Jet card sales continue to strengthen, reaching their highest point since the economic downturn began, both Sentient Jet and its new affiliate company Flexjet report. Key metrics in 2013 rose to levels “not seen since 2008,” Sentient says. The company, which has more than 4,000 clients, sold more than 32,000 jet card hours in 2013, which amounts to the equivalent of more than 1,300 25-Hour Jet Cards. This pushed the company’s revenue to more than $150 million on the year. Sentient sold more than 1,200 25-Hour Jet Cards in 2012.
Conklin & de Decker recently expanded its business jet valuation capabilities through the acquisition of the Aircraft Cost Analysis program and software. Developed and supported by Samuel L. Miller, Aircraft Cost Analysis assists in the pricing of managed, fractional, joint ownership, rental, charter and agricultural aircraft, as well as helicopters. Conklin & de Decker will support the program for existing and new users, as well as develop future product improvements. Conklin & de Decker has retained Miller to provide support during the transition.
CAE was named the exclusive Dassault-approved training provider for the French airframer’s recently launched Falcon 5X long-range business jet. The designation included advanced pilot, maintenance and cabin crew training for the Falcon 5X. CAE will build two Falcon 5X simulators and work with Dassault to determine where to base the first trainers. Other trainers are planned as the 5X fleet grows. CAE provides Falcon training around the world for the 7X, 2000, 2000 EX/EASy I & II, 900, 900B, 900 EX, 900 EX/EASy I & II, 50, 50EX, and 10.
Arthur E. Wegner, the longtime aerospace executive who held senior roles with both United Technologies Corp. (UTC) and Raytheon Aircraft, died Jan. 27 from lung cancer. He was 76. Wegner spent 20 years at UTC in a number of key positions including president of Pratt & Whitney and then president of the UTC Aerospace and Defense Sector, which included Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky and Hamilton Standard.
The number of used business jets available for sale has dipped to the lowest levels since the business aircraft market downturn began and finished well below the 20-year average last year, according to business aviation market analyst Amstat.
FAA has combined two divisions — Aircraft Engineering and Production and Airworthiness — to create the Design, Manufacturing, and Airworthiness Division within its Office of Aviation Safety. The new group, which will assume the old engineering division’s AIR-100 designation, has five branches: Certification and Procedures, Technical and Administrative Support, Systems and Equipment Standards, Operational Oversight and Policy, and Systems Performance and Development. The reorganization, announced formally in a Jan.
NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association CFS: Communicating For Safety National Aviation Leaders Come Together Join Aviation leaders at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, March 24-26, 2014 for Communicating for Safety. Hosted annually by the national Air Traffic Controllers Association, this three-day conference focuses on safety, technology and building industry relationships.
PETER GRIFFITH was appointed vice president, sales and marketing, Europe and Africa for Embraer’s Executive Jets unit. Griffith has nearly 25 years of aviation experience holding sales roles with British Aerospace, Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna and Honda Aircraft. He has also served with NAC Aviation.
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is urging a U.S. District Court to reject FAA’s motion to dismiss the city’s lawsuit over control of Santa Monica Airport (SMO), saying the agency should not be allowed to hold the airport hostage over an unfounded assertion that the city acted too late.
Sabreliner Corporation’s business leaned heavily on military contracts that disappeared during sequestration, forcing the company into default on its bank loan and leading to the bank’s sale of the company to an investment firm. Sabreliner announced last week that its primary debt holder sold the company after it lost half of its business during last year’s sequestration budget cutting and was unable to make its debt payment.
Bombardier received a $537 million order for three Global 6000, two Global 7000 and three Global 8000 jets. Bombardier is not disclosing the customer, but says the order continues the Global line’s strong momentum into 2014. The Global 7000 and 8000 are Bombardier’s newest and longest-range Global aircraft. The 7000 is slated to enter service in 2016, and the 8000 is to follow in 2017.
Feb. 4-6, 2014—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE, www.aviationweek.com/events Feb. 5-7, 2014—National Business Aviation Association Business Aircraft, Finance, Registration and Legal Conference, St. Pete Beach, Fla. www.nbaa.org Feb. 10, 2014—ATW’s 40th Anniversary Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore, speednews.com/all/conference Feb. 11-16, 2014—Singapore Airshow 2014, Changi Exhibition Center, Singapore, www.singaporeairshow.com/about-the-exhibition.aspx
BEECHCRAFT Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D [Docket No. FAA-2013-0611; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-019-AD; Amendment 39-17731; AD 2014-02-03] – supersedes AD 2011-27-51, which required inspecting the elevator bob-weight and attaching linkage for correct installation and for damage or deformation to the weight and/or weight bracket with corrective action as necessary. This AD requires installation of the secondary elevator bob-weight stop bolt.
