Universal Jet Aviation recently added two Gulfstream IVs and a Boeing BBJ to its fleet. The Gulfstreams will be based out of Miami and Carlsbad, Calif., and the BBJ will be available for charter out of South Florida. Universal Jet's charter fleet now has 15 aircraft, including four Gulfstream IVs, seven Gulfstream IIIs and a Legacy 600.
Falcon 50EX operators with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 avionics can now upgrade to Pro Line 21 via an STC from Rockwell Collins. The Falcon 50EX Pro Line 21 retrofit features four large, configurable 10-by8-in. LCDs and Rockwell Collins' Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS). With IFIS, pilots will have access to high-resolution electronic charts, XM graphical weather (including but not limited to NEXRAD), lightning data, satellite images, winds aloft data and enhanced navigation maps.
The FAA Civil Aerospace Medicine Institute (CAMI) has released a report of the first systematic investigation of how modern Web-based weather products are actually used by general aviation pilots. A data-gathering emulation of 18 pages of the National Weather Service website was written by CAMI's W.R. Knecht to present two similar, challenging weather scenarios to 50 GA pilots in a simulated cross-country VFR flight. Each pilot made two flights, separated by several months.
American Eurocopter announced that the Ontario, Calif., Police Department has ordered its third AS350 B2. The aircraft, which will enter service in late spring, will primarily be used for aerial patrol and special operations surveillance. The Air Support Unit averages around 1,000 hr. per year on each of its two current AS350 B2s, with 70-80% of flights flown at night.
Piper Aircraft is expecting to complete renovations this summer to accommodate production of its Altaire business jet as work continues on the first of four conforming test articles, the company says. Piper updated the status of its first jet offering, the $2.6 million single-engine Altaire, noting that it has selected all “Tier 1” vendors, including tooling specialist Hampson/Global Tooling Services, which has tooling designers on site at the Piper facility. The airframe maker says the Altaire production facility will be ready to manufacture aircraft next year.
“Guardedly optimistic” is how JP Morgan analyst Joseph Nadol describes a recovery in new business jet demand this year, but warns that the path is a winding one and data points are mixed. “In March, for example, used inventory ticked up for the first time since October. The increase was slight, but a further decline would have inspired more confidence,” he writes. “Likewise, pricing was more or less flat after increasing in January and February. Most models saw price increases, however, and we still see a trend toward firming prices.”
The following description of the hotline is posted on the NATA website (www.nata.aero): “Effective immediately, any employee or agent of a Part 135 on-demand certificate holder can call a special toll-free hotline, (888) 759-3581 or (888) SKY-FLT1, to file a report of suspected illegal commercial flights, where an aircraft operator without an FAR Part 135 certificate is accepting compensation for transportation in violation of both FAA and Department of Transportation regulations.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia has become the 69th organization worldwide and the seventh in Africa to join the International Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilot Associations (IAOPA). The IAOPA notes that general aviation is particularly important in Namibia, which is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with 2.1 million people and a size that is a little more than half that of Alaska.
I was interested to read “No Hiding” from William C. Kontes (Readers' Feedback, February 2011, page 9). Of course, you can't hide a Falcon 900LX behind a Grumman Tiger, but when you compare its size to a Gulfstream G450, there is a big difference in length, span and weight for similar performance. That's optimization over maximization, an improvement from a younger design.
Rolls-Royce recently celebrated the rollout of its 2,000th BR710 engine. The powerplant was manufactured at the company's Dahlewitz, Germany, plant. The engine, which has thrust ratings between 14,750 lb. and 15,500 lb., powers Bombardier Global and Gulfstream G500/550 models. The BR710 was certified in 1996.
The Gulfstream V is one of the highest performance large-cabin business aircraft on the pre-owned market. Between 1997 and 2002, the Savannah firm built 194 units before replacing it with the GV-SP, commercially known as the G550.
Delta Private Jets increased its managed fleet by six more aircraft: a Hawker 800XP, Learjet 60, Citation X, Citation Excel, Challenger 300 and Challenger 601-3R.
Embraer signed a preliminary agreement with AVIC (Aviation Industry Corp. of China) for their Chinese joint venture company, Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co. (HEAI), to set up a Legacy 600/650 production line in China. The preliminary deal calls for output at the joint venture to shift from 50-seat ERJ-145 regional jets to Legacy 600/650 business jets, which are derived from the ERJ-135/145 family. As we go to press, Embraer says it expects to finalize the details of the new arrangement with AVIC and “execute the relevant documentation” within weeks.
