Sentient Jet, the Boston-based jet card and charter sales provider, is expanding its product portfolio, a move the company says is a response to sales that have reached levels not seen since before the financial crisis in 2008. “We started to see a sharp increase in jet card sales at the beginning of the year — a trend that continued throughout the summer,” says Sentient Jet President Andrew Collins. “We sold about 11,000 hr.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new facility at its Belfast location that will be dedicated to wing manufacturing and assembly. Bombardier had already expanded its Northern Ireland site with the hiring of nearly 1,000 employees over the past two years, and expects to add at least 250 more over the next year at the new wing manufacturing and assembly facility. The 600,000-sq.-ft. site is making wings for the CSeries. The opening follows the recent ground-breaking of Bombardier's planned 150,000-sq.-ft.
When Deborah Hersman, chair of the NTSB, addressed the international media in the initial days after the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), there was a sense of shock within the professional pilot ranks when she announced that the Boeing 777 was “significantly” below its final approach speed shortly before it struck the seawall short of Runway 28L. After all, if the aircraft was that unstabilized, why didn't the pilots go around?
A key characteristic in business aviation is the crew's direct contact with the folks in back. We can't hide behind a locked cockpit door if we botch a landing. Likewise, we also can't hide from today's flight-savvy passengers who are monitoring the flight's progress via GPS displays. So, if something goes amiss, it's likely that we'll have to explain our actions afterward to unhappy passengers.
Constant Aviation recently secured a supplemental type certificate for installation of a Wi-Fi system, along with Aircell's Gogo Biz inflight Internet system, on an executive configured Boeing 737-200. The installation marked an expansion of the facility's in-house capabilities and STCs. Constant already has STCs for the installation of Gogo Biz inflight Internet aboard Gulfstream, Embraer, Beechcraft, Hawker and Cessna Citation aircraft.
ADB Airfield Solutions has introduced AD-light Low Protrusion Taxiway Lights. The improved lights overcome drawbacks of older versions wherein no part of the prism is located below the surface of the ground, avoiding loss of photometry. They can be used in CAT I, II and III, as taxiway centerline lights, in straight and curved runway sections, on rapid exit taxiways, as stop bars and intermediate holding position lights, among other applications.
Pan Am International Flight Academy launched its new pilot training website — PanAmAcademy.com/Pilot-Training. The site details the training courses and programs, training location and aircraft, accommodations, student resources, and an application process for enrollment. The company recently re-entered Ab Initio training after a 5-year hiatus with the acquisition for the former Airline Career Academy (ACA) earlier this year. Pan Am International Flight Academy Miami, Fla.
FltPlan.com has completely redesigned its website. The updated design features all of the same tools such as weather/notams, airports and FBOs, area fuel prices, nearby airport, quick-trip information, digital charts, and aircraft tracing in a more organized and easily accessible presentation. This is the first major redesign of FltPlan.com since the company started 14 years ago. FltPlan.com Southbury, Conn.
Flight Display Systems Glare Shield Camera is a high-definition, 1080p camera that mounts in the cockpit and provide passengers with an opportunity to observe taxi, takeoff and landing. Specifications include: standard 28 volt power; digital signal processor; removable ¼ - 20 mounting bracket and capable of low-light and glare shield applications. (Product Part Number: FS600CAM-3) Flight Display Systems Alpharetta, Ga. www.flightdisplay.com
Jeppesen has introduced CrewAlert Pro, a new iPad app designed to assist crews with preventing and mitigating fatigue. The app helps crews and safety professionals comply with ICAO guidelines including predictive capabilities for fatigue avoidance and awareness and proactive fatigue data collection. The CrewAlert Pro iOS app is available through the Apple App Store for $29.99. Jeppesen Englewood, Colo. www.jeppesen.com
Gulfstream Aerospace launched 24-Hour Support, an iPhone- and iPad-compatible application that provides customers with access the company's worldwide product support network. It is a comprehensive source for direct access to Gulfstream Technical Operations, 19 company-owened and authorized service centers, 13 authorized warranty facilities, 43 field service reps, spare part sales, and other key contacts. The app includes phone and fax number, email addressed, location information and operating hours. The app can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store.
