Wheels Up, the recently established and rapidly growing private membership and aviation services company, is teaming with Cessna's CitationAir operation to offer flights on Cessna Citation Excel and Sovereign jets. Details of the agreement announced Dec. 13 must still be hashed out, but Wheels Up will market flights aboard the Cessna business jets, while CitationAir will operate them. The aircraft will be outfitted with the Wheels Up blue and white livery and have refurbished interiors.
Astronics Corporation's Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System was selected as standard equipment aboard the Simplex Aerospace SkyCannon and Fire Attack systems. The SkyCannon is a helicopter-mounted system for firefighters. The Max-Viz system will enable operators of Simplex firefighting equipment to see through smoke while fighting high-rise fires. The Fire Attack system supports data acquisition of door operation, hover pump activation and foam pump activation, all correlated with aircraft GPS position.
Securaplane Technologies has launched its next generation camera and security system. The security system is based on upgrades to the company's classic PreFlite system, which now includes full integrated, high-definition cameras, a user-friendly graphic interface, wireless battery-free access panel switches and smartphone application access. The HD cameras employ 1080p and 60 frames per second (fps) technology for studio-quality images and can be used for entertainment as well as security and situational awareness on the ground.
Despite its reputation as a contentious, do-nothing legislature, the U.S. Congress did reach consensus on a bill benefitting general aviation manufacturers, of all things, which President Obama has signed into law. The Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 essentially endorses the recommendations of an aviation rulemaking committee. The law's intent is to increase safety and reduce government and industry certification costs for light general aviation airplanes. Other countries are expected to act similarly since the recommendations had international input.
Duncan Aviation, one of the largest family-owned aircraft support companies in the U.S., celebrated the 50th anniversary of its facility in Lincoln, Neb., in December. Established Dec. 5, 1963 by Donald Duncan, the company began with 12 employees and has since grown to more than 1,200. Duncan had a varied background, ranging from working on the family farm to selling surplus government airplanes and involvement with a car dealership in Clarinda, Iowa, before he became a Beechcraft distributor in Omaha, Neb.
Private Jet Services (PJS), Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced the forming of a new international division with offices in Fort Lauderdale. The office will be managed by Kuky Salazar, president, Latin American, Europe and Asia and will focus on corporations and individuals outside of North America.
Spirit AeroSystems is “deep” into the process of selling its Tulsa production facility, a move that should mean significant bottom-line improvement as the supplier shifts focus to growing airliner programs and tackles issues uncovered in a sweeping strategic review, say analysts at Canaccord Genuity. “The company is deep into its planned sale of its Tulsa operations,” Canaccord analyst Ken Herbert writes in a Dec. 5 research note.
Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga. Announced that Beth McClurg was appointed director of real estate for Gulfstream Aerospace. McClurg will be responsible for Gulfstream's development and construction projects, lease transactions and property acquisitions worldwide. She will develop and execute a long-range strategic real estate plan.
Here's are an aviation fact that might have escaped your notice: Clownfish eat frozen shrimp (though the latter thaw quickly upon water contact). Okay, not av data really, but I learned it after talking to a fellow from the New York Aquarium Service, which takes care of the little fish in the five lobby tanks at Jet Systems, the Westchester County Airport FBO headed by a big fish, my friend Mike Dolphin. The fish men come weekly to change the water, toss in shrimp and scoop out the dead urchins and eels, and whatever.
Aviation Search Group, an executive recruiting firm for the aerospace and aviation industries, formed a new recruiting department dedicated to business aviation clientele. Grayson Barrows, director sales, says that hiring demand in the business aviation segment has grown significantly recently. Aviation Search Group works with manufacturers, airlines, service providers, business and general aviation businesses and airports.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is working with regional governments to introduce regulations and policies that lay a foundation for business aviation and curb illegal operations. Addressing illegal operations is one of the higher priorities for the European Business Aviation Association, and MEBAA is hoping its next conference, to be held in Dubai, will serve as a springboard to address the issue in the Middle East. “The conference will tackle the issue of the gray market, and we need a mechanism to fight this . . .
Nov. 19 — At 1956 EST, a Learjet 35, Mexican registration XA-USD, operated by Aero JL SA de CV, was destroyed when it crashed in the Atlantic Ocean after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The commercial pilot and a physician on board were lost and presumed fatally injured. The copilot and a flight nurse were fatally injured. An IFR flight plan was filed for the positioning flight from FLL to Cozumel, Mexico.
