November 2009

Expect some hurdles for NextGen integration

By Andrew Wood

One of the traditional buzz phrases in discussions about improving ATC has been the time-honored “system of systems” that envisions a National Airspace System in which everything meshes together smoothly. It will be some time before the U.S. realizes that vision with NextGen, according to Lockheed Martin’s Tom Dilenno, who spoke at last month’s Air Traffic Control Association Conference. < more

---

PAC introduces Affinity Seat

By Kirby J. Harrison

PAC Seating Systems has introduced a new seat of modular design that the Palm City, Fla. company says “incorporates the best ideas” of completion center customers, upholsterers, and the PAC design and engineering teams.
An easy-pull manual control handle has a new ergonomic design that releases the track and swivel lock more smoothly and with minimal pressure. To save “time and money more

---

With PRM-A, DTW OK’d for close parallel approaches

By John Sheridan

The FAA has commissioned the first implementation of a new generation of precision runway monitor (PRM) equipment at Detroit/Wayne Airport (DTW), to permit simultaneous close parallel approaches to adjacent runways having less than 4,300 feet between their centerlines. At DTW these are Runways 21L and 22R, separated by 3,000 feet, the current lower limit. The Detroit procedures also cover simultan more

---

Dubai Air Show Preview 2009

By Charles Alcock

The world’s aerospace industry could use a morale boost, and it might just get it at the 2009 Dubai Air Show (November 15 to 19) at the end of a year that has brought little but austerity and uncertainty. The Middle East has been a strong generator of growth over the past decade, and the market’s potential to revive otherwise sluggish sales in the aerospace sector is more important now than ev more

---

Medevac crash fatal for pilot and crew

By Curt Epstein

Eurocopter AS 350, Georgetown, S.C., Sept. 25, 2009–N417AE, operated as a medical transport by Omniflight Helicopters, was substantially damaged when it crashed near Georgetown County Airport. The helicopter was operating on a VFR flight plan for a positioning flight to Conway-Horry County Airport in South Carolina. A review of preliminary radar data revealed that the helicopter had entered an a more

---

UBS: Bizjet Market Improving gradually

By Chad Trautvetter

Deterioration in the business jet market is continuing to slow, according to UBS Investment Research’s latest monthly business jet report. The September market index came in at 43, some 16 percent higher than in July and the sixth straight move higher but still short of the 50 mark that indicates market growth. “However, our straight-up measure of absolute business conditions has begun to show more

---

Gulfstream on track for ’09 deliveries

By Chad Trautvetter

Gulfstream “held its own again in the third quarter” despite a planned five-week plant shutdown, according to Jay Johnson, president and CEO of parent company General Dynamics. Due to the shutdown, Gulfstream delivered 14 green large-cabin jets in the quarter versus 24 a year ago; it also delivered only three green midsize jets in the three-month period compared with 16 last year. However, Gul more

---

Cessna Delivers fewer jets in 3Q

By Chad Trautvetter

Revenues in the third quarter at Cessna Aircraft decreased 41.8 percent, to $593 million, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to delivery of 68 Citations in the three-month period versus “an all-time quarterly high” of 124 jets last year, a drop of nearly 48 percent. Profits at Cessna decreased $206 million due to lower sales volumes and costs associated with idle capacity a more

---

SDL Increases Weight Limit

By Chad Trautvetter

NBAA and the Arizona Business Aviation Association (AZBAA) praised local city leaders in Scottsdale, Ariz., for their decision last month to raise the aircraft weight limit for Scottsdale Airport (SDL) to 100,000 pounds from 75,000. The move, which NBAA said will attract more business and economic activity to the community, follows more than a year of advocacy work by the AZBAA.  more

---

Virgin Charter Shuts Down

By Chad Trautvetter

Online charter broker Virgin Charter stopped “active operations” on October 23, according to a company statement. “With the severe decline in corporate travel, Virgin Charter was unable to generate sufficient sales to underpin its business plan and has taken the difficult decision to close its doors.” Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin USA more

---