NetJets and the union chapter that represents more than 2,600 NetJets pilots, signed what they said was a significant amendment and expansion to a prior agreement. 75.7 percent of eligible members voted in favor of the measure. Voter participation was a hefty 95.8 percent. The two sides had been working toward agreement since April 2007. The agreement, which was signed on Dec. 7, 2007, will become amendable in five and a half years -- however, a provision included in the new contract that allows for a three-year extension should NetJets meet certain parameters.
Adam Aircraft won Type Inspection Authorization approval for the A700 twin jet aircraft from the FAA in early December 2007, clearing the way for FAA pilots to conduct flights in the aircraft. The third fully conforming aircraft, serial number 5, should begin flying in February, with s.n. 6 expected to take to the air in May. Receipt of the TIA "confirms we are on target for achieving FAA certification of the A700 in 2008," said Duncan Koerbel, president of the Denver-based manufacturer.
The French defense ministry has selected the Eurocopter 120 light helicopter for its new lead-in rotary-wing training program, one of several training initiatives to be outsourced to private operators. The ministry said the EC120 operator also had been selected, but could not yet be divulged. The selected operator will determine the number of rotorcraft to be procured. France has already contracted with EADS to use Grob aircraft to provide lead-in training for air transport pilots.
SatWest LLC, the Albuquerque-based provider of satellite business solutions, has been granted an STC for the L-1 satcom kit for Learjet 31, 31A, 35, 35A, 36 and 36A airplanes. The system was developed in conjunction with DC Aerospace, LLC.
The FAA has issued a stern warning to Santa Monica, Calif., city officials that a proposed ordinance to ban larger business jets at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) would violate federal laws and result in enforcement proceedings against the city. In early December 2007, the City Council agreed to a "first reading" of a proposed ordinance that would ban Category C and D aircraft - those with approach speeds faster than 121 knots - from using the airport. Santa Monica estimates that about 50 percent of the business jets that operate at SMO are Category C or D aircraft.
Regional carrier Chautauqua Airlines, a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Republic Airways, reportedly is requiring all of its pilots to complete the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Runway Safety online course as part of the airline's runway safety initiative. "There's really nothing better out there; it's certainly better than what we could have put together in-house," said Chautauqua Airlines Manager of Flight Standards Dirk Melchior. The AOPA says in its e-mail member newsletter, "You don't have to be an airline pilot to benefit from this free training.
Let's not kid ourselves. Business aviation is extremely vulnerable to political attack from environmental activists. Inevitably it will come to their attention that those of us who fly in business jets burn a lot more fuel than most people. Simple math will tell anyone who bothers to do the calculation that a business jet can burn as much fuel in an hour as a car will burn in a year.
The first new Embraer's Lineage 1000 ultra-large executive jet arrived at PATS Aircraft Completions in Georgetown, Del. Nov. 16. The aircraft is being outfitted with a customer-selected interior designed by Priestman Goode. The Lineage 1000, derived from the Embraer 190 airliner, made its first flight Oct. 26 at Embraer's Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, facility. PATS will integrate the total interior using materials and systems from its parent deCrane Aerospace, including seating, furniture, wood veneer, IFE systems, cabin management systems and more.
Readers have frequently asked us if we had one, overall favorite airplane. That's a tough call, but the Pilatus PC-12 ranks near the top of the list. This versatile single-engine turboprop has a slightly larger cabin than a Beech King Air B200, cruise speeds of a King Air C90GT, cabin sound levels that rival those of some turbofan aircraft and impressive short-field performance.
Jet Aviation Basel recently received letters of intent to complete interiors for two Airbus A340s, four Boeing BBJs and three B787 aircraft. The completions work will continue through 2014. The latest contracts come as Jet Aviation began construction on a new 9,600-square-meter hangar to accommodate widebody aircraft with long wingspans and very tall tails. The new hangar will be completed in the first half of next year. Jet noted that the large aircraft contracts come in addition to the more than 20 Falcon jets that Jet Aviation Basel completes annually for Dassault.
A mixture of new and proven technology is being exploited in business jet refurbs and completions. Starting from a bare cabin and proceeding with a generic interior installation, here's a sampling of what's de rigueur today and, in some cases, what to look out for in terms of potential problems. Shells and Soundproofing Packages
I enjoy your occasional articles on the fractional industry. The fall Flexjet newsletter highlights an owner who established an LLC with a couple of his friends to purchase a fractional share. If, as seems likely, the aviation activities of the LLC are not incidental to some non-aviation operating business, the LLC is a commercial operator and in violation of the FARs - and in violation of Flexjet's standard contractual terms.
