The Internal Revenue Service issued its first official guidelines on bonus depreciation benefits conferred by Congress. The NBAA identified four key benefits for business aviation: (1) the availability of bonus depreciation for personal aircraft converted to business use, (2) the application of bonus depreciation benefits to purchasers of fractional interests and demonstrator aircraft, (3) expanded like-kind exchange benefits and (4) increased timing flexibility for taxpayers who lease their business aircraft.
Jet Aviation unveiled construction plans for a new facility to be located at Dubai International Airport during 2003's Dubai Air Show. The Dubai FBO will be the third Jet Aviation facility in the region; its others are located in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Jet Aviation Dubai is a joint venture with the Almulla Business Group of Dubai and is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2004.
In our December 2003 issue, to help mark the centennial of powered flight, we unveiled four individuals, some with us still and some not, whose contributions to the business aviation community were visionary and long-lasting, and changed the course of the industry for the better. Now, having entered the second century of flight, we, the editors of B/CA, are honored to cite four more. As already stated, so many people have contributed so much, it would be impossible to recognize them all, and so we have selected a few extraordinary individuals to represent the many.
Mexico's Aerolitoral, an AeroMexico regional affiliate, has signed an agreement to purchase five Embraer E145LR jets for delivery this year. The agreement also includes an option to buy an additional 25 aircraft over the next several years.
The four-year, $59 billion FAA reauthorization bill has been signed into law after passage by Congress on Nov. 21, 2003. The bill was delayed for months by arguments over provisions related to possible privatization of several FAA VFR-only control towers. ``We are pleased that this issue has been sufficiently resolved and that the bill has been passed,'' said GAMA President Ed Bolen. ``For general aviation, this is an extraordinarily important bill.
Universal Weather and Aviation has released the latest edition of its UVTripPlanner directory for business aviation. The directory contains data on airports (with at least 3,900 feet of hard-surfaced runway) worldwide, along with preflight planning information such as ground handling facilities, general overflight and airport entry rules, visa/passport requirements, security and health guidelines, customs and immigration regulations, and U.S. embassy and consulate offices.
TAG Aviation is now providing direct online charter quoting in Europe as well as in the United States using Air Charter Guide's CharterX system. Retail and industry inquirers can locate, price and book aircraft through TAG's Web site at www.tagaviation.com.
The National Air Transportation Association is developing a ramp safety program to cut ground-based aviation accidents. At a press luncheon in Washington, D.C., NATA President Jim Coyne said, ``In 2004, we'll raise the bar on ramp safety. It's a fact that there are more accidents on the ground than in the air. . . . Unfortunately, there are a few pilots who turn off their brains when the nosewheel touches down.'' Coyne said he believes more progress can be made in cutting down on ramp, taxiway and other ground-based accidents without additional regulation.
The first Embraer aircraft manufactured outside Brazil, an ERJ145 produced by HEAI (Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co.), rolled out and completed its first flight on Dec. 16, 2003. HEAI is a joint venture of Embraer and Harbin. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking Chinese and Brazilian government authorities, executives from China's top airlines, and representatives of partner and supplier companies.
FlightSafety International, Flushing, N.Y., has appointed Bruce N. Whitman as president. Whitman, who joined the organization in 1961, has been FlightSafety's executive vice president since 1962.
ARINC has opened a new customer service office in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to support aviation and airport clients in the Middle East and Africa, as well as the company's business expansion plans. The office is located in the newly developed west wing of the Dubai Airport Free Zone, from where the company will initially concentrate on the development of regional marketing, sales and support teams. ARINC now has offices or representation in eight European and Middle East cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Zurich, Krakow and London.
The FAA added more than 100 military airfields and about 750 accompanying instrument approaches to government-published approach chart books and airport/facility directories. ``In the past, pilots who wanted the extra safety benefit of having approaches for military bases in case of emergency had to buy and carry a separate publication,'' said Heidi Williams, AOPA manager of air traffic policy.
