FEDS DEMAND TO KNOW WHO AND WHERE EARLIER
Charter operators worry that a recent proposal from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) could cause lengthy delays. Right now, operators can transmit manifest information — who is with them on the flight — up to 15 minutes after the aircraft departs. The new proposal would require an advance manifest at least 60 minutes before departure from international flights inbound to or outbound from the U.S. The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) says it is concerned that the increased compliance burden for Part 135 operators will cause indefinite delays. What will happen, NATA asks, if a passenger is determined to be high risk and cannot be immediately cleared? More...

CALCULATE NOW, LAND LATER ... MAYBE
A controversial new requirement for landing distance safety margins is drawing fire from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), which claims the proposal should be shelved. The FAA was spurred to action in the wake of a Dec. 8, 2005, accident at Chicago Midway in which a Southwest Airlines 737-700 skidded off a wet runway and onto a highway beyond, running into a car and killing a 6-year-old boy. In an audit afterwards, the FAA discovered nearly half of the operators they asked had no policies for assessing sufficient landing-distance margins in various conditions. In instances where manufacturer’s data was being used, the feds still had a problem, saying that wet and contaminated landing distances were figured using certification data based on dry and smooth services ... so the numbers are not real-world. More...

GO DIRECT, YOUNG MAN ...
... and it doesn’t appear to matter if it’s west or east. Under the FAA’s "performance-based" navigation, airlines would be free to use satellite guidance instead of ground-based navaids, allowing more direct flights and saving the airlines millions of pricey petrol dollars. Last week, the FAA's Performance-Based Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee (PARC) released the second version of the "Roadmap for Performance-Based Navigation." The newly updated information includes how the FAA plans to proceed and lays out the dates for mandates on the types of equipment that will be needed by not only the airlines, but business aircraft and other GA operators. In the short term, the feds will take advantage of avionics and satellite technology already deployed, including RNAV procedures and instrument departures and arrivals already in place at some major U.S. airports. In addition to RNAV, which could eventually be available throughout the continental U.S., required navigation performance (RNP) procedures will also play a major role. The first RNP was recently enacted at Reagan Washington National in Washington, D.C. More...

RAYTHEON MULLS SALE OF BIZ DIVIZ
Exploration of "strategic alternatives" could mean big changes afoot for Raytheon Aircraft Company’s (RAC) business aircraft division. The company, which plans to focus entirely on military contracts, said last week that strategic alternatives for the business division could include a "sale of the business, an initial public offering or spin-off to shareholders or some combination thereof." In other words, they would like it gone, they’re just not sure when it might happen. The chairman of a private investment bank told The Wichita Eagle he would be surprised if the company chose to sell the division to an aircraft competitor. He is betting instead on a heretofore-unknown private equity buyer with billions to invest. More...

EMBRAER INKS DEAL ON PHENOM VLJ
Jetbird, a startup on-demand air taxi service planning to fly initially from Zurich but with hopes to add 800 European locations, has inked a deal for 50 Embraer Phenom 100s. The $140 million contract also includes the option to purchase 50 additional aircraft over five years. The very light jet is still under development, but is expected to make first flight in mid-2007, enter service in 2008, and begin deliveries to Jetbird in 2009. Jetbird says using the Phenoms will allow it to fly frugally, charging less than 50 percent of the cheapest existing charter fees. More...

OSHKOSH ALL WET AS FARNBOROUGH SWEATS
As the just-completed EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh floundered in the rain, the biennial flying event at Farnborough, England, broiled like a British breakfast tomato. Temperatures that topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit brought electrical systems down and sent event attendees searching for elusive shade, packing air-conditioned corporate chalets. Even the normally stiff-upper-lipped show exhibitors who welcomed the clear skies thought the heat a bit much. EADS Co-CEO Executive Thomas Enders cut a packed and sweaty press event short, saying, "So it’s hot in here and it smells of dead fish. Let’s try to keep it brief." More...

BOEING AT AIRBUS' 6 O'CLOCK
As if product delays and share price drops weren’t enough to sink its spirits, Airbus’ chief rival Boeing was on a roll at Farnborough, announcing plans to compete in the 500-seater market, and offering hard-won advice. Boeing chief executive Allen Mullaly told new Airbus chief and aerospace neophyte Christian Streiff, "Don’t give up. New airplanes are hard." Perhaps Streiff got Mullaly’s message, perhaps he didn’t. At his first press event since taking over Airbus, Streiff told reporters "We’re learning to be humble at this perfect company." Perfect company? Humble? What one thing doesn’t sound like another? More...

PILOTS BLAMED IN MONTROSE CRASH
Pilots unfamiliar with winter weather flight operations are being blamed in the crash of a Bombardier Challenger CL-600 in Montrose, Colo., on Nov. 28, 2004. The chartered plane, operated by Air Castle Corp. of Van Nuys, Calif., landed at the Montrose airport to drop off NBC sports executive Dick Ebersol’s wife, actress Susan St. James. While waiting for the passengers to reassemble, the plane sat for 45 minutes in freezing precipitation but was not de-iced prior to takeoff. While attempting a climb from runway 13/31, the Challenger rolled violently left and right several times before impacting the ground. More...

COMPARE YOUR PAYCHECK ... FOR A PRICE
Want to know how your paycheck stacks up against the pay for similar jobs around the country? The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) knows ... and will let you know for a price. NATA has just published its 2006 annual survey of GA service employees that includes pilots, line-service personnel, maintenance technicians and several other job descriptions. More...

... the next issue of AVwebBiz will be e-mailed to you on August 16. See you then!

AVwebBiz is a twice-monthly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.

Today's issue was written by Liz Swaine (bio).

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