Embraer has signed an agreement for three Lineage 1000 ultra-large executive jets with China's Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., one of the largest financial institutions providing executive jet leasing services in China. Announced at the recent Singapore Air Show, the aircraft are scheduled to begin being delivered this year.
President Barack Obama signed the long-term FAA reauthorization bill Feb. 14, after the Senate approved the bill 75-20 on Feb. 6, ending a nearly 5-yr. stalemate that led to 23 short-term extensions of FAA's operating authority. Though the long-term bill was widely expected to pass the Senate by the necessary 60-vote margin, it wasn't a complete slam dunk. Labor unions lobbied against the bill in its final weeks, objecting to a House-Senate agreement over a labor rules issue. The bill passed in the House by a 248-169 margin on Feb. 3.
CAE announced that it will deploy three new simulation-based training programs for helicopter pilots and maintenance engineers. The new programs include Sikorsky S-92 training — including search-and-rescue (SAR) mission training capability — in Stavanger, Norway and Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Eurocopter EC-225 training in Sao Paulo. The programs will feature new CAE 3000 Series Level D flight and mission simulators and CAE Simfinity(TM) e-Learning options.
Air tour operator Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has incorporated the Softtech Flight & Duty TrackerT system into its operations at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, as well as Las Vegas/Boulder City. Flight & Duty TrackerT provides FAR Part 135 flight and duty tracking for small or large flight operations, including training events.
The number 23 is a sore spot in my household. First, it was the number on Michael Jordan's jersey. That might mean basketball greatness for the Chicago Bulls faithful, but if you are from Cleveland, as is my family, it takes on a completely different meaning since he was the source of heartbreak for Cavaliers fans for many years. It was also the number of that traitor LeBron James. The day he announced signing with Miami, my middle son sadly tossed his favorite Cavs jersey into the garbage.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services in January bought ExcelAire, an aircraft management and charter firm with an FBO at MacArthur Airport on Long Island, near New York City. The purchase price was not disclosed. Steven Levesque, Hawthorne CEO, says the ExcelAire management would remain in place and that the operation has “the capacity and the capability to do a lot more.” ExcelAire currently manages 20 aircraft. The management, charter and maintenance business will continue under the ExcelAire banner. The FBO part of the business would be rebranded as Hawthorne.
Identity crisis: TBM700 doesn't know whether it's a single-engine turboprop or a light jet, even though it has a four-blade Hartzell on its nose. That's a fitting tribute to Alexandre Couvelaire, who created the TBM concept when he headed Mooney Aircraft in the mid to late 1980s, and had as his goal delivering a fuel-efficient aircraft with Paris Jet speeds. He and partner, Socata, delivered.
The EU is “not wedded” to its emissions trading system (ETS) and would be willing to begin negotiating a global deal to reduce aviation greenhouse gas emissions, but it will retain its much-maligned ETS while an agreement is worked out. During a sometimes contentious ETS panel discussion at the Singapore air show Aviation Leadership Summit Feb. 13, Matthew Baldwin, director general for mobility and transport (DG-MOVE) for the European Commission, spent much of his time defending ETS and the EU's motives in extending the cap-and-trade scheme to aviation as of Jan. 1.
The Helicopter Association of America heard operators voice concern over “premature and ill-advised” rulemaking by the FAA in connection with real estate congestion along assigned routes. The fear was restriction from heavily populated routes — and the possible need to control real estate for emergency landing spots — would rob the helicopter of its natural advantage. FAA Administrator Halaby assured that helicopter regs will be written by pilots and engineers, and suggested operators “try before you cry.”
Bombardier has rolled out its first NetJets-bound aircraft from its assembly line in Toronto. The aircraft — a Global 6000 — will be flown to Bombardier's Global Completion Center in Dorval, Quebec for completion. The Global 6000 is part of a 50-aircraft deal that Bombardier announced with the fractional ownership provider in March 2011. NetJets ordered 30 Global 5000 and 6000 aircraft and 20 more of the new Global 7000 and 8000 jets that are still in development. Deliveries of the Global 7000 and 8000s are expected to begin in 2017.
