Satcom Direct has received multi-model supplemental type certificate approval from the FAA for its Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mounted antenna system, which enables the system to be installed on Gulfstream G550, G450, GV, and GIV large-cabin twinjets. The Melbourne, Florida-based company first fitted the system aboard its G550 with the assistance of Gulfstream’s Appleton, Wisconsin service center. The two-line-replaceable-unit system requires minimal installation between the antenna and SD modem unit.
Separately, EASA has released an STC for the system for several large-cabin Bombardier jets, including the Global 5000, 6000, Express, and Express XRS. Alamo Engineering generated the first EASA STC for Global airframes through a collaboration with SD. The system has already been installed on a privately owned Global Express by ACC Columbia Jet Service at its Hanover, Germany MRO.
Satcom Direct founder and CEO Jim Jensen said the system completes the “connectivity puzzle" with its existing software, ground infrastructure, and hardware. “This is a monumental day for SD demonstrating we have taken our initial concept of a simplified connectivity hardware system that can be easily installed, maintained, and transitioned, and made it a reality,” he added. “We announced we would do it just over two years ago and we have stuck to our plan as our hardware team worked with our production partner QEST to create a new class of antenna hardware.”
As reporting programs expand as a key means to elevate aviation safety, so too has the need for positive cultures to ensure the success of such programs, said speakers at the 2022 Air Charter Safety Foundation Safety Symposium this week in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Kimberly Perkins, a G650 captain and industry researcher, highlighted survey findings that crewmembers are about 50 percent less likely to share information when they don't get along. Further, 57 percent of respondents felt silenced after bringing up a safety concern. Respondents also overwhelmingly agreed on a need to focus on culture, Perkins said.
She further pointed out that safety management systems call for the promotion, monitoring, and adjustment of a safety culture. “We need psychological safety for this,” she said. “If people don't feel comfortable speaking up…They're not going to be as likely to share safety concerns.”
Meanwhile, Robert Joyce, director of aviation safety for safety symposium host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, stressed the importance of having a positive safety culture to maintain his flight operation that amasses upwards of 100,000 hours a year.
Noting the multitude of safety reports his department sorts through every year, he said, “I'm very fortunate to be a safety director here at Embry-Riddle because, right from the president to the newest student, everybody buys into our safety culture.”
Global business aviation flight activity last month climbed 25.7 percent year-over-year, boosted by more than 321,000 flights in North America and more than 74,000 flights in Europe, according to Argus International’s TraqPak monthly report. TraqPak analysts expect that trend to continue in April with flight increases of 13.3 percent in North America and 79 percent in Europe.
North American activity rose 18.2 percent in March compared with the same month in 2021, which the report attributed to spring break. Additionally, all three categories of operations in North America contributed to the expansion, led by Part 91 operations with a 21.8 percent rise, followed by fractional at 15.9 percent and Part 135 operations at 15 percent.
Utilization among business aircraft types was highest among large-cabin jets ascending 35.7 percent. Midsize jet activity was up 19.5 percent from March 2021, while light jet activity increased 16.1 percent and turboprop flying was up 10.3 percent.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, European flight activity jumped 69.8 percent, led by large-cabin activity, which saw a year-over-year rise of 142.9 percent, followed by midsize at 54.4 percent, light jet at 48.4 percent, and turboprop at 41 percent. Activity in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America also saw an overall increase of 27.4 percent, to more than 54,000 flights during March.
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The Russian business aviation industry is faced with its deepest crisis yet as sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine war have already led to the almost complete collapse of the sector and bankruptcies of major operators. According to industry analysts, the segment has declined by almost 90 percent since early March, with most remaining activity being domestic-only flights due to bans on Russia-owned/operated aircraft in much of the world.
Russians are increasingly finding it difficult, if not impossible, to charter a business jet, as European brokers and operators are cautious to cooperate with their Russian peers or passengers. These restrictions affect all Russian citizens, not just sanctioned oligarchs.
