Commercial

Product Focus: CVRs & FDRs

First, the disclaimer: It’s impossible for me to write about cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) and digital flight data recorders (FDRs) with less than a passing interest in the subject. I fly jets…

ATM Modernization

Editor's Note: Cynics and the FAA's ATO

Former President Clinton’s Dec. 7, 2000 executive order to establish a performance-based air traffic control (ATC) entity, called the Air Traffic Organization (ATO), has drawn its share of cynicism. The order "sounds…

ATM Modernization

Feedback

Facing the Realities of UWB Your articles on ultra-wideband (February, page 20) captured both sides of the argument and painted a clear picture of key UWB issues. I thoroughly enjoyed the articles…

Business & GA

Pilots, Toss Away Your Flight Bags

A typical scene at a major airport: Pilots walk to the gates dutifully carrying their black, near-suitcase-size bags bearing charts, flight manuals and aircraft technical manuals. Meanwhile, the business travelers walk to…

Business & GA

Refining Rugged Russian Rotorcraft

The Mil Mi-8 and its twin in appearance, the Mi-17, exist in numbers far greater than any other helicopter model–save, possibly, the ubiquitous UH-1 "Huey." The Russians built thousands of these twin-engine…

Business & GA

Pulling Aircraft Diagnostics Together Digitally

The longstanding war against flight cancellations and delays is being waged on many fronts. One battle being fought by aircraft operators is against maintenance-related delays. Their weapons are better diagnostic techniques, which…

ATM Modernization

New Products

Signal Conditioner Amplifier Hades Manufacturing Corp., Farmingdale, N.Y., has introduced a ruggedized thermocouple, signal conditioner amplifier, constructed to meet Mil-E-5400 environmental standards. The Model NCA150 has isolated input/output power and was designed…

ATM Modernization

People

Federal Aviation Administration: Peacock, ATS Director The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has Bill G. Peacock succeeding Ronald E. Morgan as director of the Air Traffic Service (ATS). Morgan retired after 32…

Commercial

Safety in Avionics: Watching Your (Aircraft) Weight

In an industry where safety is based on the twin pillars of precise procedures and accurate measurements, it seems strange that "informed guesstimates" are used to determine an aircraft’s weight and balance.…

ATM Modernization

Industry Scan

Caravan Fitted for IFR J.A. Air Center, West Chicago, Ill., recently completed a new Cessna 208B Caravan with a state-of-the-art avionics suite approved for instrument flight rules. The aircraft is fitted with…