Pentastar Aviation, Waterford, Mich., has hired Jessica Brant as customer care representative, Stacy McFall as aircraft charter sales representative, Steve Mineck as flight operation manager and Patrick Tschudi as flight follower supervisor.
NextGen implementation is not moving fast enough and must be accelerated said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt in his first major speech since his June 5 confirmation. Speaking at the RTCA Symposium in Chantilly, Va., June 10, Babbitt emphasized the secret to launching NextGen is advice. “The only way we’re going to get rotation on this is by making sure the parties are at the table, making sure that their voices are heard. That’s the way I intend to keep it,” he said. “Decisions made in a vacuum will bring the system to its knees.
“Justifying business aircraft can be a complex endeavor, but it should not be feared,” said David Almy, the driver behind the NBAA’s Travel$ense and now part of the General Aero Co. consultancy.
Century CRM developed the first of a series of human factors programs for Training Port, a Canadian-based online training firm. The company says the initial human factors program covers conflict resolution in the cockpit. Future courses are planned for release later in the year. Century CRM said the course represents an expansion into the Canadian professional pilot market. Based in Peachtree City, Ga., Century CRM specializes in human factors and crew resource management training.
The G350 offers the lowest price of admission to Gulfstream’s large cabin, current production aircraft family. New, it retails for $32 million, according to Business & Commercial Aviation’s 2009 Purchase Planning Handbook. Used G350s — they’re rare — might command half that in today’s depressed market.
The FAA released its bird strike database at the end of April at the direction of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The agency’s fear that the information might cause an unsophisticated public to worry excessively about specific locations proved unfounded. There was a flurry of attention in the general news media, now subsided, mostly about the 59,776 total strikes since 2000 and that probably 80 percent of “wildlife strikes” are unreported. Acting NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker remarked, “I was particularly gratified to read [Secretary LaHood’s] comments . . .
The FAA reauthorization legislation took its first step forward in the new Congress in early May when House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) leaders introduced a four-year bill, H.R.915, which largely mirrors legislation that stalled in the 110th Congress in 2008. Airlines and business aviation groups are now united in urging key legislators to push forward a long-term comprehensive aviation reauthorization bill and have pledged to work together to get that accomplished despite their differences in philosophy on funding.
Single Point of Contact recently announced the launch of Single Point Assist maintenance service exclusively for overseas destinations. It’s a subscription service that provides onsite maintenance technicians directly to your aircraft with just one phone call. According to the company, users will save money be locking in maintenance costs, parts and access to local resources in advance so there are no surprises. The operator signs up for coverage depending on where and how often they are traveling overseas.
Lufthansa and its partners have started to bring their combined massive resources to bear on the business aviation market. Even though their fleet is far from immense (two Citation CJ3s, two Citation XLS+s and three CJ1s) their influence likely will be, says BCA Show News Editor-in-Chief John Morris. Lufthansa Private Jet’s CJ3s and XLS+s are operated by Swiss PrivateAviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines, which is itself owned by Lufthansa.
“Super Sunday Surprise” (Viewpoint, March, page 6) was informative and very well written. While not the focus of your work, there is one other important function being served daily by all kinds of corporate and private aircraft not specifically mentioned in the article. That is what I call “using my aircraft to do good things” — or charitable/compassionate flying.
Near LBL, [the crew] saw a patch of blue sky to the right front and painted nothing [on radar] in front of them. The encounter occurred when a large buildup appeared in front of the airplane with less than two seconds notice.” The NTSB report goes on to say “the airplane experienced airspeed excursions from about 275 knots to 225 knots with an altitude loss of 500 feet. During the encounter, the airplane also experienced small hail. Other aircraft in the area reported no conditions greater than light turbulence.”
The Environmental Protection Agency will delay changes it published in fall 2008 to clarify Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) requirements deadlines “Amendments” that the agency said were designed to encourage greater compliance with the regulations. Under SPCC rules, owners and operators of fuel storage facilities built before Aug. 16, 2002, must have a plan in place to meet spill prevention and cleanup requirements. Owners and operators of facilities built after that date have had until July 1, 2009, to develop their plans.
