PremiAir, the U.K.'s largest helicopter charter operator, has been acquired by the von Essen Group, a British-owned luxury hotel chain, from Sir Robert McAlpine. The acquisition follows a successful relationship between the two companies with PremiAir managing von Essen's fleet of business helicopters and jets, and operating the London Heliport for it since earlier this year.
For the past half century, our sibling, Aviation Week & Space Technology, has been presenting Laureate awards annually to individuals and groups whom the AW&ST editors select for having distinguished themselves in advancing the aerospace industry.
Elliott Aviation has received EASA certification for its Elite Series cockpit upgrade, becoming the first company in the world to receive European approval for the installation of Universal Avionics' EFI-890R large-format flat-panel display system and Vision-1 synthetic vision system. Elliott installed the equipment in a French-registered 1982 Dassault Falcon 100 at its completion center at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Moline, Ill. The facility also is an EASA-certified repair station.
Lufthansa has extended its deal with NetJets Europe for another five years to supply VIP passenger uplift for its Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ) program. Launched two years ago, LPJ books around 10 aircraft per day, Lufthansa reports. Aircraft operated by NetJets Europe for LPJ include the Citation XLS, Hawker 800XP and Falcon 2000.
*April 2 -- A Piper PA-28 owned by L&J Sanders Properties LLC collided with trees while cruising near New Tazewell, Tenn. Witnesses reported that the airplane came down out of the "clouds" and then climbed back up. When it came down a second time, it was on its side and went out of sight. The witnesses heard a loud crash and called 911. The NTSB examination found the airplane in a densely wooded area. It was IFR at altitude, but no flight plan was filed. The private pilot was fatally injured.
Motocross is a fusion of "motorcycle" and "cross country" and is usually referred to by aficionados simply as "MX." An outgrowth of scrambling and other off-road activities, the sport matches all the obstacles nature can provide against riders garbed in lightweight fiberglass armor riding lightweight, powerful bikes with suspensions capable of extreme excursions. Tracks where riders compete for prizes have man-made jumps and berms, but not asphalt. This is dirt biking - no pavement, please.
The DOT released the final requirements for Washington, D.C.-area businesses to seek reimbursement for lost income stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. DOT, which proposed the requirements in October, agreed to provide more time for businesses to submit an application and made other changes to the application process at the request of aviation groups. The final rule, published in the April 9 Federal Register, provides businesses 60 days from the rule's May 9, 2007 effective date to submit their application for reparations.
The NBAA recently released a new interactive 90-minute training aid designed to improve safety during approach and landing. Developed in partnership with the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), the NBAA Approach-and-Landing Accident Reduction (ALAR) training aid tailors the FSF ALAR Tool Kit for business aircraft operators. The NBAA ALAR incorporates publications and presentations from the FSF Tool Kit and adds new visual aids and a discussion leader's guide.
In "Will Climate Change Challenge BizAv?" (February, page 40) Mal Gormley obviously has spent too much time listening to Al Gore. The idea that human activity is causing Earth to warm up is most definitely disputed by many scientists, as well as the fact that we can do anything about it. The current rate of climate change is well within the cycle of normal climate changes that have occurred in the past, such as when the Vikings farmed in Greenland and an ice sheet over a mile thick covered the Midwest.
This month, Executive Beechcraft, the Midwestern aircraft service company, expects to receive an STC for its installation of the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics suite in the Beechcraft King Air C90.
Brian Humphries, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) CEO, who took on the job in a part-time capacity, is to step down after holding the position for three years and become its part-time president. The Brussels-based association, which has become a major influence in European business aviation policy-making and is the co-sponsor of the annual EBACE convention, is looking for a high-profile, full-time successor to be based in Brussels, Belgium. Humphries will continue to serve as CEO until the post is filled.
Accidents involving U.S. business turbine aircraft were up slightly in the first quarter of 2007, but the number of fatalities decreased, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. There were 19 accidents in the first three months, including five which resulted in 11 fatalities. During the same period in 2006, there were 16 accidents involving business turbine operators, with five of them claiming 15 lives.
