Pratt&Whitney Canada is reorganizing its Service Centre Network, grouping businesses providing similar services together. The new units include Repair and Overhaul, Aerospace Component Services and Fleet Services. Aerospace Component Services includes accessories and components sales and service while the Fleet Services unit encompasses leased engines and those covered by P&WC's power-by-the-hour programs.
Cornerstone Logic, a software and engineering company, released Version 4.0 of FBO Manager. FBO Manager is a Windows-based, business software package used to manage day-to-day activities for FBOs. A free, fully functional trial version is available at www.cornerstonelogic.com
The Helicopter Association International has released two new videos to help operators gain greater acceptance in the community. Part of the HAI's Fly Neighborly initiative, the first video is geared to pilots and offers information on piloting techniques and procedures for noise abatement. The second video is for non-pilots and is designed to educate organizations about the positive contributions helicopters make to the community. Both videos discuss next-generation helicopter technology and replace the original Fly Neighborly video that was released in the early 1990s.
Until recently, the entire U.S. Na-tional Airspace System (NAS) has been built upon ground-based navaids -- VORs, NDBs, ILSes, ATC primary and secondary radars, and dozens of other electronic devices that provide defining anchors for airways, intersections, instrument approach procedures, arrival and departure routes, and the boundaries of special use and restricted/prohibited airspace.
Manx/British Regional Airlines is Jetstream 41 launch customer for BAE Systems' Material and Component Repair and Overhaul program (MACRO). MACRO is a power-by-the-hour program already in use with 10 Jetstream 31 operators worldwide.
Near collisions with military aircraft are reported to the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) at the rate of about three per month, and involve all types of aircraft from general aviation trainers to commercial airliners. The actual number of near-midair collisions (NMACs) is estimated to be much higher.
Lynton Aviation has launched a new Web site for its aircraft sales, charter, engineering and FBO division. The site, which also includes current news about the U.K.-based operator, can be accessed at www.lyntonaviation.com.
According to GAMA, a record-breaking $2.1 billion in general aviation aircraft were shipped in the first quarter, a 12.3-percent increase over 1999. A total of 613 aircraft were delivered, including 136 jets and 78 turboprops. Jets delivered included three Boeing Business Jets, 18 Gulfstream IVSP and V models, 46 Cessna Citations, 41 Learjets, 13 Beechjets and 15 Raytheon Hawker 800XPs. Turboprop deliveries included 50 King Airs and 12 Beech 1900Ds, 22 New Piper Malibu Mirages and 16 Cessna Caravans.
If you want air carrier-grade security to prevent unauthorized access to aircraft and other sensitive areas, Ross Technologies' new ExitSentry system may be the answer. Airlines and airports use ExitSentry to prevent people from going the wrong way in exit-only paths. Equipped with two surveillance cameras, the system also provides evidence in the event of a security breach. The system is in place at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and is being installed in eight cities served by Southwest Airlines. Price: Varies with Installation
The European Union's threatened ban on hush-kitted Stage 2 aircraft went into effect in May, inciting the wrath of U.S. industry and trade officials who have bitterly opposed the measure. Though some have categorized the ongoing conflict as a ``tempest in a teapot'' with limited significance, the debate stands to have a far-reaching influence on the creation of new worldwide standards for aircraft noise regulation.
Piedmont Hawthorne will acquire the Gen-Aero and AVSAT FBOs from Fairchild Aerospace at San Antonio International Airport (SAT). The former Gen-Aero facility includes a 6,748-square-foot FBO terminal and 124,000 square feet of hangar/shop space. AVSAT features 3,449 square feet of office space and a 31,000-square-foot hangar.
DaimlerChrysler subsidiary debis Capital Services has purchased Raytheon's $800 million loans and lease portfolio on some 300 general and business aviation aircraft. Raytheon has been trying to slash debt, eliminate money-losing operations and focus on core business in the wake of a nearly 70-percent decline in the company's stock price since fall 1999. The declines came as a result of disappointing earnings, higher than projected costs and unanticipated project delays at the manufacturer.
If we are to accept that ``incident'' prevention is essential, then we also must accept and respect the contributing factors. When it comes to discussing accident prevention, there is a continuing debate on the significance of focusing on probable cause as opposed to contributing factors and ``incident'' prevention. After all, when an accident makes the news there is much immediate speculation as to why it happened. Since the public, however, has a short memory for such events, by the
Gulfstream officials say European JAA certification of the G-V is ``a moving target,'' that ultimately could cost more than $20 million. When the G-V was first conceived, harmonization of FAA and JAA rules was on track, and the company opted to pursue FAA certification first and then follow with the JAA. However, a growing list of differences between the standards -- one of the biggest of which is loads testing -- now stands in the way of JAA certification.
The FAA has certified Honeywell's One View direct broadcast TV system for in- stallation on Gulfstream III and IV aircraft. The manufacturer anticipates approval for the Challenger 604 and Global Express shortly. Honeywell also says that its Total Aircraft Infor-mation System -- which includes Inflightmail airborne e-mail, airborne credit card validation, Flight Operations Quality Assurance and other functions -- has been flight-tested and FAA certified.
The U.S. DOT plans to lift slot restrictions at three of the four slot-controlled U.S. airports, as stipulated by the AIR-21 FAA reauthorization bill recently signed into law. Plans are to eliminate all slot restrictions at Chicago O'Hare by July 1, 2002, and at New York's Kennedy and La Guardia airports by January 1, 2007. Slots will remain in force at Washington Reagan National, but the DOT created 24 new ones including 12 for ``regional'' flights within 1,250 nm of the airport.
Cessna's Citation Encore has received FAA certification and is expected to begin customer deliveries in the third quarter of this year. The Encore, successor to the Citation Ultra, is equipped with more-fuel-efficient engines, a trailing-link landing gear, bleed-air anti-ice wing leading edge and 14-inch wingtip extensions.
Operators with questions about Honeywell avionics now can get them answered 24/7 by the company's new customer response center. Honeywell's Commercial Electronics Systems division says the center has received more than 14,000 monthly calls since inaugurating part-time operation in February. Honeywell also says its new Mark VI and Mark VIII EGPWS systems for turboprops and light business jets have won TSO approval from the FAA. The Mark VIII already has been STCed for IAI Westwinds.
MD Helicopters has sold MD Explorers to Eng-land's West Yorkshire Police, Great Manchester Police and Specialist Aviation Services (SAS). SAS, which operates Police Aviation Services Ltd. and Medical Aviation Services Ltd., also is the manufacturer's twin-engine distributor in the United Kingdom.
Southwest Jet Aviation named Chuck Harrington as the director of maintenance. Based out of Scottsdale Airport, Southwest offers charter service, fractional ownership, aircraft management, aircraft sales/acquisition and hangar leasing.
Aeronautical Communication International (ACI) -- an international joint venture comprising Honeywell, Sextant, Airsys ATM and Sofreavia -- has delivered the first version of Aeronautical Telecommunications Network router software to the FAA. The program is designed to help implement ATC data-link service in U.S. airspace.
The United States Air Tour Association (USATA) and eight ``family-owned'' air tour companies are suing the federal government over recently imposed restrictions on air tour operations over the Grand Canyon. Calling the regulations ``an unconscionable act of aggression by the Clinton administration,'' the suit challenges the government's legal authority to impose the flight restrictions.
