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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Quest Aircraft obtained certification for its Kodiak single-turboprop aircraft from Venezuela's Civil Aviation Authority. The Kodiak has now been certified in 13 countries, and Quest expects more approvals this year. Quest is planning to deliver the first Kodiak to a Venezuelan customer shortly. The new owner will operate the aircraft for personal and business use. Quest began deliveries of the Kodiak in 2007 and the aircraft is in service with charter operators, small businesses, personal owners, U.S. and international governments and humanitarian organizations.
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.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., promoted David Judge to assistant manger of the company Learning Center located at the London Farnborough airport in the U.K. Kelly Allender was appointed manager of FlightSafety International's learning center in Dallas. Allender joined FlightSafety in 2001, serving in the company's Cessna facility in Wichita. There he served as assistant manager, director of programs, program manager for Cessna Citation Mustang training, and ground and simulator instructor.
Anthony Kioussis (President Asset Insight Inc. Amissville, Va. )
I commend Mike Gamauf for his overview of the valuable role maintenance managers play in aircraft dispositions (“When to Say Goodbye to Your Aircraft,” December 2013, page 32). From my experience, the leadership team already does look “to maintenance managers to produce the numbers, gather the facts and provide input.” However, I believe maintenance managers can offer a great deal more to their owners.
Elliott Aviation, Moline, Ill., hired Lawrence Harting as FCM general manager and vice president of Flight Operations. He will oversee day-to-day operations of over 60 employees at Elliott Aviation's Flying Cloud facility and be in charge of Elliott's flight department including charter and aircraft management operations.
Daher-Socata has named WingsOverAsia as a TBM Aircraft Sales Representative to market the TBM throughout Asia on a non-exclusive basis. WingOver Asia is a private/executive aircraft flight support and aviation lifestyle services provider. The company also privides worldwide flight operations and ground handling along with turnkey aircraft acquisition support.
Jet Aviation's Teterboro repair station is now authorized to provide base, line, repair and overhaul maintenance support to Gulfstream G650 aircraft. This authorization also extends to Jet's Cayman AMO, Bermuda AMO and EASA repair station authorities. “We have made a significant investment in tooling, training and data to support the needs of our clients moving to this new aircraft type,” said David Smith, director of quality Assurance, MRO services. Jet Aviation www.jetaviation.com
Inmarsat confirmed that Dec. 8 was the launch for the first of its Global Xpress (GX) satellites, the Inmarsat-5 F1 (I-5 F1). Built by Boeing Satellite Systems International, the satellite was to have launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite is the first of three that will be used for Inmarsat's Global Xpress Ka-band. Inmarsat teamed with Honeywell to bring its planned GX Aviation inflight connectivity services to the business aviation market. The service is expected to be rolled out to the business aviation community in early 2015.
