Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
Washington, DC:NBAA: Key provisions in FAA’s new SMS rule reflect Association prioritiesThe National Business Aviation Association has commended FAA officials for reflecting NBAA feedback in key provisions included in the agency’s new final rule on Safety Management Systems (SMS). “The business aviation community has always considered safety to be a core value, and has led the way in the voluntary adoption of SMS and other best practices,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “This final rule largely reflects comments from NBAA and hundreds of others who have noted that for an SMS to be effective, it must be tailored to the size and complexity of each operation.” The new rule requires all Part 135 operators, certain Part 21 certificate holders and §91.147 air tour operators to implement an SMS, essentially expanding existing Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 5 SMS requirements to these parties, and adding some new mandates to Part 5.
New York:Wheels Up to open state-of-the-art maintenance facility at Palm Beach InternationalPartners with top external MRO providers to support hiring for affected employees in exited Cincinnati and Broomfield, Colorado facilities.Wheels Up has announced the forthcoming opening of a new, state-of-the-art maintenance facility at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). Due to open this year, the facility at PBI represents a strategic shift in the allocation of the company's maintenance facilities, with an end goal of better aligning resources to the company's geographic network and flight demand density. In preparation for the opening at PBI, resources will be reallocated from existing, underutilized facilities where there is reduced organic network flow and flight traffic. The immediate result will be the closure of existing maintenance operations in Cincinnati and Broomfield, CO; the relocation of mobile service units in Sacramento, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and certain service units in Burbank, CA to the Eastern US; and the forthcoming relocation of resources currently stationed in Wheels Up's Fort Lauderdale facility to PBI.
Cleveland, OhioFlexjet achieves Triple-Crown of aviation safety awardsFAA Diamond Award of Excellence for Aviation and Maintenance; ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating; and IS-BAO Certification.Flexjet has announced its receipt of a suite of three awards that underscore its commitment to the most stringent safety standards for its aircraft Owners, flight crews and staff. The firm received the Federal Aviation Administration’s Diamond Award of Excellence for Aviation Maintenance Technician Training for the 25th year, more than any other private jet travel provider and once again earned the ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating and certification at Stage 2 with the International Standard for Business Aviation Operators (IS-BAO). "At Flexjet, safety is a top priority, and achieving these accolades requires our aircraft, flight, operations and safety divisions operate at the highest possible level,” said Mike Silvestro, Flexjet Co-Chief Executive Officer. “We are thrilled these organizations honored our dedication and hard work.” Flexjet was the first operator to obtain the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s IAS registry and has completed nine successful consecutive audits since then. In addition, Flexjet has achieved active conformance for the FAA’s SMS Voluntary Program - the highest level possible.
Savannah, Georgia:Gulfstream begins G700 customer deliveriesFirst Two Aircraft Entered Into Service.Gulfstream has announced the commencement of customer deliveries for the all-new Gulfstream G700. The first two G700 aircraft have been delivered and are now in service with Gulfstream customers. “Beginning G700 customer deliveries less than one month after achieving Federal Aviation Administration type certification marks an incredible milestone in Gulfstream’s history of raising the bar for the business aviation industry,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “We appreciate the confidence our customers have demonstrated in our aircraft and look forward to continuing these deliveries in the weeks ahead.”
The G700 features the most spacious cabin in the industry and the Gulfstream Cabin Experience with 100% fresh air, whisper-quiet noise levels, natural light from 20 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows and the industry’s lowest cabin altitude. The aircraft set more than 50 city-pair speed records prior to entering service and can fly 7,750 nautical miles/14,353 kilometers at Mach 0.85 or 6,650 nm/12,316 km at Mach 0.90. The maximum operating speed of the G700 is Mach 0.935, the fastest in the Gulfstream fleet. “We are excited for our customers to experience the unparalleled G700 as we continue to deliver this exceptional aircraft around the world,” said Burns. |
So far this month (1st-21st April), global bizjet sectors are 4% ahead of comparable April last year, trailing April 2022 by 3%, 37% ahead of April five years ago. For week 16 (15th-21st April), seventy-two thousand global bizjet sectors were up 2% on the previous week, up 4% compared to week 16 in 2023, according to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker publihed today. United States In Week 16, 49,429 business jet sectors were flown in the United States, 5% fewer than the previous week, 2% more than Week 16 in 2023. So far this year (1st January-21st April 2024), US bizjet activity is 1% ahead of last year, 5% below 2022, 30% ahead of comparable 2019. Several operators are seeing all-time peaks in flight activity this month, notably Netjets, Flexjet, flyExclusive and Jet Aviation. In terms of bizjet flight hours, the NetJets fleet is flying 8% more than last year, 52% ahead of 2019. Flexjet recording triple digit growth in flight hours compared to April 2019, bizjet hours for WheelsUp have fallen 25% year-on-year.
