Business & Commercial Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Gulfstream Aerospace's G280 super midsize aircraft has topped 30 city-pair records with a recent speed record set en route to the recent Dubai Airshow. The aircraft departed Kuala Lumpur International airport Nov. 15 at 5:23 p.m. local time and arrived at Dubai World Airport 7 hr. and 34 min. later. The aircraft averaged a speed of Mach 0.80 during the 3,356 nm trip. Earlier this year a G280 set another record during travel to the Middle East, flying from Singapore to Abu Dhabi in 7 hr. and 40 min. That trip was 3,301 nm.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Aviation Search Group, an executive recruiting firm for the aerospace and aviation industries, formed a new recruiting department dedicated to business aviation clientele. Grayson Barrows, director sales, says that hiring demand in the business aviation segment has grown significantly recently. Aviation Search Group works with manufacturers, airlines, service providers, business and general aviation businesses and airports.
Business Aviation

By Fred George
Tzvetomir Blajev, chairman of the Flight Safety Foundation's European Advisory Committee, has identified six main accident risks associated with circling approaches: 1 The circling aircraft penetrates the obstacle clearance limits and collides with terrain or an obstacle (CFIT). 2 An aircraft performing a go-around from a circling approach penetrates the obstacle clearance limits and collides with terrain or an obstacle (CFIT). 3vThe circling aircraft loses control and crashes.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Rockwell Collins was recently selected by Jet Aviation Basel to provide its Venue cabin management and entertainment system and high-definition Airshow 3-D Moving Map system for an Airbus A340CJ business jet. The A340CJ will be the largest aircraft to date to carry the equipment, which has been installed on more than 300 aircraft including a number of large VIP jets. HD monitors will be installed throughout the aircraft, along with wireless audio/video-on-demand capability for personal devices. Installation is slated to begin in the first half of 2014.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
National Business Aviation Association, Washington, announced that Dick Boubrava, NBAA director, Legislative Affairs, and Christa Fornarotto, who is currently serving as FAA associate administrator for airports, have both been appointed to vice president positions with government-relations responsibilities for the association.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is working with regional governments to introduce regulations and policies that lay a foundation for business aviation and curb illegal operations. Addressing illegal operations is one of the higher priorities for the European Business Aviation Association, and MEBAA is hoping its next conference, to be held in Dubai, will serve as a springboard to address the issue in the Middle East. “The conference will tackle the issue of the gray market, and we need a mechanism to fight this . . .
Business Aviation

Kent S. Jackson
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published a long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled “Enhanced Consumer Protections for Charter Air Transportation” on Sept. 30, 2013, and then the federal government promptly shut down.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno, William Garvey
The FAA is advising operators of various Hawker 750s, 800s, 900s and 1000s to check the aircraft aileron and aileron tab assemblies for potential problems that could cause oscillations at high altitudes. The agency issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in late November 2013 encouraging the checks, saying it had received reports of wing/aileron oscillations from operators of Hawker 800XP and 850XP airplanes at altitudes above 33,000 ft. and at speeds of more than Mach 0.73. Unlike an airworthiness directive (AD), an SAIB is not mandatory.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., promoted David Judge to assistant manger of the company Learning Center located at the London Farnborough airport in the U.K. Kelly Allender was appointed manager of FlightSafety International's learning center in Dallas. Allender joined FlightSafety in 2001, serving in the company's Cessna facility in Wichita. There he served as assistant manager, director of programs, program manager for Cessna Citation Mustang training, and ground and simulator instructor.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Jet Aviation, Zurich, appointed Alain Champonnois as the new vice president and general manager of the company's FBO and line maintenance operations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina, Saudi Arabia. He reports to Stefan Benz, vice president of MRO and FBO operations in EMEA and Asia. Champonnois succeeds Hardy Butschi, who was recently appointed vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Dubai.
Business Aviation

By Fred George
Piper's PA-46-500TP Meridian made its debut in September 2000 as a 2001 model. It was the lowest priced pressurized, single-engine new production turboprop and it has retained that distinction. Piper created the Meridian by swapping a P&WC PT6A for the 350-hp piston engine of the PA-46 Malibu Mirage and modifying the airframe to handle the extra weight and speed. Everything about this project was designed to keep development costs low and that's reflected in the final product.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Congressmen Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), chair and member, respectively, are sponsoring a bill to eliminate the third-class medical requirements for pilots who operate aircraft of 6,000 lb. or less, under visual flight rules, at speeds below 250 kt. and altitudes below 14,000 ft. Under the bill, pilots must have a valid pilot's license and must not fly for compensation.
Business Aviation

