International Communications Group’s (ICG’s) NxtLink ICS-400 satellite communications platform received clearance for operation on the Iridium constellation and network after successfully completing the “Iridium Compatible Equipment Certification” testing. The ICS-400 combines four Iridium transceivers with an internal cabin telecommunications unit to offer global communications services. Selected for the Embraer Lineage aircraft, the IC-400 enables connects of conventional telephony devices or other satcom systems.
Embraer today (Feb. 21) is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open its new Phenom final assembly facility at Melbourne International Airport in Florida. The $50 million, 150,000-sq.-ft. facility will house a paint shop, customer design center and delivery center, in addition to final assembly work for Phenom 100 and 300 business jets. The dedication marks the first assembly plant for Embraer in the U.S., and is expected to result in the creation of 200 positions.
ROGER FRANKLIN has joined Dynamic Aviation as CFO. Franklin will manage the company’s financial goals and report directly to President and CEO Michael Stoltzfus. He has more than 20 years of experience as a senior business executive, most recently serving as CFO and corporate secretary of Quest Aircraft. Before that, he was managing director and co-founder of Forge Capital, a private investment firm for middle-market manufacturing companies.
Burbank, Calif.-based Avjet Corporation has launched a new website—www.BBJ-Charter.com—dedicated to the Boeing Business Jet. The website offers executive charter travelers the latest information on BBJ aircraft options available and provides information for owners, operators, buyers and sellers of new and used BBJ aircraft. The BBJ is a highly specialized aircraft, says Avjet President Mark Lefever. “Very few companies directly operate them, so its unique virtues and capabilities deserve special attention and focus.”
Bombardier’s business jet deliveries fell nearly 19% in its most recent fiscal year ending Jan. 31, but an increase in fourth-quarter orders is encouraging analysts. Bombardier Aerospace delivered 143 business jets this past year, down from 176 in the same period a year earlier, the manufacturer reported last week.
PATS Aircraft Systems recently secured a major interior refurbishment contract for a new owner of a Boeing Business Jet based in the Asia-Pacific region. PATS will perform the major interior overhaul at its Georgetown, Del., facility. The project includes modification or replacement of nearly all existing interior design elements including seating layout, finishing materials, soft goods, communication management systems and inflight entertainment (CMS/IFE). PATS also will oversee exterior paint and perform required maintenance.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1112; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-051-AD; Amendment 39-16607; AD 2011-04-07] – Modify the left-hand and right-hand upper side braces of the main landing gear, or replace the upper side braces with improved-design upper side braces. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by an incident in which a crew had difficulty extending the landing gear because of ice accumulation on the gear.
CESSNA Citation X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1107; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-263-AD; Amendment 39-16600; AD 2011-03-16] – Replace certain auxiliary power unit (APU) 400-amp DC generators with new or serviceable generators, per the instructions of Cessna Service Letter SL750-24-08 (dated Aug. 13, 2009). Also revise the Airplane Flight Manual to incorporate new operating procedures for the APU generators.
FAA last week proposed a series of special conditions for the certification of Gulfstream’s new G650 airplane. Gulfstream anticipates certification and initial deliveries of the 650, its largest, fastest, and most expensive business jet yet, this year. The conditions would address the aircraft’s electronic flight control system, the high-speed protection system and the interaction of other systems on the structural capability of the aircraft.
Gama Aviation FZC recently began operations of a Bombardier Challenger 850 after receiving the certificate of airworthiness late last year. The aircraft, managed for a private individual, is the first Challenger 850 to be based in the UAE. The aircraft is stationed at Dubai International Airport. GAMA Aviation FZC, which obtained the UAE GCAA air operator’s certificate a year ago, operates five aircraft in all. The operator is part of the GAMA Group, which has a fleet of 75 aircraft located in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
JAMES EHRIG has become a member of the aviation practice of the national law firm Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott. Ehrig, based in Washington, D.C., has advised aviation clients on a range of regulatory compliance before FAA, the Department of Transportation, National Transportation Safety Board, Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Patent and Trademark Office and other federal and state agencies.