Piestany, Slovakia:Jean-Michel Jarre is world’s first passenger to take off in KleinVision’s flying AirCarGodfather of electronic music and innovator Jean-Michel Jarre becomes world’s first passenger to take off in KleinVision's flying AirCar in preparation for Starmus Opening Concert also Featuring Sir Brian May of Queen.KleinVision's AirCar took to the skies with electronic music pioneer, Jean-Michel Jarre as its first passenger this month, signaling a new era of transportation innovation.
AirCar, which received the Certificate of Airworthiness in January 2022, has already logged an impressive 130 flight hours and over 520 takeoffs. “It is like being in a Jules Verne book, but for real! One second you speak to the driver, and next, you are up there in the air – an amazing experience!” said Jean-Michel Jarre after completing two flights in the AirCar at Piestany international airport.
United Kingdom:Loganair launches new commercial pilot pathwayLoganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, is partnering with CRM Aviation Europe to offer a brand-new pilot training course that will prepare students for joining the flight crew of a commercial airline. The Airline Pilot Standard Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) course is focused on teaching candidates how to work as part of a team in the flightdeck.
APS MCC is regarded as the gold standard for pilot training, and provides new pilots with the necessary technical and non-technical skills and knowledge to ensure they can easily adapt to an airline environment as a First Officer. Delegates will learn how to operate in a multi-crew environment but will also enhance handling skills working with realistic scenarios that have been designed to develop self-awareness, interpersonal and workload management skills.
Technological advancements have made data transfer to and from aircraft easier than ever. You can work on that document, make that call, play that game, watch that movie, and send that email as easily from your seat in the cabin as from your office, yet more data transfer means more opportunities for hackers. There were 2,814 data breaches recorded in 2023, resulting in eight billion records being compromised, and the cost of a cyber data breach averaged around US$4.45m, which doesn’t include reputational damage.
NOC at SD World Headquarters. Alarmingly, the average time to detect a violation was nearly four months. Fifty-three percent of users do not change passwords regularly, and an alarming 57 percent record passwords on easily seen sticky notes.
Everett, Washington:magniX announces LoI with Harbour Air for 50 magni650 electric enginesmagniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, announced that Harbour Air, North America’s largest seaplane airline, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase 50 magni650 electric engines. magniX’s electric propulsion units (EPUs) will be used to electrify Harbour Air’s fleet, beginning with the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in 2026. The magni650s will also be used for third-party conversions.
The agreement is a milestone in electric aviation and a significant next step in the industry-leading partnership between magniX and Harbour Air. In December 2019, the two companies made history when the eBeaver, a Harbour Air De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver retrofitted with a magniX electric engine, became the world’s first fully electric commercial aircraft to take flight. To date, the prototype eBeaver has flown 78 flights in preparation for the certification of the aircraft.
This month, we officially opened our fourth facility in the USA, welcoming clients to celebrate our new Savannah, Georgia facility. This latest operation complements our existing facilities in the Americas and showcases our commitment to engaging and working with our customers nearby. As a global business, we like to invest locally to ensure that our high-end custom interiors for business and private aviation customers, as well as owners of luxury residences, are assured of the high quality and standards for which the brand is recognized.
The decision to establish a presence in Fort Lauderdale and Savannah supports the recognition of these areas as critical hubs in the business aviation and residence markets.