UQM Technologies, a developer of alternative energy technologies, recently announced that one of its propulsion systems will drive a single-seat demonstrator airplane powered by a fuel cell and lightweight batteries as part of planned experimental flight tests this year by Boeing Research and Technology -- Europe (BR&TE) and industry partners. Flight tests will take place in Spain to demonstrate for the first time that a manned airplane can maintain straight and level flight with fuel cells as the only power source. The demonstrator aircraft is a Dimona motor glider.
Viking Air Limited confirmed April 9 that it would restart production of the 19-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter. The company met its goals of sufficient firm orders; further investment by its majority shareholder, Westerkirk Capital; board approval; and the existence of a federal program that could provide repayable financial assistance for R&D to update the aircraft for operation in the 21st century.
Embraer has delivered its 100th Legacy corporate jet. It goes to ABS Jets of Prague, Czech Republic, the third acquired by ABS and the fourth on the Czech civil aircraft register. Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer's executive vice president Executive Jets, says the Legacy now accounts for 13.6 percent of the super-midsize market, a figure achieved in five years. So far the Legacy has been sold to 19 countries with 27 orders in 2006. Embraer's projected sales for 2007 and 2008 are in the region of 25 to 30 aircraft per year.
CAE Executive Vice President Simulation Products Marc Parent told B&CA that the company's new 5000 Series simulator line -- currently the 5200 and 5400 -- is designed to complement CAE's 7000 Series, with the 5000 Series applicable to initial and recurrent training for aircraft ranging from narrow-body airliners through VLJs. Parent stated that CAE would offer the simulators to third-party flight training organizations, airlines and airframe manufacturers as well as equipping its own training facilities.
EADS Socata's TBM 850 won approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia for commercial passenger and freight operations in all conditions under Approved Single-Engine Turbine-Powered Aircraft (ASETPA) rules. The TBM 850's predecessor, the TBM 700C2, won similar approval two years earlier. The TBM 850 is a speedier variant of its predecessor with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at FL 260. Priced at $2.6 million, the aircraft is equipped with a Garmin GMX 200 multifunction display (see "EADS TBM 850," in B&CA, April 2007).
AgustaWestland has been awarded a contract add-on by the Japan National Police Agency (JNPA) to supply five AW109 Power law enforcement helicopters as part of an ongoing program to modernize the police helicopter fleet. This contract follows ones for three helicopters each in 2003 and 2005 for operation by local police agencies, while four additional AW109 Powers were ordered in 2006 by the JNPA. Four AW109 Powers have been delivered to Japanese police agencies so far this year.
CAE has added three new flight training organizations to its CAE Global Academy, bringing the number of schools in its network to six and increasing the number of pilots that will graduate with licenses annually from over 600 to over 1,000.
The Wings Club recently elected John Slattery, managing director of RBS Aviation Capital, as its 2007-2008 president. He succeeds Joseph Leonard, chairman and CEO of AirTran Airways, as head of the organization, which is based in New York City.
Here's the scene: The man has had a long day, three hours behind his Washington, D.C., time zone. He's relaxing at the Mandarin Sky Bar at LAX, his glass brimful with a favorite go-go mix of vodka and high-energy Red Bull, a concoction to make one happy and jazzed. And then, for some reason, he begins to think about that, seriously. Not silly serious. Serious serious.
Britain's BBA Aviation has acquired Commercial Aircraft Products of Wichita for about $9 million over four years. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of hydraulic system components, electromechanical positioning systems and access mechanisms used on a wide range of business aviation aircraft. Its proprietary products are used by OEMs including Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier and Adam. The acquisition will be integrated into the U.S. operations of BBA Aviation's APPH, its landing gear and hydraulic systems company.
Rosen Aviation's new aviation quality DVD/CD player is a region-free design that allows passengers to view DVDs from around the world while in flight, according to the company. It will integrate with existing cabin entertainment equipment using RS 232 and RS 485 interfaces. It features a switched audio/video output that allows users to switch between the DVD and an auxiliary source such as a moving map, audio or visual briefings, or other A/V sources. The unit will operate vertically or horizontally allowing it to be placed where it will save the most cabin space.
