HAYDEE RAMIREZ was promoted to director of business development for Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI). Ramirez has worked for JSSI’s global sales team for three years as an international sales assistant. In her new role, she leads business development activities for Africa.
Jet Aviation Basel has selected the Honeywell Ovation Select Cabin Management System (CMS) to install in a Boeing Business Jet as part of a major completions project. “Ovation Select is a robust and reliable entertainment system that provides passengers maximum quality, functionality and productivity,” says Stephan Krenz, general manager of Jet Aviation Basel. “Honeywell’s inflight connectivity will meet our customers’ system requirements, as well as their expectations for the highest quality possible, while its ease of installation is distinctly advantageous.”
CESSNA 310, 320, 340, 401, 402, 411, 414 and 421 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0562; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-015-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to install a placard that prohibits flight into known icing conditions and install another placard that increases published speed on approach by 15 kt. in case of an inadvertent encounter with icing, per the instructions of Cessna Service Bulletin MEB97-4 (dated March 24, 1997).
Jet Professionals struck a deal with European operator VistaJet to serve as the preferred supplier of pilots and crew. Based in Switzerland, VistaJet operates a fleet of Bombardier aircraft for charter. “As preferred supplier to the largest charter operator in Europe, this is a great opportunity for Jet Professionals to expand its service offerings in the region,” says Hani Farag, managing director of Jet Professionals EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia. Jet Professionals EMEA and Asia provides recruitment, staffing and consulting services.
VIKING AIR LIMITED (DE HAVILLAND) DHC-3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0597; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-019-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD 2011-05-02), would require operators to repetitively inspect the elevator control tabs for discrepancies. If any discrepancies were found, operators would need to take corrective actions to bring all discrepancies within acceptable tolerances. FAA proposed this AD to add new repetitive inspections of the elevator control tabs.
TWC Aviation and its wholly owned subsidiary ACM Aviation Services have added a new Embraer Legacy 650 to the managed fleet. TWC Aviation becomes the first company to manage a U.S.-registered Legacy 650 and the first to add a Legacy 650 to its air carrier certificate. The jet will be based at the company’s facility in Singapore.
Altitude Aerospace Interiors, the Air New Zealand subsidiary, has won a second VIP aircraft completion contract to outfit a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). The client will take delivery of the brand-new green aircraft later this year, and the BBJ is expected to arrive at Altitude’s facilities early next year. The Altitude team will then spend nearly a year fitting it out with a luxury interior.
DC Aviation, the German charter operator, has won the 2011 Gold Safety of Flight Award from the European Business Aviation Association. The company signed a deal with Wyvern to handle its recertification. “Our goal is to far surpass the basic, legally prescribed domestic and international quality and safety requirements,” says Michael Kuhn, managing director of DC Aviation.
The decision to dismantle the Block Aircraft Registration Request program – which permits operators to request that their tail numbers be withheld from real-time flight tracking data – “was above our pay grade,” concedes FAA Flight Standards Director John Allen (BA, June 6/1). He notes the decision came down from the Department of Transportation, and reiterated that “this administration has a perspective on transparency of data.” See article on Page 3.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0564; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-021-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace water accumulator assemblies installed on the pitot and static lines of the air data computer with new or serviceable assemblies, in accordance with the instructions of either Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-34-147, Rev. B (dated March 8, 2011) or 670BA-34-030, Rev. B (dated March 23, 2010), as applicable.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311 and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0479; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-154-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to rework the cockpit door striker plate and replace the latch block on certain aircraft, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletins 8-52-58, Rev. A (dated Nov. 17, 2006) and 8-52-61 (dated Oct. 20, 2006).
The fractional business is rebounding, Flight Options CEO Michael Silvestro said last week at the National Business Aviation Association’s Regional Forum at New York’s Westchester County Airport, and he expects to add another half dozen or more jets to his 101 aircraft fleet by year’s end.
Bombardier Aerospace’s Global Vision flight deck has been awarded certification by Transport Canada. The flight deck is the first application for the new Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite. The avionics maker announced in April that it had obtained all FAA technical standard orders for Pro Line Fusion. As part of the Global Vision flight deck, Bombardier Aerospace and Rockwell Collins will be the first to certify synthetic vision on a head-up display (HUD).
The Salina Airport Authority’s board of directors approved a $218,994 design contract with Wichita-based Howard and Helmer Architecture to handle renovations at the Kansas facility’s Hangar 959. Hawker Beechcraft is vacating the hangar, known as Big Bertha. The building can handle narrowbody aircraft and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations.
JITKA BRETOVA was promoted to chief financial officer for ABS Jets. Bretova has served with ABS Jets for three years, beginning as an accountant. She became finance director at the beginning of this year.
TWC Aviation has added an Embraer Legacy 650 to its management fleet. The aircraft, the first U.S.-registered Legacy 650 to be managed, will be based in Singapore and added to TWC’s air carrier certificate. The company also operates four Legacy 600s, a predecessor of the 650.
Al Bateen Executive Airport has signed up private operator Rotana Jet Aviation as a new based operator. The new company, which began operations last month with a Gulfstream G450, will lease Building/Hangar 27 at the airport, where it plans to expand its scope of services to offer line maintenance and other technical works.
Air Methods, already the largest air medical transportation provider, is set to significantly expand its reach with a $200 million deal to acquire OF Air Holdings Corp., the parent of Omniflight Helicopters. Based in Addison, Texas, Omniflight provides services in 18 states using 75 base locations and a fleet of about 100 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Omniflight would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Methods once the deal is closed.
FAA last week corrected a technical error in its regulations governing fractional aircraft ownership programs that were issued in 2003. Specifically, the amendment revises Part 91.1091 (f)(2) to replace the term “check pilot” with “flight instructor.” “Because the section title applies to flight instructors, it is obvious that the use of the term ‘check pilot’ in (f)(2) should have been ‘flight instructor,’” the agency says. The change is effective June 2.
Greenpoint Technologies and Aviation Technical Services (ATS) have signed installation agreements for two Boeing Business Jet aircraft completions. Installations will be performed at ATS’ facility at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., which is located adjacent to Boeing’s 777 and 747-8 production lines.
JetCorp Technical Services, based in St. Louis, secured supplemental type certification for installation of the Aircell cabin telecommunications router (CTR) aboard a Bombardier Challenger 300 business jet. The Aircell CTR provides in-cabin Wi-Fi capability for the Gogo Biz Inflight Internet service, which enables passengers to use BlackBerry, iPhone and other devices to access the Internet, email and corporate VPNs. While in flight, passengers can enjoy connectivity speeds equivalent to ground-based hotspots.
Higher than expected business jet sales boosted Bombardier Aerospace’s earnings in the first quarter ending April 30, with revenues up $200 million to $2.2 billion, Bombardier Aerospace officials told analysts on June 1. Earnings before interest and taxes grew from $133 million to $141 million, or 6.4% of revenues. “Bombardier Aerospace has started to benefit from a stronger business aircraft market, especially at the high end,” says Bombardier President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) helicopter pilot’s decision to take off from a remote landing site without conducting a thorough assessment of the weather and nighttime conditions was the primary cause of a fatal crash in 2009. The safety board says contributing factors were the NMSP organizational culture (which emphasized mission completion over safety), as well as pilot fatigue, stress and self-induced pressure to complete the mission.
Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly signaled his continued emphasis on operations and supply chain with the hiring of his former colleague at GE Aviation, Scott Ernest, to take the helm of Cessna Aircraft. The selection of Ernest comes less than a month after the May 2 announcement that Cessna Chairman, CEO and President Jack Pelton was stepping down.
