Cirrus Aircraft is beginning initial production work of the first conforming Vision SF50 jet, and plans to launch an 18-month certification program for the single-engine “personal” jet early next year. Three aircraft will be used in the flight testing, which the Duluth, Minn.-based manufacturer hope will conclude with type certification award in late 2015. The company, which has more than 170 people working on the SF50 program, reports more than 500 deposits for the $1.96 million aircraft.
The grudge match is on. The upgraded Citation X completed its first flight recently with the clear intention of reclaiming the crown as the world's fastest civilian production aircraft. The Cessna speedy jet had assumed the title once the last Concorde was retired, but Gulfstream's G650 subsequently nosed it out with an Mmo of Mach 0.925, which is Mach 0.01 faster. The upgraded Citation X has a target redline of Mach 0.935. The new X is equipped with Garmin's G5000 platform with an auto-throttle system and two 7,034-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce AE 3007C2 turbofans.
The UVair FBO Network has added Great Circle Flight Service at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as their newest location. Great Circle operates 24/7 and provides customs and immigration support, licensed contract A&P technicians, lounges, courtesy transportation and on-site rental cars, among other amenities. The UVair Network now has 20 FBOs offering branded fuel, Bravo Rewards, acceptance of the EPIC Card and the UVair Fueling Card.
Jetcraft Corp., a major business aircraft broker with headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., has acquired the aircraft sales division of ExecuJet Aviation Group, of Zurich, Switzerland. The combined Jetcraft sales force comprises 20 senior sales executives, and another 20 sales, technical and marketing support staffers, located in offices worldwide. Chad Anderson remains president of Jetcraft and Andrew Hoy, formerly managing director of the ExecuJet group, will oversee sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Key Air, Oxford, Conn., appointed 40-year aviation veteran Jim Bennett as its vice president of Flight Operations and Bill Ekstrom as its new manager of Business Operations.
The long economic downturn notwithstanding, PlaneSense, the Pilatus PC-12 fractional aircraft operation, is still putting up some strong numbers. Since beginning operations with a single aircraft in September 1995, the company — which now operates a fleet of 30 Pilatus singles — has completed 200,000 sorties into 1,140 different strips ranging in length from 1900 ft. to 10,000 ft. In 2012, its on-time departure record (excluding weather, passenger or ATC delays) was 99.5% and its busiest day ever was July 7, 2013, when it logged 156 sorties, a record that stood until Aug.
United Aviation Services (UAS) of Dubai predicts 3,000 business aircraft will fly into and within Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with 11% of all visitors traveling by private aircraft for the tournament, set to run from June 12 through July 13. Play will take place in a dozen cities throughout Brazil. Ammar Al-Mahmoud, director of the UAS charter division, said the vast country is “underserved” by airlines, a condition favoring private jet travel.
Rockwell Collins' largest acquisition to date — purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, ARINC, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group — will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The companies announced the “definitive agreement” for the purchase on Aug. 11, with the deal expected to be finalized within 90 days.
Has the ascent finally begun? The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports that during the first half of 2013 the industry shipped 1,014 new aircraft new aircraft, an increase of nearly 9% over the same period a year earlier. Total billing of $10.4 billion was up a whopping 26%, the first since 2008 that airplane revenues exceeded $10 billion at the halfway mark. Deliveries and dollars were up in all categories with the notable exception of business jets, whose numbers slipped from 295 in 2012, to 283 this year, and revenue dropped by 4%.
I enjoyed “Oh, for a Good Night's Sleep” (July 2013). I think that Part 91 should start to think about adhering to the Part 121 flight/rest limitations and requirements, especially now that we monitor ourselves through an SMS. I hate the fact that more regulation is required, but unfortunately there are too many flight departments nowadays that will operate “as ordered” by their manager or principal. This would at least give them something to hang their hat on.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, appointed Luiz Sandler regional vice president of sales for South America. He replaces Bill Arrazola, who recently retired.