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 Valletta, Malta:JetHouse launches with Falcon 7X charter operationsJetHouse Ltd, an innovative 'boutique' executive charter operator and aircraft management specialist, has announced its start of operations under the 9H Maltese registry, with its flagship Dassault Falcon 7X (9H-NEAH), based out of Brussels. Founded on the principles of personalisation, transparency and unparalleled expertise, JetHouse is excited to “bring a new standard in executive aviation charter.” Hervé Laitat, co-founder and CEO, with prominent industry veterans Tina Boeckx, Director of Flight Operations, and Nicolas Willemot, Chief Financial Officer, alongside its founding management team, bring over 175 years’ dedicated business aviation experience. Hervé Laitat was former CEO and Accountable Manager of Abelag Belgium, leading the operator for 20 years. He was also Board member and Treasurer of the European Business Aviation Association for 15 years. "JetHouse is the culmination of our vision to redefine the boutique aviation experience," said Hervé Laitat. "We are committing to remain at no more than 15 aircraft, ensuring each client feels part of our family - every journey meticulously tailored by our hands-on team. "Our first aircraft, the popular, long-range Dassault Falcon 7X, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and Wi-Fi connectivity, embodies our promise of efficiency, comfort and excellence."
Graz, Austria & Dundalk, Ireland:Charter broker VOO announces integration with REDiFlyVOO, the next-generation B2B marketplace for aircraft operators and charter brokers enabling business jet bookings, announces a strategic integration with REDiFly, a prominent aviation management platform for aircraft operators. This integration simplifies and streamlines the charter sales process by seamlessly connecting flight scheduling functionalities between both platforms. It facilitates smoother operations for aircraft operators while empowering brokers with real-time availability and enhanced convenience for their clients.
VOO users will now benefit from real-time access to accurate aircraft availability and location information directly synchronized from the REDiFly platform. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures that the calculated prices are based on the most up-to-date information. Additionally, the VOO–REDiFly integration automates the entire process, freeing operators from managing bookings across two separate systems. Once a flight is confirmed in VOO, operators simply need to click a button to send the booking details to REDiFly, where they can manage crews, passengers, checklists, and all other pre-flight logistics. Flight details are then readily available on any device via REDiFly’s mobile app, further enhancing operational efficiency.
Friedrichshafen, Germany:Making a difference - VoltAeroVoltAero CEO, Jean Botti, honours his pledge to enhance cabin design for disabled pilots. By Alison Chambers, Emerald Media. AERO Friedrichshafen 2024 last week was a celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, accessible and sustainable aviation. The show, marking its 30th anniversary, attracted over 31,000 visitors, 680 exhibitors and no less than 250 aircraft. Its appeal is its inclusivity. It is informal, yet the organisation of the show is tight and exemplary, considering how many people come through the doors - entry strictly ticket only. Babies and toddlers in pushchairs, dogs on leads, are all welcome. There is even a creche. Its acceptance of casual attire is especially appealing when there are 12 large halls to walk around. This year, joining state of the art gliders, drones and all manner of GA aircraft, were an array of alternative powered aircraft designs. Innovation at the fore. Outside, the large cabin Bombardier Global 5500 and Gulfstream G500 joined Textron, Pilatus and Embraer’s light jet families. Indoors HondaJet, Tecnam, Cirrus and others hosted impressive stands featuring their latest aircraft families. AERO's MESSE venue is super friendly for wheelchair users being all on one level with lifts to the conference areas.
Singapore:Artemis Aerospace announces additional hub in SingaporeGlobal aviation component solutions specialist Artemis Aerospace has announced the addition of a hub in Singapore following the launch of two similar sites in the US earlier this year. The new Singapore hub joins Artemis’s stateside locations in Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA. This will streamline orders and deliveries for customers in the respective regions and provide a quicker and even more efficient and connected global service. The company, which is celebrating 25 years in business, operates across multiple disciplines, including component supplies, component repairs, lessor support, flight simulation hardware support, consignment stock management and global aircraft logistics. Jim Scott, Owner, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Artemis Aerospace, said: “There’s been a huge rise in transactions in South East Asia for our multi-discipline business. "With the amount of work we handle there, our customers will benefit from the addition of a local hub that will greatly streamline services for our customers in the region, making delivery times even faster and more efficient.”
Brussels:EBAA welcomes Dublin Airport’s reversal on passenger traffic capOn April 11, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced the withdrawal of the planned passenger traffic cap at Dublin Airport (EIDW), which would have resulted in a ban on nonscheduled flights, including general aviation operations. This outcome, outlined in a draft decision, follows a robust advocacy campaign led by the Irish Business & General Aviation Association (IBGAA), with active support from EBAA and NBAA. The proposed passenger cap aimed to address the annual passenger limit of 32 million, projected to be surpassed in 2024. Instead, the draft decision suggests implementing a seat capacity limit of 14.4 million for the winter 2024 season, spanning from October 27th, 2024, to March 29th, 2025. Operations not using the passenger capacity of Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 would not be limited by the Passenger Air Traffic Movement (PATM) seat cap. Most notably for the W24 season, this means that cargo and General Aviation (GA) operations would not be limited by it, in the latter case because they enter via gateposts or the Platinum Services terminal, rather than terminals 1 or 2. In the case of GA, this will be kept under review for future seasons pending the outcome of the disagreement over the meaning and effect of the 32mppa Conditions. We note that, in any event, the question is of limited materiality in the context of the volume of GA passengers, of which there were less than 18,000 in 2023.
