After some missteps and setbacks, there's good news for Maine's Brunswick Executive Airport (BXM). The former P-3 Orion base is getting some federal money as well as a new tenant. The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) — the agency that is redeveloping the former Brunswick Naval Air Station — will be getting $1.1 million federal grant to help renovate a former Navy Air Operations Center and turn it into a general aviation terminal.
In August, Charter flights continue to be the bright spot of business aircraft flying activity, up 14.3% year-over-year overall. Small and midsize aircraft charter operations drove that increase, improving 21.6% and 19.2%, respectively. Counting all operations, however, year-over-year flights are relatively flat in North America, with just a 1% slide, according to the latest ARGUS data. However, ARGUS is finding a month-over-month strengthening, up 3.2% from July. All categories improved except turboprop fractional and large-cabin charter operations.
The Federal Communications Commission is proposing to phase out 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) and transition to units transmitting on 406 MHz since only the latter's signals are processed by a network of search satellites. However, the Department of Transportation opposes the move citing expense — about $500 million to re-equip the civilian fleet — and the “unequivocal intent” of the Congress to permit use of the 121.5 units.
Eurocopter expects to win certification for its EC175 helicopter early next year. Certification of the 16,000 lb., 16-18 passenger utility lifter, the first of four all-new types that Eurocopter plans to offer this decade, will be “very early in 2014” with deliveries beginning shortly thereafter, according to Faury. Eurocopter is working with the European Aviation Safety Agency, the FAA and Transport Canada to certify the EC175, which it is developing with Avicopter of China.
“Truly Earning That Fourth Stripe” (February 2013, page 45) hits the nail on the head with what is required to be a commander of an aircraft. Many copilots who can fly an aircraft very well and think they should be in the left seat, yet display none of the other qualities you mention. I would agree that flying the aircraft is a given; that's the minimum we expect from them and only about 10% of the job in the changing world of business aviation.
One of the more interesting aircraft projects on the near horizon is in fact a second coming of what was surely one of the most controversial civil aircraft ever certified and produced — the Eclipse very light jet. Inspired by a proof-of-concept aircraft sponsored by Williams International to highlight its EJ-22 engine, the Eclipse project launched in 1998.
Vistajet, the swiss-based block charter outfit is teaming with jet aviation flight services and newly formed Wheels Up to expand into the U.S. Under the agreement, Vistajet will initially base 12 new Bombardier Global jets in the U.S. For both international and domestic trips. The aircraft, valued at $600 million, will be managed and operated by Jet Aviation on its FAR Part 135 certificate. Wheels Up, meanwhile, will market and sell the service, called the Vistajet Flight Solutions Program.
AgustaWestland is flight testing several aerodynamic improvements expected to boost performance of its AW609 TiltRotor. The manufacturer has test flown the aircraft with a modified vertical tail fin at its Cascina Costa flight test facility in Italy. That alteration is part of a package of improvements including a more aerodynamic design for the engine exhaust nozzles and changes to the prop-rotor spinner cones. Together, the mods reportedly reduce the aircraft's drag factor by approximately 10% and result in a significant weight savings as well.
I was surprised by a letter titled “One Sided” in the September B&CA (page 12) by Steven Twist, a lawyer for Services Group of America . . . and more so, that you even printed it. I read the referenced article, “Command Presence” (Cause & Circumstance, June 2013, page 55), and went over the NTSB documents several times and can find nothing in Dick Aarons' reporting that is even closely one-sided. Instead, I found it to be factual, to the point, and exactly what I expected when I viewed the NTSB report.
Cockpit Apps has released the latest version of their app, iLOG 2.0, which incorporates several new capabilities and enhancements. New in the release is an optional MEL function that alerts the crew and maintenance personnel to Category A, B, C, and D MEL items. It also tracks both hours and cycles for each log and pre-populates a crew's out/off/on/in time using the industry standard of one-hour show, one-hour-go time. Other enhancements make iLOG 2.0 viable for smaller aircraft operators including a single-pilot option and an RVSM On/Off option.
Blu Halkin has become the fifth AOC-based operator at Cambridge International Airport, U.K., when it celebrated its maiden flight from Cambridge to Milan with its Citation CJ3 (G-PAOL). Blu Halkin's second base is in Northern Italy, and selected Cambridge because of its maintenance expertise and ground handling capabilities.
