For half the cost of a GIV, you can own a 1983 to 1987, Stage III noise compliant GIII that provides access to virtually the same noise-sensitive airports used by newer aircraft. Retrofitted with hush-kits, these aircraft can fly eight passengers about 3,600 nm at Mach 0.75. Their cabin cross sections are the same diameter as all other legacy Gulfstream models, but the net interior length is 3.0 ft. shorter than the GIV and overall interior length is 4.8 ft. shorter.
FlightSafety International is renewing its offer of free recurrent training for pilots and maintenance techs that have lost their jobs since the start of the year. When the company first offered free training for former customers in 2009, hundreds of out-of-work professionals took advantage of it. “We are pleased and proud to have helped our customers through the Proficiency Protection program in the past. We now offer it again during 2012,” said Bruce Whitman, president and CEO, who noted FlightSafety is the only training provider to offer this type of program.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc. released a report on the global PMA parts market. The world market for FAA-authorized PMA parts is projected to reach $749 million by the 2017. GIA says growth will be partially driven by robust demand gains in South East Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. PMA parts generally cost less than OEM parts.
“ABACE2012 met all of our estimates and expectations, as well as those for the exhibitors and attendees,” says Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO. The association presented the event in partnership with the Shanghai Airport Authority, the Asian Business Aviation Association and the Shanghai Exhibition Centre. A total of 156 exhibitors filled the 4,000-sq.-meter hangar at the Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre and the adjacent Exhibit Pavilion that was added to accommodate additional vendors.
The Big Year. It comes to every institution (think America, 1776), every company (think Apple, the world's most valuable corporation, 2012), and every family. And 2012 seems to qualify as a big one in my house.
Jeppesen, a unit of Boeing Flight Services, recently recognized five leading ground handling companies with a “Jeppesen Handler of the Year” award to recognize customer service excellence. The 2011 winners are: Air Consult — Europe and Russia region, based in Rome. Manny Aviation Services (MAS) — Canada, Latin America, Australia and the Pacific region. This year, MAS celebrates 15 years of service. Jet Aviation Dubai — Africa, Middle East and India region.
AgustaWestland and fashion design house Karl Lagerfeld announced a partnership for the design of VIP helicopter interiors and exteriors. The cooperation will initially focus on the development of a VIP interior and exterior styling for the AW139 medium-twin helicopter. The companies may expand the partnership to include other AgustaWestland commercial helicopter models.
The five-way fight over the amorphous “10K” (10,000-lb.-thrust) market that dominated the top-end of the thrust battle in the late 2000s has given way to a wider spread of engine developments over a high-thrust bracket. Pratt & Whitney Canada, for instance, is pushing aggressively into the 12,000- to 16,000-lb. thrust range with a larger PW800-based demonstrator that originally started life as a 10K contender.
The year 2011 was another tough one for the business aircraft industry, witnessing a 3.5% overall decline in general aviation aircraft shipments, according to GAMA statistics. Turboprop deliveries declined 2.4% from 2011, light jet deliveries fell 6.3% and the midsize aircraft sector was flat at best. Large-cabin aircraft fared much better with increased demand from China, Russia and other emerging markets.
I just read “SyberJet Introduces SJ30-Plus” (April 2012) and appreciated your candid, honest words and your sensitivity to our confidential issues. Business & Commercial Aviation magazine has a well-earned reputation for offering real-world perspective while maintaining its editorial integrity. Working with you gives me fresh confidence in aviation journalism. A big thanks as well for being tenacious and resolute in finding solutions to early objections and concerns.
Hawker Beechcraft, posting heavy losses last year, expects to decide on a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing or other means to restructure its heavy debt load in the next few weeks. In 2011 sales dropped to $2.4 billion in 2011 from $2.8 billion in 2010. Hawker Beechcraft posted a $481.8 million operating loss last year, compared with $173.9 million in 2010. Its worst operating loss in recent history, however, was the $712 million deficit in 2009. The net loss for 2011 reached $632.8 million—more than twice that for 2010. The 2009 net loss was $451.6 million.
