BBA Aviation and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) are exploring possibly merging certain parts of their businesses, a combination that, depending how much of the businesses would be merged, could create one of the largest independent engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) entities worldwide, with annual revenues approaching $2.5 billion.
ANA Holdings, the parent company of Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, is planning to expand training offerings in Asia with its purchase of Miami, Fla.-based Pan Am International Flight Academy from American Capital. Pan Am provides training to airlines and individuals worldwide through simulation and other training services. All Nippon plans to expand Pan Am’s reach in Asia by providing training to other Asian airlines.
In casting a net far and wide seeking solutions to the runway incursion problem, the FAA is particularly interested in the brand of unencumbered creativity that tends to spring from the minds of college students. That optimism in part is what is behind the safety agency's annual design competition, now in its eighth year. This year's winner in the runway safety category, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) students, devised an aid for the worst offenders in the runway incursion problem—general aviation pilots.
Unloved and abandoned by its creator, the outcast Hawker 4000 (see photo at right below) is being embraced as a valued member by at least one adoptive family. Talon Air, an aircraft management and charter operator, now has nine of the super-midsize twins on its FAR135 certificate. Since only 69 of the big Hawkers were built before its manufacturer halted production and went through a bankruptcy that included cancelling their owners' warranties, Talon Air's fleet is by far the largest. And it is delighted with that distinction.
Birthplace of the iPhone, e-ticket and McDonald's, California has another first: a fly-all-you-want membership airline. Following a tsunami of pre-launch publicity, Surf Air began operations in June.
African owners of operators of Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) equipment are reassured of continuity for MRO following the acquisition of HBC European MRO business by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group.
Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announced that is board of directors elected company President Kelly Ortberg to the additional role of CEO. He succeeds Clay Jones who retired as CEO after nearly 34 years with the company. Jones will continue as non-executive chairman.
The Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) AirVenture rapidly is becoming the U.S. national airshow, with a broad-spectrum demographic that includes a large, but low-profile group of turbine aircraft owners and pilots. Stéphane Mayer, Daher-Socata CEO, says 70 TBM700/850 operators were at Oshkosh this year.
Has the ascent finally begun? The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports that during the first half of 2013 the industry shipped 1,014 new aircraft new aircraft, an increase of nearly 9% over the same period a year earlier. Total billing of $10.4 billion was up a whopping 26%, the first since 2008 that airplane revenues exceeded $10 billion at the halfway mark. Deliveries and dollars were up in all categories with the notable exception of business jets, whose numbers slipped from 295 in 2012, to 283 this year, and revenue dropped by 4%.
Air Tractor recently delivered its 3,000th aircraft, a PT6A-34AG powered model 502B ag plane, to Agropecuaria Maggi Ltda., of Brazil. The operator has three other AT-502Bs for spraying crops of soybeans, cotton and corn. Last year the Olney, Tex., manufacturer produced a record 180 aircraft, all PT6-powered, which are used in ag work, fire fighting, narcotic crop eradication, fuel-hauling, fighting locust plagues, military strike/reconnaissance, and cleaning up oil spills in coastal waters. Air Tractors operate in 30 countries. For more information: www.airtractor.com
Looking for more information on the complexities of weight and balance? The FAA has compiled a comprehensive guide on the subject, appropriate for pilots and technicians alike. The handbook provides explanations and examples of normal and adverse loading, record keeping and why balance is so important to safe flight. To download, visit www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/media/FAA-h…
Eurcopter and Ramco Systems are partnering to offer state-of-the-art helicopter maintenance software that will ease the life of operators and maintenance centers. The agreement allows both companies to offer additional mobility and functionality for the collection and treatment of MRO-related data by providing effective and cost-efficient fleet management services that are affordable and user friendly for all operators.
Since guide dogs, alert dogs and other animals often accompany disabled people in their travels, be sure to consider not only where the animal will be stationed once aboard the aircraft, but where the animal will be able to relieve itself before, during and after long flights. Also, define who is responsible for providing escort assistance to an airport service animal relief area and how passengers accompanied by a service animal can obtain assistance for this purpose. And bring a scooper, just in case.
Cessna Aircraft Co. selected Aviation Occupant Safety's (AOS) inflatable side-facing passenger protection system as standard for the side-facing seating configuration on the new midsize Citation Latitude business jet. AOS is a joint venture between two global safety restraint industry leaders: Aircraft Belts, Inc. (ABI) and Key Safety Systems (KSS).
Pilatus has teamed with Beijing Tian Xing Jian Yu Science Co. to produce components and assemble PC-12 and PC-6 Porter single-engine turboprops in Chongqing, China, with China the intended market. The facility opened in August. Pilatus, which has initially committed to supplying 50 aircraft, notes that only civilian aircraft will be assembled at the facility, and the company has no plans to build components or assemble its PC-7 MkII, PC-9M and PC-21 military trainers there.
Avantair's future is looking grim. Some creditors of the Piaggio P-180 fractional operator, grounded since June, have filed an involuntary petition for its liquidation. The company had until mid-August to respond. Avantair faces repossession of its 56 aircraft from lessors, Midsouth Services and Clear Aircraft, and lawsuits from fractional owners claiming the company “did not adequately service participants” who suffered because of the operator's failure to identify an elevator problem, maintain a sufficient number of aircraft or pilots.
West Coast Aviation Services, Santa Ana, Calif., has selected Anton Pint, formerly an FAA accountable manager, as the new Part 135 director of maintenance for West Coast Charters. Alfredo Garcia, formerly sales manager is the new general manager for West Coast Aircraft Maintenance.
The Experimental Aircraft Association's drive for a new leader has reached a fork in the road, and took it. When Jack Pelton was appointed chairman following the sudden departure of President Rod Hightower last fall, he said his primary responsibility was finding a new chief executive. However, during the AirVenture gathering in Oshkosh, Wis., last month, he said the association has suspended its search and even suggested Hightower may not be replaced.
Key Air, Oxford, Conn., appointed 40-year aviation veteran Jim Bennett as its vice president of Flight Operations and Bill Ekstrom as its new manager of Business Operations.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, appointed Luiz Sandler regional vice president of sales for South America. He replaces Bill Arrazola, who recently retired.
