FlightSafety International is building its fourth full-flight simulator for the G650. It will be available at FlightSafety’s Learning Center in Wilmington, Delaware, in early 2016. The new simulator will feature tightly integrated computer hardware and software across subsystems to allow for more accurate and higher fidelity simulation than found in other current and previous simulators, the FSI said.
Industry Week has chosen Cessna Aircraft’s Mexico factory as its 2014 Best Plants winner. Industry Week notes that the factory completed more than 250 continuous improvement practices, or “kaizens,” and has solved crucial problems in complex processes. Cessna has also simplified the machining process to improve cycle time and lowered required inventory levels with improved safety for the operator, it said. Cessna employs 800 people at its Mexico facility.
Spending on private jet charter activities increased 15% in 2014 over 2013, according to New Flight Charters. The average amount spent per charter rose from $14,841 in 2013 to $17,068 in 2014, it said. The average includes all charter activity and aircraft types, from piston aircraft through heavy and long-range private jets. Midsize jet activity increased 18.8% year over year and heavy jet activity nearly doubled, the company said. The data is from more than 750 U.S.
Landmark Aviation has acquired the assets of Island City Flying Service, a fixed base operator at Key West International Airport. The expansion into the Key West market complements Landmark’s south Florida locations, the company said. Landmark began operations in the former Island City Flying Service facility on Feb. 1. The FBO’s services include a lounge, flight planning areas, hangars and an executive conference room. Customs and immigration services are also available, it said.
Bombardier has unveiled plans to raise new financing as Pierre Beaudoin steps down to be replaced as president and CEO by outsider Alaine Bellemare, the former head of United Technologies Corp.’s (UTC) Propulsion & Aerospace business. The moves are intended to reassure investors who are increasingly concerned that Bombardier will run out of cash as it funds development of the delayed CSeries narrowbody aircraft, and upcoming Global 7000/8000 large business jets while sales of its regional airliners remain under pressure.
Gogo Inc. will bring ATG-4 air-to-ground connectivity technology to business aviation, the company announced. ATG-4, which is currently on more than 650 commercial aircraft, will be available for business aviation through an equipment package called ATG 8000. First shipments are expected in April. The ATG 8000 will give passengers a significant increase in connectivity speed when compared to other Gogo business equipment packages. At the same time, Gogo is on track for record aircraft installations overall this year.
Quest Aircraft Co., based in Sandpoint, Idaho, delivered 30 Kodiak turboprop aircraft last year and launched several product enhancements and upgrades. Deliveries last year were up from 28 Kodiaks delivered in 2013 and 15 shipped in 2012, according to data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. “ We continue to increase our production and deliveries of the Kodiak as the market rebounds and demand for a versatile product like the Kodiak grows,” Sam Hill, Quest Aircraft CEO, said. The company signed an agreement on Feb.
Keystone Holdings has signed an agreement with Universal Weather and Aviation to acquire Air Service Hawaii, an FBO with six locations in Hawaii. Under the deal, Air Service Hawaii will retain its branding and identity. The acquisition also includes a long-term preferred FBO/handler agreement with Universal to provide Universal’s customer base with quality service when they visit Hawaii.
World Fuel Services, based in Miami, has added four FBOs to its network.YU Lounge at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean; Jet Center Curacao at Hato International Airport in Willemstad, Curacao; and Ecuacentair at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Equador have signed with the company’s network. With the additions, the Air Elite Network has 37 locations worldwide.
Business aviation flight activity turned in its best year since 2008 last year, according to ARGUS TraqPak data. Flight activity last year increased 2% overall from 2013, it said. The largest single year-over-year increase was recorded by small business jets flown by fractional companies. Activity increased 23.6% last year in that category over 2013, ARGUS said. Activity in large cabin jets flown under Part 135 had the second largest gain at 9.4%. Turboprop activity by fractional companies experienced the biggest drop, with flights last year down 29.8%.
Piper Aircraft, based in Vero Beach, Florida, has introduced the single-engine Meridian M500 with upgraded avionics and other improvements. The aircraft features the Garmin G1000 avionics with a dual 10-in. PFD, a 12-in. MFD and a GFC700 autopilot with an enhanced flight control system. The $2.26 million aircraft includes Electronic Stability Protection that helps prevent stalls, spins, steep spirals and loss-of-control conditions and discourages aircraft operation outside the flight envelope.
Cessna Aircraft rolled out its first production Citation Latitude midsize business jet at its Wichita production facility on Jan. 29. The unveiling comes three years after the all-new midsize $16.25 million business jet was introduced.
Bipartisan legislation called the Pilot’s Bill of Rights II that would expand the third-class medical exemption and protections for pilots and airmen was introduced in Congress Feb. 25. The civil helicopter industry is facing a "volatile, challenging market" in 2015, an analyst says. NetJets Aviation has signed a five-year agreement with the FAA to implement NextGen projects.
The Piston Aviation Fuel Initiative, a joint industry-government partnership, could result in a technically feasible and economically viable unleaded avgas.
Seeking to extend its Pro Line Fusion avionics line into the helicopter market, Rockwell Collins is broadening the system’s capabilities for a wide range of missions
If pilots and flight departments don’t study accident, incident and air safety history, drilling down into the root causes of these events, they’re then destined to repeat the same errors.
Taking responsibility for the whereabouts of their aircraft will be a new experience for many of the world’s airlines, and the jury’s out on whether it will be affordable
Growth of membership-based private air travel company Wheels Up is on schedule, according to CEO Kenny Dichter. Plus, SRC Aviation is the first compnay to receive International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) certification.
Aviation Week editors talk about what’s ailing Bombardier in commercial and business aviation and its move to bring in aerospace veteran Alain Bellemare to fix things.
Gulfstream Aerospace has announced that the Gulfstream G650ER has once again demonstrated its ability to go the distance by completing the farthest flight in its history.