Gulfstream Aerospace detailed three more orders that will expand its growing fleet in Asia: Nanshan Jet, which is taking delivery of its second G450 long-range jet, with an additional G450 and G550 on order; AllPoints Jet, which signed an order at March's Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition for a G450 and G550; and Asia Jet, which is expanding its Shanghai charter fleet with a G200. “Asia, and particularly China, remains our leading export market,” says President Larry Flynn. “Twenty-seven percent of our current backlog is in Asia-Pacific.
Airbus received its first order from a customer in Japan for an Airbus Corporate Jet. The customer ordered an ACJ318. Airbus says the sale is particularly significant because the number of corporate aircraft is still proportionately small in Japan. But the manufacturer believes the opening of the first dedicated business terminal in Tokyo, Premier Gate Narita, will help to pave the way for more business jets.
Embraer and Avic are working toward approval from Beijing to convert a Harbin production line that previously built ERJ-145 regional jets to use existing tooling to make Legacy 650 executive jets, a derivative of the ERJ-135, itself a shortened ERJ-145. Guan Dongyuan, the head of the Brazilian company's operations in China says the production line is currently 51% owned by Embraer and 49% by Avic, but that could change. The Harbin plant is part of Avic's rotary-wing division, Avicopter, but Guan says Embraer is dealing with Avic headquarters.
Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), the East Coast executive helicopter service, is celebrating more than 40,000 hr. of safe flying in its fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters. The company's achievement spans more than 17 years of operating the S-76. AAG operates a fleet of S-76 helicopters in both fractional ownership and full management programs.
FAA Advisory Circular AC 21-47 — Submittal of Data to an ACO, a DER or an ODA for a Major Repair or Major Alteration will help you understand how repair data become approved. This document will provide you with more detailed process steps that both the FAA and DERs use and will help you with your next project. You can download it at www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%2021-47.pdf
“Dangerous Destinations, Part 1: Planning the Trip” (March 2012) was insightful, and I am eager to read the following articles. Content Manager TrainingPort.net Richmond, B.C.
Bombardier delivered the first Global 6000 aircraft equipped with the Vision Flight Deck to Wideworld Services, just weeks after the first Vision Flight Deck-equipped aircraft, a Global 5000, entered service with Formula 1 race champion Niki Lauda.
Quest Aircraft Company said that its Kodiak single-engine, multi-mission turboprop has received certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Mexican Republic, Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil. The Kodiak is now certified in eight countries. Additional certifications are in process. Quest delivered its first Mexican-registered Kodiak to a mining company based in the Northeastern State of Coahuila, Mexico.
City: Moscow Country: Russian Federation Status: Capital, largest city, financial, political and cultural center Country visa: Required for passengers and crew; for tech stops, generally unnecessary, but as this policy varies from airport to airport, operators are advised to check ahead to make sure the government will grant an exception. At Moscow, flight crews can obtain visas on arrival; however, the process is time consuming.
March 30 — About 1730 Alaska Daylight Time, a ski-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane (N7276D) sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and snow-covered terrain following a loss of control while landing, about 26 mi. south of Sleetmute, Alaska. The airplane was flying VFR with no flight plan when the accident occurred. The uncertificated pilot and the one passenger died in the crash. The flight originated at Sleetmute Airport at an unknown time.
The Senate Appropriations transportation subcommittee voted April 17 to approve draft legislation that provides 21% less than in fiscal 2010. The legislation would provide $956 million for the FAA's NextGen air traffic modernization system—$21 million more than in fiscal 2012. The bill also would allocate $3.5 billion to the airport improvement program, consistent with the amount lawmakers approved last year. And the bill appropriates $1.04 billion for the FAA's aviation inspectors.
An increase in Part 135 commuter/air taxi business jet accidents is driving a significant jump in business jet accidents through the first three months of the year. But an improving turboprop record has kept down the overall number of U.S.-registered business turbine accidents, according to the latest information released by safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates. U.S.-registered business jets and turboprops combined for 16 accidents in the first quarter, down slightly from 19 in the first quarter of 2011.
The financial and operational benefits of NextGen modernization will be slower to emerge than previously expected, according to a March progress report from the FAA. There is no doubt that NextGen will eventually deliver impressive savings and greater efficiency. However, due to a combination of factors the FAA has shifted out by two years its forecast for achieving these benefits. The latest guidance is part of the agency's NextGen implementation plan, which is issued annually.
