In September, UBS Investment Research analysts David E. Strauss and Cristina Fernandez cited declines at the three most active corporate aircraft gateways in the United States -- Teterboro, N.J.; White Plains, N.Y.; and Washington Dulles -- as a sign that the business jet "upcycle" that began in 2004 has peaked, although order activity continues unabated. "We believe the market has come off from its peak and is likely to fall further," they wrote.
*Castle & Cooke Aviation, Honolulu, Hawaii, announced that Tony Marlow was appointed general manager and Amy Kaleikini was named customer service manager responsible for managing the sales and service programs at the new FBO that opened in June.
The FAA awarded a $437 million air traffic controller training contract to Raytheon Sept. 9. "This is a performance-based contract that is designed to allow us to train controllers better, faster and cheaper," said Robert A. Sturgell, the FAA's acting administrator.
Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) near the Piedmont Triangle International Airport in North Carolina announced a new training program for avionics technicians established in part with a $243,958 Duke Energy grant. Guilford expects to enroll the first students in fall 2009 and believes the program will accommodate up to 50 students. The school expects to begin some of the avionics training for students enrolled in the HondaJet feeder program this spring, but the avionics program is designed to benefit all of the companies working with GTCC.
Blackhawk Modifications, the Waco, Texas, company that specializes in re-engining turboprop-powered business aircraft, has gained European approval for its installation of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-61 engines in King Air 200s and B200s.
AircraftLogs has added new features to its Web site, including improved maintenance schedules, new tax management tools, and several new account options. Corporate and private users can now customize an Aircraft Logs package to fit their operation. For individual operators and private pilots, the company has released simplified aircraft management packages that include all of the key elements required for operating an aircraft, and provide private pilots with many of the same features available to corporate aircraft.
Concerning your July Viewpoint about "The Lion King" and associated automobile overheating problems ("Long Live the King," page 9), I just can't help but ask what happened to the car?
"A pervasive wait-and-see attitude is apparent throughout general aviation," declared Fletcher Aldredge, in the third quarter edition of his Vref Market Leader newsletter. However, he hopes the market will benefit from moderating oil prices, and he has sensed some optimism among aircraft dealers that 2008 could end on a high note.
Craig Fuller, the Washington insider who will take the reins of the AOPA Jan. 1, 2009, says he plans to stay the course set by outgoing President Phil Boyer -- opposing user fees, preserving airports and increasing the pilot population. Speaking from AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Md., Sept.
Sentient Jet Holdings restructured into two stand-alone companies, selling its jet membership, retail charter brokers and fuel management businesses, and the Sentient brand name to Macquarie Global Opportunities Partners (MGOP) The new company, Sentient Flight Group, will be headed by Steven Hankin. The deal closed in September. The aircraft management and charter operations, technical services and FBO businesses will be rebranded as JetDirect Aviation and headed by Gregg Campbell.
Signature Flight Support has further expanded its European base with the acquisition of Southern Aero Services Ltd., the parent of Interflight Executive Aircraft Services, the sole FBO at London Gatwick Airport. Signature also provides services at London Heathrow and Luton. The Interflight transaction was valued at £4.5 million.
*Oct. 6-8: NBAA 61st Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2008), Orlando. www.nbaa.org *Oct. 16-18: Chevron Global Aviation Advanced Safety Training, Richmond, Calif. Contact: Chevron Customer Service at (866) 557-3456 or e-mail to [email protected] *Oct. 22-24: International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) 20th Anniversary and the Accomplishments of Women in the Aviation and Aerospace Industries, Chicago. Contact: Karen Griggs at [email protected]
John Edgley, the British engineer who designed and launched the Optica bubble-cabin, ducted fan STOL observation aircraft in the 1970s, has repurchased the design rights, jigs and tools for the airplane. More than 20 examples of the Lycoming IO-540-powered twin-boom airplane had been built when production ceased in 1990. With Emlyn Coldicott and three former employees of the original firm, Edgley plans to relaunch production of the airplane with his new company, AeroElvira.
Canada's CHC Helicopter went private Sept.16, sold to First Reserve Corp., a large private equity investor in the energy industry. First Reserve agreed in February to pay C$3.7 billion to buy Vancouver-based CHC -- a nearly 50-percent premium to the company's stock price. Upon closing the sale, CHC shares were delisted and will no longer be traded publicly. CHC is expected to have C$1.3 billion in revenue this year, up from C$1 billion in 2006.
Virgin Atlantic teamed with footwear and accessories company Worn Again to recycle the airline's seat covers to create fashion accessories. Travel Daily News reported that the collaboration has led to a Worn Again Virgin line of high fashion wash, messenger and handbags.
Simon Wade, training and safety manager at Universal Weather & Aviation's London Stansted facility, is set to go running again. Wade completed the 2006 Jungle Marathon in Brazil (see "Off Duty," Business & Commercial Aviation, March 2007) and says he'll be running for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in March 2009. Interested sponsors can visit his fund-raising Web page at www.justgiving.com/run-4-diabetes and help cure juvenile diabetes.
Rated at 1,695 pounds of thrust to ISA+10°C, the PW617F is a scaled-up version of the PW615F that powers the Citation Mustang with hot section durability improvements added to withstand the rigors of the high-cycle operating environment of air taxi operations. An automatic performance reserve feature boosts engine output to 1,777 pounds of thrust in the event of engine failure on takeoff, if APR is armed prior to takeoff roll.
*Executive AirShare, Kansas City, Mo., announced that Brian W. Jewell has been promoted to chief pilot. He will report to Adam Letts, director of operations.
The FAA released a report Sept. 12 that concluded the Eclipse EA500 had been properly certificated, but that the procedures need to be improved for future VLJs. The process left several FAA personnel feeling that the certification had been artificially rushed and that their own findings had been ignored or overridden by senior FAA management. The Special Certification Review (SCR) team, comprised of current and retired FAA personnel not involved in the Eclipse certification, was spurred by complaints of those employees to congressional staffers.
Fred George's article on "Advanced Airmanship Training in Jets," (September, page 30) raises important questions on the use of piston vs. jet aircraft for upset training.
Both of International Communications Group's new systems support ACARS and will now support Future Air Navigation Systems and Controller Pilot Data Link Communications. The Model 120A is intended for the flight deck; the 220A serves both flight deck and crew. The company says the 120A is ideal for dedicated voice channel along with a dedicated data-link circuit, while the 220A adds an additional channel.
