CitationAir said it will exit the fractional ownership business and focus on aircraft management and its Jet Card business. CitationAir began selling shares in 2000 and has grown into the fourth largest fractional program. It notified customers that it was suspending sales of its Jet Shares fractional program and Jet Access membership program.
Identity crisis: TBM700 doesn't know whether it's a single-engine turboprop or a light jet, even though it has a four-blade Hartzell on its nose. That's a fitting tribute to Alexandre Couvelaire, who created the TBM concept when he headed Mooney Aircraft in the mid to late 1980s, and had as his goal delivering a fuel-efficient aircraft with Paris Jet speeds. He and partner, Socata, delivered.
As of Jan. 25, the four Gulfstream G650s in the flight-test program had accumulated more than 2,675 flight hours over 820 flights. The aircraft is expected to enter service the middle of this year. It received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011, with the full FAA type certificate expected mid-year. EASA has finished its initial evaluation of the aircraft in preparation for certification. The G650 has flown for more than 14 consecutive hours, with flight-test data confirming its ability to achieve 7,000 nm (12,964 km) at Mach 0.85.
Composite Technology Inc., a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company based at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, opened one of the world's most powerful structures to dynamically balance helicopter main rotor blades. Designed by Sikorsky to test main rotor blades that rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise, the bi-directional whirl tower will enable helicopter operators and manufacturers to rebalance their rotor blades in the U.S. regardless of the rotorcraft's country of origin.
In its 14th Turbine-Powered Civilian Helicopter Purchase Outlook report, released at Heli Expo, Honeywell says it expects global deliveries of new civilian-use helicopters will increase to 4,700 — 5,200 over the five-year period 2012–2016. The forecast shows slower near term economic growth prospects in key markets have added uncertainty to operator purchase plans this year, however, recent order momentum and strong purchase plans for 2012 bolster the near-term outlook.
ARINC Direct's iPad app, which was launched at NBAA last autumn, is to be enhanced to include a moving map display, runway analysis and further flight planning tools in future editions.
Boeing has handed over the first 747-8 Intercontinental VIP airplane to what it described as an undisclosed customer. However the airplane, which was delivered with a minimal interior carries the registration A7-HHE and is almost certainly for the Qatari royal flight. It will enter service in 2014 after its VIP interior is installed.
The deadline of Sept. 30, 2015, for integration of unmanned aircraft systems into U.S. civil airspace, set in the new FAA reauthorization bill, is expected to be met using ground-based sense-and-avoid (GBSAA), a Pentagon official says. Using ground radars, GBSAA will allow “routine access” to airspace for unmanned aircraft transiting between their bases and restricted areas used for training, says Steven Pennington, U.S. Air Force director of bases, ranges and airspace.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Seattle, named Larry Loftis VP and general manager of the 787 program, succeeding Scott Fancher, who becomes VP and general manager of the 777 program.
SUPERIOR AIR PARTS, LYCOMING AND CONTINENTAL fuel-injected reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0547; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-13-AD; Amendment 39-16947; AD 2012-03-06] – supersedes an existing AD that requires removing AVStar Fuel Systems (AFS) fuel servos installed after May 20, 2010, if the servo contained an AFS diaphragm, part number (P/N) AV2541801 or P/N AV2541803, from certain production lots.
ExecuJet Europe is increasing its presence at its new location at Cambridge Airport with U.K. ExecuJet, which recently won a five-year contract to run the fixed-base operation at the airport, is planning to relocate its aircraft operations department from Zurich to Cambridge in the second quarter. The company will retain some of its operations resources in Zurich to maintain the Swiss air operating certificate. In addition, ExecuJet Europe’s headquarters will remain in Zurich. ExecuJet says the U.K.
Feb. 28 - 29—2012 Air Charter Safety Symposium, NTSB Training Center, Dulles, Va, www.acsf.aero/symposium March 5—Speednews’ Second Annual Aerospace Raw Materials & Manufacturers Supply Chain Conference, Beverly (Hills) Wilshire Hotel, Calif., www.speednews.com/conferences March 5-7—26th Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, Beverly (Hills) Wilshire Hotel, Calif., www.speednews.com/conferences
Landmark Aviation received a 37-year lease to operate a fixed-base operation (FBO) at San Diego International Airport. The lease extends Landmark’s presence at the airport, beginning with Landmark’s acquisition of Jimsair Aviation Services in 2008. Under the most recent agreement, Landmark will design, build and operate a new FBO, with a 20,000-sq.-ft. terminal, a 250,000-sq.-ft. ramp and five hangars on a 12.4-acres tract. Landmark, which added 11 locations to its network in 2011, operates a total of 52 FBOs.
House aviation subcommittee leaders Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) have begun circulating a letter to President Obama objecting to the proposed $100 per-flight fee on commercial and general aviation.
BOB REDING has joined FlightSafety International as senior advisor to the CEO. Reding most recently was executive vice president-operations for AMR Corporation. He also has held senior roles with American Airlines, American Eagle, Canadian Regional Airlines, Reno Air, Midway Airlines and Air Florida.