Friedrichshafen, Germany:Accelerating the Development of the Electric Aviation Sector in EuropeThe General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced the publication of a white paper entitled “Recommendations for Accelerating the Development of the Electric Aviation Sector in Europe,” during its press conference at Aero Friedrichshafen. The paper proposes important recommendations for European regulators and policymakers to support the emerging sector of electric aviation. The paper builds upon GAMA’s efforts advocating for key policy and legislative measures needed to accelerate the development of electric aviation in Europe. It highlights the need for creating and strengthening appropriate funding frameworks, building a robust and resilient supply chain and fostering the appropriate regulatory and policy environment to support the emergence and success of the electric aviation industry. Providing EASA with the critical resources and budgetary support it needs to support the certification process is also one of the key recommendations of the sector. “General aviation is at the forefront of developing and introducing innovative technologies that will transform the entire aviation industry. We look forward to furthering our ongoing work with the European Commission and EASA so that they have a fuller understanding of the vital role that they will play in advancing this sector, which is the incubator for safety, sustainability and innovation,” said Kyle Martin, Vice President, European Affairs, GAMA. The white paper can be found here
Friedrichshafen, Germany:30th AERO Friedrichshafen inspires more than 30,000 visitorsThe 30th AERO will not only be remembered as an anniversary edition, but also as a trade fair with a particularly large number of innovations and premieres. With 31,500 visitors from 81 nations, the numbers were significantly higher than the previous year's edition and the proportion of pilots among visitors increased once again. The AERO Drones, the AERO Gliding Expo and the AERO Career Days proved their worth.
The 30th edition of AERO Friedrichshafen (April 17th-20th), the leading global trade fair for General Aviation, Air Sports and Business Aviation, has come to a successful close. "We already had high expectations for the anniversary AERO, but the trade fair far exceeded our expectations this year despite the far from ideal weather conditions," says Stefan Reisinger, Managing Director of trade fair organizer fairnamic GmbH.
Analysis reveals age of US business aviation fleet and key reasons to upgrade aircraft IADA broadens global connections covering US, UK, Ireland, Dubai, Isle of Man and Africa Web Manuals' Amelia pioneers introduction of AI for flight manuals INCAS selects AXIS Flight Simulation to deliver King Air FFS
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Textron Aviation Special Missions begins deliveries of US Navy Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Aircraft
Textron Aviation has delivered the first two of up to 64 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft contracted by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in January last year, following a full and open competition.
The aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A, replaces the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. A variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 260, the T-54A will modernize the fleet and be more representative of follow-on fleet aircraft. The T-44 has been in service for more than 40 years.
Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) T-54A for the US Navy.
The T-54A includes an updated avionics suite and automation qualities to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet.
“The T-54A benefits from an active Beechcraft King Air assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, where all required METS avionics and interior modifications are installed on the line; keeping costs down, aircraft conformity consistent across the fleet and optimizing the delivery schedule to the Navy,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Missions Sales, Textron Aviation. “We are thrilled to continue our 47-year relationship of Textron Aviation aircraft conducting multi-engine flight training for Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Aviators.”
METS-specific capabilities include factory options for TACAN (Air-to-Air), angle-of-attack (AOA), V/UHF radio, digital audio system, engine trend monitoring, condition-based maintenance plus, observer/jump seat, passenger mission seats and full-face oxygen masks.
Earlier this month, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., an affiliate of Textron Aviation Inc., announced the company was awarded the METS Ground Based Training System (GBTS) contract providing the US Navy with a fully integrated training system of aircraft and training devices. The contract base award is for three Unit Training Device (UTD) simulators in a King Air 260 standard configuration, one Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) simulator in the METS T-54A configuration, one Simulator Support Station (SSS) in the METS T-54A configuration and 21 Desktop Trainers for avionics training.
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