Bombardier is making big investments in China, both in rail — it's teaming with in-country manufacturers to develop a 280 kph train — and aviation, since Avic is supplying fuselages for both the Q400 turboprop and new CSeries airliner. However, company President and CEO Pierre Beaudoin said that the Canadian manufacturer will not be partnering with Chinese entities to build or develop a business jet there. “We have no intention of doing that,” Beaudoin told reporters at a Feb.
FlightSafety International opened its new Hong Kong Learning Center, which will initially offer training programs for Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 aircraft using a new Level-D qualified full-flight simulator and advanced training devices. “We are pleased to join with Gulfstream to expand the service we provide our mutual Customers in the Asia-Pacific region by offering Gulfstream G450 and Gulfstream G550 training at our new Learning Center in Hong Kong,” said Bruce Whitman, president and CEO.
Most lighting projects can be accomplished with field approvals or, rarely, an STC. Your cabin completion center can likely answer any concerns you may have about lighting projects, but to be sure, FAR Part 25.812 spells out what's required for emergency lighting, while the SAE's Aircraft Cabin Illumination Standards cover the general recommendations for cabin lighting in order to provide satisfactory illumination for. Boarding and deplaning Movement about the cabin Reading Use of lavatories
Fractional operator Flight Options recently donated 10 hr. of jet flight time to the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients using the empty seats on corporate jets. Founded 30 years ago, CAN has 5,380 participating corporations, which have flown nearly 40,000 cancer patients to and from treatment. The organization flies about 250 patients monthly.
China, as almost everyone in the business aircraft industry knows, is seen as the great new sales opportunity. But how long before it will also become the great new competitor?
Looking for an opportunity to expand your knowledge of business aviation and network with decision makers and key influencers in aviation maintenance? The annual NBAA MMC will be held in Nashville, Tenn., on May 1-3, 2012, and if you manage the maintenance function for your department, this is the place to be. Learn more about issues that address their aircraft and equipment maintenance needs.
Four business jet manufacturers have talked with Chinese fighter builder Avic Aviation Techniques (AAT) aimed at joint development and manufacture of business jets in China. It is unclear, however, whether all of the bidders are eager to participate in the whole program proposed by AAT — transfer a current business jet production line to the company's Chengdu works and jointly develop a new large aircraft, with significant technological transfer. Participants in the talks are Israel Aircraft Industries, Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna and Bombardier.
Daher-Scoata continues to investigate the possibility of using the SPn utility jet, initially developed by Grob before that company filed for insolvency, as the baseline for a second product offering. Two prototypes — one in flying condition — remain at the Socata facility in Tarbes. A decision on whether to launch a twin-jet program derived from the SPn is likely this year.
Honda Aircraft Company announced Dec. 20 that it had been flying the third FAA design-conforming HondaJet since Nov.18, 2011. Honda Aircraft has expanded F2's performance envelope as the aircraft has begun its test mission work in earnest. The first FAA-conforming HondaJet, which flew for the first time on Dec. 20, 2010, has achieved key benchmarks that meet or exceed the aircraft's designed performance goals.
Safe Flight Instrument Corp. recently donated another $50,000 to Corporate Angel Network (CAN) in support of the charity, which arranges free flights to treatment for cancer patients using empty seats in business aircraft. A long time supporter of the program, the White Plains, N.Y.-based company is headed by Randall Greene, who also serves as CAN's chairman.
Gulfstream Aerospace has enhanced the services available to operators with the addition of a mobile support vehicle and a renovated customer lobby at its Brunswick, Ga., facility. The specially outfitted truck includes an air compressor, generator and a laptop to sign off work in real time allowing technicians to perform or support many maintenance services and transport a range of replacement parts. The renovated lobby has Wi-Fi, a 52-in. HD television and new furniture, among other improvements. Brunswick's 25,000-sq.-ft.
