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Magazine Issue

The Weekly of Business Aviation, May 16, 2016

VOL. 101 NO. 19 May 16, 2016
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Forecasts/Industry Data

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General Aviation Deliveries, Billings Fall In Q1

May 09, 2016
Deliveries of general aviation aircraft fell 3.7% in this year’s first quarter, while billings fell 9.5%.
article

Europe Business Aviation Activity Flat In April

May 10, 2016
April business aviation departures in Europe grew 0.1% year-over-year. Business jet flights rose 2% during the month, while turboprop and piston flights declined 2%-3%, according to the latest data from WingX Advance’s Business Aviation Monitor.
article

Business Aircraft Transaction Activity Stalls In Q1

May 13, 2016
Business aircraft retail resale activity across all fixed wing segments stalled in this year’s first quarter, according to Amstat research.

Intelligence

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Supersonic Business Jet Market Expected To Grow 4% Annually

May 17, 2016
The global supersonic business jet market is expected to reach about $3 billion by 2020, a growth of about 4% annually, according to a report by Technavio. The supersonic business jet market is predicted to grow in developed regions, such as the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Middle East, because of their growing economies. Emerging regions such as China, India, Brazil and Africa will also contribute to the market during the forecast period, Technavio said.

Charters / Brokers

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Paramount Business Jets Adds Sales Division

May 11, 2016
Private jet charter broker Paramount Business Jets, located in Leesburg, Virginia, has established a dedicated aircraft sales division, an expansion driven by customer demand.

Associations

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AfBAA To Host New African Business Aviation Conference

May 12, 2016
The African Business Aviation Association plans to host its first African Business Aviation Conference Nov. 17-18, an expansion and transformation of its Regional Symposium.
article

Argus Completes Transaction To Buy UAS Safety Institute

May 10, 2016
Argus has completed the acquisition of the Unmanned Safety Institute in Orlando, Florida, a privately-held unmanned aircraft system (UAS) safety training, certification and management business.

Services

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ST Aerospace Begins VIP Interiors Deliveries From Singapore

May 13, 2016
ST Aerospace has begun deliveries from a completions and refurbishment center for large VIP aircraft that the company has set in Shanghai.
article

Forecast: Service Industry Using UAS To Hit $8.7 Billion By 2025

May 02, 2016
Commercial services using UAS are gaining traction in a variety of industries, including film and media, oil and gas, insurance, public safety, agriculture and others.

Programs

article

Insitu Returns To Commercial Roots

May 09, 2016
Boeing subsidiary Insitu — best known for its widely used ScanEagle military UAV — has established a commercial business unit offering aircraft, payloads, UAV control and data management software, as well as operators and analysts.
article

First Ka-62 Helicopter Prototype Flies

May 11, 2016
The first prototype of the medium, multi-role Ka-62 helicopter took to the air for its first flight on May 2 at Russian Helicopters’ Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company factory in Arsenyev, near Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East.
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Bombardier Expects To Introduce New Cabin For CRJ900

May 11, 2016
Bombardier said May 10 that it plans to create a new cabin for its CRJ900 featuring roomier bins, mood lighting, a new entryway and “more living space,” a development that should allow the aircraft to more effectively compete with other larger regional jets.
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Chorus Orders New CRJ900s, Reconfigures Fleet

May 11, 2016
The parent company of Canadian regional carrier Jazz Aviation will purchase new regional jets and reconfigure some of its existing aircraft with more seats.
article

B-29 ‘Doc’ Taxies Under Own Power For First Time In Six Decades

May 13, 2016
For the first time in 60 years, the B-29 Superfortress called “Doc” moved under its own power.

Regulatory/Legislative

article

UAV Traffic Management To Be Standardized By Global Group

May 10, 2016
A group of regulators, air navigation service providers (ANSP), manufacturers and operators is being formed to draft a global interoperability blueprint for UAV traffic management (UTM).
article

DOT: FAA Lacking Controls To Award Sole-Source Contracts

May 11, 2016
The FAA lacks the proper controls to track and award sole-source contracts, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Operations

article

Small UAS Methods For Track Inspections To Be Tested By Railway Company

May 13, 2016
BNSF Railway Company this summer will test low-level surveillance methods necessary for beyond-visual line-of-sight operations for small unmanned air systems (sUAS), a critical capability in the company’s plans for autonomous unmanned track inspections.

Safety

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Three More Counter-UAV Systems To Be Tested By FAA, DHS

May 10, 2016
The FAA has expanded its efforts to prevent UAVs from flying too close to airports by signing cooperative research agreements with an additional three suppliers of counter-UAV systems.

OEMs/Suppliers

article

Bell Helicopter Opens Paint, Delivery Center In Prague

May 12, 2016
Bell Helicopter has opened a new paint facility and delivery center in Prague to provide aircraft completion and delivery capabilities to the European market.

