The market adage, “Don't try to catch the falling knife,” was born of hard experience. But in the used aircraft world, the knife seems to have finally hit the floor, and buyers are gradually emerging from the shadows of recession. There is no doubt that buyers and sellers are wary now, but are they smarter?
I provide supplemental pilot services on Gulfstream IV and V aircraft through May Hill Inc., a Connecticut-based C-Corp. In doing so, along with all the other necessary things involved in providing these services, I must go to recurrent training once per year for each of the two types of aircraft that I operate. As both the owner and the working man (I pay for my training), I feel that the training requirements under FAR Part 91 versus Part 135, as well as the content and the methods used, can certainly use a recasting.
ProJet Aviation will host the eight annual Aviation Education and Career Expo on Oct. 25 at the ProJet corporate hangar on the Leesburg Executive Airport. The event is attended by more than 500 students, educators and parents who will interact with more than 40 aviation vendors. It's free to attendees and features speakers, videos and demonstrations that will showcase the variety of career opportunities in aviation. Speakers include Jamail Larkins (right), pilot and entrepreneur; Lt. Meagan Flannigan who has accumulated over 1,250 hr. flying F-14Ds, and F/A-18s; and Capt.
Rockwell Collins' $1.39 billion buy of Arinc from the Carlyle Group gives the avionics maker its own end-to-end ground-to-cockpit communications link, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA's NextGen air traffic management system. The deal, announced in August, was expected close quickly.
While U.S. flight operations have remained flat in recent years, European operations are continuing to slide year over year, particularly in the western countries, according to the latest figures by Eurocontrol. Operations have climbed throughout the year in Europe, but when compared with the previous year's levels, traffic is down across the board. And 2012 levels were down from 2011. In July, the number of arrivals in Europe was 3% fewer. Departures were down 2.2%, internal flights within Europe were off 2.8% and overflights through Europe were down 3.3%.
FltPlan.com has completely redesigned its website. The updated design features all of the same tools such as weather/notams, airports and FBOs, area fuel prices, nearby airport, quick-trip information, digital charts, and aircraft tracing in a more organized and easily accessible presentation. This is the first major redesign of FltPlan.com since the company started 14 years ago. FltPlan.com Southbury, Conn.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., appointed Joe Lacorte regional manger for the southeast region. Before joining Duncan, he served as a field representative for both GE Aircraft Engine Group and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
In response to a request by Dassault Aviation, FAA is extending to Oct. 15 the comment period on a proposal to expand use of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) in place of natural vision during landing. The comment period was set to close Sept. 9. The proposal calls for permitting use of EFVS to continue descent from 100-ft. height above runway through touchdown on certain straight-in instrument approaches, including Category II and Category III approaches. The proposal would also permit the dispatch and approach when the destination airport is below minimums.
JETS, part of Germany's 328 Group, is now an authorized Service Center for Dassault Aviation. They will undertake line maintenance on the Falcon 900 and 2000 at its expanding London Biggin Hill MRO facility and also support the company's European network. The company employs around 30 licensed engineers at Biggin and is actively recruiting for more to complement its MRO activity at Bournemouth Airport.
AOPA, Frederick, Md., announced that Mark Baker is the new president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He replaces Craig Fuller, who has led the organization for the last five years.
Distractions in the cockpit can have terrible consequences. There are times when pilots can be oversaturated with tasks, alerts and confusing information. There are also times when a flight is so boring that there is a strong temptation to pull out the tablet and lose focus on job number one: flying the aircraft. To help pilots learn about such dangers, the FAA has published an advisory on recognizing and managing cockpit distractions.
Global Aviation has added a Bombardier Challenger 300 to charter fleet. The additional aircraft joins the company's Global Express XRS, Challenger 604 and Hawker 800SP. Global Aviation plans to further expand its fleet later this year with a Gulfstream GV and a Hawker 900XP. Its fleet is based in Portland, Ore.
Also as part of its sale of Flexjet, Bombardier is selling its 49% stake in Flexjet partner Jet Solutions, which held the Part 135 certificate and contracted to provide charter flights for the Dallas-based fractional. The 51% stakeholders of Jet Solutions, including President Dennis Keith, are buying the remaining portion of their company, but will maintain their strategic relationship with Flexjet, says Flexjet President Deanna White.
