Business & Commercial Aviation

Airbus has become a full member of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, a private/public partnership to modernize European Air Traffic Management (ATM). An agreement with the 16 partners of the SJU was finalized June 12. SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) will develop and deliver the operational and technical standards for the progressive deployment of the new European ATM system — roughly equivalent to the U.S. NextGen ATM program. Patrick Gavin, Executive Vice-President, head of Airbus Engineering explained, “ATM is a limiting factor to the growth of air transport.

Rockwell Collins acquired DataPath, Inc., a global leader in creating satellite-based communication networks, the company announced June 1. DataPath, which includes a wholly owned subsidiary SWE-DISH Satellite Solutions AB, will operate under the Rockwell Collins brand as part of the company’s government systems business.

The annual BCA Planning and Purchasing Handbook is a comprehensive and valuable resource for the business aviation community and I always read it with great interest. My interest, however, turned to dismay when I reviewed Mal Gormley’s article “Cabin Electronics” (May, page 202). I realized that International Communications Group (ICG) was conspicuous by its absence.

Speaking to the Aero Club of Washington, Gulfstream President Joe Lombardo said, “Results [from the No Plane No Gain campaign] are favorable. Things have calmed down.” He added, however, that calming down only means the negative press has abated. The industry must still project a positive image. “General aviation has suffered significantly,” Lombardo said, with the downfall beginning in November when the chiefs of the three major U.S. automakers flew to Washington, D.C., on business jets.

Corporate Angel Network received a $50,000 gift from Hawker Beechcraft in continuing support of the charity’s efforts arranging free flights to and from treatment centers for cancer patients using empty seats in business aircraft. “Corporate aircraft owners help Corporate Angel Network brighten the lives of those touched by cancer,” said W.W. (Bill) Boisture Jr., Hawker Beechcraft’s chairman and CEO.

Bombardier Aerospace released its new forecasts for the business and commercial airline aircraft markets at the Paris Air Show, June 15. In the 10-year period from 2009 to 2018, the Bombardier business aircraft market forecast predicts that business jet manufacturers will deliver a total of 11,500 aircraft with industry revenues of approximately US$256 billion.

Mike Ellis, Hawker Beechcraft’s vice president of pre-owned aircraft, characterizes today’s market for previously owned business aircraft as “tentative.”

The actions by a group of protestors calling themselves Plane Stupid, who chained themselves to the wheel of a private jet parked at London City Airport on June 10 were called “misguided” and “politically driven” by the British Business & General Aviation Association (BBGA). The protesters were arrested and charged with criminal damage, along with breaking and entering. Plane Stupid activists have a record of pulling aviation-related publicity stunts to highlight their concerns about climate change, says the BBGA.

Raytheon will lead a team of five companies to study how NextGen architecture will affect the National Airspace System from 2018 to 2025. “The next generation of airspace management must support a broad array of capabilities — from classic aircraft with minimal automation to highly integrated, multi-sensor aircraft, including unmanned aerial systems,” a Raytheon official told Avionics magazine.

Dassault issued 111 more layoff notices, effective June 5, at its Little Rock, Ark., completion center, blaming the economic downturn and the business jet slump. The layoffs came largely in the initial engineering and design areas, said spokesman Andrew Ponzoni. “Our main production activities, such as building interiors, painting and flight test, were less affected,” he said. Staffing levels are now roughly the same as they were in January 2008, said Ponzoni.

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.

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

“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.

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.

Nearly 10 years ago, Congress created the “Whistle-blower Protection Program” for “airline employees.” The law applies to “air carriers” so it covers FAR Parts 121 and 135 but not pilots flying under Part 91. The law prohibits “discrimination” by an air carrier against an employee with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment because the employee:

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.

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.