Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, took delivery of its first Lineage 1000. The charter company formally accepted the aircraft during the recent Middle East Business Aviation exhibition. Founded in 2006, FAS ordered two Lineage 1000 jets during the Dubai Air Show in November 2007. The aircraft is certified to carry up to 19 passengers in five distinct cabin zones.
Because of the holiday schedule, The Weekly of Business Aviation will not publish a Dec. 27 edition. The next issue will be dated Jan. 3. Please refer to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (subscribers only) or AviationWeek.com for additional coverage. And, please accept our best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
The general aviation industry received a “late-in-the-year shot in the arm” with last week’s passage of a comprehensive tax bill that will extend certain aircraft depreciation benefits into 2013, as well as renew the research and development tax credit, industry leaders say. President Obama signed the bill—the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R.4853)—into law Dec. 17, just a day after the legislation cleared the House. The Senate had approved the bill earlier last week.
Avantair executives have been encouraged by recent results in the fractional aircraft ownership business. The company, which operates Piaggio P180 twin turboprops in its fractional aircraft ownership program, says the turboprop fractional ownership category was up 2.8% from October 2009 to October 2010. Fractional aircraft activity for all aircraft has increased 13.1% from September of this year, Avantair adds. In addition, the company says it has doubled its sale of flight-hour time cards.
Lincoln, Neb.-based aircraft supplier Duncan Aviation has created an iPad app to provide wireless control of all the cabin systems in a Falcon 900. The app uses an Aircell CTR Wi-Fi source and an interface unit to communicate instructions to the aircraft’s Honeywell MH cabin management system.
EMMANUEL FANTUZZI has joined Pacific Precision Products as engineering manager. He will oversee development work, entry into service and integration of new technologies. He formerly served with the French Advanced Technology Division of Air Liquide.
While literally overshadowed by the towering fins crowding the Dubai International static display ramp, the single Eclipse 500 at the recent Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show in Dubai had a steady stream of attendees looking at the eye-level windscreen and sliding into the compact cabin.
China’s Avic International is buying U.S. general aviation engine manufacturer Continental Motors from Teledyne Technologies for $186 million in cash. Anticipated growth in the Chinese general aviation market is cited as the reason for the purchase. The acquisition of Mobile, Ala.-based Continental and its service centers requires U.S. government antitrust and foreign-investment clearance, as well as Chinese government approval, but the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011, says Teledyne.
Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) is discussing with its members the possibility of withholding air freight service to the Dominican Republic after officials from the country imprisoned two pilots from a member airline, Air Cargo Carriers. According to the association, the pilots, flying a Shorts SD-3-30, were detained and their aircraft seized as part of a larger drug trafficking investigation.
Germany’s 328 Support Services is hoping its new 328DBJ replacement for the Envoy will carve out a niche in the shorter-haul, but still higher-end used market. Announced at the Middle East Business Aviation show this month in Dubai, the 328DBJ upgrades the interior of the former Envoy, providing increased cabin space, electric window shades and improved cabin-management systems (BA, Dec. 13/9).
Israeli products and systems provider Elbit Systems is expanding its aerospace operations in the U.S. with the $85 million cash acquisition of San Antonio-based M7 Aerospace. Elbit will fold M7 into its Elbit Systems of America Services and Support Solutions business unit, and says the acquisition is part of a strategy to increase its support and maintenance capabilities in the U.S. market.
Aviation information provider Jetnet LLC has unveiled a web-based “Customer Relationship Management” (CRM) system, which provides subscribers access to the company’s database of aviation contacts and aircraft. CRM also enables users to add their own contact records, notes, action items and other CRM data. Jetnet, which has been in the business since 1988, says customers wanted a CRM designed to their specific needs, according to Paul Cardarelli, the company’s director of sales and marketing.
Bombardier has opened a regional support office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to serve Learjet, Challenger and Global customers in the Middle East and Africa. The new office, the sixth Bombardier regional support office to open outside North America in the past three years, is part of the manufacturer’s drive to bring aircraft technical expertise, flight operations support and customer account management functions closer to its customers.
Embraer has appointed Dubai-based ExecuJet Aviation Group as an Embraer authorized service center (EASC) for the Legacy 600 and 650 executive jets. ExecuJet Dubai will provide scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services at Dubai International Airport. The appointment comes as Embraer’s fleet of super midsize and large executive jets has grown to nearly 25 in the Middle East, Embraer notes.
Private jet operator JetSuite has unveiled a “SuiteKey” customer loyalty membership program that provides flight bonus credits on purchased travel that can be redeemed for future travel. The membership program is a fully refundable, prepaid account that can be used to purchase flights on JetSuite’s fleet of Embraer Phenom 100s.
Avocet Aviation Services expects to complete construction of a new 55,000-sq.-ft. hangar at Orlando-Sanford International Airport by Jan. 31, the company says. The new facility will be a full-service, commercial aircraft maintenance operation at the airport.
The elevators of a Piaggio P180 seized up on arrival to Port Columbus International Airport on Dec. 13, but the pilots were able to safely land the twin turboprop without damage to the aircraft or injury to the four occupants onboard. A subsequent investigation of the airplane revealed ice in the bays around the elevator’s control cables, the National Transportation Safety Board reports. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident, NTSB says.
Jan. 20-21, 2011—European Business Aviation Association Regional Forum “One Europe: A Roadmap for Aligning East and West,” Hilton Vienna, www.ebaa.org Feb. 7-8, 2011—National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference, Savannah, Ga., (703) 845-9000, www.nata.aero Feb. 9-11, 2011—National Business Aviation Association 22nd Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Savannah, Ga., (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE Astra SPX, 1125 Westwind Astra and Gulfstream 100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1164; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-057-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect for the presence of sponge rubber padding on the fuel lines in the wheel well area, per the instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-28-297 (dated Jan. 21, 2010). Also, operators would need to inspect the fuel lines and electrical harnesses in the wheel well area for proper separation.
Hawker Beechcraft Services has acquired the first test aircraft for the Hawker 400XPR program and initiated design engineering on the $2.24 million upgrade of the Hawker 400XP/Beechjet 400A.
THIELERT AIRCRAFT TAE 125-01, TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0820; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-31-AD] – The proposed AD would require operators to install Full-Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) software version 2.91. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is designed to prevent engine inflight shutdown or power loss, possibly resulting in reduced control of the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 112 engines installed on airplanes on the U.S.
Hawker Beechcraft Services’ (HBS) Chester, U.K., facility has begun taking orders for the Thrane & Thrane Aviator 200 Inmarsat Satcom system with Wi-Fi capability for installation on its Beechcraft King Air 200s and 300s. The units enable inflight international broadband connectivity. HBS is expected to receive a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the aircraft from the European Aviation Safety Authority by the end of the year. An additional STC covering King Air C90 aircraft also is planned.
Jet Aviation is moving this month into a new fixed-base operation facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company will provide fixed-base operation and line maintenance services from the new facility at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport. The 3,000-sq.-meter (about 32,300-sq.-ft.) facility also will offer customers clearance and 24/7 border police.
Jordan now has its first dedicated aircraft brokerage services provider, named One & Done Aviation. The company was established earlier this year by owner and Chairman Ahmad Abdul Hadi and was created to be a one-stop shop for a wide range of VIP and charter services. The company can handle corporate airliners, helicopter and propeller aircraft charters, medical evacuation and repatriation aircraft, aerial filming and cargo charters.
