Jetex Flight Support has set up a new handling facility at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and will provide a full range of services to private jet operators. The company will also provide supervisory service at the country’s other airports. Services include landing and over-flight permits, fueling, ground handling, air traffic clearances and concierge service services. Aircraft charter service will also be offered including air ambulance and panoramic private tours. Jetex Dubai, UAE
The FAA issued Jeppesen a letter of operational suitability confirming the form and functionality of IPad mini for use in the cockpit when paired with Jeppesen’s electronic flight bag (EFB) solutions. In the U.S., FAR Part 91K, 121, 125 and 135 fractional, commuter, on-demand operators and air carriers are required to gain formal FAA authorization to use EFB solutions inflight. Jeppesen will share copies of the letter to interested customers using the iPad mini and affected Jeppesen Apps for use in their authorization package.
Legacy 500’s standard Rockwell Collins Pro Line fusion flight deck features four 15-1 inch displays, arranged in a T configuration. Displays may be split into two, three or four windows, providing flexibility for individual optimization for the phase of flight.
Gogo Inc.’s business aviation group, Aircell, has launched Gogo Biz inflight internet and voice service to business aircraft in Canada. Business aviation customers can now use the service anywhere it’s available in the Continental U.S., Alaska and Canada. Canadian coverage is included with all Gogo Biz monthly service plans. No additional roaming or registration fees are required. Service coverage is available in Canada’s most populous regions and flight routes, with seamless service on cross-border flight.
The ADS-B receiver from Stratus has received three enhancements from partners Appareo, ForeFlight and Sporty’s. A split screen attitude view, animated radar and the iPad battery-saving Stratus Replay feature are all available as a free update for Stratus 2 owners. To access these new features, pilots should first download ForeFlight version 6.0, available in the App Store. This includes Stratus firmware, which pilots can update directly from ForeFlight. The upgrade is free. The Stratus 2 is available for $899.
Air France Flight AF2184 departed Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) at 0653 on March 24, 2012, bound for Tunis-Carthage International Airport (TUN). The captain was the pilot flying (PF) and the copilot was the pilot monitoring (PM). Departure, climb and cruise phases for the Airbus A319 were routine and without incident. However, the arrival at Tunis almost ended tragically due to a hurried descent, a runway change, poor planning and a lack of basic CRM.
Business jet apartheid remained the dominant theme in 2013, as it has for the last five years since the world economy struggles to recover from its deepest downturn in eight decades. Most long-range, large-cabin business aircraft manufacturers flourished while most light and midsize jet makers floundered. Total jet deliveries stabilized at 678, essentially in line with deliveries a decade ago, according to GAMA statistics.
China’s unique combination of prosperity and geography has resulted in an aircraft market that continues to focus on heavy iron that can connect China to any other spot on the planet non-stop. And, to the great relief of aircraft manufacturers, this market prefers to buy new aircraft.
As if the decision to buy an aircraft was not challenging enough, the next million-dollar question (sometimes quite literally) is where to register the thing. Offshore, or “island” aircraft registries offer owners an extensive list of options and perks from possible tax savings to catch-phrase tail “numbers,” which we’ll delineate here.
Daniel Herr, an aviation attorney based in Murray Hill, N.J., advises clients on the advantages and limitations of fractional ownership. (He can be accessed at http://www.FractionalLaw.com) B&CA asked him how Avantair managed to survive the economic downturn of 2008, only to plunge into the financial problems that led to its internal breakdown and ultimately to bankruptcy.
William Quinn, president of Aviation Management Systems in Portsmouth, N.H., has long consulted on fractional ownership issues and helped place clients into the Avantair program as shareowners when the program was solvent. When the company brought in retired FAA upper-level managers to help sort out its problems, “we were concerned but didn’t know how serious the situation was and where it would end up,” Quinn told B&CA.
In a Nov. 13, 2012, email, Avantair President and founder Steve Santo attempted to reassure the troubled fractional ownership program’s 600-plus shareholders that the company was being proactive when it voluntarily grounded its fleet of 56 Piaggio P180 Avanti turboprops the previous month.
"Boosting DCA" (Washington Watch, February 2014, page 59) is the first article regarding Reagan Washington National Airport that hasn't totally ignored the fact that access to DCA is still severely limited. I've been getting very tired of aviation publications extolling TSA's superb efforts at relaxing the guidelines at DCA every time a new gateway airport is added. You are right on in acknowledging that there has been progress, but we are a long way from where we should be.
The long running fight for control of Santa Monica, Calif., Airport entered a pitched legal battle recently to determine the future of the facility, a key general aviation field outside Los Angeles — and possibly put hundreds more airports in jeopardy. Late last October the city filed suit with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California seeking to control the fate of SMO, insisting it has “unencumbered title” to the airport property and can do with it “as it chooses.” The municipality wants the option to close the airport after July 2015.
TAG Aviation recently introduced iPad–based electronic flight bag (EFB) technology to its Switzerland-based fleet, featuring Jeppesen Mobile FlightDeck. Jeppesen will help to eliminate paper-based information from TAG's operations and increase overall operational efficiency. The company aims to achieve savings in fuel consumption by reducing the weight of each pilot's flight bag. On average, these can weigh from 40 to 50 lb. each. Jeppesen www.jeppesen.com