Shell has BEcome the latest company, Shell has become the latest company, and the first of the major oil companies, to declare it has developed an unleaded replacement for leaded avgas. The launch of the formula follows a 10-year research and development program. Shell must still undergo a testing program to obtain regulatory approvals from FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency, along with ASTM specification for the fuel. But the fuel is designed as a drop-in replacement to meet all the key avgas properties and have a motor octane rating of more than 100.
Jetex has launched a full-service FBO at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central. The facility offers a VIP lounge, ground support, fueling, handling and security services, and catering. Adel Mardini, president and CEO of Jetex Flight Support said “the FBO is just another step in Jetex's overall strategy to redefine ground handling and FBO quality worldwide. Jetex Flight Support www.jetex.com
I just wanted to say how much I like the new look of B&CA. It's clean, not cluttered and easy to read. With all the current debate about print versus digital, I find myself scanning the digital version when it arrives in my inbox, and later enjoying the hard copy when I have a little more time. Well done! Aviation Marketing CommunicationsWarrenton, Va.
The FAA is advising operators of various Hawker 750s, 800s, 900s and 1000s to check the aircraft aileron and aileron tab assemblies for potential problems that could cause oscillations at high altitudes. The agency issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in late November 2013 encouraging the checks, saying it had received reports of wing/aileron oscillations from operators of Hawker 800XP and 850XP airplanes at altitudes above 33,000 ft. and at speeds of more than Mach 0.73. Unlike an airworthiness directive (AD), an SAIB is not mandatory.
Toward the end of 2012, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen spoke of pitfalls facing the industry. Chief on his mind was budget. Washington was in deadlock and facing a fiscal cliff, sequestration and a government shutdown. Many of these prospects played out, much to the detriment of industry — from sequestration cuts that threatened the contract tower program to a shutdown that froze many aircraft deliveries, some flight training and all certificate renewal efforts. “2013 has been a challenging year for our industry,” Bolen says.
Scheyden's new True Aviator is functional in the cockpit and is the only timepiece to offer an Aide Memoire Bi-Directional ATIC bezel as a paperless reminder of the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) recordings, according to the company. It comes with engraved airport identifiers. The lower gauge is a multi-feature digital IFR timer than can be used for timing instrument procedures or assisting with time checklist items. The upper gauge features a Liquid-Filled Magnetic Compass that provides awareness on the ground.
¡Ross Aviation has acquired the assets and FBO of Louisiana Aircraft at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (KBTR). The FBO will continue to operate as Louisiana Aircraft and Landon Petty will continue to serve as its general manager. The facility is located on 17 acres and offers 113,500 sq. ft. of hangar space. This was the company's sixth acquisition in 2013. Ross Aviation has 19 FBOs in eleven states including Hawaii, New Jersey, Florida and Washington.
Congressmen Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), chair and member, respectively, are sponsoring a bill to eliminate the third-class medical requirements for pilots who operate aircraft of 6,000 lb. or less, under visual flight rules, at speeds below 250 kt. and altitudes below 14,000 ft. Under the bill, pilots must have a valid pilot's license and must not fly for compensation.
Piper's PA-46-500TP Meridian made its debut in September 2000 as a 2001 model. It was the lowest priced pressurized, single-engine new production turboprop and it has retained that distinction. Piper created the Meridian by swapping a P&WC PT6A for the 350-hp piston engine of the PA-46 Malibu Mirage and modifying the airframe to handle the extra weight and speed. Everything about this project was designed to keep development costs low and that's reflected in the final product.
Jet Aviation, Zurich, appointed Alain Champonnois as the new vice president and general manager of the company's FBO and line maintenance operations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina, Saudi Arabia. He reports to Stefan Benz, vice president of MRO and FBO operations in EMEA and Asia. Champonnois succeeds Hardy Butschi, who was recently appointed vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Dubai.
Tzvetomir Blajev, chairman of the Flight Safety Foundation's European Advisory Committee, has identified six main accident risks associated with circling approaches: 1 The circling aircraft penetrates the obstacle clearance limits and collides with terrain or an obstacle (CFIT). 2 An aircraft performing a go-around from a circling approach penetrates the obstacle clearance limits and collides with terrain or an obstacle (CFIT). 3vThe circling aircraft loses control and crashes.