The new south terminal at San Francisco is a substantial addition to the main terminal and represents a major stage of growth. Ten airlines will occupy the $14 million facility when it is fully operational. A ground speed indicator under development for several years is now being marketed by NARCO. Weighing 1.7 lb. and fitting into a standard 3 1/8-in. hole, the indicator costs $395 and attaches to any NARCO DME.
Question: What happens when two hot air balloons collide during ascent? Answer: Not much. Oh, the aeronauts in their respective baskets get to hurl silly insults at one another, but that's about it. As is demonstrated at any five-year-old's birthday party, balloons are wonderfully pliable structures. So, the inflight bumping of two really big ones roughly equates to buxom grande dames embracing at afternoon tea. A malleable non-event. This I know from first hand experience.
“Truly Earning That Fourth Stripe” (February 2013, page 45) hits the nail on the head with what is required to be a commander of an aircraft. Many copilots who can fly an aircraft very well and think they should be in the left seat, yet display none of the other qualities you mention. I would agree that flying the aircraft is a given; that's the minimum we expect from them and only about 10% of the job in the changing world of business aviation.
Bennett E. Taber (Manager, Bay Area Operations Dreamline Aviation LLC San Carlos, Calif. )
I enjoyed “Flying Among Robots” (September 2013, page 26), especially since I just had one zip by me the other day on its way to check out the Rim Fire. But I wanted to point out an error in syntax that one often finds when the author is not familiar with all things nautical: When speaking of a vessel, military or civilian, the vessel type should precede the vessel name, thus: The aircraft carrier Ford, not the Ford aircraft carrier;
Kenn Ricci is further cementing his status as a business aviation mogul with the acquisition of the Flexjet fractional aircraft operation from Bombardier. The $185 million deal, announced Sept. 5, includes a commitment to place orders and options for up to 245 Bombardier business aircraft valued at $5.2 billion. The sale, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, is expected to close by year's end. Directional Aviation Capital, the entity acquiring Flexjet, is headed by Ricci, an attorney and former charter pilot who founded Flight Options in 1998.
FlightSafety International has installed a Level D Citation XLS+ simulator with a Collins Pro Line 21 suite at its Orlando, Fla., training center. The facility now provides training for the full Citation XL series. Meanwhile,the company added Citation CJ2+ training with a dedicated simulator at its San Antonio, Tex., center, along with a new Level D Cessna Caravan simulator equipped with Garmin G600 suite at its Cessna Learning Center in Wichita.
Executive AirShare has added three Cessna Citation CJ2+ aircraft to its fleet to complement its existing Embraer and Beechcraft products. All three are 2009 models year or newer with each having less than 800 hr. of flight time. “The CJ2+ offers the range, speed and seating our owners desire and is the aircraft we need to provide the comprehensive air service our customers expect,” said Keith Plumb, president and COO Executive AirShare.
JETS, part of Germany's 328 Group, is now an authorized Service Center for Dassault Aviation. They will undertake line maintenance on the Falcon 900 and 2000 at its expanding London Biggin Hill MRO facility and also support the company's European network. The company employs around 30 licensed engineers at Biggin and is actively recruiting for more to complement its MRO activity at Bournemouth Airport.
Unloved and abandoned by its creator, the outcast Hawker 4000 is being embraced by Talon Air. The Farmingdale, N.Y.-based aircraft management and charter operator, now has nine of the super-midsize twins on its FAR Part 135 certificate making its fleet the largest by far. Paul St.
Jet Aviation Flight Services has added its first Gulfstream G650 onto its U.S. Part 135 air carrier certificate. It will be managed by the Van Nuys office. The G650 charter aircraft seats up to 13 passengers, sleeps five and includes a crew rest area. With a range of about 7,000 nm, its suitable for trips from Van Nuys to Madrid, Melbourne and Johannesburg.
Landmark Aviation's Aircraft Management & Charter division has been approved to operate to and from Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). Landmark will now be able to provide both corporate aircraft management and FAR Part 135-non-scheduled air carrier services.
