Fractional ownership company NetJets is laying the groundwork to streamline its fleet and bring in the next generation of business jets with last week’s announcement that it will buy up to 125 Embraer Phenom 300s valued at more than $1 billion. The order, announced Oct. 18 at the National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta, includes 50 firm orders and 75 options for the Phenom 300 “Platinum Edition,” which includes enhancements designed specifically for NetJets.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, D, AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0969; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-62-AD; Amendment 39-16461; AD 2010-21-01] – Determine whether a structural cross-member and its two doublers are installed. If they are not installed, inspect for cracks in the center cross-member in the area around the attachment point of the tail-rotor directional ball-type control. If any cracks are found, replace the unairworthy center cross-member with an airworthy one before further flight.
Baldwin Aviation last week formally launched its new Web-based SMSlite program designed for operators that have already achieved International Standard for Business Aviation Organizations (IS-BAO) registration. “SMlLite was created for flight organizations looking to improve their methods of collecting, reporting and distributing safety data and communicating it more effectively through their organizations,” says Baldwin Aviation President and CEO Don Baldwin.
Nextant Aerospace of Richmond Heights, Ohio has secured its first fleet order for the 400XT, a 40-aircraft, $150-million purchase by Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options. The upgraded Beechjet 400A/XP airplanes, which will be delivered over the next five years, include Nextant’s power-by-the-hour engine and tip-to-tail aircraft maintenance warranty. Eight of the aircraft are to be delivered to Flight Options in 2011 following FAA certification, which books all of Nextant’s production slots for the year.
Bombardier has secured the first customers for its new Global 7000/8000 line that was formally unveiled during last week’s National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention. In weeks leading up, Bombardier indicated plans for a new aircraft—widely believed to be a direct competitor to Gulfstream’s high-speed, long-range G650 (BA, Oct. 4/1). But the Canadian company instead detailed plans for two direct competitors: a Global 7000 that would be “cabin focused” and a Global 8000 that would be “range focused.”
Charter and management company FirstFlight has added a Hawker 800XP to its fleet. The aircraft, based in Elmira, N.Y., will be available for charter primarily in the New York metropolitan area market. FirstFlight currently operates aircraft ranging from the G550 to the Premier under full management and available for charter.
New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport (TEB) last week honored two dozen of its operators with Good Neighbor Awards for following voluntary restrictions, as well as keeping below certain noise levels. Only a few operators qualified when the awards began in 2004, but TEB officials note that number has steadily increased in the past couple of years as the airport and operators have worked together on noise issues.
NetJets Transportes Aéreos, the operating company of NetJets Europe, has received approval from the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority to conduct extended-range operations under commercial rules, which means the company can fly its Gulfstream G550s 180 min. flight time from an airport at any given point along a route. Previously the limit was 120 min. flight time from an airport.
JULIE TIMMONS was appointed manager, MRO modifications sales for Midcoast Aviation. Timmons will serve as the customer liaison for scheduled projects, provide paint and interior modification pricing, and support the company’s regional sales team. Timmons began her career in aviation in 1993 as an intern with the Illinois Division of Aeronautics and joined Garrett Aviation, now Standard Aero, in 1997. She joined Midcoast in 2008 as customer account manager for green completions.
Blackhawk in Waco, Texas recently was granted European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its XP engine upgrade for Piper Cheyenne I, II and IIXL models. The XP upgrade package replaces original engines with new 750-shp. Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turboprop engines. The upgrade enables Cheyenne aircraft to reach cruise speeds of 280 kt. and lowers operating and maintenance costs, Blackhawk says. Blackhawk previously had obtained approvals for upgrades for other turboprop aircraft, including the Beechcraft King Air series and the Cessna Conquest I.
Signature Flight Support has added a foothold in Montreal with a licensing agreement for Starlink Aviation’s fixed-base operation (FBO) at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (CYUL) to operate as a branded Signature FBO. Starlink joins the company’s network of more than 100 locations. Starlink further will offer the Signature Service Promise program. The company’s aircraft charter, management, corporate shuttle, and maintenance, repair and overhaul services will continue to operate under the Starlink Aviation brand.
TAD DIXON was named tenant and hangar sales manager for Signature Flight Support. Dixon will be based in Orlando, Fla., and support the tenant office and hangar sales agreements for Signature’s global fixed-base operation network. He previously was vice president for First Team Properties.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1229; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-106-AD; Amendment 39-16471; AD 2010-21-11] – Before further flight, inspect to determine the torque value and correct lockwire installation of certain nose landing gear (NLG) valves and NLG door selector valves. Replace or rework the valves, as applicable, in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-32-104 (dated March 3, 2009).