Airbus Helicopters says issues with its EC225 and EC135 helicopters have “strengthened its determination in the area of safety.” The grounding of the EC225 from October 2012 to July 2013, followed by the November crash of an EC135T2 in Glasgow, Scotland, had a broad effect on public perception, but also caused new aircraft programs to be delayed and sales early in the year to slump. That prompted CEO Guillaume Faury to implement an action plan which he says has helped to recover sales and deliveries.
The Triumph Group has sold its Wichita business aircraft aerostructures business, Triumph Aerospace Systems-Wichita, back to its original owner, Jim Lee. Lee, who founded the business in 1989, continued to steer the company as president after he sold it to the Triumph Group in 2000. Lee is rebranding the company to its original name, Lee Aerospace. “The opportunity to reacquire the company presented itself late last year. We are excited to once again be a locally-owned and operated company,” Lee says.
LOCKHEED P-3A and P3A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-1073; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-039-AD] – proposes to require revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate certain limitations. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that the existing maintenance program must be revised to address fatigue cracking of the airplane. FAA is proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane. FAA estimates the proposal would affect eight aircraft on the U.S.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135P2+ and EC135T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0634; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-023-AD; Amendment 39-17725; AD 2014-01-02] – requires inspecting the mechanical air conditioning system compressor bearing block upper bearing (upper bearing) for corrosion, leaking grease, condensation, or water. This AD was prompted by metallic debris from an upper bearing found in the air inlet areas of both engines in a Model EC135P2+ helicopter.
Cobham, working in cooperation with Pro Star Aviation, secured FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for use of its Aviator 200 SwiftBroadband system aboard King Air 200 and 300 series aircraft. The STC covers King Air models B200, B200C and B300 (Super King Air 350) aircraft and includes activation of the Aviator 200s built-in Wi-Fi option. The Aviator is the smallest and lightest system in Cobham’s SwiftBroadband line. Pro Star also holds an STC for the Aviator 200 on Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
Bell Helicopter’s independent representative Heli-Charter signed an agreement for Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust to operate the Bell 429. The helicopter will be equipped for air ambulance operations – the second such equipped 429 to be operated in the U.K.
MARIN TODOROV was promoted to manager, specialty and enrichment training programs for FlightSafety International. Todorov has served with FlightSafety since 2006, initially working on development of the company’s web-based training programs and providing eLearning technical assistance. He was promoted to manager of eLearning Systems in 2008.
Jan. 30, 2014—National Business Aviation Association Regional Forum, Signature Flight Support, Boca Raton Airport, Boca Raton, Fla., www.nbaa.org Feb. 4-6, 2014—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE, www.aviationweek.com/events Feb. 5-7, 2014—National Business Aviation Association Business Aircraft, Finance, Registration and Legal Conference, St. Pete Beach, Fla. www.nbaa.org Feb. 10, 2014—ATW’s 40th Anniversary Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore, speednews.com/all/conference
MATTHEW GREENE was appointed executive vice president for Safe Flight Instrument Corp. Greene has served with Safe Flight since October 2003, taking on roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently he was vice president of program management.
DANN RUNIK was promoted to executive director, advanced training programs for FlightSafety International. Runik joined FlightSafety in 2004 and most recently has been manager of OEM and customer relations at the company’s Learning Center in Savannah, Ga. He is also an instructor for Gulfstream aircraft and works with Gulfstream Aerospace on procedures and courseware development. He has also been a Delta Airlines Boeing 747-400 captain, flew for the Flying Tigers and worked on the Space Shuttle program as a staff engineer at Rockwell International.
ROLLS-ROYCE RB211-524G2-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524H-36, and RB211-524H2-19 turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-1004; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-34-AD; Amendment 39-17719; AD 2013-26-10] – requires a one-time reduction in the cyclic life of certain high-pressure (HP) compressor rotor stage 1 and stage 2 discs, and removal of discs that exceed the reduced cycle life. This AD was prompted by a review by RR of the cyclic life of life-limited parts (LLPs) for RB211-524 series engines.
