Rolling Business Aviation Daily Briefs (July 2024)

July 31, 2024

Garmin Adds New GFC 600 Features, Obtains Approvals For GFC 600

Garmin unveiled a new color mode controller for its GFC 600 autopilot, designed for high-performance piston and turboprop aircraft, with a larger, color liquid crystal display and flight level change mode. Garmin also announced certification of its GFC 500 digital autopilot for Cessna 190 and 195 aircraft. It expects certification for the Cessna 210-5 in August. The autopilot is designed for light piston aircraft.

July 30, 2024

Emerald Media, Aurora The Agency Form Partnership

Public relations agency Emerald Media, based in Surry, UK, has partnered with UAE-based Aurora The Agency to combine communications and marketing strategies to meet the expected growth in specialized services. In part, the growth is expected from the development of clean tech air transport models currently underway, Emerald Media says. The company was founded by Alison Chambers, its director.

July 29, 2024

Garmin Adds New GFC 600 Features

Garmin unveiled a new color mode controller for its GFC 600 autopilot, designed for high-performance piston and turboprop aircraft, with a larger, color liquid crystal display and flight level change mode. Garmin also announced certification of its GFC 500 digital autopilot for Cessna 190 and 195 aircraft. It expects certification for the Cessna 210-5 in August. The autopilot is designed for light piston aircraft.July 26, 2024

July 26, 2024

Gotland, Sweden Backs Elfly’s Electric Seaplane

Elfly Group announced it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the government of Gotland, Sweden, to pursue zero-emission commercial flights to the island by 2027. Elfly Group developed an all-electric seaplane, “Noemi,” which may be used to fly passengers to the island located 90 km east of mainland Sweden in the Baltic Sea. Maria Fiskerud, project manager at Science Park Gotland, says the island has “the right environment to prepare for electric aviation together, which in turn can contribute to the development of eco travel, both in the Nordics and beyond.”

July 25, 2024

500th Bell 429

Bell Textron delivered the 500th Bell 429 aircraft. The aircraft, delivered to Mendes Group, will be used by the Latin-American based operator for corporate transport in Brazil. The OEM says the Bell 429 fleet has surpassed 735,000 fleet hours.

July 24, 2024

Gulf Air Plans Bahrain MRO Facility

Gulf Air has announced plans to build a new MRO facility at Bahrain International Airport. The facility will include more than 21,500 ft.² of hangar space, stores, workshops and a dedicated tarmac. Gulf Air Group CEO Jeffrey Goh says it will be the airline's first purpose-built MRO facility.

HAECO Lands Loong Air Line Maintenance Deal

HAECO has signed a line maintenance contract with Loong Air covering services for the carrier’s Airbus A320-family aircraft, including certificate of release to service, transit support and cleaning, and ground services equipment. HAECO will provide services at Hong Kong International Airport.

July 23, 2024

Center of Applied Research Inaugurates Expanded Facility

The ZAL Center of Applied Research, located in Hamburg, Germany, inaugurated its newly expanded facility, offering 30% more space for research activities. Two-thirds of the new research space will be used by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which will focus on MRO and “system architectures in aeronautics,” according to ZAL. The expansion includes 8,000 m² of research space, which will be leased by DLR for 25 years.

July 22, 2024

Butler National Corp. Earns STC For Avionics Upgrades On Learjets

Butler National Corp. has received FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for a replacement 2-inch standby altimeter and a standby attitude indicator on several Learjet models. The upgrade includes Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics MD23 2-inch Digital Counter Drum Encoding Altimeter and Attitude Indicator. According to Butler National CEO Christopher Reedy, most installations of the new equipment will not require cutting panels or any major bus or wiring changes.

July 15, 2024

SmartSky Receives STC For Beechcraft King Air B200-360

SmartSky announced the reception of a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for its inflight connectivity service, SmartSky LITE, on the King Air 350i. The STC covers installation of the system on multiple King Air models, representing over 2,000 in-service aircraft, according to SmartSky. The first installation was performed by Davinci Jets Services in North Carolina. According to Smart Sky, the company has completed four additional first-article installations that are currently awaiting STC issuance.

