Jessica is Executive Editor of Business & Commercial Aviation magazine. She started as Editor of ShowNews Online, Aviation Week's on-site trade show daily published at the Paris Air Show, NBAA Annual Convention, Singapore Air Show and at other significant aerospace gatherings.
Jessica has worked in television production and management consulting. While not yet a licensed pilot, Ms. Salerno has received flight instruction and has soloed.
Kenn Ricci is further cementing his status as a business aviation mogul with the acquisition of the Flexjet fractional aircraft operation from Bombardier. The $185 million deal, announced Sept. 5, includes a commitment to place orders and options for up to 245 Bombardier business aircraft valued at $5.2 billion. The sale, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, is expected to close by year's end. Directional Aviation Capital, the entity acquiring Flexjet, is headed by Ricci, an attorney and former charter pilot who founded Flight Options in 1998.
FlightSafety International has installed a Level D Citation XLS+ simulator with a Collins Pro Line 21 suite at its Orlando, Fla., training center. The facility now provides training for the full Citation XL series. Meanwhile,the company added Citation CJ2+ training with a dedicated simulator at its San Antonio, Tex., center, along with a new Level D Cessna Caravan simulator equipped with Garmin G600 suite at its Cessna Learning Center in Wichita.
JETS, part of Germany's 328 Group, is now an authorized Service Center for Dassault Aviation. They will undertake line maintenance on the Falcon 900 and 2000 at its expanding London Biggin Hill MRO facility and also support the company's European network. The company employs around 30 licensed engineers at Biggin and is actively recruiting for more to complement its MRO activity at Bournemouth Airport.
