Signature Flight Support continues to expand its European service offerings with a series of new agreements at fixed-base operations and airports throughout France. The agreements, similar to those Signature has in place with FBOs and airports in Germany, enables Signature to coordinate flight support and handling services at airfields throughout France. Signature also provides the services through its fixed-base operations at Paris Le Bourget (LBG), Toulon (TLN) and Nice (NCE).
Dubai-based Air Charter International (ACI) is expanding its service in the Middle East, Europe and Russia with its new “empty-legs” program, which enables travelers to book flights on trips already planned. Demand for such a service has been growing in key markets such as Dubai, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Nice, says Claire Brugirard, ACI’s strategic business manager.
Dec. 15—The Wings Club Luncheon, featuring Gary Kelly, Chairman, President & CEO of Southwest Airlines, The Yale Club, New York, (212) 867-1770, [email protected] Dec. 15—Future of Aviation Advisory Committee Meetings, Washington, D.C., http://www.dot.gov/faac Jan. 20-21, 2011—European Business Aviation Association Regional Forum “One Europe: A Roadmap for Aligning East and West,” Hilton Vienna, www.ebaa.org Feb. 7-8, 2011—National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference, Savannah, Ga., (703) 845-9000, www.nata.aero
Gama Aviation FZC is adding two more managed aircraft to its fleet, a Bombardier Global XRS and an Embraer Legacy 600. The Middle Eastern operator already has a Challenger 604, 605 and 850 in its inventory. Meanwhile, work is progressing on a new FBO and 12,000-sq.-meter hangar the company is building at Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Gama Aviation FZC hopes to win Part 145 maintenance approval in the first half of next year.
FlightSafety International plans to offer general emergency training and corporate flight attendant training in Long Beach, Calif., starting early next year. The emergency training course also will be available in Dallas starting this fall.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0760; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-086-AD; Amendment 39-16520; AD 2010-24-02] – Reinforce the rear fuel tank by bonding a titanium shield plate on the tank structure above the Lightning Sensor System (LSS) antenna connector. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by a design review that found that the LSS antenna might, in the event of belly or gear-up landing, puncture the rear fuel tank, which could result in fuel leakage and a post-landing fire.
Remos Aircraft will be operating its new sales, distribution and service center from the LoPresti facility located at Sebastian Airport in Florida. Sales and marketing, directed by Earle Boyter, is based in the administration building with LoPresti Aviation.
The Air Transport Association (ATA) has hired the former chief liaison to Congress for both Bush administrations to become its new president and CEO as of Jan. 1.
DASSAULT Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1155; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-238-AD; Amendment 39-16527; AD 2010-24-08] – Conduct a visual inspection for correct installation of the emergency brake system No. 2. If this emergency brake is installed incorrectly, install the system correctly, in accordance with the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F50-515 (dated Oct. 12, 2010).
New guidance documents for airports – one dealing with solar power use and another with tracking wildlife hazards – have been issued by FAA. Rising airport interest in solar technology prompted the agency to issue technical guidance on the use of solar power in the airfield environment. The solar power guidance document provides a checklist for uses such as hot water systems and cites the experience of three airports – Denver, Fresno Yosemite and Albuquerque. Some 15 U.S.
Airclaims has sold a Bombardier Challenger 604 to a new U.S.-based owner. “With over 50 other Challenger 604’s available for sale at the time, our remarketing team had the contacts and experience necessary to successfully close this transaction in what is a highly competitive market,” says Peter Bull, group director of risk and asset management.
CRAIG LAMMIMAN was named aircraft sales manager for aircraft sales and brokerage specialist PremiAir Global. Lammiman joins the U.K.-based firm after heading his own business aircraft brokerage company, JetConcept.
A leaner, reshaped fractional business is starting to improve, but Plano, Texas-based aviation consultancy Rolland Vincent Associates says the industry must take a number of steps before regaining full health. President Rolland Vincent says that fractional companies – including NetJets, NetJets Europe, Flexjet, Flight Options and CitationAir – have accomplished much, realigning operations and fleets, as well as reducing debt and expenses, such as charter purchasing.
