White Plains, N.Y.-based Coastal Jet Service is launching a new charter service between New York and Los Angeles that will target customers who have flown privately before but want the ease of booking a commercial airline ticket. The company will begin flying three Citation Xs on June 28 between the Avitat fixed-base operation in White Plains, N.Y., and the Million Air FBO in Burbank, Calif., said Andy Cavaluzzi, Coastal’s chief marketing officer. The fare is a flat $4,600 each way, excluding tax, he said.
Wichita-based entrepreneurs James and Kathy Wiebe have bought the production rights to the ultralight aircraft previously known as the Kitfox Lite. The Wiebes have created Belite Aircraft to build the re-engineered Belite. “This aircraft design, while based partially on old tooling and engineering, is a new a design, and it deserves a new name,” said James Wiebe. “Finally, we are contractually obligated to change the name.”
June 15-21 – International Paris Air Show, Le Bourget Exhibition Center, Le Bourget, France, www.paris-air-show.com June 24 – National Business Aviation Association: Business Aviation Regional Forum, St. Paul, Minn., (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org June 25–27 – National Business Aviation Association 14th Annual Flight Attendants Conference, New Orleans, La., (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org
Five members of the Plane Stupid protesters who chained themselves to the wheel of a private jet parked at London City Airport on June 10 were called “misguided” and “politically driven” by the British Business & General Aviation Association (BBGA). The protesters were arrested and charged with criminal damage, along with breaking and entering.
NATA’S Coyne believes that President Obama could become the nation’s chief spokesman on behalf on the industry, helping counter the public criticism over the use of business aircraft. Coyne noted that Obama has become the latest user – and the most prolific among the presidents – of “private” travel. Obama has demonstrated his appreciation for business aircraft travel through his frequent trips aboard Air Force One, he said. Obama used a Gulfstream V on his date night to New York, Coyne noted, and added, “The public has no problem with it.”
BUT POOR market conditions have taken their toll – with 61 cancellations in the first fiscal quarter. This was up from 44 in Bombardier’s fourth fiscal quarter. Bombardier ended its fiscal first quarter with 25 “white tails,” or aircraft built but not yet sold. Executives noted that while the number of white tails increased during the quarter, they were able to sell a number of them. See article on Page 271.
LEARJET Model 60 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0495; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-049-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise the “Tires Servicing” and “Tires Limitation” sections of the Airplane Flight Manual to incorporate revised procedures for servicing tires and checking for proper tire inflation. This proposed AD, which resulted from a report of all the main landing gear tires blowing out during a takeoff roll of one aircraft, is intended to prevent tire failure, which could lead to loss of airplane control.
POLITICAL STABILITY, wealth creation and business travelers’ attitude shifts are the key influences that will expand the Middle East business aviation market by 2020, says a new industry report. The region has been fairly stable over the last three years, with the exception of the recent war in Lebanon and Gaza, says the Frost & Sullivan report.
SIKORSKY AEROSPACE SERVICES late last month formally dedicated a new helicopter blade repair and overhaul center at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for its Composite Technology, Inc. business unit. The 152,000-square-foot building, designed using “lean” manufacturing concepts, is nearly three times the size of the former facility occupied by Composite Technology. The new facility was equipped with two downdraft print booths and a 6,000-shaft horsepower dynamic test stand capable of supporting a range of helicopter models.
Editor’s note: Aviation Week’s special Paris Air Show blog is up and running. Please visit daily for the latest business aviation news, along with photos, program updates and video from the show.
June 8 – GWAO Rescheduled – 21st Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open, Lansdowne Resort, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.gwao.org June 8-10 – NATA Air Charter Summit, Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, Va., (703) 845-9000 June 9-11 – NATA FBO Leadership Conference, Westfields Marriott, Chantilly, Va., (703) 845-9000 June 14-17 – American Association of Airport Executives 81st Annual Conference & Expo, Philadelphia, (703) 824-0500 or go to www.aaae.org/products/allmeetings.html
A Bombardier CRJ200 on takeoff roll missed colliding with a Pilatus PC-12 by about 10 feet at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) after the airport’s ground warning system alerted controllers of the incursion late last month, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE is launching a formal investigation into concerns about a lack of standardization among FAA’s various regions and Flight Standards District Offices. GAO is conducting the study at the behest of Congress. The National Air Transportation Association has called lack of standardization at FAA one of the most pressing issues facing its members and has been urging congressional help.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD this week is holding an expanded three-day hearing on the January 2009 ditching of a US Airways Airbus A320 into the Hudson River. Originally scheduled for two days, the hearing will delve into the events surrounding the multiple bird strikes the A320 encountered during the initial departure climb from New York’s La Guardia Airport (LGA).