Business aviation leaders are encouraged by an endorsement from transport ministers at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum of a set of core principles to foster business aviation in the region. The ministers, representing 21 economies, agreed to three core principles Sept. 5 during the forum.
Pan Am International Flight Academy launched its new pilot training website — PanAmAcademy.com/Pilot-Training. The site details the training courses and programs, training location and aircraft, accommodations, student resources, and an application process for enrollment. The company recently re-entered Ab Initio training after a 5-year hiatus with the acquisition for the former Airline Career Academy (ACA) earlier this year. Pan Am International Flight Academy Miami, Fla.
The King Air 350i's flight deck is a mixture of new and old. The panel has three, large-format, portrait configuration AFD-3000 adaptive flight displays used for left and right PFDs plus a center MFD with engine instrument indications. The core of the system is the central Integrated Avionics Processing System, a computer chassis at the center of the system's hub-and-spoke architecture. Standard equipment includes an Integrated Flight Information System that hosts electronics charts, enhanced map graphics, and XM satellite radio or ACARS weather, among other functions.
Garmin is developing aN STC to install the G5000 avionics suite in the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP. The avionics manufacturer hopes to have the STC complete by 2015 and offer the upgrade through its dealer network. The retrofit system will feature three high-resolution 12-in. flight displays along with two touch-screen display/controllers. Pilots will be able to view maps, charts, checklists, TAWS, TCAS, flight plans, weather, and video input. It will be designed for the latest NextGen technologies, including PBN/RNP 0.3 with LPV/APV approach capability and ADS-B.
The search is on for bad players in the Avantair bankruptcy. Beth Ann Sharrer, a court appointed trustee says she is “actively reviewing the debtor's books and records to determine whether the estate has any causes of action against the Officers or other directors and officers of the Debtor, including but not limited to claims for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or self-dealing.” She has also filed a notification that FAA has issued emergency orders of suspension of most of the Avantair fleet.
Executive AirShare has added three Cessna Citation CJ2+ aircraft to its fleet to complement its existing Embraer and Beechcraft products. All three are 2009 models year or newer with each having less than 800 hr. of flight time. “The CJ2+ offers the range, speed and seating our owners desire and is the aircraft we need to provide the comprehensive air service our customers expect,” said Keith Plumb, president and COO Executive AirShare.
Aspen Avionics, Albuquerque, N.M., announced the Perri Coyne has joined the company as director of Marketing Operations. Perri comes to Aspen from Beechcraft Corp. Prior to that, she worked at Honeywell Aerospace in a variety of marking and media relations posts. She began her aviation career at Signature Flight Support in a marketing role.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's (AOPA) annual Aviation Summit set for Oct. 10-12 in Fort Worth, Tex., will be its last. Mark Baker, the association's new president, is scrapping the big convention in favor of local “grassroots” events at which he can better mingle with AOPA members. The decision marks the first major shift for the association under Baker, who took the helm on Sept. 6. A pilot and former head of Orchard Supply Hardware Stores is the fifth person to lead the association, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year.
Cirrus Aircraft has partnered with Lake Superior College to develop and implement an Aircraft Assembly Pre-employment Program, which is part of a Minnesota Job Skills Program Grant for workforce development aimed at recruiting, training and preparing low income individuals for assembly jobs at Cirrus. The grant will fund the program's curriculum development and enrollment for up to 60 participants. Contact SOAR Career Solutions at (218) 722-3126 or [email protected].
Bell Helicopter has delivered a Model 407GX to Helidrive in Saint Petersburg, the first of the type for Russia. Helidrive, which represents Bell in northwest Russia, accepted the aircraft is early September. It plans to use the aircraft for private and charter flights. To date, more than 1,100 Bell 407s have been delivered globally. The 407GX has a Garmin G1000H flight deck, including a terrain avoidance warning system, synthetic vision and a traffic information system.
ANA Holdings, the parent company of Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, has purchased Pan Am International Flight Academy and plans to expand training offerings in Asia with its purchase of the Miami, Fla.-based operation. Pan Am provides training to airlines and individuals worldwide through simulation and other training services.
