While many business jet makers initially believed 2013 is shaping up to be another flat year, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is seeing recent strength in the market and believes there could be moderate growth next year. But AIA’s Year-end Review and Forecast, released last week, notes that 80% of those looking to purchase general aviation aircraft over the next five years are planning to do so in the latter part of the time frame.
Jan. 22–25, 2013—National Business Aviation Association 24th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, San Antonio, Texas, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Feb. 10-12, 2013—Routes Online, Routes Americas 2013, Cartagena de Indias, Columbia, www.routesonline.com/events/153/routes-americas-2013-/ Feb. 26-28, 2013—Air Charter Safety Foundation 2013 Air Charter Safety Symposium, NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, Va., (888) 723-3135, www.acsf.aero
Rizon Jet has become a founding member of The Luxury Network Qatar. The Luxury Network was founded in 2007 to provide a venue for marketing, event coordination and other collaboration efforts of luxury brands. Members include Silversea Cruises, Ferrari, Gucci, Aston Martin, Cartier, Lotus, Embraer Jets, B&O, Lamborghini and NetJets, among others. The Luxury Network Qatar will initially comprise five companies across various industries in Qatar.
Hawker Beechcraft received formal bankruptcy court approval of the disclosure statement for its revised reorganization plan Dec. 5, putting the manufacturer on pace to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February. The Wichita airframer filed a revised disclosure statement and amended joint plan of reorganization to incorporate certain changes that were requested by Judge Stuart Bernstein of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
More than six dozen associations and companies from across a range of industries are pushing lawmakers to extend 50% bonus depreciation for capital equipment purchases before it expires at the end of the year. A letter sent to House and Senate leaders this week warns that overall U.S. investment has rapidly declined every quarter since the third quarter of 2011 and almost half of the nation’s largest investors are planning to curb capital expenses.
CitationAir, the former fractional aircraft program that has refocused on its charter, management and jet card programs, recently was awarded an Argus Platinum rating, the highest level of rating from the Cincinnati-based business aviation research and safety specialist. CitationAir is among 107 commercial operators to obtain such recognition.
MARGRIET BREDEWOLD has joined Baldwin Aviation Safety & Compliance as European representative based in Basel, Switzerland. Bredewold formerly founded Co-Guard GmbH, which provided training and support in safety management systems, human factors and organizational development. Before that, she was a professional development coordinator and trainer at Jet Aviation’s Basel facility.
SIKORSKY Model S-70, S-70A and S-70C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1206; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-021-AD; Amendment 39-17269; AD 2012-23-13] – requires reducing or establishing life limits for certain listed helicopter parts. This AD is prompted by a review of the U.S. Army’s analysis of their Model UH-60 fleet (a variant of the S-70), which determined it necessary to establish or reduce the life limits of certain parts. The actions are intended to prevent fatigue failure of a part and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Landmark Aviation has signed a purchase agreement to acquire First Aviation Services (FAS) at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, marking a return to the acquisition trail a little more than month after it came under new ownership. The acquisition is expected to close by year’s end. Landmark did not reveal terms of the agreement, but a spokeswoman says purchase details likely will be revealed once the acquisition closes.
EDGAR MAIMON was appointed general manager of Elbit Systems EW and Sigint-Elisra Division. Maimon joined Elisra in 2004 and currently is vice president-markeitng.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is backing up to $23.2 million in financing for the sale of AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters that will be operated by Brazil’s Omni Taxi Aereo (OTA). The Ex-Im Bank guarantee covers about 85% of the U.S. content of the export.
Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The U.S. subsidiary of Dassault Aviation was founded on Dec. 1, 1972 when Pan American Airways partnered with Dassault Aviation to form Dassault Falcon Jet. Pan American, the launch customer of the Falcon 20, joined the partnership to help accelerate the expansion of its market. “The history of Dassault Falcon Jet is quite remarkable. Some of the most recognized names in aviation have their history intertwined with ours,” says John Rosanvallon, president and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.
An International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) group charged with creating a framework for market-based measures (MBM) to mitigate aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions will have its first meeting this week in Montreal. The council has selected 17 member states to send delegations to the high-level working group, which will meet Dec. 12-13. The delegations, which were selected on the basis of geography and size of their aviation market share, include Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Singapore, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K.
CESSNA Model 402C and 414AA airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1084; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-056-AD; Amendment 39-17257; AD 2012-23-01] – requires, for aircraft modified by Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA927NW or STCSA892NW, inspections of the flap control system and modification if necessary. This AD was prompted by report of a Cessna Model 414A airplane modified by STC SA892NW that experienced an asymmetrical flap condition causing an uncommanded roll when the pilot set the flaps to the approach position.
CESSNA Model 172R and 172S airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0846; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-021-AD; Amendment 39-17237; AD 2012-22-01] – requires inspection of the fuel return line assembly for chafing; replacement of the fuel return line assembly if chafing is found; inspection of the clearance between the fuel return line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure; and adjustment as necessary.
Bell Helicopter’s new facility in Singapore has handed over it first Bell 429 to Indonesia operator PT Whitesky Aviation. Bell, along with its sister company Cessna Aircraft, jointly opened the center July 31 to expand their service capabilities in the Asia Pacific region. The 160,500-ft. facility, which includes hangars for both Cessna and Bell, is a regional sales hub and service center for both companies and provides customer training, completions, refurbishment, parts sales and maintenance. The center also provides sales support.
Swiss operator PrivatAir is hoping to begin regular service to Antarctica next year following the successful landing of a Boeing 737 on a blue glacial runway near the Troll Research Station. The flight, the first of its kind, was commissioned by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) in collaboration with Norwegian air charter broker Aircontact.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich issued a proclamation calling December “General Aviation Appreciation Month,” joining a long list of governors who have made similar proclamations. General aviation airports in Ohio are estimated to contribute more the $5.5 billion into the economy every year. “This proclamation will help to educate the public about the critical role of general aviation and community airports to the state of Ohio,” says Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, and EC135 T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1188; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-049-AD; Amendment 39-17254; AD 2012-10-53] – supersedes an earlier AD and requires, before further flight and at specified intervals, checking and inspecting the upper and lower main rotor hub (MRH) shaft flanges for a crack, and inspecting the lower hub-shaft flange bolt attachment areas for a crack.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0528; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD; Amendment 39-17261; AD 2012-23-05] – requires, for helicopters with certain generator control units (GCU) installed, replacing the GCUs. This AD was prompted by reports of internal short circuits in certain GCUs. These actions are intended to prevent a short circuit, which could result in a loss of electrical generating power, loss of systems required for continued safe flight and landing, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
CHERYLE JACKSON was elected to the Aerospace Industries Association Board of Governors. Jackson is vice president, government affairs and corporate development for AAR.
Aviation groups are concerned that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will fail to issue foreign repair station certification rules by the year’s end target the agency once projected. Both the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) could seek a legislative fix if the TSA does not issue the security rules, first mandated by Congress for delivery in August 2004.
Fractional ownership provider Avantair has restructured some of its financing arrangements and raised $2.8 million in new capital through the issuance of senior secured convertible notes as the company makes strides toward its goal of reaching profitability next year. The financing restructuring and new capital come as the Clearwater, Fla., company continues to regain its footing after grounding its fleet for several weeks in late October and early November.
