Business & Commercial Aviation

TAG Farnborough Airport has added more space for passengers and crew at its terminal to meet growing demand. Air traffic grew 2% last year. That includes a 6% jump in the number of airliner-size business jets, which represents the highest growth in the category for the year, it said. Many of the airport carriers operate to and from the U.S., the Middle East and Asia. A new lounge accommodates up to 80 passengers. Crew facilities include a quiet lounge, a “snooze” room with flat beds, a zero gravity ergonomic chair and a complimentary gym and showers.

​GrandView Aviation, an executive helicopter and jet service in Baltimore, has added a 2015 Embraer 300 super light jet to its fleet. The aircraft carries up to nine passengers, reaches cruise speeds of 500 mph and has a range of up to 2,000 mi. Grandview plans to continue to grow its fleet with new aircraft.

BCA readers share their opinions on articles we published.

AMAC Aerospace has been awarded heavy base maintenance contacts for two Boeing Business Jets. A BBJ3 and a BBJ, both privately owned, will be entering the Basel, Switzerland, facility in early 2016. Last year, AMAC was selected for work on a head-of-state Airbus ACJ340-300.

Crystal Cruises in Los Angeles plans to expand Crystal Luxury Air’s fleet with the addition of two Airbus ACJ319 jets and a Bombardier Global Express XRS. Crystal’s aircraft includes a Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 787. The new aircraft will serve private charters and transport guests to Crystal destinations. Crystal private charter jet service begins in March.

EHang, a Chinese manufacturer, unveiled a drone on Jan. 6 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it claims can fly a human passenger short-to-medium distances at low altitudes. The company’s EHang 184, which it describes as an autonomous aerial vehicle, includes four arms and eight propellers and takes off and lands vertically. It is built from composite materials, operates on electric power, and can be charged in 2-4 hr., according to EHang.

“The Citation M2 and CJ3+ have fantastic mission capability and have proven to be a great fit for our customers in this space,” Textron Aviation spokeswoman Sarah Estes said. But the CJ2+ (Model 525A) is part of a “mixed model line,” Estes said. “We could build it if required for a customer mission.” The aircraft is no longer listed in the company’s product lineup on its website. The six-passenger CJ2, a derivative of the CitationJet, entered service in 2000, followed by the upgraded CJ2+, which entered service in 2005.

Carter Aviation Technologies, plans to have its experimental CarterCopter at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-in and Expo at Florida’s Lakeland-Linder Airport April 5-10. The Wichita Falls, Texas, company says it is conducting demonstrations for potential joint venture partners. It hopes to create three separate joint ventures to develop three categories of aircraft from less than 2,000 lb. to 7,000 lb. gross weight. The company says it is discussing larger aircraft with major aerospace companies.

Associated Air Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, has obtained an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of a Controller Pilot Data Link Communication System on a Boeing Business Jet VIP model. The system is part of the requirements for the Future Air Navigation System, or FANS. The STC was completed at Associated Air’s Dallas Love Field repair station.

Mitsui & Co. LTD, a large Japanese conglomerate involved in energy, machinery, chemicals, food, textile, logistics, finance, and other industries, has acquired an equity stake in Quest Aircraft Co., maker of the Kodiak single turboprop utility aircraft. Quest became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Setouchi Holdings, Inc., another Japanese conglomerate, in February 2015. The agreement between Setouchi and Mitsui was finalized on January 13.

Blue Sky Innovations has formed a general-aviation consulting service to help general aviation business owners and investors expand into foreign markets. Early projects will focus on growth opportunities among the U.S., China and Brazil. Tim Archer serves as president and CEO. Clients include fixed base operators, manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul firms, flight schools, airports, charter operators and others.

Etihad Airways has formed a partnership with Victor, an on-demand operator, by which passengers can charter a Victor business jet to connect with their international Airbus A380 flights. Victor, which operates bases in California, New York and London, says it provides real-time availability, discloses transaction fees and specific operator and aircraft details without upfront commitments.

ExcelAire, based in Ronkonkoma, New York, has begun private jet charter service to Cuba. The charter firm has begun direct flights from 19 cities in the U.S. It completed its first trip to Cuba from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 21. U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba must comply with U.S. restrictions that require each visitor to obtain a visa/license, the company said.

Fifty-four percent of U.S. FBOs say their fuel sales increased in 2015 compared to 2014, according to the 2016 Annual FBO Fuel Sales Survey results released by Aviation Business Strategies Group at the 2016 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Tampa, Fla.

Teterboro Airport was the destination most requested by Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder users seeking charter aircraft during December 2015, according to an analysis of aircharterguide.com data. Meanwhile, Scottsdale Airport was the most common departure airport in the charter itineraries submitted by users.

Imagine executing a complex night approach to a major airport in highly congested airspace — lots of step-downs and a steep final segment — when suddenly an intensively bright light blasts the cockpit.

Finmeccanica-owned companies such as AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi and Selex ES have now been absorbed into the larger Finmeccanica entity and will operate as divisions rather than separate companies.

Toxicology testing detected methylone, a synthetic illicit stimulant with similar effects to cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, in the pilot’s blood. Given the level of methylone, it is likely the pilot was impaired at the time of the accident.

Phoenix Air’s Aeromedical Biological Containment System (ABCS) is shown erected beside one of the operator’s Gulfstream III air ambulances. Note the “exoskeleton” fabricated from aluminum stock and the disposable isolation tent for patients suffering from dangerous communicable diseases that it supports. The system breaks down for storage and is designed to be assembled in the Gulfstream’s cabin and secured in the seat tracks.

Doug King Chief Executive Officer, Epic Aircraft, Bend, Oregon

Jet Aviation Singapore delivered the first 8C (120-month) inspection undertaken in Asia on a Bombardier Global Express aircraft. Along with the inspection, it also completed a full interior refurbishment and repainted the exterior. The 10-year 8C inspection is the largest maintenance event for Global Express aircraft. It will begin a second 8C inspection for an undisclosed customer in January. (See Twenty/20 on page 65)

Jet-A and Avgas Per Gallon Fuel Prices December 2015

Chronic pilot shortages now are a reality for many small and medium-size flight departments. Managers have pared back on staffing levels to comply with cost-cutting mandates. Moreover, full-time pilots aren’t available for duty full time. They have vacation days, periodic simulator training sessions, occasional sick days, parental leave time and perhaps even a few personal days off.

The Aerodrome and its partner, the City of Boulder City, Nevada, announced in early December the world’s first commercial droneport and teaching facility in Boulder City.

Amazon has revealed the latest prototype of its Prime Air package-delivery small unmanned aircraft.