Business Aviation Briefs

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Jet Aviation To Open FBO At Van Nuys Airport

May 17, 2016
Jet Aviation has been awarded a 30-year lease for a 17-acre site by the City of Los Angeles to establish a fixed based operation at Van Nuys Airport. In 2015, the company won a competitive-tender process and was selected by Los Angeles World Airports to operate a FBO at the airport. Jet Aviation will offer services in an interim terminal once operational control has been granted, which is expected in the next few months. Jet Aviation also has initiated planning for its long-term FBO at the airport, and will build a 10,000-sq.-ft. terminal and two 40,000-sq.-ft.
article

Holland & Knight Opens London Office

May 17, 2016
Law firm Holland & Knight has announced the opening of a London office in order to expand its aviation and maritime-finance practices. The office will begin with six lawyers, all of whom previously practiced at Clark Ricketts. The office will focus on aviation finance and leasing.
article

Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1400G-JM Engine Earns FAA Certification

May 17, 2016
Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower PW1400G-JM engine has earned FAA certification. The engine will power Irkut’s MC-21 family of aircraft. With the certification, Pratt & Whitney now has three certified PurePower geared-turbofan engine variants.
article

Sun Air Jets Adds Global 6000 To Fleet

May 17, 2016
Sun Air Jets has added a Bombardier Global 6000 to its charter fleet, the second Global 6000 available for charter in California and the seventh nationwide. The aircraft will expand Sun Air’s large-cabin, long-range aircraft capabilities. Sun Air Jets is based in Camarillo, California.
article

Alerion Aviation Opens Teterboro Office

May 17, 2016
Alerion Aviation has opened an office at Teterboro Airport, the fourth location for the aviation charter and management firm. The office will provide service in the New York City area and handle charter sales, dispatch and maintenance support.
article

Academy Of Model Aeronautics Launches Website For UAS Hobbyists

May 17, 2016
The Academy of Model Aeronautics has completed a website to assist small unmanned aircraft systems hobbyists in learning to fly and operate drones. The website is http://suas.modelaircraft.org.
article

ABS Jets Works With Honeywell To Enhance Weather Awareness App

May 17, 2016
ABS Jets, a Prague-based business jet operator, is working with Honeywell to further enhance its inflight weather awareness application, known as Weather Information Service (WIS). ABS Jets and its crews are collaborating with Honeywell on design and validation of new features that will be incorporated in future releases of WIS, which was first demonstrated in June on Honeywell’s experimental Boeing 757. The application later was adjusted to become compatible with Airbus cockpit philosophy. ABS Jets is working to assess the benefits for a wide range of business aircraft.
article

Jetex Adds FBO In Marseille

May 17, 2016
Jetex is adding a new fixed base operator location in Marseille, France, continuing the company’s expansion in the region. The location offers VIP travelers easy access to the Provence–Alpes–Cote d’Azur region of France for the 2016 Union of European Football Associations championship. The FBO is located at Marseille Provence Airport.

Airworthiness Directives

article

Bombardier Inc. Airplanes

May 17, 2016
Bombardier Inc. Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2015-3988; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-005-AD; Amendment 39-18491; AD 2016-08-15] The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-17-51 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 airplanes. AD 2014-17-51 required inspecting the inboard flap fasteners of the hinge-box forward fitting at Wing Station (WS) 76.50 and WS 127.25 to determine the orientation and condition of the fasteners, as applicable, and replacement or repetitive inspections of the fasteners if necessary.
article

Airbus Helicopters

May 17, 2016
Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France) [Docket No. FAA-2015-3970; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-006-AD; Amendment 39-18497; AD 2016-08-20] The FAA is superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2014-12-51 for Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter France) Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. AD 2014-12-51 required repetitively inspecting the tailboom to Fenestron junction frame (junction frame) for a crack.
article

Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines

May 17, 2016
Turbomeca S.A. Turboshaft Engines [Docket No. FAA-2015-7490; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-40-AD; Amendment 39-18500; AD 2016-09-02] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca S.A. Astazou XIV B and H turboshaft engines. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the front surface of the 3rd stage turbine for a groove. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack on the 3rd stage turbine wheel. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the 3rd stage turbine wheel, failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of control of the helicopter.

Program Profiles

article

Pilatus PC-12 Specifications

May 17, 2016
Below is the corrected version of PC-12 Specifications that ran in a Program Profile of the aircraft in the Feb. 29, 2016 edition. For the full Program Profile, please go to: http://app.link.pentonaviation.com/e/er?s=966913078&lid=52787&elq=<span class=eloquaemail>recipientid</span> View the Revised Pilatus PC-12 Specifications Table in PDF Format.

Appointments

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David Ricklin

May 17, 2016
David Ricklin has been appointed general manager of RUAG Aviation’s business aviation maintenance and FBO facility in Geneva, Switzerland.
article

Randy Smith

May 17, 2016
Randy Smith has been appointed vice president of Stevens Aviation’s mobile maintenance services in Greenville, South Carolina. Smith most recently was general manager of Stevens Nashville.
article

Michelle Lieuallen

May 17, 2016
Michelle Lieuallen has joined Raisbeck Engineering as sales support manager. Lieuallen joins Raisbeck after serving in various customer support roles at Quest Aircraft Co.
article

Christy Willis

May 17, 2016
Christy Willis has joined UniCarriers Americas Corp. as director of human resources. Willis most recently served as director of human resources for Eclipse.
article

Michael McDaniel

May 17, 2016
Michael McDaniel has been appointed FBO director for Jet Aviation Van Nuys. McDaniel has 36 years of experience in the aviation industry.
article

Robert Ricketts

May 17, 2016
Robert Ricketts, Ian Clark, Gwyn O’Flynn, Tim Murray, Giles Cornwall and Noelle Boyce have joined the law firm of Holland & Knight in its London office specializing in aviation and maritime finance. Ricketts, Clark, O’Flynn, Murray, Cornwall and Bryce most recently practiced law at Clark Ricketts in London. Ricketts will serve as the executive partner for the Holland & Knight office.

Industry Data

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General Aviation 1th Quarter and Year-To-Date 2016 Deliveries

May 17, 2016
View the General Aviation 1th Quarter and Year-To-Date 2016 Deliveries in PDF format.