Embraer executives are expecting to build market share as the Brazilian airframer increases production of its Phenom 100 and 300, says Luis Carlos Affonso, executive vice president of Embraer Executive Jets.
Although the sharp drop in flight hours slowed the services business to a trickle last year, StandardAero weathered the downturn with a diverse portfolio of services for airline, military, helicopter and business jet operations, says Scott Taylor, senior vice president, business aviation. In fact, Taylors says, “2009 was an outstanding year for StandardAero.”
Private aviation service provider Air Partner is “cautiously optimistic” about the current state of the business jet charter market. “Significantly, if we look at a list of who is chartering now, we see that some of the big-name banks and financial institutions are back on it,” says Phil Mathews, Air Partner director of U.K. trading. “All of them were notably absent this time last year. There weren’t any financial road shows or bank-related IPO trips then, but I’m pleased to see these bookings are coming back.”
Embraer executives are expecting to build market share as the Brazilian airframer increases production of its Phenom 100 and 300, says Luis Carlos Affonso, executive vice president of Embraer Executive Jets.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0435; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-084-AD; Amendment 39-16283; AD 2010-10-04] – Replace the blind fasteners with solid rivets at the four wiring harness tiedown mount locations, and conduct a detailed inspection for chafing and damage to the wires and Teflon tubing. Repair or replace any chafed or damaged wire or Teflon tubing before further flight, per the instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A84-24-44, Rev. A (dated Feb. 2, 2010).
Gulfstream’s long-range G650 and super midsize G250 programs have remained on track to enter the market in 2011, company executives say, with each program recently reaching key milestones. The G650, which will be the flagship of the Gulfstream fleet, continues to expand the flight envelope, setting a new speed record of 0.925 Mach at an altitude of 42,500 ft. Pres Henne, senior vice president of programs, says the G650 maneuvered easily at the altitude, adding, “There was a little nibble but no buffet at 45º of bank.”
Cessna has received an order from Turkish Airlines Flight Training Academy for two Citation Mustang business jets. The aircraft will be delivered this month and will be based at Istanbul Ataturk for flight training purposes. The academy also has operated Cessna 172s for flight training. The Wichita airframer recently delivered its 300th Mustang, less than three years after the aircraft entered service. The 300th Mustang went to Michael Garnham with Acernus Aero Limited, located in Wellington, New Zealand. Acernus previously had taken a delivery of a Mustang in 2007.
Mooney Airplane Company named Maintenance Air Service GmbH (MAS), based at Flugplatz Leutkirch, Germany, as an authorized service center. The addition gives Mooney owners a second location in Germany for service. MAS mechanics are trained on TCM and Lycoming engines, Garmin avionics and Mooney airframes.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Jetstream 3101 and 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0123 Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-004-AD; Amendment 39-16267; AD 2010-09-02] – Modify the flap selector switch wiring, per the instructions of BAE Systems Jetstream Series 3100 & 3200 Service Bulletin 27-JM7861 (dated Feb. 12, 2008). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by three reports of uncommanded flap extensions, one of which resulted in damage to the wing trailing edge.
Daher-Socata handed over a new TBM 850 single-turboprop aircraft to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) for airline transport pilot training. Based at Zaria in Kaduna State, NCAT has been a longtime Daher-Socata customer, operating a fleet of 17 Tampico TB9s, five TB20 Trinidad GTs and a cockpit procedure trainer based on TB20 Trinidad GT.
Cessna Aircraft Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton is the sole business aviation representative on the Department of Transportation’s new Future of Aviation Advisory Committee.
Rockwell Collins has begun offering its Venue High Definition cabin management system as a retrofit through qualified Rockwell Collins dealers. Venue is designed to provide home entertainment systems, as well as executive capabilities. The systems include wide-screen, high-definition in-seat and bulkhead displaces, switch and touchscreen controllers, a Venue media center and dual Blu-Ray disc player, integrated audio-on-demand devices and support for personal electronic devices, including computers, Blackberry phones, iPods and iPhones.
HONEYWELL Primus EPIC and Primus APEX Flight Management Systems [Docket No. FAA-2010-0385; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-068-AD; Amendment 39-16269; AD 2010-09-04] – For systems installed on Embraer ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 and Pilatus PC-12/47E airplanes, revise the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual to incorporate the procedures necessary to recover from or work around a software anomaly in the flight management system (FMS).
Position Description Projects Administrator 4800 - Security Operations -ORD 085-2010-049 Projects Administrator - Security Operations The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking a Projects Administrator – Security Operations to plan, initiate, and manage security projects. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to:
Russia’s Avia Group is about to start construction on a new business aviation terminal at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO). The new facility, dubbed Terminal A, is expected to open its doors within the next 12 months. With a planned area of about 2,700 square meters and handling capacity of 75,000 passengers per year, the new terminal will help bring business aviation at SVO to a completely new level of activity at international standards of service.
May 19-20 – NATA Line Service Supervisor Training, Windsor Locks, Conn., (800) 808-6282, www.nata.aero May 20 — European Aviation Club, luncheon featuring Sir Michael Bishop; Hotel Bristol Stephanie, Brussels, e-mail: [email protected] May 24 – Greater Washington Aviation Open, Lansdowne Golf Resort, Lansdowne, Va., www.gwao.org May 24-27 – Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Midwest Airlines Convention Center, Milwaukee, (414) 908-6001
Hawker Beechcraft is the newest broker/dealer member of the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA), and three new associate members — Avtrak, LLC, the Law Offices of Christopher B. Younger, and Rolland Vincent Associates, LLC — recently joined the organization. NARA now has a total of 32 broker/dealer members and 48 associate members.
General aviation manufacturers continued to feel the downturn as first-quarter business jet deliveries sunk to their lowest level in five years and the piston market reached its lowest point in about 12 years. But, at the same time, billings hit near-record levels, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. GAMA last week reported that general aviation shipments declined 15% to 390 aircraft in the first quarter. Billings, however, climbed 7% to $4.64 billion.
Hawker 800 blended winglets will be sold and installed in Europe by Jet Aviation as a result of a recent agreement between the diversified aviation sales and support company and Aviation Partners, Inc. (API), the Seattle-based developer of the modification. As the European sales representative and installer for API, Jet Aviation will market Hawker winglets to customers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for installation at its MRO locations in Zurich, Switzerland, and Dusseldorf, Germany.
Jet Aviation Dubai has won Jordan Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission approvals for Hawker Beechcraft and Gulfstream G450 aircraft and can now accommodate Jordan-registered aircraft for maintenance services. Jet Aviation Dubai’s maintenance and fixed-base operation was established in May 2005. The facility holds an EASA maintenance approval and is an FAA repair station.
Position Description Assistant Commissioner 4407 - Concessions -ORD 085-2010-018 Assistant Commissioner - Concessions The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner - Concessions to assist in the design, development and management of the airport concessions program for O’Hare Airport.
Position Description Attorney 4408 – Contracts -ORD 085-2010-025 Attorney - Contracts The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Attorney – Contracts to perform highly complex professional legal work including legal advice, drafting legal opinions and recommendations, participating in litigation; and exercising functional and technical supervision over professional and support staff.
Two Jet Aviation facilities have received new approvals to perform aircraft maintenance. Moscow Vnukovo recently became a legal Russian entity and received its EASA 145 maintenance approval. Since 2007, the facility had been operating as a branch of Jet Aviation Dusseldorf. Separately, Jet Aviation has begun offering maintenance services from its Sorocaba, Brazil facility following receipt of a repair station certificate from the civil aviation authority of Brazil.