July 12, 2024

NAFI Names Two Inductees To Instructor Hall Of Fame

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) announced Doug Stewart and Tim Tucker as 2024 inductees to the Flight Instructor Hall of Fame. Both inductees were selected for their dedication to aviation safety and time spent working with the FAA, aviation associations and various committees. In 2004, Stewart was named National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year and works as a full-time flight instructor. Tucker, who is a former U.S. Army aviator, has spent many years as an FAA instructor and designated pilot examiner. The two will be inducted during EAA AirVenture.

July 11, 2024

AEG Fuels Expanding FBO Network

AEG Fuels is expanding its global network of FBOs with the addition of four international locations. New members of AEG Connect FBOs include Million Air Vancouver and Aviation Etcetera in Canada, two Global Trek Aviation locations in Europe, and Helicol in South America. According to AEG Fuels, each location is subject to a “periodic audit and review to ensure each location meets the AEG Connect standards for exceptional service.” The company plans to further expand its global network.

July 10, 2024

JSX Launches New Routes To Florida And Salt Lake City

JSX, a public charter jet service, is adding flights to Naples (APF) and West Palm Beach, Florida, (PBI) calling them its new “seasonal sunshine routes.” Additionally, the charter is resuming seasonal service to Boca Raton, Florida (BCT), Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC) and Morristown, New Jersey (MMU). According to JSX, the routes are expected to begin in late November 2024. Introductory fees for one-way trips on the routes begin at $669 and all flights include free Starlink Wi-Fi.

July 9, 2024

Pratt & Whitney Selects Azzera For Carbon Offsets

Azzera, a business aviation sustainability company, was selected by Pratt & Whitney to provide its Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) program. According to Pratt & Whitney, Azzera’s carbon offset service will be available to all Pratt & Whitney Canada-powered aircraft. Pratt & Whitney’s Irene Makris, vice president of customer service, says the integration of Azzera’s program provides customers with “a means to compensate for their aviation emissions and help them ensure the quality of their sustainability investment.”

July 8, 2024

Airbus Delivers First ACH160 To First Canadian Company

Airbus has delivered a corporate ACH160 to Chartright Air Group, a Canada-based private aviation company. According to Airbus, the helicopter is the first to be delivered in North America and is expected to enter into service immediately. Chartright Director of Sales Graham Nierop praised the ACH260, saying it “is set to redefine helicopter charters in the [Greater Toronto Area] and across Canada.”

July 5, 2024

Bell Textron Announces First Flight of Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146C MK II 

Bell Textron Canada Limited announced the first flight of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146 Griffon helicopter. The Bell 412EP variant was modernized under the Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project, which provided upgrades to the helicopter’s avionics systems, cockpit displays, engines and sensor systems, according to Bell. The company was previously awarded the In-Service Support (ISS) contract to sustain the Canadian Air Force’s fleet through 2039.

July 3, 2024

Bombardier, F/LIST Open Material Lounge At London Biggin Hill Airport

Bombardier and F/LIST announced the opening of a 700 ft.² Material Lounge at London Biggin Hill Service Center. According to F/LIST, the new location serves as the “largest, most comprehensive portfolio of interior materials, fabrics and components that Bombardier has housed at one of its international service centers.” Additionally, the lounge represents F/LIST’s first space dedicated to showcasing its product portfolio outside of its headquarters in Austria, according to the company.

July 2, 2024

Gary/Chicago International Airport Breaks Ground On Hangar

Gary/Chicago International Airport (GCIA) broke ground on its new $12 million aviation hangar. The 47,000 ft.² facility will house Wingtip Aviation and is expected to open in May 2025, beginning a 20-year lease with the GCIA Authority. According to the airport, the construction is supported by $1.3 million in funding from Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) grant program. The airport previously extended its runway to 9,000 ft.², making it the second-longest runway in the region, second to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.