FAA last week assured industry leaders that it has not imposed a moratorium on non-citizen owner trusts used by foreign companies to obtain N-tail number registrations in the U.S. That assurance came after representatives from a number of aviation associations had received word that a moratorium was in place. The industry officials sent a letter May 10 to the FAA saying a moratorium could cost billions of dollars from delayed aircraft transactions.
TWC Aviation, Inc. has been independently audited as successfully meeting Stage Two of the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). IS-BAO is an industry code of best practices. Stage Two verifies that safety and operational systems, policies, and other best practices and procedures are effectively used throughout the company. The additional recognition involves a four-day audit consisting of interviews with managers and staff in every department at every level. The audit also involved feedback from the range of customers.
London-based private jet company Ocean Sky is looking to expand and have 12 fixed-base operator units in Europe by the end of 2010. The company is considering buying existing FBOs or building new ones in Italy, Spain, France and other European countries. Ocean Sky plans to model its new FBOs after its existing ones at London Luton, Manchester and Prestwick, the company says.
A London-based firm has recently been launched to offer escrow services designed specifically for the aviation market. Founded by a coalition of lawyers, financial advisors and aviation specialists, Securus Escrow was established to handle international aircraft transactions, the company said.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0124 Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-002-AD; Amendment 39-16274; AD 2010-09-09] – Conduct a functional check of the main and standby fuel pumps for leaks, per the instructions of Piaggio Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: 80-0278 (dated July 15, 2009). If any leaks are found, replace the fuel pump with a serviceable one before further flight. Also, revise the Aircraft Maintenance Manual.
CLINTON HANSEN will expand his territory as an account representative for Phillips 66 Aviation. Hansen will add the Midwest region sales territory to his current territory covering Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California and Alaska. He joined ConocoPhillips in 2002, helping traders manage risk on the commercial trading floor.
Pensacola Aviation Center in Florida has joined the international network of Avfuel-branded dealers. Under the agreement, Pensacola Aviation Center will now offer AVTRIP rewards and the Avfuel Contract Fuel program for jet fuel savings. Pensacola Aviation Center provides a range of services, including parts, accessories and maintenance. The facility is equipped with showers, snooze rooms, crew cars, two conference rooms and a snack area with cold food and soft drink vending machines.
GLENN HINDERSTEIN has joined Clay Lacy Aviation as executive vice president of business development. He previously spent 14 years with NetJets, most recently as senior vice president of sales.
New Jet International has become a sales representative for Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global lines in parts of Switzerland. The latest designation expands New Jet’s sales territory to cover Geneva, Neuchatel, Jura, Valais, Vaud, Frebourg, Berne, Tessin and Grisons in Switzerland. The Monte Carlo, Monaco-based firm has served as Bombardier’s Business Aircraft’s representative in Italy and Monaco for nearly 15 years.
Dassault is moving ahead with a number of improvements for its Falcon 7X and expects to have the enhanced vision system certified for 100-foot ceiling minimums this summer, Dassault executives said during the recent European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition in Geneva.
RICHARD LYON was appointed to lead West Star Aviation’s international sales activities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Lyon will be responsible for selling West Star Aviation’s airframe services to corporate aviation customers throughout the region. He has more than 30 years of aviation experience, including 20 years with Garrett Aviation Services and General Electric Aircraft Engine Services.
McKinney, Texas will be the location of Cutter Aviation’s consolidated Dallas-Fort Worth operations. All of the fixed-base operation’s aircraft maintenance and technical services are scheduled to move this summer from their current site at Dallas Executive Airport (RBD) south of Dallas to a new facility at Collin County Regional Airport (TKI) north of Dallas, joining Cutter Aviation’s current fuel, line service, aircraft sales and air charter departments, which already are based at Cutter Aviation McKinney.
VerifAvia in London has unveiled plans to process applications from airlines and business aviation operators for pre-verification and verification audits under the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) verification. The company has now implemented its ETS assurance management system which has procedures in place to undertake the contract review stage, the first step of a verification audit. Under the EU ETS, airlines and business aviation operators must have their annual aircraft CO2 emissions and metric ton-kilometer data verified by an accredited verification body.
