Despite high hopes for a growing Indian business aviation market, importing business aircraft into India has become more difficult because of increased bureaucracy, a business aviation advocacy group says. Along with the usual monthly aircraft acquisition committee meeting, India's civil aviation minister is now said to be scrutinizing every application personally. Rohit Kapur, president of the Business Aviation Operators Association of India (BAOA), says this has been going on for about five or six months and the backlog has reached around 40 aircraft.
The eighth generation of the S-76 line is powered by newly developed, twin dual-channel FADEC-controlled Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines, each producing 1,077 shp. These give the S-76D 14% more takeoff power and an 8% better fuel burn rate than the 922-shp Turbomeca Arriel 2S2 engines that power the S-76C++. They also take the S-76 full cycle in its choice of engines.
Zenith Jet's recently released 10-yr. forecast, says total business aircraft deliveries for the 2013-2022 forecast period are projected to be 9,400 units representing $253 billion in revenues based on 2012 pricing. The company made several interesting points: It sees the emergence of another high-end category above, but not replacing, the current Ultra-Long-Range (ULR) segment with its own distinct customer buying preferences and requirements.
NBAA advises that as of Feb. 7, ICAO rules require aircraft flying to Europe be equipped with Controller-Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) systems in order to access two preferred routes in the North Atlantic Organized Track System (NAT OTS). The association observes that only a fraction of business aircraft are equipped for the new requirement.
Duncan Aviation has partnered with Flightcraft to open an avionics installation and repair facility at Portland International Airport (PDX) in Portland, Ore. Located on the international airport at 7777 N.E. Airport Way, the shop is the newest in Duncan Aviation's list of 30 facilities located throughout the United States.
I enjoyed reading your tribute to Al Ueltschi (“The Alabama Bet,” Viewpoint, December 2012, page 9). It brought back quite a few memories. My family owned the FBO at KSUA (St. Lucie Skyways) from 1949 through 1980. During the 1950s Al flew in a lot with Juan Trippe's B23. Frequently, I flew with them back and forth to Long Island to visit some relatives there. Being only five or six years old at the time I was not used to some of Al's vocabulary!
Most FBOs should experience steady growth in business in the range of 4-6% in 2013, said John Enticknap a principal of Aviation Business Strategies Group (ABSG), at the 2013 NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference. “The FBO industry has not fully recovered from the economic downturn over the past several years,” Enticknap said. “Yes, 2012 was a better year than 2011, but there has been a modest shakeout of FBOs who had been operating marginally.
The NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention will now be called the Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (BACE). “NBAA's largest U.S. show has been referred to as an 'annual meeting' [since its 1947 inception], but in recent decades, it has grown in size and importance to be much more than just a meeting, and this change reflects that reality,” says NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. At the same time, Bolen says the change strengthens the brand for all NBAA-related shows. While the U.S.
Dubai World Central (DWC) has signed an MOU with Aircraft Support Industries (ASI), the Australian firm that specializes in developing aircraft maintenance facilities, systems and equipment, to jointly provide clients with build-to-suit and related services in the design, development and construction of aircraft hangar and maintenance facilities at DWC's Aviation District.
Aireon, which is developing a global air traffic surveillance network using satellites instead of ground stations, is forming an eight-member advisory panel to involve airlines and other stakeholders in the effort. The committee will include representatives from airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and air navigation service providers (ANSPs).
Cambridge Airport is offering free landing to all operators who purchase between 5,000 and 10,000 litres of fuel. For operators purchasing over 10,001 litres, further heavy discounting will be offered. The promotion will run until the end of 2013. ExecuJet Europe is celebrating its first anniversary at Cambridge. The company's first full-service FBO in the U.K., has expanded its services during the past year and has seen an increase in aircraft movements. In June 2012, it launched the U.K.'s first free pet travel service (PETS), which has proved popular with clients.
On Jan. 30, 2013, an F3 category tornado with 137- to 179-kt. winds ripped through Adairsville, Ga., leveling five dozen structures, damaging almost 100 others and killing one person. This 900-yd.-wide twister reportedly sustained average 140-kt. winds for more than 20 mi. before dissipating. It crossed Interstate 75, flung vehicles into the air and damaged or destroyed entire neighborhoods.
Daher-Socata announced Feb. 7 that the worldwide TBM 700 and TBM 850 fleet has passed the one million flight-hour milestone. With a total fleet of 620 high-speed, single-engine turboprops, the overall fleet flies an average of 120,000 hr. annually. Daher-Socata' claims its TBM 850 is the world's fastest single turboprop aircraft, with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at FL 260 (in ISA conditions).
Aero Charter Inc., Chesterfield, Mo., has hired Peter Purcell to serve as King Air and Beechjet captain. Purcell has 14 yr. of aviation experience, including eight as a corporate pilot. Airports Council International-North America, Washington, named George Kelemen senior vice president of government and political affairs. He will be ACI-NA's chief lobbyist, managing the Government Affairs department.
Kathleen E. Bangs (Honda Aircraft Co. Greensboro, N.C. )
I just read “The Alabama Bet” about Al Ueltschi (Viewpoint, December 2012). Very good, as always. And as always, I learned something — namely — the meaning of the word “macadam” (after I Googled it). Honda Aircraft Co. Greensboro, N.C.
While not yet officially Beechcraft Corp. as we go to press, the newly forming company that is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection already has received a rating on expected new debt. Moody's Investor Service assigned a B1 corporate family rating to Beechcraft Holdings, LLC on a proposed $375 million term loan that will be used as part of its financing to exit from Chapter 11. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on Feb. 1 confirmed Hawker Beechcraft's reorganization plan, clearing the way for the company to emerge from bankruptcy.
Six years ago when the plethora of new 10K business jet engines was emerging, one of the contenders was Rolls-Royce's RB282, at the time destined for a super-midsize aircraft proposed by Dassault Aviation and identified only as “SMS.”
General aviation advocates are working to help regrow membership in the General Aviation caucuses in the U.S. House and Senate. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen recently issued an “action call” urging his members to appeal to their local lawmakers to join the caucuses. “The caucuses will be vital in the coming year, as those serving in the 113th Congress face a policy environment that could have repercussions for general aviation,” Bolen tells members.
SkyVector launched it World FBO Directory on the company online chart viewer. Pilots can view and use worldwide aeronautical charts, graphical weather depictions and flight planning tools. The FBO Directory integrates into SkyVector's mapping interface displaying real-time fuel prices on the charts in relevant currencies and units of measure. Users can filter for FBO features and facilities including participation in fuel card programs or amenities offered.
In response to growing demand in Asia, Jet Aviation Singapore is building a maintenance hangar adjacent to its current FBO and maintenance operation in Seletar Aerospace Park. The hangars will be integrated and incorporate two stories of office space in addition to new battery, tire, upholstery and workworking shops, including two paint spray booths. The new hangar will have an arched roof tall enough to accommodate Boeing BBJ and Airbus ACJ aircraft.
