Aircell’s new, usage-based fee plan is designed to appeal to low-volume business aviation users of the company’s airborne high-speed Internet products. Starting this summer, the option will enable customers to pay based on the monthly volume of data they consume over the network, instead of the standard monthly service plans, which provide unlimited access for a flat monthly fee. Specific pricing and details of the usage-based plan are to be released later.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) is transferring operations of its electromagnetic compatibility, mechanical and environmental test laboratories to the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita Statue University, an effort that expands their ongoing collaboration. The latest move will increase NIAR’s testing capabilities and enable the institute to provide additional hands-on training. NIAR will operate facilities within two HBC buildings. A number of HBC workers will be offered employment with WSU, NIAR said.
FAA, embracing the idea that depression is a treatable illness, has changed its policy to allow pilots taking certain antidepressants to retain flying privileges.
Aircraft manufacturers developing new models are poised to fare better as the economic turmoil subsides, says the April JP Morgan Business Jet Monthly. “A number of new product launches remain in the pipeline across segments, especially in the very light jet and mid-size portions of the market,” the report says. In the heavy jet market, the G650 and Lineage 1000 should help Gulfstream and Embraer gain share, the analyst says.
PILATUS PC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0250; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-011-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to conduct a one-time inspection of the longeron structure and the terminal lugs of the bonding straps for signs of corrosion, per the instructions of Pilatus PC-7 Service Bulletin No. 53-007 (dated Jan. 5, 2010).
A new study released by corporate governance analyst The Corporate Library finds that chief executive personal use of corporate aircraft held steady, but the median expenses associated with corporate aircraft use has increased by more than 9% between 2007-08 and 2008-09. The report, “Proxy Season Foresights #8: CEOs’ Personal Use of Corporate Jets Still Flying High,” also suggested that CEO use of personal aircraft should be considered by investors who are assessing corporate risk.
AgustaWestland’s new U.K. training center opened recently at Newquay Cornwall Airport in southwest England. The 30,000-square-foot center offers a range of helicopter training capabilities, from basic pilot instruction to advanced operational training. Courses cover rescue winch, medical and mission training taught by a staff of 30, which includes 13 flight instructors and 12 aircraft technicians. The center utilizes AW109 Power and AW139 helicopters to provide training, as well as customers’ aircraft for advanced and conversion to type training.
Satcom Direct has won FAA certification for its newly developed Inmarsat Satellite Communications Training Course to count toward requirements for Inspection Authorization renewal. The two-day training course enables its customers to earn training hours toward their Inspection Authorization renewal while also learning about their onboard communications system. For more information on available schedules for the Inmarsat Satellite Communications Training Course and other training events, contact Satcom Direct at (321) 777-3000.
SUSAN MAYER has joined Mid-Continent Instruments to provide systems software support in the information technology department. Mayer has a master’s of science in information technology from Capella University and a bachelor’s of science in computer information systems from Friends University.
DM Airports Ltd. has implemented a seven-year contract for Ascent Aviation Group to supply fuel to Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey. Ascent is supplying Phillips 66 Jet A and aviation gasoline to Morristown Airport’s tenant base, as well as to two fixed-based operators, Signature Flight Support and FTC FBO. Ascent is the largest general aviation fuel marketer for Phillips 66 Aviation, supplying more than 220 Phillips-branded FBOs. Morristown previously had used Exxon fuel.
BLR Aerospace has received approval from the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC) for its King Air 90 winglet systems. The approval follows FAA certification earlier last month. The initial certification applies to King Air C90As, C90GTs and C90GTis. BLR expects to expand certification coverage to earlier C90s and C90Es. Previously certified on King Air 200 and 300s, BLR has delivered about 200 of its winglet systems. The systems improve stability, cruise speed and rate of climb.
ACM Aviation, a San Jose, Calif.-based charter operator, recently obtained International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) registry. Developed by the International Business Aviation Council, IS-BAO establishes a code of best practices and is recognized by European regulators as an acceptable means of compliance for business aircraft operational standards.
Just more than 60% of those participating in a recent UBS survey expect business conditions to improve in the next 12 months. The financial firm regularly polls a group of U.S. domestic and international aircraft broker/dealers, manufacturers, fractional providers, financiers and others, and received 150 responses in March. Four percent expect business conditions to deteriorate, while the remaining 35% expect business conditions to stay the same over the next 12 months. See UBS graphic on right referring to other respondent results.
