Business Aviation

Delta Private Jets reports its managed aircraft fleet grew from 53 Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Gulfstream and Hawker aircraft to 72 in 2015, a 34% increase. As a result, David Sneed, executive vice president and COO, says the Delta Air Lines business aviation subsidiary is now “the third largest Part 135 operator in the country in terms of fleet size.” In addition, jet card sales rose 31% in 2015 when compared to 2014.

Key Air, an Oxford, Connecticut-based aircraft management and jet charter company, has expanded to include aircraft sales. Along with the new sales group, Key Air added three new aircraft to its managed fleet of charter aircraft in January. The aircraft include a Bombardier Global 5000 Vision, Gulfstream IVSP and Learjet 45XR.

While some fret that a down cycle is coming, there’s no sign of that at Gulfstream, according to the top executive at General Dynamics, its corporate parent. “We see no evidence at Gulfstream of a cyclical decline,” Phebe Novakovic, GD chairman and CEO, told analysts following release of the company’s fourth quarter report on Jan. 27.

Advent Aircraft Systems has received FAA approval of its advanced-technology GPS/digital anti-skid braking system for installation on Beechcraft King Air B300 series aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line GPS 4000S or Garmin G1000/430W/530W avionics. Installation of the system, which may be ordered through Textron Aviation service centers as well as authorized King Air service facilities, involves no change to existing braking system components and requires minimal downtime.

Business aviation departures in Europe fell in January when compared to a year ago, according to WINGX Advance’s Business Aviation Monitor. European flights in January totaled 47,628, down 2,220 departures or a drop of 4.5% year-over-year. Business jet and piston flights fell 5%, while turboprop flights declined 1.5%. “This disappointing start to 2016 breaks the recovering trend in Q4 2015,” Richard Koe, WINGX Advance managing director, said in a statement.

Privaira, a private air charter service, will relocate its Part 135 operation to Boca Raton Airport in Florida, which will allow it to have its own campus, office space and maintenance hangar facilities big enough to hold its midsize and large-size-cabin aircraft. Privaira is also partnering with Atlantic Aviation to support its operation at Boca Raton Airport and at its 70 other locations in its network. The relocation is planned for late February.

With the snowstorms in the Northeast U.S., JetSmarter, a mobile market for private jet flights, created free private jet flights for members from New York to and from cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago and other cities. JetSmarter has been swamped with calls from those interested in getting out of New York. It has also created for new members a promotion to any warm weather destination to fly free with a friend.

The super-midsized Hawker 4000 (nee Hawker Horizon), in production from 2008 through 2012, suffered through one of the longest and most arduous gestations of any business aircraft yet built, requiring 12 years of development work and a $1 billion-plus investment.

News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community

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Most professional pilots earn their instrument ratings sitting behind one or more propellers, after having learned textbook definitions of maximum endurance and range speeds.

A Honeywell International-led merger with United Technologies Corp. would be a boon for shareholders and investors, according to financial details of Honeywell’s bid that it released Feb. 26.

Piper Aircraft has received an order from ATP Flight School for 15 additional Archer TX aircraft for its training fleet.

Another labor dispute appears to be brewing between NetJets and the Teamsters union.

Embraer has presented the E190-E2, the first E2 jet – Embraer´s second generation of the E-Jets family of commercial aircraft.

Jet Aviation St. Louis has completed three installations of Future Aviation Navigation Systems in Challenger 604 aircraft. Three more installations are scheduled. The facility has received FAA approval for the Supplemental Type Certificate for the installations after teaming with Rockwell Collins. It includes the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract and Controller Data Link Communication.

In the U.S., the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) forecasts sales in 2016 of 1 million drones weighing more than 0.55 lb., up 145% from 2015 and 230% from 2014. That weight is the lower limit for registration under FAA rules introduced on Dec. 21, 2015. After seven weeks, 330,000 owners had registered an unknown number of UAVs between 0.55-55 lb., likely well short of the number in use.

Rockwell Collins has received an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for its Pro Line Fusion avionics upgrade for King Air 350 turboprops that were originally delivered with Pro Line II avionics. The STC was part of a joint effort with Landmark Aviation Winston-Salem and BHE & Associates. The upgrade is available through Rockwell Collins-authorized dealers. The avionics include touchscreen technology found on new King Airs, Rockwell Collins said.

Embraer’s Phenom 100 light jets have been selected for multi-engine pilot training for armed forces aircrew in the U.K. The contract with Affinity Flight Training Services will provide five aircraft to the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s Military Flying Training System. The contract includes support services and an option for additional aircraft. The fixed-wing program is intended to replace the current multi-engine and basic flying training delivered on aging platforms with a new integrated solution, Embraer said.

Airbus Corporate Jet Center (ACJC) has delivered a major Airbus ACJ319 refurbishment for the Ivory Coast government, with everything from dual-broadband Internet connectivity to a master stateroom. The Internet uses an Inmarsat connection to provide all 19 passengers with 1.2 Mbps of data transfer speed. The interior features a crew-rest zone, forward passenger section, dining area, office with sofa and seats, and a master suite with lavatory. The job included a 10-year C check, fuselage modification and two new Satcom antennas installed by ACJC.

Cessna Aircraft has selected four universities to take part in its 2016 Top Hawk program, which supports flight training, recruitment and promotional activities at each university. Cessna has selected Kent State University, LeTourneau University, Purdue University and Westminster College for the program. Each will take delivery of a new Cessna Skyhawk 172. The universities were selected for their aviation programs and commitment to general aviation, Cessna said.

Textron Aviation has completed the expanded certification of its U.S. company-owned service centers that support Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft, the company said. All 14 service centers in North America have received the expanded certifications, which allow them to service all brands. The company also expanded its mobile service fleet to more than 60 vehicles in North America and Europe, and placed a third dedicated support aircraft in service, including its first in Europe, to transport technicians and parts to a customer’s location.

Several Gulfstream Aerospace service centers have received approved maintenance organization designations from various civil aviation authorities, which increases maintenance and repair options for customers. Qatar granted AMO status to its Savannah, Georgia, and Luton, England, centers. Savannah’s center also received approval from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department to provide maintenance on HKAR-registered G650/650ER aircraft. It also was authorized by Brazil’s Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil for G650/650ER, G280 and G150 jets.

Bristow has invested in a drone inspection company as it diversifes away from an oil and gas industry that finds itself in a slump over low prices. The Houston-based firm is investing $4.2 million in U.K.-based Sky Futures, which provides unmanned air vehicles to support inspections of oil and gas facilities onshore and offshore. The investment comes as Bristow sees its revenues from oil and gas support continue to drop as energy companies reduce levels of exploration and the number of personnel working offshore.

Gogo added nearly 1,100 aircraft to its installed fleet in 2015. That is a record number of installations for the Chicago-based company. “Gogo’s operational capabilities are second to none,” Gogo President and CEO Michael Small said. “Whether that’s navigating the regulatory environment, installing equipment on a wide range of fleet types or servicing those aircraft wherever they might fly around the globe, we’ve built an organization around operational excellence that’s unmatched in our industry.