Kenneth E. Gazzola (President and CEO FlightLogix Inc. McLean, Va. )
Regarding “London's Light” (Viewpoint, July 2013, page 7), you may be half German, but it is your other half that enables you to spin such compelling yarns and repeatedly link them productively to aviation. But then again, aviation is the link to most everything and more and more business executives are realizing that. President and CEO FlightLogix Inc. McLean, Va.
Kenn Ricci is further cementing his status as a business aviation mogul with the acquisition of the Flexjet fractional aircraft operation from Bombardier. The $185 million deal, announced Sept. 5, includes a commitment to place orders and options for up to 245 Bombardier business aircraft valued at $5.2 billion. The sale, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, is expected to close by year's end. Directional Aviation Capital, the entity acquiring Flexjet, is headed by Ricci, an attorney and former charter pilot who founded Flight Options in 1998.
This past summer, the general aviation community welcomed the fact that the House GA Caucus had reached 200 members, making it one of the largest caucuses in the chamber. Its Senate counterpart also had grown in numbers, encompassing 35 members. Such strength is good news because the caucuses have played instrumental roles in key issues affecting the industry including debates on user fees, contract towers, air tour restrictions and other contentious matters, one of the most notable being the protection of general aviation privacy.
StandardAero secured a three-year agreement to provide Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for RainAir Aircraft Services. Under the agreement, StandardAero will be the exclusive engine service provider for RainAir, which is based at Albertville Regional Airport in Alabama. StandardAero's facility will perform line and heavy maintenance engine work up to hot section inspection at its Maryville, Tenn., facility and engine overhauls at its Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada shop.
Gulfstream Aerospace has seen its Russia-based business-jet fleet grow more than six fold in the last six years, according to an announcement made by Gulfstream President Larry Flynn at the recent Jet Expo in Moscow. There are now 53 customer-operated aircraft in Russia and a combined 76 in Russia and the CIS. In 2007, those numbers were eight and 11, respectively. To support the fleet in Russia and the CIS, Gulfstream has more than $120 million in parts and materials inventory at Luton, Madrid and Basel.
Ac-U-Kwik has developed an airport and FBO iPad app. Data available in the “Corporate Pilot's Airport/FBO Directory for North America and International” includes complete information on FBOs and fuel services, selective maintenance, catering, ground transportation, airport diagrams, clearance procedures, weather forecasts and updates, distance calculator and geo-referenced mapping. You can bookmark airport and make notes. For more information, go to: acukwik.com/ipad
Being a high-performance, true eight- to 10-passenger business turboprop aircraft with a refined cabin environment, the King Air 350i has no direct competitors. The sleek Piaggio P180 Avanti II is higher-performance turboprop, but comfortably seats four or five, and up to eight in a pinch, but only five with full fuel. So, the 350i is really in its own niche.
Flight Display Systems Glare Shield Camera is a high-definition, 1080p camera that mounts in the cockpit and provide passengers with an opportunity to observe taxi, takeoff and landing. Specifications include: standard 28 volt power; digital signal processor; removable ¼ - 20 mounting bracket and capable of low-light and glare shield applications. (Product Part Number: FS600CAM-3) Flight Display Systems Alpharetta, Ga. www.flightdisplay.com
While the final report on the loss of Aero Commander N690SM had not been released at this writing, it is certain to make mention of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. These are incidents in which a properly functioning aircraft is flown under the control of a qualified pilot into terrain (water or obstacles) with inadequate awareness on the part of the pilot of the impending collision.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is spearheading an appeal to FAA to either extend the Oct. 11 deadline for comments or withdraw altogether a proposed Airworthiness Directive (AD) calling for inspections and replacement of Engine Components Inc. (ECi) and Airmotive Engineering “Titan” cylinders found on 6,000 Continental 520 and 550 engines. Released Aug. 12, the AD would cost operators upward of $82.6 million and has generated hundreds of comments, mostly in opposition.
FlightSafety International has installed a Level D Citation XLS+ simulator with a Collins Pro Line 21 suite at its Orlando, Fla., training center. The facility now provides training for the full Citation XL series. Meanwhile,the company added Citation CJ2+ training with a dedicated simulator at its San Antonio, Tex., center, along with a new Level D Cessna Caravan simulator equipped with Garmin G600 suite at its Cessna Learning Center in Wichita.