The first European-registered aircraft to be fitted with Aviation Partners Inc. (API) blended winglets was recently completed. The Dassault 2000EX EASy aircraft, owned by Gator Aviation and flown by jet charter operator Aviation Beauport Limited, which is based on the Channel Island of Jersey, had the performance-enhancing airfoils installed at Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Mich., facility in March. The modified airplane recently returned to its home base by flying nonstop from Sarasota, Fla., a distance of 3,822 nautical miles.
Position Description Assistant Commissioner 4800 - Security Operations -ORD 085-2010-024 Assistant Commissioner - Security Operations The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner - Security Operations to plan and direct security activities in compliance with an approved federally mandated Airport Security Plan. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to:
The Director of Strategic Alliances is responsible for identifying and securing new Customer relationships as well as maintaining and enhancing existing relationships. This role is responsible for both the sale of ATP & CASS products and services and securing source licensing agreements with Source Customers. The role of this position is to generate new business & facilitate customer satisfaction to insure loyalty, increase revenue and be an industry advocate.
Position Description Assistant Commissioner 4510 – Legal/Government Affairs -ORD 085-2010-026 Assistant Commissioner – Legal/Government Affairs The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner – Legal/Government Affairs to monitor local, state, regional and federal legislation and regulatory initiatives that impact upon the policies, plans and operations of Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports.
Jet Aviation Basel recently completed and delivered a new Airbus 319 Corporate Jet to Bousten Aviation. DC Aviation in Germany will manage the aircraft for Monaco-based Bousten. Jet Aviation collaborated with both Bousten Aviation and DC Aviation on the completion project. The aircraft was designed for both private and commercial operations, and includes an entrance hallway, a main cabin with lounge and dining areas, an aft business-class section and lounge and dining areas.
Esterline CMC Electronics has added real-time weather capability to its PilotView Class 2 electronic flight bags (EFBs) using the Iridium satellite constellation. The option enables customers that operate in Europe to have en route weather displayed on the CMC PilotView 8.4-inch CMA-1100 MkII and 10.4-inch CMA-1410 EFBs. The PilotView EFB provides access to up-to-date aircraft documentation, checklists and flight planning information.
Oriens Advisors, a London-based aviation consultancy, has signed a memorandum of understanding with InterFight Global Corporation (IFG) of Miami. Under the deal, Oriens will offer complementary services to IFG’s existing offering, including: providing company directors on an advisory or executive basis; supporting IFG clients with European commercial due diligence; and sourcing funding and advising on investment pitches. The two companies already have begun working with mutual clients, including a U.K. light jet operation that was seeking operational support.
Xojet, the private aviation firm that made a splash during the 2007 National Business Aviation Association annual convention with orders and options for up to 110 Bombardier and Citation business jets, has been slowly increasing its fleet, and is now operating 27 jets. The company took delivery of its first 2010 new aircraft — two Bombardier Challenger 300s. The company also plans to take a combination of five more Challenger 300 and 605 aircraft by next January, and four more in 2011.
Bombardier formally opened its business aircraft service center at Amsterdam’s Schiphol International Airport, saying the May 1 celebration marked an “extremely important milestone in our international strategy.” The center, which actually began servicing aircraft Feb. 22, is the manufacturer’s sixth company-owned facility dedicated to business aircraft, and its first outside the U.S.
U.K.-based business aircraft management and charter group Gama Aviation has been awarded its UAE Air operators certificate, claiming to be the only business aviation group in the world to simultaneously hold operating licenses in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Bermuda. Based at Sharjah International Airport in the Middle East, Gama now has three charter aircraft in the region, a Challenger 604, 605 and 850. The Challenger 850 is due to join the other two aircraft in the charter fleet in May.
18: How many months Teal Group vice president for analysis Richard Aboulafia says it will take before deliveries of new aircraft begin to grow again. He noted that 14.7% of the existing fleet is still for sale — down from 16.3% in early 2009, but still well above traditional levels
