Despite a relatively flat year in 2013, BBA Aviation is continuing to aggressively build up its Signature Flight Support business to position it to capitalize on the market as it gradually grows.
Textron is hoping to close on its planned $1.4 billion acquisition of Beechcraft this month after receiving a key regulatory clearance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC agreed to an early termination of the requisite waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, paving the way for a first-quarter closing, Textron said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SAAB Model 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0056; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-160-AD] – proposes to require deactivating the potable water system, or alternatively filling and activating the potable water system. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a rudder pedal restriction which was the result of water leakage at the inlet tubing of an in-line heater in the lower part of the forward fuselage.
While FAA continues working to revise its policy calling for mandatory testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a coalition of 10 aviation associations is appealing to the Senate to quickly act on a bill that would force the agency to undertake a formal rulemaking process before it could implement the policy.
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Models MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, MU-2B-36, MU-2B-36A, and MU-2B-60 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0108; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-052-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the side and lower frame at frame station (STA) 4610 and 5605 for cracks and corrosion and making all necessary repairs and replacements.
National Air Transportation Association named Gary Dempsey, president, flight services – the Americas for Jet Aviation Holdings USA, as its next chairman of the board of directors. Priester Aviation President and CEO Andy Priester will serve as vice chairman and Pentastar Aviation President and CEO Gregory Schmidt was elected treasurer.
Fractional aircraft share sales strengthened in 2013 for NetJets, leading the fractional ownership provider to a 7.5% increase in revenues and a 7% improvement in earnings, NetJets parent Berkshire Hathaway reports. NetJets’ increase in revenues was slightly behind other businesses in Berkshire Hathaway’s “other service” group, which also includes FlightSafety International, TTI, Business Wire and Dairy Queen, among others. The businesses reported in that group collective contributed to a 10% increase in revenues to $9 billion in 2013.
HARRY MITCHEL was promoted to chief operating officer for Executive AirShare. Mitchel joined the fractional ownership operation in 2013 as vice president of operations.
Dallas Airmotive is consolidating portions of its turbine engine repair and overhaul activities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and planning a new test facility near Dallas-Fort Worth. The company says the moves, which will occur in phases, are part of a long-term strategy to expand its operations. The company is moving several of its product lines from its Forest Park overhaul center in Dallas, where it has been located for more than 60 years, into its newer facilities at Heritage Park near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, as well as at Dallas Love Field.
Wheels Up, a membership-based aviation services firm launched last summer, is expanding its partnership with Jet Aviation Flight Services to provide its customer base more options for flights aboard midsize, super midsize and large aircraft. Wheels Up initially teamed with Jet Aviation through an agreement with VistaJet under which Wheels Up would operate VistaJet’s Bombardier aircraft in the U.S. The initial teaming agreement provided Wheels Up with access to longer range, global aircraft.
The American Association of Airport Executives is concerned that initial White House fiscal 2015 budget documents do not indicate a request for guaranteed funding for the Contract Tower Program. Congress included $140 million for the program in fiscal 2014, and the airports group had hoped to see that increase to $149 million. While the program has substantial support on Capitol Hill and likely would receive funding, the Obama administration last year attempted to slash funding for more than half of the program.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T Variant), and CL-215-6B11 (CL-415 Variant) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0120; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-056-AD] – proposes to require a general visual inspection of the left and right nacelle upper strut bushings; installation of the bolts and preload indicating (PLI) washers, if necessary; and replacement of the bushing or repair of the bushing installation, if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by several reports indicating that shorter nacelle strut bushings were inadvertently installed on certain airplanes.
LUIS COREANO was appointed general manager of PAS Technologies in Kansas City, Mo. He joined the company in 2013 as director of operations. He has 13 years of aviation engine experience in engineering, operations and customer service.
Bell Helicopter received letters of intent and orders for nearly 200 aircraft at the recent Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo in Anaheim, Calif. The commitments came as Bell detailed plans for its new 505 Jet Ranger X and unveiled an updated mock-up of its new Bell 525 Relentless helicopter. The signings included 171 letters of intent for the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, 10 letters of intent for the 525, eight orders for the Bell 407GX, five orders for the Bell 412EP and two orders for the Bell 429.
Milestone Aviation Group’s fleet has grown to encompass 143 aircraft valued at $2.2 billion, but is set to continue to expand significantly with several new orders. Co-founded by fractional ownership pioneer Richard Santulli, Milestone was one of the first companies dedicated to the leasing business and was established in August 2010 just as the oil and gas industry was set to take off.
Despite substantial opposition from Capitol Hill and industry alike, the White House is continuing its push for the $100-per-flight air traffic control user fee. Widely expected, the proposal is one of two significant tax changes directed at business aircraft operations that the Obama administration included in the fiscal 2015 budget request unveiled on March 4. The second, also widely expected, was a change in depreciation on “general aviation passenger aircraft.”
A strong fourth quarter in which Dassault delivered nearly half of all the Falcons shipped in 2013 led the French airframer to a 17% improvement in sales for the year. Dassault Aviation will report its full 2013 results on March 13, but in an interim report the company credits a jump in Falcon sales along with its unmanned combat air vehicle program for the increase in yearlong sales to €4.593 billion ($6.321 billion).
Citing concerns of the potential ramifications on the safety of the national airspace system, FAA is appealing a National Transportation Safety Board administrative law judge’s decision to dismiss a proposed civil penalty for unauthorized use of an unmanned aircraft system. The law judge’s determination puts the penalty on hold while the agency appeals the case to the full NTSB.
Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) demonstrator, a modified Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet, has been flown to Boeing’s Yuma, Ariz. facility for initial certification flight tests following extensive conversion work by Ontario, Canada-based Field Aviation.
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is continuing to explore all options to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO), including a possible new policy that would permit the city to lease airport property only to non-aviation entities such as art galleries and small shops.
DOUGLAS MCCROSSON was named president and CEO of CPI Aerostructures. McCrosson has served with the company since 2003, originally holding the role of director of business development. He also has served as vice president of business development, senior vice president of operations and COO.
CESSNA Models 310, 320, 340, 401, 402, 411, 414, and 421 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0562; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-015-AD; Amendment 39-17740; AD 2014-03-03] – requires either having the supplemental airplane flight manual/airplane flight manual supplement (SAFM/AFMS) inside the airplane and accessible to the pilot during the airplane’s operation or installing a placard that prohibits flight into known icing conditions and installing a placard that increases published airspeed on approach at least 17 mph (15 kt.) in case of an inadvertent encounter with icing.
BOMBARDIER Model BD-700-1A10 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0705; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-052-AD; Amendment 39-17742; AD 2014-03-05] – requires modification of the air data probes and sensors. This AD was prompted by a report that the manufacturer has determined that some completion centers used the heater/brake monitoring unit (HBMU) logic circuit to control the line voltage of the drain mast heaters.
