Business jet charter, management and maintenance services company, TAG Aviation, has started a new advisory service for business aircraft operators who must comply with the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS). TAG ETS Solutions offers operators turnkey compliance and carbon credit purchase support, or customized help for those who have already begun the process only to become stalled by its complexity. The new offering draws on TAG's experience complying with the EU-ETS for its owned business aircraft as well as for its managed fleet.
Flexjet has launched FlexShare, a program providing fractional jet owners with guaranteed access to two different aircraft types with the purchase of a single 50-hr. share. Based on their specific flight requirements, FlexShare owners may now customize the allocation of their annual hours among Flexjet's fleet of Learjet and Challenger aircraft. FlexShare customers pay the full purchase price for one share of a selected aircraft type based on vintage.
Jet Aviation added a Challenger 300, a Gulfstream G550 and a Global 5000 to its managed aircraft fleet in the Middle East. With these additions, the company now operates and supports 22 aircraft under aircraft management and flight support agreements in the region.
Boost in pilot proficiency is offered by a new angle-of-attack indicator developed by Monitair Corp., Spring Valley, N.Y. A wing-mounted vane drives a potentiometer, which produces angle-of-attack information on a panel mounted in the near the windshield (for easy viewing when the pilot is looking outside). The indicator permits the pilot to set optimum angle and fly to get that angle shown on the indicator. Applications include better max angle of climb, reduction of excess speed on approach and optimum engine-out operation.
While many business jet makers initially believed 2013 is shaping up to be another flat year, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is seeing recent strength in the market and believes there could be moderate growth next year. But AIA's Year-end Review and Forecast, released last week, notes that 80% of those looking to purchase general aviation aircraft over the next five years are planning to do so in the latter part of the time frame. AIA's annual U.S. aerospace and defense forecast estimates that the U.S.
Avjet Corp. recently equipped its charter fleet with high-speed internet access. Their aircraft either have Aircell Gogo Biz high-speed internet service or Inmarsat SwiftBroadband. Gogo Biz allows passengers and crews internet capabilities above 10,000 ft. in the continental U.S. and portions of Alaska using their own Wi-Fi enabled laptops, tablets, smart phones, EFBs or other mobile devices. Inmarsat SwiftBroadband provides voice and high-speed data simultaneously. Avjet Corp. Burbank, Calif.
¡UBS analyst David Strauss reports available for sale business jet inventories moved 1% higher during November 2012 and continue to represent 13% of the installed base of business jets. Young available inventories (0-10 years old) moved 3% higher in November 2012 and are now 16% above the Dec. 2011 low at 8.6% of the installed base. The increase in young inventory has principally been driven by aircraft five years old or younger, which are now at 9% of the installed base.
The historic Grumman airfield in Calverton, Long Island, N.Y. is being use as a junkyard for cars and boats wrecked by Hurricane Sandy. Thousands of cars, trucks, boats and other detritus pack the runways and taxiways of the formerly magnificent facility. No doubt to the delight of local NIMBYs who have feared that someday the airfield would return to aviation service.
Signature Flight Support has signed an agreement to make National Car Rental the preferred rental car partner for its global network. Member of National's Emerald Club loyalty program can now earn Signature TailWins rewards for their rental car purchases. The points are awarded for every dollar spent on rental time and mileage. Signature has recently formed an exclusive partnership with CLEAR, the U.S. leader in secure biometric identification. All Signature stakeholders will benefit from the timesaving opportunities of a CLEAR membership.
Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI) named Neil W. Book President and CEO of the provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for business aviation operators. He succeeds Louis C. Seno who will continue to serve as chairman emeritus. Robert H. Book will chair the board of directors and Bryan Moss and Joe DaGrosa will serve as vice chairmen of the board. Susan Marr continues as a member of the board, general counsel and chief administrative officer of JSSI, as well as CEO of JSSI affiliate Aviation Insurance Corp.
Cessna firmed up its agreement with Avic's China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company (Caiga) to produce Caravans in China and opened the possibility to jointly design and develop new utility turboprop models there in the future. Cessna's newly signed joint-venture contract with Caiga builds on an initial agreement that the two entities announced in May.
