TAG Aviation's worldwide fleet has grown by 39 aircraft since the beginning of the year, bringing the total of charter and managed aircraft to 153. The new aircraft include four Gulfstream Vs in the company's U.S. fleet of 122 aircraft. TAG's European fleet has added a Falcon 900, two Learjet 45s and a Citation Excel, raising its total to 31 aircraft. ``Equally exciting are the five Global Expresses we have in completion that we will deliver to our clients before the end of the year,'' says Jake Cartwright, CEO of TAG's U.S. unit.
Ingenuity and resourcefulness remain the watchwords of the aircraft modification business. That was made clear as B/CA contacted scores of companies to update the mod directory for this year. Increasing utility, performance, safety and comfort are evident in many developments both large and small. In years past, we have reflected on the number of aircraft that were considered obsolete until some noodler developed a modification that could breathe new life into old designs.
Two former Executive Jet Aviation executives have launched a firm to provide financial and management support for start-up aviation businesses. Co-founder Paul Schweitzer says the company, known as ``41,000 Feet,'' will allow ``entrepreneurs to focus on developing his or her idea,'' and leave administrative and financing issues to others. Schweitzer and partner Scott Liston claim to have four ideas in development and are seeking others online at www.41kfeet.com.
The Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey has selected NBAA President Jack Olcott as one of its 2001 inductees. Museum President Edmund Nelle Jr. cited Olcott's current position, as well as his experience as an aviator and publisher as reasons for his selection. Before joining the NBAA, Olcott was editor and publisher of B/CA. Olcott and fellow inductees George Meade, a Vietnam veteran and traffic helicopter pilot; the late WWII pilot Roy LaGrone; and the late Isaac Schlossbach, owner and operator of Asbury Park Airport, will be honored in a May 2001 ceremony.
Saying ``the corporate aircraft market is the midst of a second golden age,'' aircraft financier The CIT Group expects the new and used business aircraft markets to remain strong through, at least, the end of 2001. The CIT forecast also says it expects new and used jets to lead the market, with turboprop sales activity to remain ``muted.'' Short of what it refers to as ``some unforeseen natural shock,'' CIT says even a recession is unlikely to have a major effect on the business aviation market until some time in 2002.
SimuFlite says it plans to open a new training center in the Northeastern United States in 2001. While declining to name a specific location, SimuFlite President Jeff Roberts said, ``Just look at where airplanes are located'' to figure out the possibilities. The new facility will house six simulators, including a newly ordered Sikorsky S-76 simulator, marking SimuFlite's entry into rotary wing pilot and maintenance training.
Honeywell is close to securing FAA approval for its Primus Epic Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) program, which will bring eight-by-10-inch flat-panel displays to used aircraft cockpits. TSO approval is expected in February 2001, with STCs following shortly thereafter. The CDS/R will make flying easier and safer, by presenting information in a ``more meaningful, intuitive format,'' says John Uczekaj, Honeywell's vice president of business, regional and general aviation avionics.
Dassault, Raytheon and Gulfstream each announced plans for new business jets at the NBAA convention in New Orleans. Raytheon introduced the Hawker 450, an entirely new, light midsize jet featuring a swept wing, stand-up cabin, 2,000 nm range, 0.80 Mach cruise speed and $7.8 -million to $9 million price tag. Gulfstream's new G-VSP sports updated avionics, increased MTOW, aerodynamic improvements and an $800 million, 20-aircraft launch order from Executive Jet.
An agreement that allows Continental Express pilots with two years of regional jet experience to enter a hiring pool at Continental Airlines is rumored to be ``dead in the water'' due to slow growth at the mainline carrier. Sources say some veteran ConEx pilots have declined jobs at Continental, fearing a loss of seniority and possible posting to junior domiciles, principally Guam.
Air Cruisers' new 10-person life raft is certified to TSO C70a and features a six-year maintenance interval on the inflatable section. The raft, which has an overload capacity of 15 people, features internal/external lights, a foam-insulated floor to protect against hypothermia, auto-erecting canopy, balasting system, two boarding ladders and survival equipment. The pack measures nine by 20 by 20 inches and weighs 44 to 46 pounds, depending on options. Survival kits are available to comply with FAR Part 91/121/125/135, JAR OPS Part 1 and CAR 725.95.
