Business jet charter, management and maintenance services company, TAG Aviation, has started a new advisory service for business aircraft operators who must comply with the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS). TAG ETS Solutions offers operators turnkey compliance and carbon credit purchase support, or customized help for those who have already begun the process only to become stalled by its complexity. The new offering draws on TAG's experience complying with the EU-ETS for its owned business aircraft as well as for its managed fleet.
GAMA is teaming with the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) to promote and help develop business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. GAMA and MEBAA plan first to focus on the regulatory environment, including urging aviation authorities to adopt a common set of rules that facilitate business aviation operations.
The TSA could issue foreign repair station certification rules early this year, perhaps as soon as this month, a senior official says. The rules are “hopefully on track to be out in January,” Ann Zipser, director-global programs and engagement in TSA's Office of Global Strategies, said in December at an American Association of Airport Executives aviation security summit.
Too many to mentally process, difficult to read and occasionally understand, not prioritized by importance, archaic in format and distribution in the digital age — Notices to Airmen, good old “NOTAMs” — remain both the bane and deliverance of pilots worldwide.
Signature Flight Support has signed an agreement to make National Car Rental the preferred rental car partner for its global network. Member of National's Emerald Club loyalty program can now earn Signature TailWins rewards for their rental car purchases. The points are awarded for every dollar spent on rental time and mileage. Signature has recently formed an exclusive partnership with CLEAR, the U.S. leader in secure biometric identification. All Signature stakeholders will benefit from the timesaving opportunities of a CLEAR membership.
Bombardier's Challenger 601-3A/ER has 3,200 nm range at Mach 0.80, a cabin with a commodious cross section, comfortable seating for eight to nine passengers and inflight access to a large aft baggage compartment. As such, it's a $4 million widebody aircraft that's well suited to flying U.S. transcontinental missions.
ARINC Direct has a partnership with FlightAware to provide enhanced live flight- tracking information as a further evolution to its suite of business aviation services. ARINC Direct customers will be able to benefit from access to FlightAware's live Web-based flight tracking and fleet maps, including worldwide en route navigation data, and many other maps and overlays. Messaging the aircraft, worldwide position and flight plan display, arrival and departure information, flight history and airport delay information are also included.
Sporty's Flight Gear Headset case is a compact pilot bag designed to store a headset, IPad, transceiver and more. Measuring 6 in. by 11.1 in. and 11 in. high overall, the case has a padded external transceiver pocket with Sporty's patented slit flap to accommodate the antenna, plus an internal pocket for an iPad. The case has a 6-yr. warranty. Price: 37.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop
Avinode introduced their completely new aircraft pricing and performance engines in the Avinode Marketplace in the fall, with new pricing profiles that were scheduled to be in place at the end of 2012. With 200,000 requests per month flowing through Avinode, delivering accurate pricing is essential for the ongoing success of the online charter marketplace, according to Dr. Oliver King, managing director.
The FCC is urging the FAA to ease rules governing the inflight use of portable electronic devices (PEDs). The agencies share jurisdiction when it comes to PEDs. The FAA regulates their use before takeoff, while the FCC assumes oversight during flight. The FAA, however, has taken the lead on a six-month study examining current aircraft operator policies and procedures regarding PEDs. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski expresses support for the review in a letter to FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy believes FAA has significantly understated the costs associated with its proposed changes in the Part 145 rewrite and is suggesting that the agency conduct a supplemental regulatory analysis that includes less costly alternatives. The SBA Office of Advocacy hosted a meeting in December on FAA's Part 145 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), that expressed industry groups' concerns that FAA's proposal omits a number of costs in its cost-benefit analysis.
Jeppesen is offering a complete suite of its pilot training textbooks as e-book selections for the iPad. Available for download through the Apple iBookstore, the titles include Instrument/Commercial pilot training, Multiengine airplane training and Flight Instructor training from Jeppesen's Guided Flight Discovery series, and the Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM) and FAR/M regulation reference guides.