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) is reorganizing its staff to focus more on lobbying and advocacy on behalf of its airline members. The reorganization, which began with Nicholas E. Calio succeeding James C. May as president and CEO of the trade group on Jan. 1, will see a total of nine employees, including May, leave the 60-person ATA staff. As part of the reorganization, Sharon Pinkerton, who joined ATA in 2006, has been promoted to senior VP legislative and regulatory policy, which is a new position.
Airport data specialist High Line has partnered with airport and fixed-base operator data provider AC-U-KWIK to launch airportdata.aero, a new web-based preflight planning tool that provides information on more than 5,500 major commercial airports worldwide, including listing contact details and technical data, as well as the full range of airport service providers.
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) is adding new dedicated air and ground mobile support vehicles. It also formed a Global Experience Team (GET), comprising technicians, field support and management personnel, to focus on enhancing Hawker Beechcraft customers’ ownership and operating experience. The GCS organization recently unveiled the initiative at a reception for pilots and maintenance personnel during Super Bowl XLV at Dallas Love Field.
The windshield of a Hawker Beechcraft C90, N2057C, shattered as the aircraft was climbing to flight level 250 near Evansville, Ind., on Feb. 9. The aircraft had departed from the University of Illinois-Willard Airport near Champaign/Urbana, Ill., on a Part 91 instructional flight to Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida. Once the windshield shattered, the pilot descended and landed without further incident, the National Transportation Safety Board says.
Rolls-Royce is projecting modest revenue growth in 2011 and “good growth” in underlying profits after delivering strong operating results in 2010 that were tinged by ₤56 million in costs linked to a Trent 900 uncontained engine failure last year. Some repercussions of last year’s Qantas QF32 incident could still be felt in 2011, the company reports. Overall, Rolls-Royce reported revenue of ₤11.1 billion, up from ₤10.4 billion the year prior, and a growth in the order book to ₤59.2 billion. The underlying profit was up to ₤955 million, ₤40 million above 2009 levels.
Aviation services company Hawker Pacific is expanding its business aviation base in the Asia-Pacific region with the development of a new $11.6 million customer sales and service center at Seletar Aerospace Park in Singapore. Hawker Pacific will relocate its regional headquarters, currently at East Camp, Singapore, to the larger facility.
ExecuJet Malaysia has signed its first aircraft under management since announcing the joint venture with Malaysia’s D’Nest Aviation in September. A Gulfstream GIV SP will be based out of Subang International Airport in Kuala Lumpur. The aircraft is privately registered and was sold and signed to ExecuJet for full management in January. It is the company’s second aircraft under management in the Asia region, with a Gulfstream GV currently under management in Singapore, and managed in Sydney by ExecuJet Australia.
U.S. aircraft shipments were down significantly in 2010 to an estimated 1,254 units, while billings for those shipments dropped to an estimated $8.1 billion, FAA says in its annual forecast released last week. The estimates came as both Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier last week each reported lower deliveries in 2010, and Hawker Beechcraft Chairman and CEO Bill Boisture warned that the company will have to keep down production to create a “scarcity” that will help improve pricing.
Passur Aerospace was selected to provide its FBO Fuel Portal and Best Prospect Reports tool for the Eastern Aviation Fuels fixed-base operation network. The Passur FBO Fuel Portal software provides real-time flight, customer, and airspace status for customer service, line operations, and marketing through visual flight tracking and web dashboards. The FBO Best Prospect Reports are targeted lists e-mailed to participating FBOs daily, weekly, or monthly to help with marketing efforts.
The Department of Transportation has decided to allow the business aviation community to weigh in on the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program before imposing controversial limits that would have gone into effect last week. The agency initially indicated plans to implement changes to the BARR program beginning Feb. 15. The changes, which the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) had called “onerous limitations” to BARR, involved a security-related eligibility requirement for participants (BA, Feb. 14/6).
China’s Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. Ltd (MSFL), already the major Chinese buyer of business jets for its home market with 32 aircraft delivered or ordered to date, plans to do the same with helicopters. MSFL will vigorously expand into helicopters, with 20 orders planned for this year, VP Zhang Bo told an international finance conference in London last week.
QBE the Americas has created a U.S.-based general aviation underwriting operation headquartered in Atlanta. The new operation was created to expand the company’s global aviation activities. The operation will be run by William McGloin, Roger Ridings, Michael Clark and Russell Walker.