Embraer is building a new composites facility in Portugal. The new 330,000-sq.-ft. plant in Évora is to manufacture airframe structures and components in composite materials. The facility is to be completed by the end of 2011, and production will begin in 2013. The complex is part of a planned expansion of the aerospace sector in Évora. Recently, the region created a 9.4 million-sq.-ft. aerospace industrial park located near the municipal airfield. Embraer is the first investor.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne expressed confidence that the new Congress will finally be able to finish work on a long-term reauthorization bill by late summer, but says he also believes the current lame-duck Congress is headed for a “world record” 17th short-term extension in the upcoming weeks.
The third AW139 helicopter ordered in China for law enforcement duties will be delivered to the Province of Guanxi police. Besides flying law enforcement missions, the AgustaWestland medium twin helo will be used in disaster relief missions across the province. Earlier, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau ordered AW139s. AgustaWestland has strong ties to China, having teamed with AVIC II to assemble the CA109 (the Chinese designation for the AW109 Power) locally in a plant in Jingdezhen.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending improved bird-strike standards for windshields on older helicopters and is calling on FAA to evaluate certain helicopter models to ensure that external forces on the windshield do not cause unintended movement of the engine power control levers.
Bombardier Aerospace’s fiscal third quarter mirrored the third-quarter results of other business jet manufacturers, with lower revenues and earnings, but executives at the Canadian company remain optimistic that the market for large business jets continues to strengthen, and they are planning to increase production of the Global line in 2011.
TAC Air a division of Truman Arnold Companies, is seeking a candidate for a corporate level management position to assist with financial and operational oversight of its multi-location FBO operation. Position to be located at its corporate oÿce in Texarkana, TX. Must have at least 5 yrs. management experience in general aviation. Undergraduate degree in aviation management or related field required/master’s preferred. Please forward letter of interest and resume to: Director of Human Resources
Embraer has delivered the first Legacy 650 to the United Kingdom’s Amsair Aircraft Limited, which is owned by Lord Alan Sugar. The aircraft is based at London Stansted Airport and is being operated by charter company Titan Airways Executive. Inflite, Embraer’s authorized service center in the U.K., will provide maintenance services.
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. has sold two Bell 429 helicopters to Chevron to provide transportation to the energy company’s oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Deliveries are planned in early 2011. Chevron, a longtime customer, will be the first oil and gas company to use the Bell 429 in its offshore operations.
Pricing remains difficult for manufacturers of small business aircraft, notes Bombardier Aerospace President and COO Guy Hachey, adding, “It’s really a dogfight at that end of the marketplace.” Bombardier still has quite a few Learjet “white tails” (aircraft produced but not sold), Hachey concedes. “We have not delivered and sold a lot of Learjets so far this year.” But the fourth quarter does appear to be improving somewhat, he says, noting the company expects to “free up” a number of the white tails this quarter.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has joined other industry associations in opposing an apparent FAA plan to release a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for Part 135 that is “very similar” to proposed Part 121 flight, duty and rest requirements (BA, Nov. 29/1). NBAA reiterates that the Part 125/135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) already submitted an extensive set of recommendations addressing regulations tailored for Part 135.
Sikorsky plans to introduce a redesigned main gearbox for the S-92A helicopter this month in a bid to overcome cracking that has required operators to inspect mounting pads within every 10 hr. of flight. FAA has amended a 2009 airworthiness directive (AD) to expand the recurrent inspection requirement to include a previous redesign of the gearbox, which Sikorsky calls Phase II, after discovering it is prone to the same mounting foot-pad cracks and corrosion as the original unit.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne notes that attendees at the association’s Aviation Business Roundtable last month represented “a pretty somber group” of people who are hoping that the business aircraft market will turn around over the next couple of years. “Our sentiment is [that] there still is an awful lot of uncertainty,” he says, noting that the industry has faced a “tremendous reduction in asset value.” He estimates that the collective loss of business aircraft value likely is in the tens of billions.
