International Business and Private Aviation Industry News
 Canada: Bombardier sells regional jet business to Mitsubishi for $550m Completes Bombardier’s aerospace transformation and refocus on business aviation. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHI) has agreed to purchase Bombardier's regional jet program for a cash consideration of $550m USD. Under the agreement, MHI will take over $200m USD in liabilities, but receive Bombardier’s estimated $180m USD interest in the Regional Aircraft Securitization Program (RASPRO), which was created to support aircraft leasing.
MHI will acquire the maintenance, support, refurbishment, marketing, and sales activities for the CRJ Series aircraft, including the related services and support network located in Montréal, Québec, and Toronto, Ontario, and its service centres located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and Tucson, Arizona, as well as the type certificates. Seiji Izumisawa, President & CEO of MHI commented: “This transaction represents one of the most important steps in our strategic journey to build a strong, global aviation capability."
United States: Gama Aviation Signature announces Windsor Jet charter alliance Aircraft management and charter company, Gama Aviation Signature, has announced a strategic alliance with Fort Lauderdale, FL-headquartered Windsor Jet Management, a business jet charter company with worldwide operations specializing in the heavy jet market. This new relationship will expand Gama Aviation’s capabilities in the heavy jet segment providing another competitive advantage for rapid growth and expansion. Gama Aviation Signature will further extend its charter scope into the heavy jet market with the utilization of Windsor Jet’s fleet. Additionally, under Gama’s direction, Windsor Jet will be
United States: FAA awards $495m infrastructure grants to 327 airports in 46 states and Pacific Islands US Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration will award $495m in airport infrastructure grants, the second allotment of the total $3.18b in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the United States.
“This significant investment in airport improvements will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in US aviation,” said Secretary Chao.
United States: Global Jet Capital completes securitization raising $517m Global Jet Capital, a global leader in financial solutions for business aircraft, has announced the closing of its BJETS 2019-1 securitization, raising approximately $517m. BJETS 2019-1 is Global Jet Capital’s third ABS offering, bringing total assets securitized to over $2.1bn. The BJETS 2019-1 offering contained three tranches of notes: a $417.4m Class A tranche; a $62.3m Class B tranche; and a $37.4m Class C tranche. Each tranche was oversubscribed and attracted orders from a wide variety of investors.
Women in Aviation International: WAI awards $73,000 in Mid-Year scholarships Through a donor who wishes to be anonymous, Women in Aviation International has awarded an additional $73,000 in 17 individual scholarships to be put toward flight and aviation maintenance training. “As always, we’re grateful to the generous companies and individuals who participate by their contributions to our scholarship program,” says WAI President Peggy Chabrian. “These donors literally change the lives of our members and help guide them on a clear path to a career in aviation.”
United States: 73% of US bizav fleet ready for ADS-B mandate deadline With six months to go before the ADS-B equipage mandate deadline, an updated report this week from FlightAware reports that 73 percent of the US registered business aircraft fleet has been equipped. Of the 17,958 currently registered aircraft, 4,784 (27 percent) have not yet been modified. Leaders amongst models with the highest rate of compliance are: Cirrus Vision SF50 (99 percent); HondaJet (95 percent); Dassault Falcon 7X (94 percent); and Embraer Legacy 600/650 (91 percent). Lowest is the Gulfstream III with 17 of the 44 registered aircraft modified (39 percent).
UA presents new fly-by-sight concept with Interactive-SVS Universal Avionics (UA), an Elbit Systems Company, is showcasing its unique Interactive-Synthetic Vision System (i-SVS) during the 2019 Paris Air Show. The innovative operator’s sight-control concept allows pilots to easily select entities on the company’s conformal SkyLens Head-Wearable Display (HWD), sending it directly to the InSight Display System. SkyLens and InSight are both critical components for safety in today's aircraft and reliance on them by the operator varies during the phases of flight. Integrating the two technologies enables the pilot to have the key information required, right when it’s needed, all presented super-positioned on the real world.
Professional Aviation Associates  Aria Bahawdory Professional Aviation Associates, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, has added a Regional Sales Manager to its Sales team with the appointment of Aria Bahawdory. In this role, Aria will focus on building and growing relationships with both new and existing customers. He has extensive experience in aviation B2B sales and marketing, including 18 years of combined business aviation sales and corporate aviation experience as a commercial pilot and operations manager. Most recently Aria served as the Fleet/Charter Regional Account Manager for FDS Avionics Corp. where he developed and maintained business relationships as well as marketing output for commercial and charter operations. Aria earned his Associate degree in aviation management from Lenior Community College and his Bachelor of Science in management and organizational development from Mount Olive College. Additionally, he served in the United States Navy for four years. Universal Avionics  Robert Randall Robert Randall has been appointed to the newly created position of Director of Strategic Business Development at Universal Avionics. In his new position, Robert will lead market development activities with OEMs (airframes and avionics), refocus and expand UA’s proposal process, and contribute to the development of strategic partnerships to complement UA’s offering. Robert joined UA in September 2008 as Midwest Regional Sales Manager before transitioning to OEM Sales Manager in 2012 and U.S. Senior Sales Manager in 2014. Prior to joining UA, Robert held over 30 years of avionics maintenance, testing, sales, and management experience. He is a United States Naval Aviation Veteran, a licensed A&P Mechanic, and a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). |
Back in 2017 Hurricane Irma devastated the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean, causing catastrophic damage in Barbuda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands. Landfall hit while Cdr. Bud Slabbaert - himself a considerable force of nature - was developing an event that has since become an annual must-attend - a meeting of like-minded powerhouses whose mission is to fix the shambolic intra island airlift in the Caribbean. I rarely write nowadays, however #Caribavia19 at the Simpson Hotel tempted me over to St Maarten in the Dutch Antilles to report on what is happening there.
