All commercial passengers arriving into the U.S. from another country will be subject to the $5.50 U.S. Customs user fee beginning Nov. 5. Previously, arrivals from Canada, Mexico and the nearby islands were exempt. Now, only U.S. territories are exempt. The National Air Transportation Association has advised operators to ensure they have the systems in place to begin collecting the per-passenger fee on Nov. 5.
Freestream Aircraft Limited, an international used aircraft broker, has opened offices in Hong Kong and Beijing to better serve the growing Asian business jet market. “Business jet use is accelerating as the Asian economies continue to grow and realize their vast potential,” says Alireza Ittihadieh, Freestream CEO. “Doing business in person is preferred in this region. Our offices here will enable business jet buyers and sellers to work directly, face to face.” The opening of the new office comes as Freestream celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Mobile flight information providers have been warning that a recent software update for the Apple iPad and other devices could cause charts and other navigation information to “disappear” from their systems. The problems are surfacing as operators have increasingly turned to the iPad for navigation and other electronic flight bag use. FAA has approved the iPad chart use for certain phases of flight with operators such as Executive Jet Management, CitationAir and others.
India’s business aircraft operators recently formed a new organization, the Business Aircraft Operators’ Association (BAOA), to position the industry for what they believe will be exponential growth over the next decade. “The business aviation industry is growing at an encouraging rate, and India is all set to be the third largest aviation market by 2020,” says Rohit Kapur, president of the new association and managing director of Arrow Aircraft, which sells Gulfstream aircraft in India.
Empire Aviation is looking to double the size of its business and also expand its regional footprint as the Dubai-based executive aircraft asset management company looks to write a new chapter in its business plan. With around 20 aircraft now under management, the plan is to double the number of aircraft it is responsible for in the next 18 to 24 months, says Steve Hartley, executive director at Empire Aviation Group.
BOMBARDIER Challenger 300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1089; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-110-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to determine if certain Avox Systems Inc. oxygen cylinder and regulator assemblies (CRAs) are installed, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 100-35-05, Rev. 02 (dated Jan. 31, 2011). If any affected assemblies were found, operators would need to replace them with new oxygen CRAs.
40 Years Ago Oct. 25, 1971 – Fairchild Industries considers acquisition of financially troubled Swearingen Aircraft Corp. after Piper Aircraft’s proposal to buy the firm is withdrawn. 30 Years Ago Oct. 12, 1981 – FAA launches short-term plan to reduce general aviation flights, including a reservation system for IFR operations. 20 Years Ago Oct. 21, 1991 – General Dynamics announces plans to dispose of Cessna Aircraft, its largest commercial division.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1090; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-138-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to incorporate ModSum 4-126513, Seal System Shut Off Valve Control Logic Change, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-69, Rev. C (dated June 28, 2011). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to ensure that the airstair door opens properly. The inability to open the airstair door could impede an evacuation in the event of an emergency.
The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) plans to base a donated Eclipse jet near the center of the country, where it can “cover unfilled missions from Walter Reed or Brook Army Medical Center and points between.” The VAC provides free air transportation to post 9/11 combat wounded veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. The national organization, which is based in St. Louis Park, Minn., relies solely on the contributions of donors for finances, aircraft and pilot services.
American Eurocopter has sold five new Eurocopter EC130B4 helicopters to global finance company Milestone Aviation Group. The order is valued at $17 million, and deliveries will take place in the second half of 2012.
The recent legal victory scored by environmentalist groups in their attempt to end the sale, distribution and use of aviation gasoline in California is capturing the attention of key federal agencies. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt last week told attendees at the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Business Roundtable that the Department of Justice is weighing whether it should get involved in the matter. Under consideration is whether California-imposed fines and/or restrictions would overstep the state’s jurisdiction and conflict with federal regulation.
The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is setting an ambitious goal—getting the FAA reauthorization bill signed into law by the end of the year, he said last week. “I’ll take whatever measures I need to finish this before the end of the year,” says Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) about the bill that has been extended 21 times already, including one extension that led to a two-week partial shutdown of the FAA during the summer. Mica says negotiations should be easier with an agreement on funding levels.
Indonesia’s Lion Air is planning to place an order for two Hawker 900XP business jets in order to start its new, yet-to-be-named, premium carrier, which will initially operate charters, but may later move into scheduled operations.
FAA, facing an increasing number of reports of laser attacks on aircraft, is stepping up its campaign against the growing problem. The agency has set up a new website (http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/laserinfo/), which is designed to educate the public on the dangers of laser attacks and make reporting of such events easier. The website places laser attack information, including downloadable videos, in one location.
RICHARD THOMPSON was named director of aircraft management sales for private jet operator TWC Aviation. Thompson will establish a new office to better serve the company’s growing client base throughout New England. He comes from Aviation Management Systems, where he was vice president of the Technical Services Group.
Additional government testing of GPS receivers for interference from LightSquared’s broadband-wireless network under a revised deployment plan is getting under way at Holloman AFB, N.M. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered the additional work after tests confirmed there would be severe GPS interference from the original LightSquared deployment plan, but indicated the problem would be reduced significantly if the company used only the lower of its two frequency bands, the one farthest from the GPS satellite signal.
Jet Aviation continues to make gains in its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work and fixed-base operations (FBO) services, but parent company General Dynamics is keeping a close eye on its completions business, says GD Chairman and CEO Jay Johnson.
STEVEN SCHELL has joined Landmark Aviation as general manager of its facility at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia. Schell has 25 years of general aviation industry experience, most recently as general manager for Atlantic Aviation’s facility in Burbank, Calif. He also has held management roles with Raytheon Aircraft Services, United Beechcraft and Hangar One.
CEPA Expo 2011 exhibitors are said to include Bombardier, Cessna and Hawker Beechcraft. The annual business aviation conference for Central and Eastern Europe is to be held on Dec. 1-2 at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic. Highlights of this year’s expo are to include a manufacturers’ panel, a legal panel and a session that will focus on aircraft financing and availability in the region.
Clint Bowyer, a Kansas native and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, has signed an order for upgrades to his Beechcraft Premier IA. Bowyer is the launch customer for a synthetic vision system (SVS) upgrade to his Rockwell Pro Line 21 displays, addition of new aftermarket winglets by Winglet Technology and installation of an Aircell ATG 5000 system, which provides high-speed wireless Internet service in flight. The SVS provides real-time 3-D simulated terrain and runway images, giving the flight crew clear images in all weather conditions.
Piper Aircraft is shelving its single-jet program, the PiperJet Altaire, and making plans to let go of up to 200 workers as it refocuses its energies onto its piston and turboprop programs, the company says.
Garmin has received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the installation of its Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and Iridium datalink in G1000-equipped King Air 200 and B200 aircraft. The Garmin ESP and Iridium datalink systems provide safety capabilities such as stability augmentation, onboard worldwide datalink weather and access to a variety of voice and data services.
WILLIAM (DANNY) MCCUTCHEN was named vice president and general manager of Argosy’s Logistical Services group, which was recently spun out as a separate division. McCutchen previously served as vice president of the parent company’s supply chain management operations. He joined the aerospace and industrial composites and materials provider in 2006 and formerly held logistics and supply chain management roles at shipping companies in Tampa, Fla., and Charleston, S.C.
Execaire, a Montreal-based aircraft management company, recently received the Argus Platinum rating concurrent with the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 1 audit using the Argus combination audit program. The Platinum rating is the highest quality rating that Argus awards.