Multi Service has re-entered the transaction processing arena for aviation fuel suppliers. A global transaction management company, Multi Service recently began handling end-to-end transaction processing for Avfuel, which included a custom built merchant interface for a Web-based POS solution. Multi Service is PCI-DSS certified to store, process and transmit bankcard and transaction data. The company also has introduced a new Web-based Point of Sale (POS tool — AirPOS — for Multi Service Aero merchants.
Air BP, the aviation division of BP, launched its OMEGA training and support system at London's Biggin Hill Airport. OMEGA sets out how staff manages fuel from the moment it arrives at the airport, to its safe storage and quality testing, to moving it around the airport and filling aircraft tanks, along with how to maintain equipment and respond to problems.
Bombardier's Challenger 601-3A/ER has 3,200 nm range at Mach 0.80, a cabin with a commodious cross section, comfortable seating for eight to nine passengers and inflight access to a large aft baggage compartment. As such, it's a $4 million widebody aircraft that's well suited to flying U.S. transcontinental missions.
The U.S. Transportation Department is working with its counterparts in several Asia-Pacific countries to create a regulatory framework for business aviation, says Robert Letteney, deputy assistant secretary of transportation for aviation and international affairs. In most countries in the region, business aviation is regulated in the same way as scheduled commercial airlines, which means “business aircraft simply can't fly when and where they want.” Vietnam is working with the U.S.
Jet Aviation Basel re-delivered a Boeing 737-900 BBJ to its Middle East owner in November 2012. The aircraft was inducted last year for major completions, including the first EASA-certified installation of Honeywell's OVATION Select Cabin Management System (CMS) on a BBJ 3.
Bombardier celebrated its addition to the NetJets fleet on the heels of announcing another landmark order — a potential $7.8 billion, 142-aircraft deal from Swiss-based VistaJet. That contract includes firm orders for a mix of 56 Global business jets valued at $3.1 billion, making it the largest single firm order that Bombardier has received for its business jet line to date. The NetJets and VistaJet orders will help push total new business jet sales for the year well past the 200 mark, says Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.
The U.S. government is throwing its support behind the high-level working group on market-based measures to combat aviation greenhouse gas emissions the ICAO convened Dec. 12 and 13 in Montreal. As we go to press, the first meeting of the high-level group brings together delegations from 17 ICAO member states. The group is expected to present its findings to the ICAO Council in March and June next year. The delegations comprise both aviation and climate change experts, rather than just aviation experts, a person familiar with the process told Aviation Week. The U.S.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) recently made a presentation to a listening session of the ICAO Safety Information Protection Task Force. The purpose of the listening session was to solicit recommendations on balancing the protection of safety information with the administration of justice, safety-regulatory action, and the public's right to know. “The ACSF believes that the current safety climate can only be enhanced through the protection of voluntarily submitted safety information,” said ACSF Director of Safety Russ Lawton.
ARINC Direct has a partnership with FlightAware to provide enhanced live flight- tracking information as a further evolution to its suite of business aviation services. ARINC Direct customers will be able to benefit from access to FlightAware's live Web-based flight tracking and fleet maps, including worldwide en route navigation data, and many other maps and overlays. Messaging the aircraft, worldwide position and flight plan display, arrival and departure information, flight history and airport delay information are also included.
Regulatory Changes for 2013 Federal agencies tend to stall in their regulatory work leading up to presidential elections. With 2012 finally behind us, we can expect a number of final regulations and new proposed regulations to appear this year. FAA Rulemaking
NetJets took delivery of its first “Signature Series” Global 6000, marking the beginning of a new large-cabin fleet that could include hundreds of Global and Challenger aircraft. The aircraft will help expand NetJets' fleet, and also replace Gulfstreams and Dassault business jets that have traditionally filled the large-cabin role. With the delivery, Bombardier officially joins the NetJets fleet. While NetJets operated Learjets early on, Bombardier has delivered its fractional-bound aircraft primarily to its own operation, Flexjet.