Flush with 31 orders and 31 options for its new Legacy business jet, Embraer says it expects to sell 240 of the ERJ-135 derivative over the next 10 years. Phoenix-based FBO Swift Aviation is the launch customer for the $19 million aircraft, which boasts a 3,200-nm range and 0.80 Mach cruise speed. Embraer's early results appear stronger than that of Fairchild Dornier's $13.5 million Envoy 3, which as of Mid-October had yet to find a single buyer.
SimuFlite's QuickTurn division has added Turbo Commander 690 pilot training to its offerings. The new training program is available at the company's Grapevine, Texas, facility using a Collins avionics-equipped Frasca flight-training device. Initial and recurrent training last from two to five days. Legendary air show performer Bob Hoover was the first to fly the new simulator.
Nearly 20 years after Corporate Angel Network (CAN) cofounder Leonard Greene flew the group's first cancer patient from White Plains, N.Y., to Detroit for treatment, CAN still faces the same challenge: too many people needing cancer treatment and too few corporate aircraft seats to transport them. While the organization has arranged transportation for more than 12,500 people since that December day in 1981, a small minority of business aircraft operators provides the majority of CAN's lift, and money is always tight.
Heavy summer air traffic has led the FAA to upgrade the airspace around Kissimmee Airport (ISM) in Florida from Class G to Class D. In an agreement with Orlando International Airport (OIA), Kissimmee will control airspace up to 2,000 feet agl, and OIA will control the airspace above.
Several aviation luminaries have appeared again on Forbes magazine's annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. Financier Warren Buffett appears at number four with a net worth of $28 billion. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns both Executive Jet and FlightSafety International. The second wealthiest aviator is Steven Udvar-Hazy, CEO of International Lease Finance with $2.8 billion, placing him 87th on the list. Udvar-Hazy recently pledged $60 million to the National Air and Space Museum's Dulles Airport project.
The FAA has selected April 1, 2001 as the earliest start date for instituting new passenger facilities charges (PFCs) -- taxes applied to every airline ticket sold in the United States. The PFC will be raised from $3.00 to $4.00 or $4.50, a changed stipulated by the AIR-21 legislation signed into law in April. The FAA says the year lag between agreeing to raise PFCs and implementing the change was needed for the reprogramming of airline ticketing and computer reservations systems. Among other uses, PFC revenues are applied to airport and infrastructure improvements.
Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group has opened a new aircraft interior refurbishment center to complement its maintenance facilities at Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia, Canada. The move bolsters the Montreal-based company's West Coast and Asian business, which has seen a rise in demand for custom-refurbished aircraft interiors. The Vancouver center will specialize in upholstery, cabinetry, sheet metal and avionics installations.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) has awarded a capital improvement contract to the Michael Baker Corp. worth more than $10 million. Expected to begin April 2001, the project includes reconstruction of the main terminal aircraft parking apron, construction of a new north parallel taxiway and an upgrade of the Extended Runway Safety Area on Runway 3. Baker also plans to modify the airport's ILS, replacing the ``endfire'' glideslope antenna with a ``capture effect'' antenna.
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) has requested FAA funding for the construction of two new taxiways. Airport officials say the taxiways will help reduce the possibility of runway incursions. According to FAA statistics, DAB was the 35th busiest airport for general aviation traffic in 1999.
The Mexican Navy has ordered a Bombardier Q200 turboprop equipped with a convertible interior for VIP transport, all-cargo, mixed-passenger and cargo or standard passenger seating. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery in September 2001. The Navy also has an option for one additional Q200. German regional carrier Lufthansa CityLine doubled its CRJ700 order from 10 to 20 aircraft and is considering options for 10 additional aircraft.
Alliance Coatings' disposable Kwik Kit can touch-up the urethane paint on very small areas of your aircraft. Mixing of the two-ounce package is done in a contained environment. Alliance says it can provide computer color matched kits for any aircraft urethane paint color. The kits have an aerosol or brush applicator. Price: Starting at $18.00 each, minimum order of 24 Alliance Coatings 1666 N. Magnolia Ave. Ste. G El Cajon, Calif. 92020 Phone: (619) 596-9191 Fax: (619) 596-9190
Business jet deliveries will this year, but will remain strong over the next decade, according to Honeywell's annual Business Aviation Market Outlook. The aerospace giant says that fractional ownership will play an increasing role in business aviation's growth in the next decade. Fractionals are projected to account for 11 percent of the business aviation fleet by 2011, up from four percent this year. Honeywell says that more than 20 percent of business aircraft deliveries during this period will be to fractional owners.