Aircraft management is an art. From a jet flown almost daily on charter services to a turboprop for the sole use of the owner, successful management demands a mix of clinical efficiency and warm personal support. The relationships between aircraft owners and their managers/operators are actually among the most important partnerships in business aviation. There are, in truth, far too many aspects to aircraft management to cover everything in one article. Here, though, are just a few of our insights into the best ways to develop those owner/manager relationships, based on our many years of experience of aircraft management and operation at Luxaviation UK . . .
Europe: Air Partner reports on most popular MICE destinations. Air Partner, the global aviation services group, has over 50 years' experience in organising bespoke group aircraft charter for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) groups to destinations in Europe and beyond. Here, Air Partner discusses the most up and coming and popular destinations of MICE travel.
Meanwhile, Croatia’s pleasant climate, attractive landscape and range of venues has made it increasingly fashionable for automotive customers. Commercial charter is particularly beneficial for travelling to Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Split, as these cities are serviced by less frequent direct scheduled flights, especially in the off-peak months.
United States: Planet 9 celebrates 1st anniversary Doubles employees to over 60, including 35 pilots. Planet Nine Private Air ('Planet 9'), the Van Nuys, California based private charter operator and aircraft management company celebrates its first birthday this week.
United Kingdom: London Biggin Hill Airport’s Sunrise Runway Challenge charity event raises £3,000 London Biggin Hill Airport hosted the return of the Sunrise Runway Challenge last weekend (22nd/23rd June), raising more than £3,000 for the Chartwell Cancer Trust. The Saturday morning event saw more than 200 participants gather at London Biggin Hill from 5:30am to complete a five-kilometre run, or 15km cycle route on the airport’s runway and taxiway. The event was held in association with Biggin Runways Running Club.
China: Air BP and CNAF expand partnership in fast-growing Chinese aviation market Air BP and China National Aviation Fuel Group (CNAF) have signed a joint venture agreement to operate a general aviation fuel business in Southwest China, covering Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province and Chongqing Municipality. Subject to regulatory approvals, the joint venture, CNAF Air BP General Aviation Fuel Company, intends to support the growth and development of China’s general aviation sector - civil aviation other than commercial air transportation - with the intention to expand the scope further in future.
The Chinese general aviation sector has seen rapid growth in recent years and this is expected to continue. China's government has said that by 2020 it expects general aviation in China will reach two million hours flown and the fleet size will exceed 5,000 aircraft.
Europe: Gulfstream enhances European sales team Gulfstream has expanded its European sales team with the addition of two new regional vice presidents. Chris Edwards was recently appointed regional vice president of Sales for Northern Europe, covering the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
Alessandro Scarpellini has been named regional vice president of Sales for Southern Europe, including Switzerland.
Edwards and Scarpellini report to Trevor Esling, Gulfstream’s senior regional vice president of Sales for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Edwards is based at Gulfstream’s London Sales and Design Center, and Scarpellini is based in Rimini, Italy.
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 United Kingdom: Government's Aviation Strategy 'misses the point' on sustainability and growth says CBI Strategy must make the UK more competitive, productive and connected. The Government’s Aviation Strategy does not do enough to practically set out how the UK will increase its global connectivity whilst meeting its sustainability targets, according to the CBI. Responding to the Aviation 2050 Green Paper Consultation, Britain’s largest business group says that the aviation sector can both help grow the economy - through increased connectivity between the whole of the UK and new markets - and tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions. The sector - worth around £52bn, supporting one million jobs and accounting for 40% of the UK’s trade by value - is critical to the country’s future. With a renewed focus on global trade links, established and emerging, the sector will be pivotal to providing connectivity with, and access to, the UK market.
Italy: Troubled Italian aerospace company, Piaggio, has been given a boost by the country's Defense Ministry. At a meeting in Rome on June 20th, the Italian Government approved over €700m ($797m) -worth of orders on behalf of all three of its armed forces. Included in the package is the acquisition of 9 new Avanti Evo aircraft, together with the upgrade of 19 currently in service, representing a contract value of €260m.