Sikorsky's Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), the East Coast's largest executive Sikorsky S-76 helicopter services provider, has been granted access into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) by the TSA under the DCA Access Security Program (DASSAP). As an approved operator, AAG is required to submit to advanced security procedures and background checks for all crewmembers. Passengers and baggage undergo TSA security screening at any DCA gateway airport. An approved law enforcement officer is required to be on board during flight into and out of DCA.
BCA had hoped to discuss the U.S. NOTAM situation with officials at the FAA, but we were repeatedly rebuffed, with the explanation that the agency's aviation information management group was too understaffed and overworked to talk to the press. Nevertheless, a sympathetic public affairs officer was able to circulate some questions around the agency's NOTAM experts, and the following emailed answers were received just as we went to press.
Bell Helicopter announced that National Grid Electricity Transmission Plc has purchased the first Bell 429 to be operated in Great Britain. The aircraft will be used for power line inspection and maintenance. National Grid formally accepted the Bell 429 in Mirabel, Canada, at Bell Helicopter's commercial manufacturing facility. Final delivery will take place upon completion at Bell Helicopter's facility in Prague.
Hawker Beechcraft on Nov. 15 petitioned the court to be released from certain warranty and support obligations for the Hawker 4000 and Premier business jet lines. That petition has drawn a handful of formal objections, but a few of the companies objecting have withdrawn their initial protests. In its response as we go to press, Hawker Beechcraft says that the move is “critical to the transformation” of its business. The company said it understood the difficult effects of its decisions on customers and anticipated some opposition.
In 2008-09, Eurocontrol, Swedish air navigation service provider Luftfartsverket (LFV) and Jeppesen cooperated in a series of demonstrations of digital NOTAM transmission via data link to an aircraft on the ground and in flight.
Boost in pilot proficiency is offered by a new angle-of-attack indicator developed by Monitair Corp., Spring Valley, N.Y. A wing-mounted vane drives a potentiometer, which produces angle-of-attack information on a panel mounted in the near the windshield (for easy viewing when the pilot is looking outside). The indicator permits the pilot to set optimum angle and fly to get that angle shown on the indicator. Applications include better max angle of climb, reduction of excess speed on approach and optimum engine-out operation.
The FAA Safety Team reminds airframe and powerplant mechanics that all paper certificates will expire on Mar. 31, 2013. A&P certificate holders and all other certificated airmen who have not replaced their paper certificates with plastic certificates on or before the expiration date will be unable to exercise their privileges.
Gulfstream Aerospace, completing its strongest quarter of the year in terms of new orders, expects sales to grow further in the fourth quarter and is increasing its delivery estimates for 2012 to as many as 124 aircraft. Gulfstream continues to shine in the General Dynamics (GD) portfolio, leading the Aerospace group to a 30% increase in third-quarter revenues and a 20.3% increase in operating earnings. The GD Aerospace group includes Gulfstream and Jet Aviation.
In the past few years, communications and electronics technologies have made tremendous advances. As soon as a new system hits the market, its replacement is already in the works. For business aviation, we have been at the forefront of incorporating new systems at an equally aggressive pace. We are way ahead of the airlines and even the military in many respects. Our customers are very demanding and expect the latest technology to be available as soon as they see it on the Internet.
The Office of Naval Research has awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to develop technology to locate and classify an adversary's attempts to interfere with GPS signals and disrupt military operations that will likely have collateral benefits to civil users. The three-year contract for the Modernized Integrated Spoofer Tracking (MIST) program calls for Rockwell Collins to develop technology and prototype system concepts to detect and locate the sources of transmitted signals that are intended to disrupt users' ability to navigate and communicate.
Used business aircraft sales slowed slightly, particularly in the light jet segment, and inventory began to creep back up in the third quarter. But used market indicators overall were a “mixed bag ” as pricing strengthened for both business jets and turboprops, according to industry analyst Amstat. The number of business jets available for sale, inched up from 13.3% of the fleet at the end of the second quarter to 13.4% at the end of the third. But this is still improved from 14% of the fleet that was for sale at the end of the third quarter in 2011.
