By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
StandardAero recently completed its first certified ADS-B solution for an Embraer Legacy 650 aircraft at the company’s Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) MRO facility.
Modesto, California, resident Tom Davis’s background includes 25 years as a scientific programmer during which he developed software apps and performed software engineering for high-speed computer systems. Having been raised on a farm in California’s Central Valley, he also was familiar with mechanized agriculture. And since his father had been an air traffic controller and flight instructor, this spawned an interest in aviation.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is offering free scheduling software and other tools to flying clubs available through its AOPA Flying Club Network.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
Honeywell acquired Copenhagen-based Satcom1 the leading provider of routing software that optimizes the inflight connectivity experience and is already an existing distribution partner for Honeywell’s JetWave terminals and Inmarsat’s GX Aviation program. The company, whose 2015 revenues were expected to be approximately $25 million, provides inflight airtime, satellite communications services and software for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Honeywell says the acquisition will facilitate “a seamless experience with an all-in-one connectivity solution.”
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
Global Jet Capital announced that it has completed approximately 90% of its acquisition of GE’s fixed-wing Corporate Aircraft financing portfolio in the Americas.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
The news that Gulfstream Aerospace is eliminating 1,100 jobs is not surprising, given the company’s desire to manage costs, an aviation analyst has said.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
Flexjet made headlines twice in a day at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention on Nov. 18 by placing orders for 20 Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets, and 20 Bombardier Challenger 350s.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
This year’s National Business Aviation Association’s convention was a “resounding success,” drawing 27,000 attendees, 1,100 exhibitors and 100 aircraft on display.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
A bill for third-class medical reform for pilots is gaining momentum. On Dec. 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed S. 571, known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2. It will now go to the full Senate for consideration. The bill has strong support in the Senate, with 70 co-sponsors, and in the House, where it has 151 co-sponsors, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Since it was introduced in the House and Senate in February, the bill has undergone some major modifications to address concerns by Congress and others.
In January 1966, the FAA was working on plan to set up complete backup emergency power for 100 key airports. Plus, the first production pressurized single-engine aircraft — Mooney Aircraft's Mark 22 "Mustang" — was scheduled to deliver in March 1967.
What finally galvanized the FAA and its Cabinet-level overseer, the Department of Transportation (DOT), into implementing meaningful regulation of civil drone operations were predictions by the UAS industry that between 700,000 and 1 million small drones would be purchased as 2015 holiday gifts in the U.S.
Chronic pilot shortages now are a reality for many small and medium-size flight departments. Managers have pared back on staffing levels to comply with cost-cutting mandates. Moreover, full-time pilots aren’t available for duty full time. They have vacation days, periodic simulator training sessions, occasional sick days, parental leave time and perhaps even a few personal days off.
It seems to me a kind of stubborn unease has infected many in the business aviation community. They see post-recession conditions of tepid growth in flight hours, slack sales in general, low fleet valuations and business consolidations as the new normal, and harbingers of a difficult future. Pardon my optimism, but considering events in just the past month, I come away with a different view, heartened by developments that should help strengthen the industry.
When television viewers saw news coverage of American medical professionals infected with Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever arriving in the U.S. for treatment, it’s doubtful many of them knew that the aircraft bringing them back from Africa were specially modified, commercially operated Gulfstream business jets.
“A flight department must screen temps as thoroughly as new hires,” says Drumgold. This starts with a close examination of a contract pilot’s records, licenses, certificates and logs. Then, it takes a one-on-one interview, investigation of references and plenty of immersion into the flight department’s culture. The vetting process needs to be thorough to assure that the contract pilot buys into your SOPs, SMS and risk mitigation protocols.