Embraer delivered the first Lineage 1000 executive jet, derived from the Embraer 190 airliner, to Aamer Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Prestige Jet, also of Abu Dhabi, will manage the aircraft on his behalf. The new aircraft joined Embraer’s Phenom 100 and 300 on the EBACE static display line, May 12-14 in Geneva.
Stanley Proto has introduced a Classic Screwdriver line that takes the look and feel of this industrial workhorse, but updates it with advanced material and features. The handle has a new four-side fluted design made from impact-resistant extruded acetate. Handle diameters have been increased; shanks come in round and square varieties; blade and tip are available with slotted, Phillips, cabinet or Torx tips. This new product launch includes 59 individual screwdrivers and 10 sets. Stanley-Proto 2195 East View Pkwy. Conyers, GA 30014
I read “Without Apology” (Viewpoint, January, page 7) with interest because of the negative spin placed on business aircraft by Congress, and of course the lapdog media with its pile-on mentality, during the hearings on the automotive industry bailout proposal. The fat, stupid cats running Detroit deserve an Oscar for sheer arrogance. However, you raise a very interesting issue once again — business aircraft as a sign of noblesse oblige.
CAE Global Academy is expanding its China presence with a pilot provisioning contract with Xiamen Airlines for approximately 70 pilots over two years. A group of Xiamen Airline cadets began training last month at CAE Global Academy, Phoenix. CAE Global Academy incorporates hands-on training throughout the curriculum through the use of the latest simulation-based technology and spending 250 hours flying an aircraft. At the end of training, the cadets will graduate with a Commercial Pilot license approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Stevens Aviation has received Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) for its avionics upgrade to the Learjet 60. Stevens owns an STC that covers installation of the Universal Avionics EFI-890R multifunction display with the application server unit and the optional Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System in the Learjet 60. Stevens Aviation is negotiating with several partners for distribution and installation of the Learjet 60 kit worldwide.
ARINC Direct is offering a new Web-based package of flight support services for VLJs, plus other general aviation aircraft weighing less than 12,500 pounds at takeoff. The subscription price of only $1,500 per year, includes flight planning, complete weather information, aircraft tracking, runway analysis and weight and balance calculations. It also includes participation in ARINC’s discount fuel service. Dispatchers and crews can access the service from anywhere using any Internet device or smartphone.
Cessna announced the 200th Citation Mustang delivery when Maritime Air Charters picked up its new aircraft at Cessna’s Independence, Kan., facility. Although based in Honolulu, Maritime Air Charters will operate the new Mustang in charter service from its facility in Newnan, Ga., outside Atlanta. Maritime intends to offer its services including aircraft management, flight crew service and charter management to other Mustang owners.
With the latest proposal to limit the operational freedom of aircraft weighing over 12,500 pounds, I am surprised by how limited and guarded the responses have been from the aviation community. It seems that with every passing quarter, the TSA has issued some new restriction on our civil liberties. I don’t think I am alone in believing that the TSA is continuing to expand its sphere of influence, control and restrictions at a rate faster than it can effectively manage, or measure, its own effectiveness.
Thanks for the mention of my book, Business and Corporate Aviation Management, in April’s Schedulers and Dispatchers section. For some unknown reason its sales have been picking up over the last year. Great article, as always. I enjoyed reading the UAV article, too; this is very important to us in the IAOPA in our work with ICAO and Eurocontrol. I would like to see more on this subject since I believe that commercial UAV use is about to mushroom. Unfortunately, ICAO and the FAA are ill-prepared to accommodate this increase in operations.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of a midair collision between two EMS helicopters last year was both pilots’ failure to see and avoid the other helicopter on approach to the helipad. Contributing to the accident were the failure of one of the pilots to follow arrival and noise abatement guidelines and the failure of the other pilot to follow communications guidelines. On June 29, 2008, about 3:47 p.m. MST, two Bell 407 EMS helicopters, operated by Air Methods Corp.
I have an acquaintance — a light-twin business pilot — who always files IFR for any trip away from his immediate local area for two reasons: “One, I’ve got someone to talk to and help me watch for traffic; and, two, staying IFR keeps me on track for the correct airport, especially at night.” Not a bad idea, especially for a lone pilot in busy airspace.
