Fixed-base operation (FBO) attrition, while ongoing for the past two-plus decades, has accelerated in recent years, notes Million Air COO Terry Cross. Since the recent economic downturn began, FBOs have been disappearing at a rate of about 100 a year, he says. The total number has declined from about 5,000 in the mid-1980s to about 3,000 currently. This comes as margins on fuel sales, once at about 35-40 cents per gallon, have diminished to about a nickel.
40 Years Ago May 17, 1971—U.S. State Department denies a Soviet request for negotiations on a bilateral airworthiness agreement, blocking the possible sale of the Yak-40 commuter/business jet and the TU-144 supersonic transport in the U.S. 30 Years Ago May 25, 1981—Singer and International Learning System outline plans to establish SimuFlite Training International in Dallas. 20 Years Ago May 6, 1991—Cessna’s CitationJet completes its first flight as the company accrues nearly 100 orders.
The final minutes of the Aug. 9, 2010 flight that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) remain a mystery to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), but the board believes that the pilot’s temporary unresponsiveness is at least part of the cause of the crash.
As the use of iPads and other tablets for aviation applications increases, FAA recently released an Information for Operators (InFO) document to clarify acceptable use of the technology as electronic flight bags (EFB).
BRITISH AEROSPACE HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0230; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-004-AD; Amendment 39-16699; AD 2011-11-01] – For aircraft that have accumulated 41,000 flight cycles and have main landing gear (MLG) fittings that embody modifications JM5218 or JM8003, conduct repetitive eddy-current inspections of the fittings to detect cracks. Replace or repair any cracked fitting.
Million Air is in final preparations to open the doors of a new 52,000-sq.-ft. fixed-base operation (FBO) at Gulport-Biloxi International Airport in Mississippi that will be one of the crown jewels of the chain. The facility, one of the half-dozen Million Air “owned” FBOs and the 29th in the chain, will be part-owned and run by Arve and Emily Henriksen. The opening culminates more than a decade-long effort for the Henriksens, who were formerly owners of a Million Air franchise in Mobile, Ala., that was sold in 2005.
RON MATYSIK was promoted to manager of service engineering for Dassault Falcon. Matysik will oversee the day-to-day activities of Dassault’s model specialists. He spent the last eight years in Dassault Falcon’s service engineering department, most recently as a senior service engineer. He began his career with the company working as an avionics specialist at the Help Desk.
SAMANTHA CLOUDER was appointed sales and business development director for Ocean Sky Aircraft Charter. Clouder most recently was VP of U.K. sales for NetJets. Prior to joining NetJets, she worked in financial public relations as a member of the flotations, mergers and acquisitions team at the consultancy Citigate Dewe Rogerson.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) grounded the EASA-registered Falcon 7X fleet last week after a report from Dassault Aviation regarding “an uncontrolled pitch trim runaway during descent” in one its fly-by-wire trijets in Malaysia on May 25. Dassault Falcon Jet has advised all other Falcon 7X operators to ground their aircraft under Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-0102-E, pending an analysis of the cause of the incident.
RICHARD KNIGHT was appointed airport manager at the U.K.’s Cambridge Airport. He formerly served with the U.K. Defense Academy, where he was responsible for training and mentoring senior military commanders. In his new role, Knight will be responsible for the airport’s operational infrastructure, including security, fire, fuel, training services, fixed-base operation management and general airport operations.
The liberalization of general aviation in China has reached the northernmost part of the country, with the civil aviation administration approving a trial of sightseeing flights at Gegeen-gol in Inner Mongolia. But the trial is exactly the type that aircraft manufacturers are least interested in seeing: one that is in a remote part of the country where the authorities see minimal safety challenges, but where demand for aircraft will be slight.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) joined industry officials in calling for a national aerospace strategy during a speech May 24 before the Senate Aerospace Caucus. Because the nation is facing extreme pressure to reduce the budget deficit, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations transportation subcommittee says focusing the nation’s aerospace goals is essential. Companies large and small, Murray said, have told her, “We need a comprehensive national strategy for aerospace,” she says. “The U.S.
