By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC wants to build a larger, twin-turbofan version of its slowed rotor/compound helicopter, which it believes can break the rotorcraft world records for speed, range, and altitude.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Gogo Inc. has rolled out new hourly pricing plans for turboprop and light jet operators, which the company says will make connectivity affordable and predicable for all aircraft operators. The new service plans start at $39 per hour and do not require the purchase of block hours have no minimum monthly fee. After paying for the first hour, customers then pay only for what they use and incur fees only when the service is being used.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
The number of airports with Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) technology is growing rapidly and initial results of the digital service are impressive. Universal Avionics’ Cessna Citation VII, outfitted with the company’s Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A+ system, recently tested the new CPDLC capability at Kentucky’s Louisville International Airport-Standiford Field (SDF).
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Gen. J. R. Jack Dailey, director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, took the wraps off a larger than life-size bronze statue of R. A. “Bob” Hoover at a private reception at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center on April 2, 2016. “Bob Hoover has been an eye witness to the history of aviation. He’s the only pilot ever to taxi his (Aero Commander Shrike) airplane into this hangar. And that’s a record we intend to let stand forever,” Dailey said.
Reasons for the decline in pilot numbers include retirement age and dismally low salaries, but organizations such as AOPA and GAMA are offering some solutions to help boost private pilot numbers.
Teterboro Airport was the business aviation airport acukwik.com users searched the most during March 2016, according to a review of site traffic data. Paris Le Bourget Airport was the top airport outside North America. It was the eighth most search airport overall.
NTSB Decision Puzzling I just finished reading “Icing and Failed Equipment” (Cause & Circumstance, April 2016) and while I seldom disagree with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as their investigation depth is second to none, in this case I have to say that their probable cause decision is puzzling.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
The FAA has selected two unleaded aviation fuels for further testing as it works to develop an acceptable lead-free “drop-in” replacement for 100LL avgas. The new fuel formations for Phase 2 testing are from Shell and Swift Fuels. The test data will help the companies acquire an ASTM International Production Specification for the fuels. It also will eventually allow the FAA to authorize the existing general aviation fleet to use the unleaded replacement. Testing will begin this summer and conclude in 2018.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
April 1st, Bombardier announced it had received a firm order for 20 Challenger 350 jets, but declined to identify the buyer “for competitive reasons.” Based on the 2016 list prices for standard-equipped aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately US$534 million. David Coleal, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft, noted the popular model’s lead in the super midsize class, adding, “It’s simply one of the best business jets in the market.”
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
In early April, Bell Helicopter signed a letter of intent (LOI) with PT Whitesky Aviation of Indonesia for 30 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X helicopters. The aircraft will be used for air taxi operations throughout the nation which is made up of more than 14,000 islands.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Executive AirShare is moving its headquarters to a 10,000-sq.-ft. facility in Lenexa, Kansas, to accommodate growing flight operations, sales, accounting and executive teams, the company said. Executive AirShare’s aircraft, pilots and maintenance teams for Executive AirShare and its subsidiary Executive Flight Services, an aircraft management and charter company, will continue to operate out of the Atlantic Aviation’s fixed base operations at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City. They employ nearly 200 workers, including 96 pilots.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
BBA Aviation, the biggest U.S. operator of business jet service facilities, has sold six fixed base operations for $190 million to affiliates of KSL Capital Partners, a private equity firm. The sale allows BBA Aviation to satisfy U.S. Department of Justice requirements for regulatory approval of the acquisition of its U.S. competitor, Landmark Aviation. BBA will use the proceeds from the sale of the FBOs to repay debt. In September 2015, BBA announced the deal to buy Landmark from the Carlyle Group for $2.1 billion, which doubles its size.
By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
According to the 2016 Global Fleet & MRO Market Assessment released at a Capitol Hill briefing by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, the U.S. civil aviation maintenance industry — often an unseen part of the aviation industry — employs more than 270,000 people and generates $43.1 billion in economic activity. The March event was part of ARSA’s annual Legislative Day and headlined by House Aviation Subcommittee member Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.).
Lufthansa Technik is extending its presence in the Asian market and is expanding a new range of products, some of which are already being installed in aircraft.
UAS International Trip Support and Aviation Concepts Group have entered into a strategic partnership designed to “significantly boost service capabilities and offer clients more location options and higher quality,” the partners said.
Maintenance, repair and overhaul provider StandardAero has joined in a strategic alliance with Flight Display Systems (FDS) Avionics “to bring the next generation of in-flight entertainment to today’s business aircraft market.”
Officials with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Geneva’s Palexpo exhibit center and Geneva Airport have signed an agreement to continue to hold the annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) at Palexpo through 2021.
The total worldwide business jet fleet expanded in 2015, with the U.S. market growing slightly faster than the total market, according to Jefferies Group.
Flight Options, based in Cleveland, said it will offer voluntary separation packages directly to its pilot workforce, despite a recent rejection of the offer by the union.
