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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 0921.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION Trump gambles on new service NEW YORK US businessman Donald Trump has started Trump Air, a new helicopter service to operate between New York and Atlantic City (New Jersey). Tickets are on offer to all, but the service is geared to luring gamblers to casinos owned by the appropriately named entrepreneur. Trump Air's three Sikorsky S-61 helicopters, equipped to carry 24 passengers, make the trip in 45min. A car was previously the quickest way, but is said to have taken more than three times as long. A one-way ticket costs $99, except for Sunday afternoon flights back to 'New York, which will cost $109. Initially, there will be three daily round trips departing between 1200hr and 2300hr. Trump is confident that the service will be popular with the "kind of people" he wants to attract—a clear reference to gamblers. A leading New York real-estate developer, he owns controlling interests in several Atlantic City casinos, including the Taj Mahal, which is under construction and destined to be his largest. Inflight service will be first class, it is claimed. A cabin attendant will offer com plementary stereo headsets, canapes, and drinks. The S-61's burgundy-and-black interiors include extra sound proofing. Seats are spaced for improved legroom, and some are placed in club-four groups to permit card-playing during flights. Break-even load factor is expected to be 50-60 per cent. "I am sure we will get more than that, but that is not important. I am doing this mainly for the good of Altantic City, and the good of Resorts International, and the Taj Mahal. "Other casinos may want to take advantage of the services, and they are welcome to do so. I do not want to be in the airline business—there are too many people in that busi ness already," adds the air line's owner. Flight frequency may be increased by mid-year, and services may be added to link Atlantic City with Phila delphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. Additional helicopters could be converted for $5 million apiece, and be in service by Christmas, Trump maintains. West Germany approves Citation III BRAUNSCHWEIG Cessna has received West German certification of the Citation III business jet, taking to nine the number of European countries which have cleared the aircraft. One Citation III is oper ating in West Germany, and the number will rise to at least three by the middle of the year, according to Cessna. The company expects to con duct a West German demon stration tour after the aircraft appears at the Hanover Air Show next month, and is seeking West German clear ance for Category II operation by the Citation III by the middle of this year. • Cessna has appointed Eugene Rainville sales direc tor for the Citation business- jet range. He replaces Roy Norris, who recently became vice-president of Cessna's Citation Marketing division. EAA opposes transponder proposal OSHKOSH ~ The US Experimental Air craft Association (EAA) is lobbying US Government officials, the Department of Transportation, Congress, and its 120,000 members in a bid to defeat a Fed eral Aviation Administration (FAA) proposal for wider use of Mode C transponders. The proposed regulation would apply to aircraft being flown in terminal airspace where a radar service is provided for aircraft separation, and to those operating in controlled airspace above a minimum altitude. EAA president Paul Pob- erezny has reacted angrily to February's FAA notice of pro posed rulemaking (NPRM). He claims that adoption of the NPRM would prevent aircraft without transponders from flying above 6,000ft or passing within 40 n.m. of some 250 US airfields. "This NPRM seeks to require Mode C [which trans mits aircraft-altitude infor mation] in areas where it is totally unnecessary, away from the highest concen tration of aircraft," says Poberezny. "Our current air traffic control system cannot handle the additional work load this NPRM would impose, thus impairing safety rather than enhancing it." Many owners would find it prohibitively expensive to equip their aircraft, and so would be effectively barred from these areas, claims the EAA chief. The cost of a Mode C transponder is claimed to be more than $1,500 for aircraft not already having electrical systems. Poberezny's counter proposals are that the 6,000ft altitude limit be lifted to 12,500ft; that the no-go areas around airports be reduced to the size of present terminal radar service areas, airport radar service areas, and termi nal control areas; and that a layer of airspace up to 1,200ft altitude is preserved to within about ten miles of the restricted airports, so that there remains access to other satellite airports. Poberezny claims that the EAA has studied the NPRM "at great length", and that, if adopted, it would be the "death knell for general aviation". Aerial 'Olympics' planned LONDON ~ An aerial "Olympic Games", where competitors from around the world could compete in up to 50 events spanning sport aviation, is being organised by the Feder ation Aeronautique Inter nationale. A "pentathlon", testing skill in five events, may be chosen as a means of finding a world champion. Cessna expects the UK to be next to certificate the Citation III, following recent West German approval 33W ililf !M 1 iislll 'Jam ill m FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 9 April 1988 n
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