Sikorsky Aircraft has delivered three VIP S-92 helicopters to the Royal Thai Air Force and introduced the first high-end LifePort medical system into an S-92 aircraft. The helicopters were delivered in April and crews have begun about six months of training at Lop Buri Air Base. These aircraft will be used for head-of-state transport missions.
Jet Aviation has assembled some long-established names in the charter and services business to open a charter and management sales office in Van Nuys, Calif. Headed by Jon Winthrop, the former chairman and CEO of The Air Group, the office opens on June 1, giving Jet Aviation coast-to-coast locations in the U.S. A 40-year industry veteran, Winthrop will serve as the organization’s VP and managing director in the Western region and Pacific Rim. Joining Winthrop in Van Nuys is Ken Combs, a pilot with more than 7,700 hr.
Bombardier has signed a deal with Toronto-based training services provider FlightPath International (FPI) to provide entitlement and recurrent technical training for Bombardier’s CRJ commercial aircraft and Challenger 800 business jets. Under the deal, Bombardier and FPI will collaborate to identify opportunities to enhance technical training offerings for Bombardier customers. FPI will provide instruction at Bombardier training facilities or at customer facilities, as required.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0043; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-192-AD; Amendment 39-16700; AD 2011-11-02] – Conduct a general visual inspection for red anodized threads on the outlet fitting of the Motive Flow Check Valves (MFCVs) installed in the left and right wing fuel tanks, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-28-08 (dated March 11, 2010). If an MFCV has a red anodized check valve outlet fitting, replace it before further flight with an MFCV that has a gold-colored fitting.
JANUS KAMRADT was appointed to lead sales activities for the aircraft sales operation and its aircraft management business for Ocean Sky. Kamradt was most recently with Global Jet Concept SA, where he was senior VP for international sales, responsible for business development across the company’s aircraft sales, aircraft management and charter activities.
Piper Aircraft has named Russia’s Sim Aviation as its new aircraft dealer for that country. Sim Aviation plans to establish service and sales centers in Krasnodar, the Moscow region and St. Petersburg. It already has two Piper Meridians and two Piper Altaire business jets on order for Russian customers.
Kansas City International Airport (KMCI) and San Antonio International Airport (KSAT) recently received Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approval as gateway airports for direct flights into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the National Air Transportation Association says. The additions of KMCI and KSAT push the total number of airports participating in the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) to more than 50 and reflect an effort by TSA to expand the gateway program to improve access to DCA.
June 1-2—Airports Council International-NA Air Cargo Conference, Arlington, Va., www.aci-na.org/conferences/ June 3—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Taxes Seminar, San Francisco, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org June 6-8—National Air Transportation Association Air Charter Summit, Dulles, Va., www.nata.aero/events/acs June 8—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, White Plains, N.Y., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
PIPER PA-23, PA-31 and PA-42 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0218; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-006-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to establish life limits for safety-critical nose baggage door components, replace those components, and repetitively inspect and lubricate the door’s latching mechanism and lock assembly, per the instructions of Piper Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1194A (dated Nov. 10, 2008).
Transport Canada has awarded Viking Air production approval for the Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft. The certification clears the Sidney, British Columbia-based manufacturer to duplicate products, issue airworthiness certificates and ramp up production of this new version of the 19-passenger twin turboprop. Viking has completed the first five aircraft and has another 10 in final assembly.
Aviation Concepts, an Asia-based jet management company, has been awarded a certificate of registration for implementation of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). “In compliance with the IS-BAO certification, Aviation Concepts developed an approved and robust Safety Management System and protocols for operating, training and maintenance that are strictly implemented for the company’s entire operations,” says Elsie Quenga, VP for operations.
Argus subsidiary Professional Resources In System Management was selected by Marsh’s Aviation Risk Advisory Solutions (ARAS) group as a training and consulting subject-matter expert provider. The ARAS division provides the aviation industry with access to unique services that help identify risk and implements programs to manage risk.