Clif Stroud (Aviation Marketing CommunicationsWarrenton, Va. ), Principal (Aviation Marketing CommunicationsWarrenton, Va. )
I just wanted to say how much I like the new look of B&CA. It's clean, not cluttered and easy to read. With all the current debate about print versus digital, I find myself scanning the digital version when it arrives in my inbox, and later enjoying the hard copy when I have a little more time. Well done! Aviation Marketing CommunicationsWarrenton, Va.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno, William Garvey
¡Ross Aviation has acquired the assets and FBO of Louisiana Aircraft at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (KBTR). The FBO will continue to operate as Louisiana Aircraft and Landon Petty will continue to serve as its general manager. The facility is located on 17 acres and offers 113,500 sq. ft. of hangar space. This was the company's sixth acquisition in 2013. Ross Aviation has 19 FBOs in eleven states including Hawaii, New Jersey, Florida and Washington.
Business Aviation

Richard N. Aarons
The autothrottle system provides automatic thrust control from the start of takeoff through climb, cruise, descent, approach and go-around or landing. In normal operation, the flight management computer provides the A/T system with engine N1 limit values. The A/T moves the thrust levers with a separate servomotor on each thrust lever. Following manual positioning, the A/T may reposition the thrust levers to comply with computed thrust requirements except while in the THR HLD and ARM modes.
Business Aviation

Les Boris (Hamilton, Ont. )
I am an owner-pilot who previously operated a Citation Bravo but currently own and operate a CJ4. I have enjoyed reading your editorials for years and find your magazine's articles very informative and educational. Keep up the great work. Hamilton, Ont.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Cessna commemorated the 20th anniversary of its Greensboro Citation Service Center in December. Located at Piedmont Triad International Airport, N.C., the facility is one of the busiest in the network of company-owned service centers, handling approximately 2,500 service orders for aircrft operating in or traveling through the mid-Atlantic U.S.in 2013. Greensboro is one of 15 company-owned service centers offering maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, avionics upgrades and other specialized services for the line of Citation business jets.
Business Aviation

Patrick R. Veillette, Ph.D.
One of the first common screening tests used to determine if a patient is suffering from sleep apnea is done in bed using a blood oxygen sensor attached to one of your fingers. This “Overnight Oximetry on Room Air” records your pulse and blood oxygen saturation level throughout the night. The automated data analysis subsequently reports how many times your blood oxygen saturation level fell below certain levels. It is an easy and convenient test to take, and the advantage is that you get to sleep in your own home.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno, William Garvey
Gulf Helicopters has signed the largest order by an offshore operator so far for the AgustaWestland AW189 eight-metric-ton helicopter. The Qatar-based operator will buy 15 of the aircraft, which is awaiting imminent certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The firm order, announced during the Dubai Airshow, is the second-largest for the new helicopter, behind Bristow Group's, which has ordered six aircraft for offshore operations and a further 11 to support its U.K. search-and-rescue (SAR) contract awarded this year.
Business Aviation

By Fred George
You're 25 times more likely to suffer a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) crash if you're flying a circling approach rather than a straight-in procedure, according to accident statistics compiled by the Flight Safety Foundation. As such, IFR circling approaches are among the highest risk maneuvers attempted by pilots.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Sabreliner is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the certification of the original Sabreliner business jet, the Model 40. The aircraft's roots began as the Air Force T-39 aircraft and incorporated many of the design standards to become the 40. Sabreliner subsequently delivered four additional models — the 60, 75, 75A/80 and 65. Production of the Sabreliners ended in 1982 after 631 were built. Of those, 232 are still in service, include 42 Sabre 40s. Sabreliner Corp., which has facilities in Perryville and Ste.
Business Aviation

Patrick R. Veillette, Ph.D.
Travel to foreign destinations carries an additional threat to one's health and medical certificate.
Business Aviation

Kent S. Jackson
Earlier this year on a red-eye flight from China, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a highly intoxicated and unusually talkative German. As the sun rose and breakfast was served, the flight attendant cheerfully passed him another Guinness. He was happy. She was happy. I was not. Was the FAA?
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Kafko International's new Clear Vision concentrated windshield wash solution provides and eco-friendly alternative to traditional wash fluids, according to the company. The product features unique plant by-product chemistry, free of petrochemicals. The solution easily removes bugs, bid dropping tree sap, traffic film and road grime. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, non-corrosive and contains no methanol, and does not lower freeze point. Clear Vision is available in a 5-gal. bucket and 55-gal. drum.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
West Star Aviation, East Alton, Ill., named Debi Cunningham vice president of Marketing and Interior Design. She started her career in business aviation in 1983 and has been with West Star since 2002.
Business Aviation