NetJets is taking a cautious approach toward its operations in China, beginning with its management of whole aircraft for clients there, says Chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell. He acknowledges other companies have announced plans to begin fractional operations in China, and says he's interested in watching how that develops. But the nature of the Chinese regulatory structure “does not lend itself to the flexibility” of fractional operations, he tells Aviation Week.
I read the instructions carefully and double-checked my passport to be sure it contained two consecutive blank pages. Good to go. All that remained was to get a mug shot and then send the package to the facilitator to obtain a visa. I well understood the importance of those empty pages.
Williams International reports two new turbofan models — the FJ44-1AP-21 and the FJ44-4A-32 — received FAA certification in May and March, respectively, and production of both is underway. The former powers Cessna's new Citation M2 light jet, producing 10-15% more altitude thrust (depending on conditions) and consuming several percent less fuel at long range cruise than the preceding FJ44-1AP. The engine also provides significantly higher thrust at hot and high takeoff conditions and an increase in the time between overhaul (TBO) from 3500 to 4000 hr.
House lawmakers are pushing for a dramatic overhaul of certification regulations for small aircraft. Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) have introduced the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 that essentially calls for rewriting FAR Part 23 with the intention of halving certification costs while more than doubling safety. The rewrite has strong support from the highest levels of FAA and a number of international aviation authorities.
3M introduced a new line of masking tapes aimed at “Making Masking Simple.” Built on increasing levels of performance, the new products include: Value Masking Tape 101+ for basic jobs such as marking and wrapping; General Use Masking Tape 201+ for bundling, labeling and identifying; Performance Yellow Masking Tape 301+ for industrial paint masking, color coding and sealing; High Performance Green Tape 401+/233+ for high-performance industrial painting of aircraft trucks and other special vehicles; and Specialty High-Temperature Masking Tape 501+ for the highest degree of i
Rockwell Collins' HGS Flight app for the iPad, unveiled last year is now available with a Mandarin language option. Through a quick update via the Apple iTunes App Store or as a first-time download, users will have the option to view text in Mandarin, as well as use new flight sensitivity control. The app features synthetic vision to allow users to see a virtual view of terrain no matter what the weather conditions may be.
Cessna has begun providing AOG maintenance for Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft in Europe, building on the service that the Wichita airframer recently rolled out in the U.S. Cessna's Citation Service Center in Zurich will perform the unscheduled AOG maintenance, providing services Caravans throughout the region. The Zurich center's Mobile Service Unit, one of three Cessna has in Europe, will be certified on the Caravan, along with Citation aircraft.
As part of the global refurbishment program announced in 2012, Jet Aviation Geneva is the first company facility to be transformed with a fresh new corporate look and feel. The newly refurbished Geneva FBO is nearly twice the size of the original, adding 313 sq. meters for a total of 648 sq. meters. The main floor of the FBO now offers a new reception area and three new customer lounges.
Steve Orr (Supervisory Special Agent/Pilot (Ret.) Drug Enforcement Administration Houston, Texas )
Thank you so much for your detailed, informative and comprehensive analysis of the Gulfstream G650 (April 2013, page 24). I do not know how long it took me to read it, but I was impressed with the facts that, as a professional pilot, I demand in an article. I read about six periodicals a month about flying and after reading a terrible article on the Bombardier 6000 in another magazine I decided to write to you. Excellent work and this is why I subscribe to BCA.
During the first quarter of this year, Embraer delivered 29 aircraft, 17 commercial airline jets and 12 business jets, On March 31, 2013, Embraer's firm order backlog totaled $13.3 billion, an increase of $800 million over Dec. 31, 2012. The company delivered four Legacy 650s, five Phenom 100s and three Phenom 300s, one of which was the first U.S.-built 300 delivered to a U.S. customer. Embraer kept the first Phenom 300 off the Melbourne, Fla. production line as a demonstrator.
The FAA'S $928 million in proposed fiscal 2014 NextGen Facilities and Equipment (F&E) spending includes 25 funded line items, 15 of which either gain funding or maintain the level of fiscal 2012, the agency's last full year of spending. Among fiscal 2014's potential big gainers compared to fiscal 2012: $65 million for En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) D position upgrade and system enhancements — up from $0; and $24 million each for the NextGen Weather Processor (NWP) and the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) programs, each up from $0 two years ago.