The House last week passed a general aviation-backed amendment to limit the Transportation Security Administration’s use of security directives (SD) to impose new requirements. The House agreed to the measure by a razor-thin 219-211 margin June 4 as part of its consideration of the comprehensive TSA reauthorization legislation, H.R.2200. The TSA reauthorization bill subsequently cleared the House.
EMS SKY CONNECT received FAA supplemental type certification for installation of its Forte in-flight phone aboard Gulfstream G-IV aircraft. Using the Iridium network, the Forte system provides voice and e-mail access while on the ramp as well as in flight. The system includes wireless handsets, integrated cockpit headset dialers and standard corded handsets. EMS Sky Connect said the system costs less than $20,000.
THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP has begun offering Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) as part of its aviation emergency response services. The Communications Workshop said CISM has become standard for agencies and communities across the U.S. when emergency mental health assistance is needed after a crisis. “CISM works, is extremely effective, and is a necessary component of every aviation operator’s emergency response program,” said Steve Bassett, chairman and chief executive of The Communications Workshop. “This is not therapy.
LOYD AVIATION of Bakersfield, Calif., has opened a new facility on a different location at the Bakersfield airport and renamed the center Bakersfield Jet Center by Loyd’s Aviation. The new fixed-base operation is situated by a remodeled ramp that will accommodate larger aircraft. The remodeling of the ramp created 3.5 acres of parking space. The facility, completed in four months, is designed with a Spanish-style lobby and is equipped with a pilot’s lounge and planning room.
SIMCOM, an aviation training center in Orlando, Fla., has begun operating a new TBM 850 flight training device (FTD). The FTD, equipped with a high-resolution visual system, is configured for the TBM 850’s Garmin G1000 avionics suite. Socata said the SimCom facility provides a central location within the largest geographic market for the TBM 850 spanning the Southeast. The center also will serve TBM customers from Latin and Central America.
FRANK MIKKELSEN was named managing director for UFIS Airport Innovation (UFIS AI), Norway and Spain, effective June 1. Mikkelsen previously had been the on-site project manager for UFIS AI’s BRAINS project at Barcelona Airport’s new Terminal 1. He will continue to oversee the operations and maintenance phase of the project in addition to his new responsibilities as managing director.
General Motors has used its bankruptcy protection filing to cancel the leases on seven of its corporate jets and an airport hangar at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. According to documents in the filing, Case No. 09-50026, GM leases two Gulfstream GVs from Suntrust Corp. and five GIVs from AVN Leases. The automaker is allowing AVN to keep $13 million in deposits for the five GIVs and put it toward amounts outstanding on the leases.
Veteran business aviation executive Jim Ziegler took over as president and chief executive officer of the Greenwich AeroGroup last week, the company announced last week. The decision to join the rapidly expanding Connecticut-based aviation services provider comes after Ziegler spent the past several months advising Greenwich on its acquisition of Banner Aerospace (BA, June 1/259). That acquisition, which is scheduled to close in the next few weeks, will effectively double Greenwich’s operations.
AIR TRACTOR AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0489; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-025-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to install a rudder-aileron interconnect cable system shield kit, per the instructions of Snow Engineering Co., Service Letter 274, Rev. A (dated April 6, 2009). Also, operators would need to secure any items stowed in the baggage compartment using tie-downs or a cargo net until the cable shield kit is installed.
ATR used its appearance at last month’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition to build interest in corporate versions of its ATR-42 and -72 turboprops as options for the business aviation market (BA, May 18/240).
FOKKER F.27 Mark 050 and F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0496; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-139-AD] – For certain aircraft, remove the standard nuts and lock washers from the electrical power contactors of the electrical power center and install new self-locking nuts. Then test the alternating current bus transfer system in accordance with the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-24-041 or SBF50-24-031 (both dated Jan. 29, 2008) as applicable.
