to land at a local hospital. Ford is adding to his fleet, having recently ordered a modified de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver from AOG Air Support.
Jeppesen is offering the next generation of its JeppView electronic Airway Manual Service -- JeppView FlightDeck. FlightDeck depicts charts on handheld or panel-mounted display devices, and uses a position feed from GPS or other systems to show the aircraft's position on the chart. Jeppesen's Dejan Damjanovic said the service ``directly supports a paperless cockpit environment, and provides the pilot with significantly enhanced situational awareness.''
Sabreliner is now manufacturing primary structural components such as frames, ribs and longerons at its own manufacturing facility in St. Mary, Mo. Delivery time on parts will be reduced by as much as 75 percent over ordering from outside vendors, according to Sabreliner executive Ron Herman, who says the move also ensures ``an OEM fit'' for Sabreliner airframe structural components. Herman added that the new facility also can custom-manufacture airframe components for other business aircraft.
International Corporate&Cargo Services (ICCS) has added ICCS Monterrey, Mexico to its FBO Network. Previously known as Aeroservicios Monterrey and located at Mariano Escobedo International Airport, the new FBO is equipped with a pilot's lounge, passenger waiting room, hangar parking and a meeting room. ICCS's FBO chain includes facilities in Toluca, Chihuahua, Morelia, Cuernavaca, Ciudad Juarez and del Norte Mexico.
While the Van Nuys battle builds, officials at nearby Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport are pursuing an FAR Part 161 study that could result in curfews on all aircraft. Citing nighttime aircraft noise as ``an overriding issue'' to area residents, authorities say the study will help build a legal case for adopting a curfew affecting all aircraft between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Violators would be fined between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the number of infractions. Repeat offenders also face termination of airport leases and possible prohibition from using the airport.
Elliot Aviation, of Moline, Ill., has received multiple STC approvals to install the new Honeywell Mark VI Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) in King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft.
Midcoast Aviation broke ground on a $2.9 million expansion of its St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport FBO, with completion expected by mid-October. The project adds 31,000 square feet to the existing facility, doubling the workspace for cabinet, upholstery, stockroom and the machine shop. The latest expansion follows a series of investments to the FBO, including $3.2 million spent in 1997.
American Eagle has converted options for six more Embraer regional jets to be delivered in 2002. The arrangement allows the Dallas-based carrier to take delivery of RJs with 37 seats, 50 seats or possibly a 44-seat ERJ variant that Embraer has in the works. Eagle President Peter Bowler said he would prefer 50 seaters, but can do so only if American Airlines' pilots ratify a tentative contract agreement that expands the number of 50-seat RJs Eagle may operate.
Showalter Flying Services is nearing completion of its new 11,000-square-foot FBO at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) in Florida. Scheduled to open November 4 during the National Air Transportation Association Airports and FBO Industry Symposium, the $1.8 million facility offers Internet access, a pilot's lounge with showers and ``snooze'' rooms, and a meeting area with room for 50. Additional improvements include the refurbishment of the FBO's two fuel tanks, and renovations to the company's existing hangars are planned.
BAE Systems' Asset Management division has leased and sold several BAe 146 aircraft recently. Ireland's Aer Lingus leased two BAe 146-300s, WDL of Germany has purchased a BAe 146-200 and Qantas Australia has leased a 200 series aircraft for use on Qantas Airlink regional services.
Britten-Norman and Orenda Recip are flight-testing a BN2T-4S Defender 4000, retrofitted with Orenda OE600 Series V-8 engines. Orenda says the re-engined aircraft will use at least 20-percent less fuel than the Defender's original Allison 250-B17F-1 engines. The Orenda engine currently is available for the Beech King Air C90, Rockwell Twin Commander, de Havilland DHC-3 Otter and Air Tractors, and also is being developed for the de Havilland Beaver, Cessna 421 and Piper PA-31P pressurized Navajo.
NORDAM Group (Tulsa) --promoted Ronald C. Richman to vice president for the manufacturing divisions. Donald R. Clark was named vice president of the repair division, Meredith Siegfried was promoted to manager of international operations and Andrew Altendorf was appointed to the position of vice president of world aviation associates.
Mesa Air Group is negotiating to return 20 surplus Beech 1900D aircraft to lessor Raytheon, and refinance 36 others. Mesa Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein said the deal, if accepted, would remove $55 million in debt from Mesa's balance sheet, while saving $4 million annually in interest expense. Once the largest Beech 1900 operator with more than a hundred units in service, Mesa now is building its fleet of regional jets while shifting its focus from rural service to hub-and-spoke operations.
The AOPA is claiming victory in a fight with the FAA over what constitutes a properly equipped training aircraft. Some FAA inspectors had interpreted sections of FAR Parts 91 and 61 to require all instructional and checkride aircraft to have dual controls -- including dual brakes. The problem with that interpretation, according to the AOPA, is that many aircraft -- including the Mooney M20, some Beech Barons and Piper Apaches -- don't have dual brakes. Now, the FAA has issued a flight standards bulletin stating that ``civil aircraft with a single set of brakes . . .
Originally designed for the International Space Station, Pilot Communications has introduced a panel-mount version of the Independence headset called the PA 17-79 DNC XL-P. The new version weighs only 9.9 oz. (280.7 g) and also can be used with a nine-volt battery pack allowing the unit to be portable and used in various aircraft. The Independent series headset has incorporated into its design a proprietary DSP circuit that enhances audio within the speech frequency.
The British Aviation Insurance Group Ltd. (BAIG) has agreed to purchase Associated Aviation Underwriters (AAU) for an undisclosed sum. AAU is owned by insurance giants Chubb and CNA, and insures private, corporate and