Macquarie has launched Macquarie Rotorcraft Leasing, a helicopter operating leasing business that will focus on the growing worldwide demand for commercial helicopters servicing offshore oil and gas, medical transport search and rescue, and the executive transport markets. Jeffrey Pino, 35, is the CEO. He most recently served as president of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. James Clarke is COO, Steve Estill is the chief marketing officer and Greg A'slinger was named chief technical officer.
Commuter Air Technology, Inc., (CAT), Midwest City, Okla., appointed Juan “Johnny A” Alverez as director of Special Operation Forces and Latin America Business Development responsible for procurement and management of active commercial and para-public aviation, training, integration and ISR projects.
FlightSafety International, La Guardia Airport, N.Y., named Andy Johnson manager of the company's Gulfstream Learning Center in savannah. He replaces Chip White who is now manager of the company's Orlando Learning Center.
Parts bin engineering long has been a strong suit of Cessna Aircraft and no aircraft better exemplifies that strategy than the Citation 560XL series. Created in the mid-1990s as a response to the clean-sheet, leading edge Learjet 45, the Citation 560XL features a shortened Citation 650 fuselage, a scaled up Citation V wing and newly introduced Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545 turbofan engines. Low-wing loading and a sporty thrust-to-weight ratio gave it the best runway performance in its class, with far better hot-and-high airport performance than the original Learjet 45.
Air Tractor recently delivered its 3,000th aircraft, a PT6A-34AG powered model 502B ag plane, to Agropecuaria Maggi Ltda., of Brazil. The operator has three other AT-502Bs for spraying crops of soybeans, cotton and corn. Last year the Olney, Tex., manufacturer produced a record 180 aircraft, all PT6-powered, which are used in ag work, fire fighting, narcotic crop eradication, fuel-hauling, fighting locust plagues, military strike/reconnaissance, and cleaning up oil spills in coastal waters. Air Tractors operate in 30 countries. For more information: www.airtractor.com
If pond scum is a problem in your life, I've a suggestion: Crank up a pair of Wright R-1820 Cyclones fitted with fat Ham Standard paddles. The green goo doesn't stand a chance. Nor does any other aquatic thing less than a Grumman Albatross, which boasts just such a mechanical hurricane.
Gulfstream Aerospace released its new PlaneBalance application, a weight and calculation tool. The app complements the company's PlaneBook iPad application. PlaneBalance is available from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore. Gulfstream's PlaneBook Software Version 2.0 must be downloaded onto the iPad prior to downloading PlaneBalance. For question or comments go to www.planebook.support@gulfstream.com
Signature Flight Support is acquiring Jet Systems, a rival FBO at Westchester County Airport, White Plains, N.Y., for $38.5 million, reducing the number of service outfits at the busy New York metropolitan airport to four. However, the move could signal the start of further consolidations at HPN. There's been speculation among airport tenants about such developments, fueled in part by a proposal before the County Board of Legislators to assign the lease for Panorama Flight Service, an independent FBO, to Landmark Aviation, which, like Signature, already has a base at HPN.
Cessna Aircraft, Wichita, named Lannie O'Bannion as its regional vice president of Sales for the Midwestern U.S. and Canada. He will report to Kriya Shortt, senior vice president of Sales, and will be responsible for representing the broad range of Citation products to customers.
Blackhawk Modifications, Inc., Waco, Texas, has reorganized its sales organization into two groups: Domestic and International. Sales managers in the Domestic groups will report to Edwin Black, vice president of Domestic Sales. The international group will report to Bobby Patton, vice president of International Sales. Sam Jantzen has been named as the company's vice president of Marketing. His aviation career includes positions with Cessna, Fairchild Aircraft, Commuter Air Technology and Raisbeck Engineering.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), among the nation's largest charter and management companies, is undergoing a management shake-up with three of its top executives believed to have recently departed the NetJets subsidiary. Among those out the exits is President Robert Garrymore, who had served with EJM and NetJets since 1998. Garrymore became president of EJM in 2009. Others include Ronald Silverman, senior vice president of aircraft management, and Jim Lewis, senior vice president of aircraft maintenance, sales and acquisitions.
