Prices for certain previously owned aircraft may be stabilizing or at least not rising as fast as in recent months, but the overall market for used turbine-powered business aircraft remains strong, according to the latest edition of Marketline, the quarterly newsletter of the Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest.
Already much in the news with its Dubai Ports World, the Dubai government is a major investor in a new venture to grow the aerospace industry and infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. The venture, Dubai Aerospace Enterprises, has lined up $15 billion in financing to become a major player in everything from aircraft leasing and airport development to component manufacturing and perhaps even space services and aircraft final assembly in the long term.
On Feb. 1, Boutsen Aviation, the aircraft sales firm based in Monaco, sold its 100th aircraft, an Embraer Phenom 100 that is to be delivered to a new French aircraft operator. The company, which was started as a one-man, part-time operation at the end of 1996 by Formula One Grand Prix race car driver Thierry Boutsen, now employs six aviation professionals and is an authorized aircraft sales representative for Embraer and Piaggio in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands.
FAA, Washington, D.C., announced that Frederick E. Tilton., M.D., M.P.H. has been selected to be the new federal air surgeon. Tilton replaces Jon L. Jordan, M.D., J.D., who retired in January.
The Czech Republic has ordered two Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJs) powered by CFM56-5 engines. Total sales of the Airbus ACJ family, which is derived from the A318, A319 and A320 airliners, now stands at about 70 aircraft. The Czech Republic is the third European government to have selected the ACJ, which is already in service with the Italian and French Air Forces. Other governments that have selected the ACJ include those of Azerbaijan, Brazil, Qatar, Thailand and Venezuela -- as well as several Middle East states.
Eurocopter is upgrading the AS355 N Ecureuil/TwinStar with a new variant designated AS355 NP. Priced as an entry product in the twin-engine market and available in April 2007, the AS355 NP will be a multi-mission aircraft with enhanced CAT A performance, allowing it to take off at maximum gross weight in a greater range of hot-and-high conditions. Improved one engine inoperative (OEI) performance significantly increases the payload (+120 kg [265 pounds] in HOGE, ISA, SL conditions) for customers operating in conditions where performance on one engine is required.
Adam Aircraft hopes to secure FAA night and IFR approval for its A500 twin-piston, centerline-thrust aircraft, checking off a few of the final items necessary to complete full certification. Along with those approvals, Adam will expand the aircraft ceiling from the current 12,500-foot limitation to the design ceiling of 25,000 feet. The last major item still awaiting FAA certification -- deicing -- likely will not come before the fall. The FAA granted provisional certification for the A500 in May 2005.
As a result of voting at Heli-Expo 2006 in Dallas, the following individuals were elected by the HAI membership to serve a three-year term on the HAI board of directors: - David Chevalier, of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, and Mark Gibson, of Timberland Logging, were elected to the represent the regular member commercial category. - George Pisa, of American International Group, was elected to represent the regular member corporate-private category.
Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer's senior vice president for Executive Aviation, says that they "expect the market for the Asia-Pacific region to account for deliveries of 250 business jets over the next decade at an average growth rate of 9.1 percent per year, totaling US$ 3.8 billion by 2015.
"SO, WE'LL MAKE THEM think you just got back from St. Kitts or maybe Aspen," she said as she dusted my mug with a slightly powdery mix of flesh-toned something until my cheeks felt taut and sticky. "Oh, and are you going to wear glasses? Because if you are, I can just leave your eyes alone," she continued. "Otherwise," she paused, "I'll have to do some work on this area," indicating the small, fleshy pillows beneath my peepers. Hmmm. She had her work cut out for her.
Barely a stone's throw from Port Columbus International Airport sits a glass-and-mortar building occupied, according to the signs in the lobby, by several small businesses and one small group that can give a big business fits: The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1108.
Cabin lighting is second only to air temperature as a factor in passenger comfort. In addition to the natural sunlight that pours through the cabin windows, today's artificial aircraft lighting systems have sophisticated controls that provide a whole spectrum of moods in the cabin, from candlelight dim to high-noon bright, and technology that's already standard on some jets and optional on others offers a raft of cost benefits for operators. Just around the corner are new technologies that promise (pardon us) an even brighter future.
Raytheon Aircraft Services, Wichita, named Mike Fleming service manager at the RAS Van Nuys, Calif., facility. Patrick Gentile has been appointed regional sales manager for the Great Lakes region for the Beechcraft and Hawker product lines.
Falcon 7X aircraft will be fitted with Dassault-designed winglets to attain the 6,000-nm range announced at the 2005 NBAA convention. Olivier Villa, senior vice president of civil aircraft at Dassault Aviation said, "This is in response to customers who wished for additional margins to perform their missions in adverse weather conditions and without payload limitation requirements." Additional fuel tanks have also been installed in the forward section. Testing on the landing gear, brakes and airframe strength, have been performed and validated.
"The core idea -- automation capabilities that are so robust that they would increase productivity levels so you could reduce controllers -- isn't something that is done at the flick of a switch at midnight," the NBAA's Steve Brown, senior vice president of operations, told B&CA in answer to why it takes so long to change FAA ATC infrastructure. From 1998 to 2004, Brown oversaw the entire ATC system prior to his retirement from the FAA.
A Falcon 900EX ran off the end of Runway 24 at Teterboro, N.J. Municipal Airport (TEB) after landing around 2:30 p.m. on March 3, and got stuck in a muddy area just beyond the end of the runway. There were three people onboard the aircraft. There were no injuries. Friction tests on Runway 24 after the accident by airport personnel, revealed friction levels above the threshold that would have required the issue of a NOTAM. The pilot and copilot said they touched down within the touchdown zone.
Kindly add my personal thanks to Fred George for the superb tell-it-like-it-is article on the MU-2 aircraft. Among other things the article clearly shows the bias imposed by the legal fraternity in pursuit of their "get rich quick" schemes.
DOT Secretary Norman Mineta has sent in a big gun to help FAA chief Marion Blakey clear the FAA train wreck. Michael O'Malley, Mineta's deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy, has been tapped as the FAA's new chief of staff, Administrator Blakey announced on March 13. He replaces David M. Mandell, who came to the FAA with Blakey in 2002 after working for her when she chaired the NTSB. O'Malley will be a key advisor to the administrator in the day-to-day administration and management of the agency.
Raytheon Aircraft's Charitable Foundation donated $50,000 to the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), the nonprofit that coordinates free flights for cancer patients, raising Raytheon's total CAN donations to more than $100,000. In addition to financial support, "Raytheon has flown nearly 80 flights with cancer patients' aboard," said CAN Chairman Randall Greene. "Their involvement is so important to our mission." Raytheon Chairman and CEO Jim Schuster is a member of the CAN board of directors.
THE U.S. AIR FORCE Fairchild C-123K Provider was a tactical airlift workhorse during the Vietnam War. With two Pratt & Whitney R2800 18-cylinder radial engines, two General Electric J-85 wing-mounted jet engines, a cargo capacity of 2,420 cubic feet and an impressive short-field capability, the C-123K was well suited for both the tactical airlift mission and the combat environment.