Signature Flight Support has launched a new maintenance brand. Signature TECHNICAir consolidates all Signature-owned maintenance facilities under one unified brand covering the former Executive Beechcraft locations at Kansas City Downtown Airport, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, New Century AirCenter Airport (Olathe, Kan.) and Signature locations at Hanscom Field in Bedford, Mass.; St. Paul (Minn.) Downtown Airport; and the newly acquired Yellowstone Jetcenter in Bozeman, Mont.
Malaysian offshore operator Weststar Aviation Services has taken delivery of the last three of the nine AgustaWestland AW139s it ordered, primarily for supporting offshore oil and gas operations in the country. The three were delivered to Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport via an Antonov AN124 freighter. Six AW139s will be based at Kertih, with the remaining three at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa. Weststar, reputedly the fourth biggest AW139 offshore operator in the world, provides helicopter services to oil and gas companies.
Private operators posing as commercial charter providers in Europe, North America, and the Middle East are soliciting money from the “ignorant public” and, certificated operators claim, are endangering their passengers while creating unfair competition for the legitimate, rules-abiding members of the industry.
Looking for guidance on the use of electronic manuals? Advisory Circular AC 120-78 — Acceptance and Use of Electronic Signatures, Electronic Recordkeeping Systems and Electronic Manuals — provides guidance on the acceptability of electronic maintenance manuals, including inspection procedures, quality operations and training manuals. The AC also provides guidance on the acceptance and use of electronic signatures, and electronic recordkeeping systems.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) said at a recent corporate jet finance conference, that it has seen the overall cost of aircraft financing decrease throughout the past 24 months compared to prices seen during the economic downturn.
I began reading the April issue of BCA at 0630 yesterday as usual with your Viewpoint column (“Fleeting Permanence,” page 9). After seeing that John Wiley and I shared the same birth year (something that is happening with troubling frequency), I went straight to page 42 and read “Baghdad Diary.” A great story, but an even better insight into the problems our country faces today.
Ian Becker (Boys Town, Neb. ), San Diego, Calif. (Boys Town, Neb. )
The arrival of BCA every month is a highlight in my life, and the February issue is another stellar example of this. Viewpoint has a way of segueing from an interesting tidbit, or familial tale, into a serious deliberation concerning general aviation. It never fails to spike my sinews and provide a good old-fashioned jolt! And it inspired me to share an idea.
Decades ago, I was responsible for providing technical support for several out-of-production aircraft models. I had to maintain the manuals for each type and had a full bookcase to care for. The oldest model came out in the late 1940s and its entire manual fit snugly into a three-ring binder. As the aircraft progressed in time, the manuals became larger. The latest model aircraft (1970s vintage) took up about half the shelf space. Volumes of maintenance data, vendor manuals, parts lists and overhaul instructions were in constant need of updating and revision.
Whatever your motivation it is clear that your intent in reporting on David Sokol's resignation (AWIN, March 31) was to besmirch his character. There is not one iota of evidence suggesting insider trading by Sokol; get your facts straight prior to launching a tirade. While you may be building a résumé that will have your considered for employment by NBC, the New York Times or CNN, reporting honestly and fairly would serve mankind far better than your guttersniping.
Cessna established a Citation service facility in Prague, located at sister company Bell Helicopter's service facility at Prague Ruzyne International Airport. Cessna and Bell are Textron companies. Certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency in February, the center has begun performing scheduled and unscheduled maintenance operations.
Thrane & Thrane's Aviator 200 SwiftBroadband system with Wi-Fi has received a European Aviation Safety Agency STC for installation in Cessna Citation CJ1 and CJ2 jets. The system was integrated and tested aboard a Cessna CJ1 by RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Thrane & Thrane's Aviator 200 is a compact, lightweight system that offers reliable, affordable connectivity to provide users with a range of voice and data services.
Cessna took orders for 30 aircraft at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Fla. “The opening days of Sun ‘n Fun were very positive, and while the storm on Thursday [March 31] interrupted that mood somewhat, the exhibitors and the crowds bounced back to finish the show strong,” said Mark Paolucci, Cessna's senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Cessna took 16 orders for the new Corvalis TTX and 13 orders for high-wing single-engine pistons.