The HondaJet is real -- and it flies. Honda has finally made a public announcement of the HondaJet and the new turbofans that power the aircraft that flew for the first time in relative secrecy in December 2003 at Piedmont Triad Airport in North Carolina. It is now embarked on a 200-hour flight test program. Honda began research on compact business jets in 1986 and started work on its own proprietary engine in 1999. The test article is a fully equipped aircraft with a Garmin glass cockpit, integrated avionics suite, an autopilot and anti-ice systems.
Keystone Aviation, LLC, Salt Lake City, has appointed Michael Parker as director of sales and marketing. Parker most recently served as sales director for Cessna Aircraft Co. He will be responsible for turbine aircraft sales and overall marketing of products and services offered by Million Air SLC.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has delivered the final Avro RJ to Blue 1 of Finland, bringing to a close 22 years of BAE 146/Avro RJ production. The Avro RJ was the last of a recent contract for four aircraft. A total of 390 Avro RJs and BAE 146s have been delivered, a figure that, according to BAE, makes it Britain's most successful line of jetliners.
Slots for corporate aircraft visiting the Athens Olympic Games (Aug. 13-29, 2004) are going to be tight, and according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, ``Operations without an approved slot will result in severe monetary penalties.'' Jitte Boutens of Athens Aviation Services said, ``General aviation operators will have to obtain slots and a confirmation number through their handler.
The NTSB will host a forum on safety issues related to the U.S. air cargo industry on March 30-31 at the new NTSB Academy in Ashburn, Va. For information, call (571) 223-3900.
Ouch! Cargo operator Key Lime, Inc. had two of its Swearingen Metros put out of commission simultaneously on Dec. 3, 2003, when they collided at Denver International Airport. The collision occurred when one aircraft taxied into the other, which was standing on Taxiway M waiting to take off on Runway 17R. NTSB investigators said the outer 8 feet of one aircraft's right wing was severed, while its right propeller blades were damaged. The airplane's empennage also was crushed and bent.
Exclusive Resorts said it will offer Marquis Jet Cards to its customers. The cards provide access to NetJets aircraft in 25-hour increments. Under the terms of an agreement between Marquis Jet and Exclusive Resorts, resort goers can call for a jet on several hours notice -- and be flown to the Exclusive Resorts getaway of their choice.
When it comes to the care and feeding of APUs, aircraft maintenance personnel have been dished some curious menus, as the squawks and remedies attest: PROBLEM: APU power up and start sequence occurs normally up 102 percent and steady, then ``Ready to Load'' illuminates, the auxiliary hydraulic pump relay engages, and the APU shuts down shortly thereafter. The ESU BITE code indicates an underspeed condition. Troubleshooting with an APU breakout box shows all indications normal throughout start-up and even into shutdown. Quentin E.
Executive Jet Management, Cincinnati, has named Peter Kiernan vice president of aircraft charter sales for the Northeast. Kiernan, who will be based at EJM's offices at First Aviation in Teterboro, N.J., has nearly 19 years of aviation industry experience working in customer service, crew scheduling and dispatch.
Three out of four Americans feel the FAA is doing a good job, according to a recent survey from the Harris Poll, ranking the agency as one of the top three in government. The 76 percent positive public rating for the FAA in 2003 is a dramatic jump from 2001 and 2002, in which approval ratings were 58 and 54 percent, respectively.
The Senate recently confirmed Adm. James Loy (U.S. Coast Guard, ret.) as deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He was previously head of the TSA. ``We are very pleased that Admiral Loy has been confirmed,'' said GAMA President Ed Bolen. ``Throughout his remarkable career of public service, Admiral Loy has demonstrated extraordinary management skills and a tireless work ethic. For the past 18 months, he has developed an in-depth understanding of general aviation and has been very supportive of the industry's efforts to enhance security.
Published by Alatyr Productions, ``Home of the Brave'' is a 15-month calendar (Jan. 2004-Mar. 2005) that takes a photographic journey with the U.S. armed forces. Each month features an introspective view of the daily life of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen on the job in places foreign and domestic. In addition, each photo is accompanied by a historical quote, giving insight to what those in uniform experience in their jobs. Ten percent of the proceeds from calendar sales is donated to the USO and the Armed Services YMCA.
