ATI has introduced three new models of heavy-duty, counter-balanced mobile hydraulic cranes in 10,000-, 15,000- and 20,000-pound capacities. The cranes are self-propelled, battery operated and equipped with variable-speed drives, making it capable of speeds as slow as 10 inches per minute. The steering control handle swings 90 degrees to the left and right for turning sharp corners. The units are built of heavy-duty steel for industrial use. Price: $31,998; $35,500; $39,500 Air Technical Industries 7501 Clover Ave.
A Colorado appellate court has upheld a lower court's ruling in favor of a pilot who sued a former employer for defamation -- a case that could be the first legal test of the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA). Fired from his job as a corporate pilot for Sky Fun 1 and sued for alleged damages inflicted on the company's aircraft due to a lightning strike, John Schuttloffel filed counter-charges after William Kitchen, his former boss, described him to a prospective airline employer as ``not a good pilot'' and ``a threat to passengers.''
Bombardier is offering Heads Up Technologies' PBS600 Pre-Recorded Announcement Machine as an option on the Canadair Regional Jet 200 and CRJ700 series aircraft. The PBS600 plays announcements and boarding music.
After seven years of debate, legislation restricting the government's ability to seize the property of private citizens -- including aircraft -- was signed into law on April 25. Known as the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, the new law will force the government to prove that property targeted for seizure is connected to a crime, while making it easier for people to reclaim property seized in error.
TAC Air has acquired and commenced operations at Denver's Centennial Airport, formerly owned by Signature Flight Support, in Englewood, Colo. Dan Bryant was named as general manager and Paul House has joined, assuming the role of operations manager. Future plans for the facility include renovating the hangar, new tooling and expansion of the existing terminal.
Only nine of 42 delivered BBJs are in service due to completion delays. BBJ President Borge Boeskov said he expects 20 BBJs to be in service by the end of the year. Boeing has trimmed production of the aircraft from 29 in 1999 to a projected 18 this year, in part to ease pressure on completions facilities. Completions are running between seven and 12 months, Boeskov said. Boeing is exploring the possibility of a follow-on BBJ-3, which would combine a 757-200 fuselage with a 757-300 wing and landing gear to produce an aircraft with more than 7,000-nm range.
Atlantic Coast Airlines (Dulles, Va.) has named Bill Lange as its senior vice president, maintenance and operations. Lange is a former executive vice president of World Airways, president and CEO of Pan Am Express and COO of Jetstream Aircraft. The carrier also promoted Bill Poniatowski to senior director of maintenance. Formerly director of maintenance at ACA, Poniatowski spent eight years at British Aerospace.
BP Amoco is expanding its aviation business with the acquisitions of Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and Exxon's Turbine Oil division. The ARCO purchase will give Air BP Americas a strong presence throughout the West Coast, and includes ARCO's California and Washington-based refineries. Acquisition of the turbine oil business is a new venture for BP Amoco, which the company says is a step toward the company's ``creating a world-class lubricants business.'' U.S. and European regulators required Exxon to divest the Turbine Oil unit as a condition of its merger with Mobil.
It's estimated that roughly 80 percent of our informational intake is through the eyes. When scanning for traffic, limitations to our vision make proper techniques vital to our safety.
According to statistics released by the Airports Council International, Washington's Dulles International Airport was the fastest growing airport of the world's top 50 airports in 1999.
Continental Express converted 11 options for Embraer ERJ-145s into firm orders. The carrier now has 211 firm orders for Embraer regional jets and 64 options.
Charter operator Westchester Air is opening a new headquarters at Westchester County Airport (HPN). The facility will include 12,000 square feet of hangar space and 5,000 square feet of executive office space.
The FAA has awarded an STC to Airwolf Filter Corp. for its Apollo DTM-4 high-capacity spray system. The DTM-4 is designed for installation on the Robinson R44 helicopter.
Signature Flight Support (Orlando) -- Recent promotions include: John ``Cy'' Farmer to regional vice president for the Florida region, Al Pichon to regional vice president for the Mid-Atlantic region and Brent Russell to regional vice president of the Northeastern region. Warren Hartquist received the National Air Transportation Association's General Aviation Service Technician of the Year Award.
Raytheon, GTE Airfone and Teledyne Controls have agreed to a five-year renewal of the MagnaStar Air telephone system. MagnaStar provides digital telephone service and hardware for business jets operating over the continental United States, Canada and Mexico. Under the terms for the $75 million deal, the three partners will continue their sales effort as well as provide support and service to existing MagnaStar customers.
American Eagle has agreed to a Fleet Management Program (FMP) with Pratt&Whitney Canada for maintenance of the engines that power the carrier's fleet of ATR turboprops. The American Airlines subsidiary operates 78 P&WC-powered ATR-42s and -72s and has a total of 97 PW127 and PW127F installed and spare engines. The 12-year agreement is worth around $110 million, according to the engine manufacturer.
Ground handling is no less important a part of your flight operations than a well-briefed and executed low approach. Taxiing, parking and securing your aircraft requires a heightened vigilance due to insidious hazards. The ``Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents'' published by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group states that eight percent of all accidents (involving jet aircraft heavier than 60,000 pounds gross weight) occur while the aircraft is taxing, loading or parked.
Honeywell is forming a new business unit to help airlines combat delays and inefficiency in their operations. The new unit, called Avient, will be based in Phoenix, and will report to Mike Smith, president and CEO of Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Systems. Barry Siadat will be the president of Avient.
Oregon State University is sponsoring an aviation conference, June 12-16, on ``The Revolution in General Aviation.'' Topics range from aviation as an economic development tool to zoning laws affecting airports. For more information visit www.odot.state.or.us./aero/ or call (503) 378-4880.
U.K.-based charter operator Gold Air International has started operations from its new base at Dublin International Airport in Ireland. Gold Air now is using Park Air's lounge and handling facilities, but plans to build its own FBO at the site in the coming months.
The Make-It-Fly Foundation is gearing up for a marketing blitz this fall, aimed at junior high school students and timed to coincide with the beginning of the school year. The program is designed to expose kids to aviation maintenance as a career option as they begin to shape their educational track in the pre-high school years.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) recently took AOPA President Phil Boyer to task for opposing aviation user fees. The exchange took place at a confirmation hearing for Boyer's nomination to the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Committee (MAC). McCain is a long-time proponent of user fees for corporate operators, whom he referred to as ``fat-cat friends'' who ``pay nothing'' to use the air traffic system. Boyer repeated his assertion that non-airline users pay for using the system in the form of a federal fuel excise tax.