JBA Aviation, an aircraft brokerage firm headquartered in Houston, was appointed as a U.S. representative for the RUAG Aerospace Dornier 228. RUAG is revamping and reintroducing the Do 228 New Generation twin turboprop. Marketed for the 19-passenger market, RUAG also sees potential in the corporate, cargo and special-mission markets.
Executive AirShare is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a regional fractional aircraft ownership company. The company began with two aircraft at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) and now operates a fleet of 21, including seven Phenoms and a mix of 14 Beechjets and King Airs. The company, which bases aircraft in cities where its owners live, has aircraft located in Kansas City; Wichita, Kan.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; Dallas; Fort Worth and, more recently, Buffalo, N.Y.
Speaking before his first NBAA convention, TSA Administrator John Pistole last week stressed the importance of partnership, particularly because of the diverse nature of the business aviation. “I know you fly everything under the sun. Obviously a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t make sense,” he told attendees during the opening general session Oct. 19.
Embraer has secured Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency and European Aviation Safety Agency approval for its $30-million, 3,900-nm.-range Legacy 650. FAA certification will be undertaken when needed for U.S. customers, Embraer says. The Legacy 650 is a variant of the Legacy 600 with more fuel, thrust and weight that add 500 nm. of range. It also can fly 14 passengers 3,500 nm. and land with 200-nm. NBAA reserves. The aircraft is powered by 9,020-lbst. Rolls-Royce AE3007A2 turbofans and is equipped with Honeywell Primus Elite flat-panel avionics.
General Dynamics’ Aerospace Group is consolidating its four brands into two beginning in January. Under the consolidation, the five General Dynamics Aviation Services facilities will operate as Gulfstream, joining the existing five Gulfstream service centers. The combined Gulfstream service organization has more than 3,300 employees and will continue to be led by Mark Burns, currently president of Gulfstream product support and General Dynamics Aviation Services.
Hawker Beechcraft Chairman Bill Boisture says his company is “moving forward” in light of the recent International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) vote against a new contract, and gave indications that those plans may not include a future in Wichita. The IAM Oct. 16 rejected a contract offer from Hawker Beechcraft that included a 10% cut in wages, higher health care contributions, and provisions to either shut down or transfer work that would reduce the company’s workforce in Wichita by about one-third.
FAA has acknowledged the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard (IAS) as a tool to validate a company’s safety management systems (SMS), the foundation notes. FAA’s recently published advisory circular on SMS, AC-120-92A, lists ACSF as a source for third-party SMS evaluation. The IAS comprehensively evaluates an operator’s SMS program, as well as best practices and regulatory compliance. In 2009, 24 audits were completed, and 32 will be completed in 2010, the ACSF says. Charter customers can review the IAS registry at www.acsf.aero/registry.
ROBERT GLASSCOCK was appointed program administrator for Gulfstream Aerospace’s Organization Designation Authority (ODA) office. Glasscock manages Gulfstream’s ODA type certification activities association with research and development. He formerly was the Gulfstream G650 certification product development team lead. He joined Gulfstream in April 2006 after serving with the FAA Aircraft Certification office in Denver. He also has served with Piper, Bombardier Learjet, Lockheed Martin and Hawker Beechcraft.
Piper Aircraft’s newly named and redesigned Altaire single-engine jet drew an enthusiastic reaction from current and prospective deposit holders, company executives say, noting that the order book had begun to increase before the end of last week’s National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta.
Daher-Socata’s ambitions to expand its business aircraft line could represent the last hope for the near-defunct SPn utility jet to make it to market. Socata has long wanted to add to its single-turboprop-engine TBM product line, but was hobbled by a lack of interest from its parent, EADS. The sale to privately held Daher in early 2009 and the recent return to the business of Stephane Mayer, who devised the growth plans before a three-year stint at ATR, have set the stage to realize the company’s goal.
BBA Aviation has promoted Mary Miller to vice president of industry and government affairs for the company’s U.S. operations, where she will be responsible for strengthening the group’s existing relationships with industry associations and government agencies, as well as establishing new relationships with other aviation-focused bodies. She joined Signature Flight Support in 1992 following the merger of Butler Aviation and Page Avjet. At Signature, she was most recently vice president of customer relations.
Business aviation advocates were pleased that the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 37th annual assembly this month endorsed climate goals close to targets set by the business aviation community last year. The assembly agreed to carbon neutral growth by 2020, and an improvement in fuel efficiency on average of 2% per year until 2050. The ICAO member states also agreed to explore market-based measures for commercial operators, but the executive committee report notes that states “may wish” to consider an exemption for small aircraft operators.