THERE'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM within the FAA's Air Traffic Organization that isn't getting much public attention even though the situation is growing more serious with each passing day. The problem, believe it or not, can be traced back to the illegal walkout -- and subsequent firing by President Ronald Reagan -- of the more than 11,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization in 1981. The men and women hired to replace those fired PATCO members are now becoming eligible for retirement.
Joe Clark is an aviation businessman to the core. He found his calling at 20 when he took his first ride in a Learjet; by the time he stepped out, he knew he wanted in, for keeps. And so in 1965 he launched Jet Air, the first Lear Jet distributorship in the Northwest, with a sales territory covering Washington, Oregon, Alaska and all of Canada. His next career move was to Raisbeck Engineering as vice president of sales. In 1981, he cofounded Horizon Air, a highly successful Seattle-based regional that was ultimately sold to Alaska Airlines.
Could reengining be the fountain of youth for aging business jets? Only a few seconds after we pushed the throttles up to the forward stops for takeoff aboard Clifford Development's reengined Citation II flying test bed, it was quite obvious that this 19-plus-year-old light jet workhorse was feeling its oats, almost as if it were a CJ3 colt.
*Dec. 3-14: Aviation Safety Management Systems (ASMS) course, University of Southern California (USC), 6033 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 920, Los Angeles, CA 90045. (310) 342-1345. *Dec. 10: American Association of Airport Executives, Seventh Annual Aviation Security Summit, DoubleTree Hotel Crystal City, Arlington, Va. www.aaae.org *Dec. 14: Wright Memorial Dinner, Aero Club of Washington, Washington, D.C. www.aeroclub.org --2008--
Cessna Aircraft Co., Wichita, announced the appointments of Steve Charles as director, Citation product support and Tom Grace as director, propeller product support. They will be based in Wichita and report to Mark Paolucci, senior vice president, customer service.
Raytheon plans to sell Flight Options LLC, its wholly owned fractional aircraft ownership provider, to a Miami-based private equity firm, H.I.G. Capital. The decision to sell Flight Options comes as the Cleveland-based unit posted an operating loss of $96 million in the third quarter of this year, compared with a $10 million loss in third quarter 2006. Raytheon said it "initiated a process to dispose of" the fractional aircraft operation in the third quarter and reached a definitive agreement with H.I.G. on Oct. 15. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen appealed to senior Internal Revenue Service officials to revise proposed requirements for limits on aircraft deductions when senior executives use company aircraft for entertainment purposes. Bolen testified in late October during a public hearing the IRS held to discuss a proposal the agency released in June that would rewrite the tax code to incorporate measures limiting certain business aircraft deductions that Congress adopted in the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.
*Cessna Citation 525 airplanes -- Disable the cockpit-mounted pilot relief tube and inspect the lower wing skin structure, forward wing spar, lower fuselage skin, fairings and the external fairing frames for corrosion. Repair any damage found, and apply a corrosion inhibitive sealant to the fuselage fairings before reinstalling.
Embraer, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, has announced that Satoshi Yokota will be the executive vice president, strategic planning and technology development for the newly created Environmental Strategies and Technologies Office and that Graciliano Campos has been named its director.
TWO AIRPORT STORIES. A while ago I was arriving in the D.C. area VFR with traffic building fast. The frequency was alive with lots of voices. Keying Approach, I said I wanted to be cleared into the airspace, but if they couldn't handle me, I could hold, file or simply land elsewhere. "Commander 74 Mike," the controller responded, "This is DCA. The busier we are, the better we like it. You're going to be number two for a visual to Runway 22. Call the traffic."
At Memphis International Airport, a Citation 525, N242EP, departed on Taxiway M. The tower controller cleared the flight for takeoff on Runway 36L when the airplane was on Taxiway N. The crew acknowledged the clearance, turned right, and began takeoff roll on Taxiway M. The tower controller made two transmissions to advise the crew that they were departing on a taxiway. The crew acknowledged the advisory just after lifting off Taxiway M. Holding on Taxiway M was Pinnacle Airlines Flight 5905, a CRJ2.
Seattle-based Aviation Fleet Solutions (AFS) has completed the sale and installation of its second QuietEagle Noise Reduction System for the MD80. The newest customer is SG Air Leasing Ltd., a Singapore-based aircraft leasing com- pany that selected the noise reduction package so that its MD-87 could meet FAA Stage 4 and ICAO Chapter 4 noise requirements.
