The recently announced reorganization of the FAA will prepare the way for spinning off its ATC functions if Congress votes to do so. Legislation to establish an ATC corporation stalled in the last Congress, but the Clinton administration is expected to push for it again in the new Congress. Also, the new organization restructures the main functions of the FAA, creates a special Safety Office to report directly to the FAA administrator and appoints long-time FAA official Anthony Broderick to head the FAA's safety responsibilities.
February 9--TCAS: Turbine-powered FAR Part 135 aircraft with 10 to 30 passenger seats must have TCAS I systems installed. (The FAA has proposed a two-year deadline extension.) March 1--Duty times: Deadline for compliance with flight attendant duty times and minimum rest requirements for operations under FAR Part 121 and 135 on-demand and scheduled certificate holders. June 21--ELTs: Newly installed ELTs must meet TSO C91a.
The move to maximize each crewmember's involvement in the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft varies widely throughout corporate aviation. While most operators speak respectfully of the tenets of CRM (cockpit and--more recently--crew resource management) for expanded communication and enhanced teamwork on the flight deck, the day-to- day application of those principles ranges from zealous to casual. Some operators even dismiss the concept as a newfangled way to compromise a pilot's independence.
Aviall sold its Miami-based Aviation Sales parts supply business to ASC Acquisition Partners L.P., an affiliate of Aerospace International Services of Houston. Aviation Sales is the latest unit of Aviall to be sold since the company spun off from Ryder System in mid-1993. Separately, Aviall is nearing completion of a deal to sell its Dallas-based business aviation maintenance and fixed-based operations to Dallas Airmotive (B/CA, August 1994, page 28).
Gulfstream Aerospace says its G-V is the launch aircraft for the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System being developed jointly by AlliedSignal and Honeywell. In addition to the required aural warnings, Gulfstream says the Enhanced GPWS will offer pilots a visual display of threatening terrain when flying in or near terminal areas. The system will be flight tested aboard a G-IVSP, with FAA certification scheduled to be completed later this year.
