Business & Commercial Aviation

Bell Helicopter says it’s laying off 315 workers because of reductions in V-22 Osprey production and reduced demand for commercial models. The layoffs affect management and non-management employees as well as union and non-union workers. They mainly impact Bell’s Fort Worth, Texas, facilities. Last year, the Textron subsidiary announced a series of layoffs, including 320 in October.

The Santa Monica, California, City Council recently adopted a proposal to implement higher-priced leases for Santa Monica Airport (SMO) tenants. At their March 24 meeting, council members approved new leasing policies for tenants on a variety of parts of the municipal airport, but did not discuss jet exhaust limits, according to reports. The approvals involved new three-year leases for airport tenants and month-to-month leases for non-aviation tenants.

​ Dassault Aviation has added a second Falcon 8X into its flight test program that flew for the first time on March 30. After initial checks on the digital flight controls and engine system, test pilots Laverne and Faurdesus took the aircraft to 43,000 ft. and Mach 0.8 for performance testing. They then ran a series of additional checks before landing after 2 hr. and 45 min. in the air. The aircraft will mostly serve for performance testing.

Aergen Management Services, Bellevue, Washington, announced Heinz Westen has been appointed chief financial officer. Michael Barry has been appointed as the company’s chief marketing officer and Tom Kaluza has been named senior vice president. Westen most recently served as chief financial officer of Dubai Aerospace Enterprises, while Kaluza served as senior vice president of marketing for DAE Capital Advisors.

​A study by the National Business Aviation Association found that more than 20% of all business aviation users felt more productive while on board a

For an aircraft to be listed in the Purchase Planning Handbook, a production conforming article must have flown by May 1 of this year. The dimensions, weights and performance characteristics of each model listed are representative of the current production aircraft being built or for which a type certificate application has been filed. The Basic Operating Weights we publish should be representative of actual production turboprop and turbofan aircraft because we ask manufacturers to supply us with the average weights of the last ten commercial aircraft that have been delivered.

2015: Purchase Planning Handbook Business Airplane Comparison Charts

IBAC Buys Aviation Safety Data Business The International Business Aviation Council recently bought Robert E. Breiling Associates with the assistance of the National Business Aviation Association and will incorporate the company’s safety data and collection methods.

Of all the weather phenomena with which pilots must contend, that old nemesis, the thunderstorm, remains the most feared. And for good reason.

Jet Aviation recently finalized a 10-year concession agreement with the Macau Airport Authority for 4,000 square meters of a new hangar built specifically for business aviation maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul (MRO) work at Macau International Airport. Under the agreement, Jet will lease half of the new 8,000 square-meter hangar in addition to 1,000 square meters of workshop and office space.

We seldom see so many exciting new developments in our annual avionics listings. For example, there’s a try-n-buy synthetic vision system, several electronics countermeasure offerings, some promising wearable tech, rebate programs, several new FANS-1 offerings, avionics for meeting FAR Part 135 rotary-wing rules, new flight and cockpit voice recorders, plus a wide variety of new avionics packages available to meet on-coming U.S. and European Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) mandates.

Journey to the Top

Bombardier has certified and delivered its first Learjet 75 light business jet to a customer in Poland. The Learjet 75 received certification by officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Poland. “We are confident the Learjet 75 aircraft will provide customers in Poland with an experience that exceeds all expectations,” said Veria Kolyuchaya, Bombardier Business Aircraft regional vice president of sales for Eastern Europe, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States.

Airbus Americas will move its engineering center, along with 400 employees, from Wichita’s Old Town to Wichita State University’s new Innovation Campus, the company said. The Wichita State Innovation Alliance has signed letters of intent with Airbus for the move, which will bring new opportunities for applied learning in aerospace engineering to Airbus, the company said. The move is expected to take place in January 2017. Most of Airbus’s Wichita employees are engineers who work on Airbus wings and airframes.

Butler Aviation will spend $3 million to improve and expand its facilities at La Guardia Airport, New York, under the terms of a 15-year operating agreement with the Port of Authority. New tanks and piping will be installed, along with passenger waiting areas, a pilots’ lounge and operations office.

et-A and Avgas Per Gallon Fuel Prices April 2015

​1. Lightspeed Adds Capability to Sierra Headset Lightspeed Aviation added Bluetooth audio capability to its entry level Sierra headset, making the company’s entire line of headsets compatible with Bluetooth cell phone, music and audio alerts from aviation apps installed on Bluetooth-capable devices. It is also compatible with FlightLink, the first inflight cockpit recording application for the Apple iPad and iPhone. Lightspeed positions Sierra as a value-priced entry into its premium ANR aviation headsets. Five-year warranty.

Jet Aviation’s completions center in Basel, Switzerland, was recently awarded outfitting contracts for two Boeing B777-300ER and a BBJ3 aircraft. The 777 project is slated to begin immediately, while the BBJ3 is expected to be delivered to Jet early next year.

Of all the weather phenomena with which pilots must contend, that old nemesis, the thunderstorm, remains the most feared. And for good reason.

A proposal by the FAA would reduce the ability of both business and general aviation operations to access airports in the New York City area, hurting business aviation users and the fixed base operators (FBOs) who service them, according to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). The FAA recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would reduce availability of unscheduled slot allocations at La Guardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.

Years ago, advancing from being a hands-on mechanic, to technical supervisor and, ultimately, to the director of maintenance (DOM) position was actually kind of easy. That’s because few wanted the top job. So, whoever was standing in the right (or wrong) spot when the old DOM quit, retired or was fired would get the title . . . and the headaches.

Looking for opportunities to advance your career, or for the technicians who work for you? There are plenty of ways to help build the skills and confidence to become better technicians, and better leaders, while improving the safety and effectiveness of your operation. Consider the NBAA’s Professional Development Program (PDP) and Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Program. Both provide the skills and leadership training necessary for managing and developing a well-run flight department.

JetTech is amending its Garmin GTN autopilot, coupled with LPV FAA Supplemental Type Certificate, for the Citation 500 series, to include all Primus 1000-equipped Bravo, Ultra, Encore and Excel aircraft. With the amended STC, JetTech will soon offer installation data packages and AIU for its expanded line of Citation aircraft through approved Garmin-authorized dealers along with a complete documentation package to support the installation process.

​ Bell Helicopter’s Model 505 Jet Ranger X is making good headway — in both development and the marketplace. The helicopter began its flight trials at its Mirabel, Quebec manufacturing site last November, the same month that China’s Reignwood Investment, Ltd., signed for 50 of the light singles. The aircraft features a Garmin G1000H integrated flight deck and is powered by a Turbomeca Arrius 2R turboshaft engine rated at 504 shp (takeoff) and 457 shp (max continuous) and fitted with a dual channel FADEC.

Duncan Aviation, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, has expanded its non-destructive testing services to helicopter operators. It has provided NDT services to business aircraft for more than 20 years. Helicopter operators can remove and send components to Duncan Aviation, along with the appropriate maintenance manuals and documentation, for any required NDT testing. It provides eddy current, florescent penetrant, ultrasonic and magnetic and particle inspections on all makes and model aircraft.