Delta Air Lines has taken delivery of new, Australian-made fuel carts at its Atlanta hub. The 82 fuel carts, manufactured by National Valve&Engineering of Melbourne, represent a $7.3 million investment designed to improve fueling efficiency, Delta says, by eliminating up to 47 fuel trucks and up to 1,400 ramp vehicle movements per day. One cart will be located at each of Delta's 82 Atlanta gates.
The FAA has proposed a $195,000 fine against Toledo, Ohio-based Grand Aire Express. According to the agency, Grand Aire operated a Fairchild Swearingen SA226TC on 218 flights in 1999 without conducting required testing following replacement of one of the aircraft's engines. Failure to conduct these tests rendered the aircraft unairworthy. Grand Aire Express operates on-demand cargo flights under FAR Part 135 with a mixed fleet that includes Dassault Falcon 20s, Swearingen Metros and Merlins, a DC-9 and a Cessna Citation II.
Advanced Aerodynamics and Structures, Inc. (AASI) says its single-engine turboprop Jetcruzer 500 has successfully completed pressurization tests and that the aircraft is now certified to a 30,000-foot cruise altitude. Saying that pressurization was ``the one thing we had never done before,'' AASI Executive Vice President Gene Comfort proclaimed the project ``on-schedule'' for third quarter certification and initial customer deliveries by year-end.
The Pentagon has stopped intentionally degrading GPS signals, citing technological improvements that will allow it to decrease system accuracy on a regional level if needed. Since midnight on May 1, GPS users have been able to pinpoint their positions down to tens of feet; nearly a tenfold improvement in the accuracy available while the government's ``selective availability'' (SA) function was turned on. ``In plain English, we are unscrambling the GPS signal,'' said Dr. Neal Lane, President Clinton's science advisor.
JAXPORT, which operates Jacksonville's airports, says that more than 90 percent of the available aviation space at Cecil Field, which was decommissioned as a Naval Air Station seven months ago, has been leased. Tenants include Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Air Kaman.
The business pilot has much to examine in the decision to single-pilot a complex turbine aircraft. As turbine engines become lighter and composites become stronger and avionics become smarter, more high-performance, turbine aircraft are being marketed as ``single-pilot'' airplanes.
Signature Flight Support moves into its new executive terminal at Centennial Airport in Denver. The facility features 12 acres of ramp space, first-class customer services, telephone dataports, flight planning, conference room, pilot lounge and crew showers. Signature recently completed construction of a new executive terminal at Chicago's Midway Airport.
French manufacturer OBSTA is ex-panding its Balisor line of high voltage line warning lights to the United States and Canada. Balisor can be installed on power lines, buildings, TV and radio towers, and any other obstacles to air navigation. When installed on high voltage lines, the system draws power directly from the lines. Price: Varies with installation OBSTA 12, bd. des iles 92441 Issy les Moulineaux, France Phone: +33-1-41 23 50 10 Fax: +33-1-41 23 50 11 www.obsta.com
Raytheon Aircraft has sold a Beech 1900D to Ecuador's Saereo S.A. The aircraft will transport oil company personnel within the country's Amazon region.
Edited By Paul RichfieldMike Vines, in Aberdeen, Scotland
Two new EH101 helicopters have been a familiar sight over the stormy North Sea of late, as partners GKN Westland and Agusta attempt to prove the design ready for mass production. Based at Aberdeen, Scotland, the two aircraft participating in the 6,000-hour Intensive Flying Operational Program (IFOP) are flown at maximum weights by Bristow Helicopters crews, but with no passengers aboard.
A new company called CharterX hopes to become the preferred charter quoting and computerized reservation system by providing an Internet-based tool that allows charter customers to get quotes and book reservations. Unlike online brokering sites, the program is designed as a ``behind the scenes'' system that provides a reservations window that will appear on charter operators' Web sites, allowing them to maintain the bond between operator and customer, according to CharterX President Walter Kraujalis.
Edited By Paul RichfieldMike Vines, in Birmingham, England
Merger negotiations between GKN-Westland and Agusta are still under way after nearly two years, and a formal announcement is expected by July. The merger then will require the European Commission's blessing as well as the approval of three collaborative partners: Boeing with GKN-Westland and Bell Helicopter Textron and NH Industries with Agusta.
Administrative receivers have sold British aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman to a group from the Sultantate of Oman. Renamed the B-N Group, Ltd., the company plans to continue producing Islander, Trislander and Defender aircraft, while also adapting its existing facilities to permit the manufacture of other types of aircraft. The new owners also have pledged to fully support Britten-Norman aircraft currently operating worldwide.
The FAA has named 24-year agency veteran Steven B. Wallace, an attorney and licensed pilot, director of the Office of Accident Investigation. In his new position, Wallace is responsible for all FAA accident investigations and for all activities related to the NTSB. Wallace had been the FAA's senior representative at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, serving as the agency's contact with U.S. government officials, foreign government representatives and the aviation industry throughout Central Europe, the Mediterranean and parts of the Middle East.
Former HAI chief Frank Jensen and attorney Carroll Dubuc have formed an organization to help settle aviation-related business disputes out of court. Saying that mediation helps lower costs, maintain business relationships and avoid unwarranted publicity, Aviation Mediation and Arbitration providers, LLC (AMAP) will provide dispute resolution at a ``reasonable, fixed expense.'' Dubuc, who is the AMAP's executive director, can be reached at (703) 558-3663.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey has named one-time air traffic controller and union leader John Thornton to head the agency's Free Flight Phase 2 initiative. Thornton is charged with expanding the coverage of existing Phase 1 elements and will oversee the introduction of new functions, such as implementation of data-link service and the addition of high-altitude airspace sectors to air route traffic control centers that do not currently have them. Thornton helped found and served in various management positions with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has published a new refueling reference manual for operators. Refueling and Quality Control Procedures for Airport Service and Support Operations provides information on fuel storage, quality control, safety training and record-keeping. The publication is priced at $60 for NATA Safety 1st participants, $75 for members and $125 for non-members. Further information is available from NATA by calling Amy Koranda at (800) 808-6282.
