Bombardier Aerospace expects an 11% compound annual growth rate in business jet deliveries between 2010 and 2020, driven by globalization of trade, emerging markets, replacement demand and accessibility, says Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “This represents an opportunity of $254 billion over the next 10 years,” the analyst says, adding, “To reach its target market, Bombardier is investing in ...
Airbus Corporate Jet Centre has signed a flight-hour maintenance agreement with SNECMA. The so-called “EngineLife” accord means that the powerplant maker will provide full service support for CFM International CFM56-5B engines used by VIP, corporate and government customers. Coverage includes engine condition monitoring, shop visits, foreign object damage protection, line replaceable unit pool access and repair, and spare engine availability. The flight-hour rate plan is expected to enable better planning for engine maintenance costs, according to SNECMA.
EMS Aviation has been awarded a supplemental type certificate from FAA authorizing installation of the company’s Network Gateway product on the Gulfstream G-IV. The newly certified unit is a component of EMS Aviation’s Forté AirMail e-mail system, designed to allow users to send and receive inflight e-mail via handheld devices.
Jet Aviation St. Louis (formerly Midcoast Aviation) recently completed the first WAAS FMS installation in a Falcon 2000. The new avionics installation replaced the aircraft’s existing Universal Avionics flight management systems with dual UNS-1Ew WAAS/SBAS-FMS units approved for flying Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV) approaches. Universal Avionics says aircraft with this capability enjoy greater airport accessibility and improved safety in poor weather conditions.
Elliott Aviation has added an Astra 1125SP jet aircraft, based at Forest City, Iowa (FXY), to its charter certificate. The company operates a fleet of 15 jet and turboprop aircraft at its locations at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Moline, Ill.; Eppley Airfield (OMA) in Omaha, Neb.; Des Moines International Airport (DSM); and Flying Cloud Regional Airport (FCM) in Eden Prairie, Minn.
Congress is resuming its lame-duck session this week, with a month left to either pass another temporary extension of FAA reauthorization or push through a full long-term bill.
Landmark Aviation employees Mike Bennett and Kurt Francis have been tapped as recipients of the Arizona Avionic Technician of the Year and Arizona Aircraft Mechanic of the Year awards, respectively. The awards were made through the General Aviation Awards Program, a cooperative effort between FAA and aviation industry sponsors.
RICHARD BARRET was tapped to direct Huntington’s business aircraft financing segment. Barret has more than 30 years of aircraft financing experience, most recently with RBS Asset Finance.
ROTAX 912 A Series engines [Docket No. FAA-2010-0522; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-022-AD; Amendment 39-16506; AD 2010-23-17] – Conduct initial and repetitive inspections of the engine crankcase for cracks, per the instructions of Rotax Aircraft Engines Service Bulletin SB-912-029 R3 (dated July 11, 2006). If cracks are found, before further flight, replace the crankcase. This AD resulted from an MCAI issued by an aviation authority of another country. FAA estimates that this directive will affect 60 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
DORNIER 228-100, -101, -200, -201, -202 and -212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1152; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-026-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to visually inspect for cracks in fuselage Frame 19, following the instructions of Dornier 228 RUAG Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-266 (dated Dec. 1, 2006). If any cracks were found, operators would need to repair the airplane and subsequently conduct repetitive inspections of Frame 19.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 2010 Aviation Summit attracted 9,746 aviation pilots and enthusiasts. Held Nov. 11-13 in Long Beach, Calif., the event included more than 60 hr. of educational forums and was coupled with Airportfest, which included a display of aircraft and social events. Airportfest drew 11,373 people, including members of the local community. AOPA expanded its AOPA Live streaming feed with 5 hr. of coverage on each of the three days. The association also presented its Joseph B.
Daher-Socata has developed an “Exclusive Maintenance Program” for TBM 850s. The program covers all scheduled maintenance costs, including annual inspections, for five years or 1,000 flight hours. The program also extends warranties for avionics and systems to five years and for the airframe to seven years.
