St. Kitts has opened a new private terminal with a YU Lounge at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport. The YU Lounge services both private and commercial customers as part of an effort by the St. Kitts & Nevis government to encourage tourism. Located west of the main airport parking apron, the facility includes arrival and departure lounges, along with a dedicated crew lounge. It also offers ground handling services for aircraft operators. The terminal is a joint venture between the St. Kitts & Nevis government, the St.
Gulfstream’s G280 continues to rack up speed records, gaining two more while en route to Shanghai for ABACE. The latest records, which bring the total number to 47, were established in two legs between Friedrichshafen Airport in German and Hong Kong. The G280 flew 2,751 nm from Germany to Dubai International Airport in 5 hr. and 49 min. The aircraft averaged a speed of Mach 0.84. The second leg involved a 7-hr., 7-min. flight covering 3,449 nm from Dubai to Hong Kong International Airport, averaging Mach 0.82.
When queried about a possible stretch of the widebody Falcon 5X now in development, Olivier Villa, Dassault’s senior vice president for Civil Aircraft, blunted the question saying such a derivative “is not in the picture at this point.” That response naturally resulted in a follow up, and Villa accommodated, saying, “There will be derivatives of the 5X, but let us finish the first one.”
CareFlite, which provides integrated medical transportation services in North Texas, is increasing its fleet with four Bell 407GX helicopters. The first two have been delivered with the remaining two preparing to enter service later this year. The aircraft will transport patients. The 407GX incorporates the Garmin G1000H flight deck, which includes technologies designed to improve situational awareness such as the Helicopter Terrain Avoidance Warning System, Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology, Traffic Information Systems and more.
Cabin Innovations, Lewisville, Texas, named Gary Stephens Engineering manager. He will be responsible for leading the engineering team and advancing the design and development capabilities for VIP galleys and interiors.
Air Culinaire Worldwide, a Universal Weather and Aviation company, is now operating an inflight kitchen at Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC). The kitchen is located within the Atlantic Aviation FBO and is the only inflight kitchen based on the field. The new facility is the fourth kitchen based in California (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Van Nuys). Air Culinaire Tampa, Fla. (813) 449-6000 www.airculinaireworldwide.com
Oil and gas helicopter operator Bristow Group has taken delivery of its first AgustaWestland AW189 super-medium helicopter. The first aircraft, G-OENB, was delivered to the company’s base at Norwich, Norfolk on April 18. The AW189 was certified by the EASA in February, with Bristow becoming the aircraft’s launch customer, and the first to operate one of the new super-medium class of helicopter, which also includes the Airbus Helicopters EC175 and the Bell 525, due to fly later this year.
CAE and Brazilian training partner Lider Aviacao are launching a new helicopter pilot training program in Sao Paulo for Sikorsky S-92 helicopter operators. The new training, expected to begin in mid-2014 with a CAE 3000 Series Level D-qualified S-92 simulator, builds on the existing CAE-Lider Aviacao joint venture. Lider is one of the largest helicopter operators in Brazil.
Dart Aerospace, Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada, named Rick Golob as director of Aftermarket Support and Services responsible for aligning and managing Dart’s repair and overhaul network.
The description of the flight control system in “Pilot Report: Legacy 500,” (May 2014, page 62) as being “all-Brazilian” is inaccurate. Parker Aerospace is the designer and manufacturer of the system. BAE Systems is a supplier to us for the flight control computer. We designed and offered the FBW system to Embraer, which provided the flight control laws.
It's one of your worst nightmares. You’ve captained a trip to a remote area of an African country, and your first officer and one of the executive passengers have contracted a local disease — maybe dengue fever, but you’re not sure. The trip came up fast, and researching disease hazards and health care infrastructure was definitely not on your mind. But it sure is now, as you scramble to cope with a situation you never had time to envision.
Supercooling fog so it disperses as snow, increasing visibility, has been tried with some success at Orly Airport, France. One problem is the reaction of nearby residents to the resulting light snow fall.
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.