Avanti Evo Piaggio Aerospace entered extraordinary receivership in December 2018. State-appointed administrator, Vincenzo Nicastro, who believes the company is "moving in the right direction", commented: "Our goal is to be in a good position after the summer, when the official tender for the sale of Piaggio Aerospace will hopefully start, with a company able to attract a number of qualified potential buyers." Nicastro intends to sell the company as a single entity, rather than breaking it up.
 Paula Kraft, founder of Atlanta's Tastefully Yours Catering and the DaVinci Inflight Training Institute in Fort Lauderdale. Rice. A food staple for nearly half the world population The God Buddha is said to have existed on one grain of cooked rice a day, and that through his disciples, the rice culture spread throughout China and Southeast Asia. For the Buddhists, this set the atmosphere to empower the grain of rice with supernatural nourishment. Rice is the food of alms throughout Asia, and is also considered a wholesome food. Rice is embedded in many cultures and many cuisines. Don’t you just love tidbits of knowledge? I thought rice would be a good topic for an article because of a simple innocent question asked to me by a crew member recently: Once the rice is cooked, does it have to be refrigerated?
Uncooked rice kernels can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause food poisoning. When the rice is cooked (any variety, any method), these spores survive. They are not killed by heat or cold. If the rice is left standing at room temperature, the spores can grow into bacteria. These bacteria will multiply and may produce toxins (poisons) that cause vomiting or diarrhea. The longer cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that the bacteria or toxins could make the rice unsafe to eat. Rice is an excellent source of carbohydrates for passengers and crew to be served on the aircraft as long as you consider these safety precautions . . .
United Kingdom: GKN breaks ground on new £32m UK Global Technology Centre Now joined by 25 partners. In the first half of 2019 GKN Aerospace broke ground on a 10,000 square metre UK Global Technology Centre (GTC) in Bristol and has secured 25 collaboration partners for the new Centre. The new GTC - funded by a £17m commitment from GKN Aerospace and £15m commitment from the UK Government, through the ATI Programme - is expected to open in 2020. It is GKN Aerospace’s largest UK technology investment to date, announced in December 2018 as part of a record annual technology spend of £75m for GKN Aerospace and alongside the UK government’s Aerospace Sector Deal. United Kingdom: Luxury FBO operator intros enhanced services at its London Stansted Airport Diamond Hangar home. XJet, the luxury FBO operator at London Stansted Airport, continues to revolutionise the private aviation industry with its vision of what a truly world-class FBO can provide for its clientele with the roll out of its new ‘tailored branding’ service. The company has introduced an immersive experience at its London Stansted FBO which can be tailored to a client’s specific requirements (ideal for car launches; financial road shows; music and sports tours). From tickets to boarding passes to luggage tags and inside its executive lounges, operators and charter brokers can opt to have their brand’s logo, corporate colours and décor featured as and where they choose.
Heathrow reveals masterplan for expansion with launch of its largest consultation Avia Solutions Group to acquire Chapman Freeborn Iron Maiden: Inside Ed Force One Bizav Newsreel Meeting Moxie Ashley Bowen Cook focuses on getting the most out of your meetings. A Walk Through the Garden As the temperature warms and the days become longer, there is a huge upsurge in lighter foods for the aircraft - especially salads. Paula Kraft.
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Solar Impulse pioneer Borschberg debuts H55 zero emission electric airplane
Stepping stone towards electric propulsion for flying taxis.
H55, a Solar Impulse technological spin off, has successfully flown a new electric airplane. Powered by H55’s electric propulsion system and manufactured by BRM Aero, the Bristell Energic is a 2-seater fully electric airplane to be used for pilot training and flight schools. For H55 this is a stepping stone for the development of electric propulsion systems designed for VTOLs and flying taxis.
H55 develops certified electric propulsion solutions to enable the next aviation revolution. The company focuses on the entire propulsion chain, to be certified CS 23, starting from the energy source and its management, through thrust and power, to pilot interface and control systems. Through its close and long standing collaboration with regulatory authorities, including the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation, H55 leverages certification as an important source of innovation.
This electric flight trainer airplane has received considerable interest from flight schools, airport resident associations and aviation authorities. The Bristell Energic offers a solution which is clean, quiet, cost efficient and safe. The airplane has an endurance of 1.5 hours, providing 45-60 minutes of mission flight with enough reserves, a typical training program for flight schools.
Commenting on this important milestone, André Borschberg, former CEO and Pilot of Solar Impulse, and now H55’s Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, is convinced that “electric air transport will deeply transform and improve urban mobility. Electric propulsion has enabled the world of drones, it will do the same for aviation. The Bristell Energic is a stepping stone for the development of such new aviation transport solutions, where the challenge will be safety and certification. By having our electric airplanes fly and monitoring their performance, H55 will continue to build up big data essential for the development of VTOLs and flying taxis."
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