Pilatus Business Aircraft won an FAA STC to install the Garmin G600 avionics system in all pre-NG PC-12 aircraft produced between 1994 and 2008. Developed in concert with Garmin, the G600 New Perspective avionics system for the PC-12 pairs both the PFD and the MFD in a single 10-in.-wide flat-panel LCD. The installation incorporates the functionality of the PC-12's angle-of-attack information on the G600 PFD. The G600 New Perspective system includes the L3 Trilogy Electronic Standby Instrument System, making the PC-12's panel all-glass.
While the majority of helicopter manufacturers have focused their attention and development funds on ever heavier and technologically advanced machines, Robinson Helicopter Co. has become a significant rotary wing builder by serving the opposite spectrum.
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has acquired 100% of the share capital of FlairJet Ltd., the London Oxford Airport-based aircraft management and charter company. FlairJet will become part of the Group's newly formed Aviation Services business unit and will continue to be led by Managing Director and founder, David Fletcher. In its third year of operation, FlairJet will complement Cambridge Airport-based operator Marshall Executive Aviation (MEA). The acquisition extends the service offering of the recently formed JETability brand.
Pilatus Aircraft ended 2012 with its lowest sales total in at least five years, but a series of contracts for its military, trainer and special mission aircraft propelled the company to its strongest year ever in order intake and positions the Swiss OEM for growth. The company reported 2012 at 593 million CHF ($625 million U.S.), down from 781 million CHF a year earlier and 688 million CHF in 2010. At the same time, though, orders totaled 2.67 billion CHF on the year, more than six times the 416 million CHF taken in during 2011.
Bristow will be the launch customer of the AgustaWestland AW189 medium helicopter after its March 26 contract award to take over the U.K. government's search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter program. Bristow will receive its first AW189 later this year, according to Mike Imlach, the company's Europe business unit director. The type will be used first on North Sea oil and gas operations, replacing the aging Eurocopter AS332L Pumas — known as Bristow Tigers — before the first SAR-configured aircraft arrive in 2014 in preparation to begin SAR contract operations in April 2015.
Conklin & de Decker released their 2013 State Tax Guide for General Aviation. The Guide contains the latest taxes and fees imposed on general in all fifty states and it addresses the sales and use taxes applicable to aircraft sales, ownership, leases, parts and labor. The Guide also provides subscribers continuous updates throughout the years by simply downloading the latest changes, as they occur, from the Conklin & de Decker webite.
On March 23, the U.S. Senate adopted its first budget proposal in four years The White House lauded the Democratic-led plan, saying it would eliminate “special tax breaks and loopholes for the wealthiest Americans to reduce the deficit.” Earlier that week, the Republican-led House adopted its own budget, outlining plans to cut $5 trillion and balance a budget over the next decade.
The Texas Department of Transportation said it plans to fund all 13 FAA contract air traffic control towers in the state if they are closed by the FAA as part of budget cuts from sequestration.
Cessna rolled out the 400th production CJ3 light business jet Mar. 25 from its production facility in Wichita, Kan. The CJ3 is in its ninth year of service. The eight-passenger aircraft is powered by two Williams FJ44-3A engines and is certified for single pilot operations. The CJ3 can fly non-stop from New York to Miami, Los Angeles to Chicago, London to Moscow, or Beijing to Manila. Maximum range is 1,875 nm, with a ceiling of 45,000 ft.
Brad D. Mottier Vice President and General Manager, Business and General Aviation Operation, GE Aviation, Evendale, Ohio; Chairman, GAMA, Washington, D.C.
Baker Aviation has a new limited time introductory offer for Hawker inspections. The $18,500 special rate includes 12-, 24- or 48-month inspection programs, excluding structural codes and squawks, which will be billed separately at an hourly rate. Contact Joe Wehrle at (972) 248-0457 or email [email protected]. Baker Aviation 4700 Glenn Curtiss Addison, Texas 75001 [email protected]
The NATA and NBAA are hoping to convince the IRS to put a hold on audits of aircraft management companies until the agency can develop better guidance on the application of the commercial federal excise tax (FET) on aircraft management services. The IRS has conducted numerous audits, and management companies have faced a range of tax bills – some believed to be close to seven figures — after the agency last year issued guidance indicating that aircraft management services are considered commercial services and should be taxed accordingly.
General aviation groups are expressing their frustration that the Obama administration's fiscal 2014 budget resurrects controversial proposals such as user fees and business aircraft depreciation extensions, saying that combined with planned contract tower reductions, it gives the appearance of “a widespread attack on general aviation.” “It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that the constant negative rhetoric about business aviation from the White House has once again translated into an onerous policy position from the administration,” says NBAA President and CEO Ed Bole