Industry analysts expect the Russian business aviation market to be mainly within the boundaries of the country, especially on routes from Moscow/St. Petersburg to the Black Sea coast. They anticipate limited international business aircraft flights on routes from Russia to Turkey, UAE, Serbia, and a handful of other Russia-friendly countries.
In the meantime, Russian business jet owners not included on Western sanction lists are considering re-registering their aircraft in Asia or a few countries in Europe and the Middle East that have not yet joined the EU and the U.S. sanctions against Russia.
Global aeronautical charts and online mapping provider SkyVector has added sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) locations to its online flight planning and mapping service. The new functionality, released this week at NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in San Diego, is integrated into the company’s FBO directory feature.
Similar to its existing weather and data overlays, it allows users to not only determine locations along their intended route that offer SAF, but see prices for it as well through the new overlay on the flight planning map.
According to the Seattle-based company that was founded in 2006, it will enable flight departments to more easily integrate SAF usage into their flight plans.
“We are excited to bring this much-requested layer to our maps,” said Jennifer Merrill, partner relations manager at SkyVector. While there are currently fewer than 20 locations in the U.S. to offer regular supplies of SAF, “we anticipate adding more and more locations to the map quickly,” she added.
Christopher Rocheleau, a 20-year FAA employee who had served as chief of staff and is the current acting associate administrator for aviation safety, is joining NBAA in June to succeed Steve Brown as COO. Brown, who also has held leadership roles with the FAA, the National Aeronautic Association, and AOPA, is retiring after serving with NBAA for the past 18 years.
“It would be impossible to overstate Steve’s contributions to NBAA and aviation,” said NBAA president and CEO Bolen. “He represents all the very best our industry and country have to offer. He has had a profound impact on aviation in the United States and around the world.”
Before joining the FAA, Rocheleau served in the U.S. Air Force as an officer and special agent in the Office of Special Investigations and retired from the USAF Reserve in 2010 as a lieutenant colonel. He also became one of the first leaders at the Transportation Security Administration.
As COO, Rocheleau will be responsible for NBAA’s activities surrounding aircraft and flight department operations, in addition to holding administrative, financial, and human resources functions.
Helicopter lessor LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company (SMFL) have acquired five more helicopters: two Airbus H145 D3s, two Airbus H145T2s, and one Leonardo AW139. They will be deployed in Europe and Asia. The new aircraft bring the companies’ total joint venture (JV) portfolio to 38 units, valued at more than $420 million and representing a doubling of the number of aircraft in the JV since its launch in September 2020 with 19 helicopters.
The JV’s fleet is in operation across countries including the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Norway, and Australia with more than 75 percent of the fleet engaged in operations including emergency medical services, search and rescue, and offshore wind farm support. Since its inception in 2004, LCI has entered into $8 billion of transactions in the fixed-wing and helicopter markets.
“Our continued expansion is a clear demonstration of the initial success and long-term potential of LCI’s partnership with SMFL. Using our collective expertise, I am confident that we can achieve further growth with an increasing focus on socially-aware helicopter missions across the globe,” said LCI CEO Jaspal Jandu.
Brazilian FBO operator TAM Aviação Executiva is exhibiting at NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC) for the first time, offering its service solutions in partnership with AEG Fuels.
With 60 years of experience, TAM AE is present in all aspects of business aviation in the world’s second-largest private jet market, operating FBOs at Brazil's main airports and offering international airport services including VIP lounges, 24/7 bilingual flight coordination, coordination for fuel supply, catering, and flight planning services such as navigation and permit assistance. TAM is also the country’s leader in aircraft sales and represents Textron.
The company’s FBO services include bilingual teams advising on immigration and customs procedures, private parking, aircraft cleaning and sanitization, ramp services such as GPU, push back, transport for passengers and crew, 24-hour security, and hotel and car reservations, among others.
TAM's partnership with AEG Fuels through the AEG Connect Program, announced last October, led to its participation at SDC in San Diego, California.
“This is a great opportunity to show TAM’s full excellence in ground handling and strengthen relationships with important international partners,” said Heron Nobre, TAM’s FBO director. “We look forward to closing new deals and serving more and more international customers at our bases here in Brazil.”
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