Avflight, the Avfuel-backed chain of fixed-base operations, has taken over the former Eurojet FBO at George Best Belfast City Airport (EGAC/KBHD). The facility will be rebranded as Avflight Belfast City and incorporate Avfuel’s operational systems and program offerings. Avflight operates 10 FBOs, proving handling, baggage and concierge services, along with fuel and line services.
A return-to-service flight, also known as a post-maintenance check flight, can be one of the most hazardous missions undertaken by a business aircraft operator. Some flight departments rate them as their highest risk missions. Often, aviation managers personally take active roles in planning, executing and debriefing the flights.
Delta Private Jets has added two more business jet to its expanding fleet of managed aircraft. A large-cabin Embraer Legacy 600 that seats up to 13 is based at the Elmira Corning Regional Airport in New York. The Citation Excel was completely refurbished and repainted in January and can seat up to nine. The Excel is part of the company’s aircraft deployment program that allows for a floating fleet of aircraft with no set home base.
The business aircraft accident record improved worldwide in the first quarter, led by declines in both the total number of accidents and fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered aircraft, s afety analyst Robert E. Breiling Associates reports. Worldwide, the total number of business aircraft accidents dropped by four to 20 in the first quarter, according to initial Breiling data. Three fewer business aircraft were involved in fatal accidents.
A Dassault Falcon 7X has set a new trans-Atlantic speed record May 2, flying between Teterboro, N.J., Airport (TEB) and London City Airport (LCY) at an average speed of Mach 0.88. The aircraft transited the 3,465 nm (6,452 km) distance in 5:54 hr. The mission was flown by Dassault Chief Test Pilot Philippe Deleume and Dassault operational pilot Olivier Froment. There were three passengers aboard, including Aviation Week Engagement Director Rupa Haria.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., announced that Otto Gambrel has been promoted to assistant manager of the West Palm Beach, Fla., Learning Center. Paul Statskey succeeds Gambrel as program manager of FSI’s Hong Kong Learning Center.
One of the Aviation Safety Action Program’s most important goals is to address problems at the company level, particularly conditions that might cause further incidents. This requires Event Review Committee members who are motivated to search out the underlying causes and smart enough to recognize them when found. Unfortunately, too often committee members lack sufficient understanding of human factors.
In today’s litigious society, it’s a given that lawyers representing accident victims will try to access a company’s safety data in order to show that it failed to take all prudent steps to prevent the mishap. Obviously there needs to be a balance between the protection of accident data and the administration of justice, regulatory action and the public’s right to know.
FlightSafety is planning to complete the first phase of construction by year-end, involving a 55,000-sq.-ft. facility that will house up to six full flight simulators, 13 training classrooms, 12 briefing/debriefing rooms and 12 flight-deck simulators. A second phase calls for up to 90,000 additional square feet, depending on customer needs.