The broad-based committee advising U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on aviation policy is entering the home stretch. Recommendations could lead to financial assistance for airlines to equip their aircraft for the NextGen air traffic control system, a lowering of airline taxes, an increase in money for airports to use on environmental and NextGen-related projects, and a freeze and re-evaluation of the subsidization of small community air service.
Raisbeck Engineering was selected to provide its Ram Air Recovery System (RARS) for the new Beechcraft King Air 250. The systems boosts performance throughout the flight envelope by reducing engine inlet turbine temperature by about 20 deg. Celsius, Raisbeck says. The effects include increased flat-rating for operation at hot, high-altitude airports; increased climb capability; increased cruise speeds and a more efficient engine.
MARC JOHNSON has joined Jet Works Air Center as director of sales for large cabin completions. Johnson previously has provided maintenance and completions consulting services to several BBJ operators. He also has been vice president of project development and coordination for Aviation Concepts and a project manager for McKinney Aerospace.
Rep. John Barrow (D-Ga.) is joining Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) as the new co-chair of the House General Aviation Caucus. Barrow is succeeding Allen Boyd (D-Fla.), who is retiring. Graves is filling the leadership post being vacated by retiring Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) (BA, Nov. 22/3).
Aeronautical Accessories, a Tennessee-based affiliate of Bell Helicopter, recently received FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for a Bell 429 accessory package. The STC includes a crew floor protector kit, passenger floor protector assembly, automatic door openers and fuel filler area protector kit. The components of the accessory package also are available individually. Certification of the package in other countries, including Japan, is being sought.
West Star Aviation has earned several FAA approvals recently, which is enabling the company’s East Alton, Ill. facility to offer upgrade packages for various Falcon business jets. The company’s Falcon 2000 Pro Line 21 enhancement (from Pro Line 4 avionics) includes a WAAS/LPV FMS upgrade, the DBU-5000 database loading unit, and an option to step up from the existing AHRS-85 to the AHRS-3000 attitude heading reference system. Installations are slated to start in the second quarter of 2011.
StandardAero has added four mobile service teams (MSTs) to its existing business aviation support network, for a total of nine. The new MSTs will be located in Little Rock, Ark., Van Nuys, Calif., San Jose, Calif., and Dallas. The company also has opened a Mobile Operation Center (MOC), operating 24 hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.
Fractional ownership companies have been near the epicenter of the business aviation industry’s economic turmoil, and their leaders seized on challenging times to reduce flight operations and shrink cost footprints, says a new report. “The largest players—NetJets, NetJets Europe, Flexjet, Flight Options and CitationAir—have realigned their operations, reduced debt, lowered their employment base, cut back fleets, and reduced expenses such as charter purchasing, sales and marketing,” reports Plano, Texas-based consultancy Rolland Vincent Associates.
The first flight of a Sikorsky S-70i in Poland took place this month at the facilities of PZL Mielec, the Sikorsky-owned company that is assembling the newest Black Hawk variant. The first S-70i to fly recently completed flight testing in the U.S. and is being fitted out with options. The S-70i that flew in Poland is the second helicopter to be produced by PZL Mielec. Two more aircraft are in final assembly at the company, with a fifth aircraft slated to begin production in December. Initial deliveries are expected to begin in 2011.
Stamford, Conn.-based charter broker WannaJet has created a business model to offer seats on private jets at a fixed price that is comparable with first- or business-class seats on commercial airlines.
PILATUS PC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0849; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-043-AD; Amendment 39-16488; AD 2010-22-09] – Conduct a one-time inspection to verify that the bolts of the aileron outboard bearing supports are installed in the correct positions and that the threads of the associated anchor nuts are in good condition, per the instructions of Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 57-015, Rev. No. 1 (dated July 23, 2010). Replace the attachment hardware if a bolt is installed in the wrong location or any damage is found on the anchor nut threads.
ExecuJet Aviation Group has been issued an air operator’s certificate from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. The move allows the company to begin basing aircraft operations in New Zealand. ExecuJet initially is managing a privately owned Gulfstream G550 in the region. The G550 will be available for third-party charter, effective immediately.