LEARJET 45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0226; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-034-AD; Amendment 39-16238; AD 2010-06-13] – Visually inspect for cracked and missing ballscrew assembly sleeves on the flap actuator, perform repetitive nondestructive liquid-penetrant inspections of each sleeve or flap actuator for cracks, and replace or modify the flap actuator if necessary.
CAV Aerospace this month is beginning retrofits of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan with its TKS deicing system. The system, which has been installed on new aircraft since 2008, will bring Caravans that still have pneumatic boots up to current ice protection standards. The system pumps anti-icing fluid from thousands of laser-drilled holes in titanium panels on the leading edges of the aircraft’s wings, struts, horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizer. The fluid will stream along the bottom and top of the airframe and run off the trail edge.
Construction of the plant that will build the fuselage for the Bombardier CSeries jetliner has begun in Shenyang, China. The 21,000-square-meter (226,042-square-ft.) facility will be operated by Shenyang Aircraft Corp. (SAC), a subsidiary of state-owned China Aviation Industry Corp. SAC delivered the first test article (a fuselage test barrel) to Bombardier’s Saint-Laurent, Québec site last August. The test barrel is being used to demonstrate manufacturing and engineering structural concepts before the aircraft’s final design phase begins later this year.
Jet Aviation London Biggin Hill recently won approval from Dassault to perform line and base maintenance on the Falcon 2000. The facility already has completed a 3A+ inspection on a Falcon 2000 with the assistance of Jet Aviation Basel.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the crash of an Embraer 120ER Brasilia turboprop that killed both pilots on March 22. The crew was conducting a training flight when the Brasilia, registered VH-ANB, went down after takeoff at the boundary of Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, Australia.
JEFF WRIGHT was appointed regional sales director for FlightWorks, Inc. Wright will manage FlightWorks’ newly opened sales office at Peachtree-DeKalb Airport in Atlanta. He has more than 17 years of sales and management experience, previously as a southeastern territory sales manager at MedAire, Inc. He also has served as president of Air Medical Consultants, program director at Medway Air Ambulance and investment consultant at Wachovia Securities.
Beechcraft veteran Randy Groom was chosen last week by Piper Aircraft CEO and President Kevin Gould to be the manufacturer’s new executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer support, effective June 1. Piper began an extensive search to fill the opening in its senior leadership team when Robert Kromer, former VP sales and marketing, left the organization in late 2009. Groom will concentrate on boosting sales and enhancing customer satisfaction, among other tasks, capitalizing on his three-plus decades of experience in general aviation.
European regulators have given the approval for Dassault Systemes to buy the IBM unit distributing product life-cycle management software. Dassault Systemes, which is behind major aircraft design software tools, most notably the Catia suite, in October announced plans to buy the IBM sales and client support operations. The IBM unit already was selling Dassault Systemes products. The deal carries a price tag of $600 million in cash. Dassault Systemes says that with the approval, the deal is expected to be completed “in the coming weeks.”
Pilatus Aircraft has come to terms with Poland’s PZL Swidnik to build fuselage and wing cells for the PC-12 turboprop business aircraft. The Swiss plane maker canvassed a large number of suppliers before opting for AgustaWestland-owned PZL, Pilatus says. Although traditionally a helicopter maker, PZL Swidnik has also manufactured gliders and done other aerostructures work. Poland has been vying to become a low-cost aerospace production center.
Vector Aerospace Corporation signed a service agreement with Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). Under the four-year deal, Vector will offer JSSI customers fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft engine repair and overhaul support from its locations in Prince Edward Island, Canada; Gosport, United Kingdom and Johannesburg, South Africa. The agreement also includes helicopter repair and overhaul services at the Vector Helicopter Services facility in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Bombardier last week announced it had closed an offering of $1.5 billion in senior notes. The issuance included a $650 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due in 2018. The notes carry a coupon of 7.50% and were sold at par. Another $850 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due in 2020 also were sold at par. The manufacturer will use the proceeds to repurchase up to $1 billion aggregate principal amount in outstanding notes under a debt tender offer announced March 15, along with general corporate purposes.
