Aviation technology provider AircraftLogs and Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Co. have partnered to market aircraft management packages and online pilot logbooks. The Aircraft Management Package provides private pilots and aircraft owners with a complete and secure management system via the Internet. It includes online logbooks, currency alerts, user-defined maintenance tracking, reporting tools and more. AircraftLogs has added Automatic Flight Posting to its product to allow any IFR flight to be automatically recorded. 4389 International Gateway
FlightSafety International acquired Glass Mountain Optics Inc. of Austin, Texas, the company announced Jan 9. Glass Mountain Optics is a leading provider of simulation visual display systems and massive industrial optics.
The NBAA cancelled the February 2009 Hong Kong ABACE event and scaled back its first Light Business Airplane Conference (LBA2009) to a two-day event “to address unprecedented changes in the economy,” the association announced. Originally planned as a three-day conference, LBA2009 will now take place March 13-14 in San Diego. The NBAA reduced LBA2009 attendance fees by 50 percent and exhibitor space fees by 20 percent.
— About 1445 CST, a Bombardier CL-600-2B16, N573BA, operated by the Boeing Co., sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on Runway 12 (7,003 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at the Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY), Gary, Ind. The FAR Part 91 positioning flight departed Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) at 1435 with GYY as the intended destination. During the landing at GYY, the nosewheel of the airplane hit the runway hard and the airplane bounced.
Editor’s note: Last month’s Viewpoint, “Without Apology,” focused on the fallout from the appearance of the CEOs of the “Big Three” carmakers before Congress in December 2008. That column generated much commentary because it dealt with such a signal event for the business aviation community.
FAA Reauthorization is a high priority for both House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.). A definitive timetable has not yet been set, but Oberstar said the committee “will be ready to move very early on.” Meanwhile, the committee is getting an infusion of new blood in the 111th Congress. Veteran congressmen Rep. Solomon Ortiz, a 14-term Democrat from Texas, and Rep. Phil Hare, a second-term Democrat from Illinois, have been appointed to it.
A science, engineering and technology workforce shortage is posing a serious challenge for the aerospace industry, according to a new survey by the Aerospace Industries Association. The study, “Launching the 21st Century American Workshop,” noted that the shortage of skilled workers is threatening the dominance of the U.S. aerospace industry.
Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott, LLC, Washington, D.C., announced that Shelley A. Hession has joined the firm as an associate in the Business Division, practicing in the Aviation Group.
Your January 2009 Viewpoint (“Without Apology,” page 7) hit it right on the head, but it will be a hard sell to the idiots on the Hill and the great unwashed public. Just this morning in the last panel of the comic “Non Sequitur” in the Arizona Republic, Danah says to her dad, “Too bad we don’t have a corporate jet to sell” after he shows her the newspaper telling of the major newspapers hitting on hard times and her allowance is in jeopardy
Imagine being able to operate in and out of Teterboro, Morristown and White Plains, among other general aviation airports located near congested urban areas, without having to wait for an opening in the near-constant stream of airliner arrivals and departures at nearby commercial jetports. Then, envision being able to fly into Aspen, among other airports in mountainous terrain, using gently curving and descending IFR precision approaches that provide ILS-like weather minimums and that stabilize the aircraft directly on runway centerline and glide path.
— At approximately 1940 CST a Cessna 210 (XB-AWZ) crashed approximately 600 meters short of landing while on approach to Saltillo Airport, Mexico (MMNIO) after striking wires. Two occupants onboard sustained fatal injuries and three sustained critical injuries and burns due to a post-crash fire. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Mexico.
The U.K. Transport Ministry will form a working group of government officials and industry representatives this coming year chartered with developing more-effective counter-terrorism strategies, according to Niki Tompkinson, head of the transport security and contingencies directorate. The group will include representatives from foreign and domestic carriers, said Tompkinson. Representatives will be privy to “very sensitive information,” for the purposes of improving responses to threats, she said.
JetDirect Aviation Holdings is restructuring its operations with the sale of its Sunset Aviation and Presidential Jets as well as three FBOs at Chester County Airport (KMQS) in Coatesville, Pa.; Dallas — Love Field (KDAL); and Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS). The Berwyn, Pa., aviation services provider said the reorganization would allow JetDirect to focus on its national aircraft management and charter business. JetDirect is selling California-based Sunset and Florida-based Presidential Jets back to the original ownership groups.
General Electric Aviation’s much-heralded eCore advanced gas generator may see its introductory application not in an airliner engine but in a business jet powerplant — the long-awaited “10K,” or 10,000-pound-thrust class turbofan the company has promised for several years amid an aura of super secrecy.
Thirty-four weeks. Lockheed Jetstar 329 at an estimated $6 million to $7 million responding to an Air Force request for a utility jet. The airplane was eventually rolled out on Aug. 1, 1957.
William Quinn, director of aircraft sales and acquisitions for Cerretani Aviation LLC—the Boulder, Colorado-based aircraft acquisition and sales organization—declared recently, “Certain segments of the market are essentially in what could arguably be characterized as a ‘free fall.’ Inventory levels are rising and values are beginning to erode.” “I think there are three factors that are currently driving the aircraft market—the financial meltdown, public scrutiny of publicly held corporations and a normal market cycle,” explained Quinn.
Ask AS350 AStar operators about their aircraft and they’ll readily tell you they love its smooth ride, roomy cabin and crisp handling, along with its versatility, reliability and rugged airframe. These aircraft take full advantage of composites to both reduce weight and lower maintenance costs. They have three-blade main rotors with hinge-less “Starflex” rotor heads along with fiberglass composite main and tail rotors. The fuselage also uses composite construction for the shell. The substructure, however, is fabricated from aluminum and steel.
Emissions trading is not the only pushback against grandiose Eurocontrol plans. In January, more than 100 participants concluded a two-day workshop in Brussels on the impact of expected future European pilot and avionics equipment requirements on business and general aviation and to encourage industry to develop affordable avionics equipment to meet those requirements.
EclipseJet Aviation International, a subsidiary of Roel Pieper’s Luxembourg-based ETIRC, was the sole registered bidder for the assets of insolvent Eclipse Aviation at the Jan. 13 deadline for filing intentions to bid in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware. In the absence of qualified competitive bidders, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Mary Walrath, who is handling the Eclipse case, as we go to press is due to hear motions to sell Eclipse’s assets to EclipseJet. ETIRC currently is Eclipse Aviation’s largest shareholder.
A number of aviation groups expressed concern in late December about a new TSA “Security Directive” (SD) that would dramatically increase the number of people required to undergo background checks, be fingerprinted and meet other standards to qualify them for airport identification badges at hundreds of commercial airports across the country.
National Air Transportation Association, Alexandria, Va., selected Eric Wunderlich of NetJets Aviation as chairman of the association’s Environmental Committee. Wunderlich replaces Traver Gruen-Kennedy of DayJet Corp.
