Avionics Sales Eke Out Gain in 2Q, but Still Down YTD
Worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales fell 7.1 percent year-over-year, to roughly $1.07 billion, in the first six months of 2021, according to data released yesterday by the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA). However, AEA’s quarterly 2021 Avionics Market Report did show that second-quarter sales increased 2.1 percent, to nearly $500.1 million, from a year ago.
The retrofit market accounted for 55 percent of these sales during the first half, while forward-fit sales made up the remainder. According to the companies that separated their total sales figures by world region, 75.2 percent of their year-to-date sales volume occurred in North America (U.S. and Canada) and 24.8 percent took place in other international markets.
“While it's encouraging to see a modest increase in sales compared to the second quarter of last year, this report is somewhat mixed as it ended a string of sales increases over the preceding nine months,” said AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson. “The avionics industry is still facing some headwinds with various supply chain issues and global travel restrictions. With new products and services entering the market, the resounding success of recent trade shows, and resilient consumers, there are still positive signs for general aviation to continue its climb.”
On-demand charter provider XO is expanding further into North America by expanding into Europe this month with a dedicated Cessna Citation XLS fleet, the Vista Global Holdings company told AIN today. The operational rollout of the XLS fleet by XO’s sister company VistaJet is expected to start at the end of this month.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based XO added that it has “plans for the European fleet to grow significantly in the coming years. This expansion is another step in XO’s investment to furthering its service and meeting the growing demand around the world.”
Through its owned fleet and that of its parent company, XO provides clients access to a global fleet of more than 180 aircraft and an alliance fleet comprising more than 2,000 jets around the world. XO’s owned fleet includes a mix of Citation Xs and Ultras, as well as Bombardier Challenger 300s. Yesterday, in reporting its first-half 2021 results, Vista Global said XO added 15 new aircraft during the period. Additionally, VistaJet’s owned fleet comprises Bombardier Global 5000s, 6000s, and 7500s, as well as Challenger 350s, 605s, and 850s.
Second Monterey FBO Adds SAF Option
Del Monte Aviation, an FBO at California’s Monterey Regional Airport, is now providing a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) option to its customers. It joins Monterey Jet Center on the field as a distributor of the renewable fuel produced by Neste and provided by Avfuel.
Flexjet will be Del Monte’s SAF launch customer, and all of the renewable fuel sold at the airport will be documented by 4AIR, which will facilitate the chain of custody and sustainability accounting to prove the transfer of ownership of the fuel, as well as make accurate emissions calculations.
“Sustainable aviation fuel is a highly effective strategy for reducing aircraft emissions that contribute to climate change,” said 4AIR president Kennedy Ricci. “The use of [SAF] goes beyond offsetting emissions to bring in-sector reductions in the near term, which ultimately is the next phase for aviation sustainability.”
Sustainability solutions provider 4AIR offers a four-tier rating framework for its customers' sustainability efforts with specific, science-based goals can that take private aviation users beyond just carbon neutrality, through carbon markets, use of SAF, and support for new technologies.
During this year’s Monterey Car Week, which kicked off on Friday, 4AIR is covering the extra cost of the 30 percent blended SAF purchased at Del Monte Aviation for outbound aircraft. In addition, all inbound and outbound flights at the FBO will be offset by 4AIR, rendering them carbon-neutral.
Senate Confirms Homendy as NTSB Chair
The Senate yesterday evening confirmed by voice vote the nomination of Jennifer Homendy to serve as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Homendy succeeds Robert Sumwalt, who had stepped down at the end of June after serving as chairman since 2017 and on the board for 15 years.
In May, the White House announced its intent to nominate Homendy to fill the role. She joined the board in August 2018 and was reconfirmed to a five-year term in 2019.
Homendy has more than 25 years of transportation safety experience, including spending 14 years as the Democratic staff director for the House railroads, pipelines, and hazardous materials subcommittee. She also has held positions with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, and American Iron and Steel Institute. Homendy chairs a board that also includes Bruce Landsberg, Michael Graham, and Tom Chapman.
Prepared vs. Proficient: How Training Measures Up
If you asked them, most pilots, flight crews and maintenance technicians would claim they are proficient. But that’s the right answer to the wrong question.Instead, they should ask themselves whether they are prepared for any and every situation. Find out what difference that answer makes to safety.
New England-based aviation services provider FlightLevel Aviation has moved into the Midwest with the addition of two of FlyBy Air’s three FBOs in Michigan. The deal, which brings FlightLevel to 11 locations, includes the lone FBOs at West Michigan Regional Airport (KBIV) and at Muskegon County Airport (KMKG). At both locations, which will be rebranded over the coming year, FlightLevel negotiated multi-decade lease extensions.
At KBIV, the FBO includes a modern 7,000-sq-ft terminal with 20-foot-high vaulted ceilings, passenger lounge with refreshment bar, two conference rooms, pilot lounge with shower facilities, and crew car. Its 12,000-sq-ft of hangar space can shelter up to midsize jets. The company will also take on management and maintenance of the airport. In Muskegon, the FBO offers a 2,000-sq-ft terminal and 40,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of accommodating large-cabin business jets.
FlyBy will retain its FBO at Traverse City, along with its aircraft charter, management, maintenance, and flight school operations.
“We weren't necessarily looking to expand westward but when we took a closer look at the FBOs and their surrounding demographics, it seemed to make sense from a growth perspective, especially in the post-pandemic landscape for general aviation,” said FlightLevel founder and CEO Peter Eichleay. “We definitely have improvements planned at both locations and I'm optimistic that the overall investment will pan out according to our vision."
Tamarack Joins ICAO’s Sustainable Aviation Council
Tamarack Aerospace has joined the ICAO Global Coalition for Sustainable Aviation, which brings stakeholders together to develop new ideas and accelerate the implementation of solutions that will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Climate change is one of the biggest threats our globe faces, and the aviation industry must step up and do its part to embrace more sustainable practices,” said Tamarack CEO and co-founder Nick Guida. “We are looking forward to collaborating with other members of the [coalition]. Together, there is nothing our industry cannot accomplish.”
As a new member, Tamarack took part today in the 2021 ICAO Stocktaking Preview Seminar—a precursor to the main ICAO Stocktaking Event that starts on August 31. Today’s ICAO event discussed the main challenges aviation faces in decarbonizing, as well as provided insights into innovations that will be on display during the main event later this month.
Meanwhile, Tamarack recently rolled out the Active Winglet Pilot Proficiency Course as part of the FAA WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program. This course covers the Tamarack active winglet system, including a brief review of the aerodynamics of wings, the winglet system, active winglet benefits, safety and emergency procedures, and flying tips.
NBAA’s Brown Joins McGraw, Hennig at ASAC
The Transportation Security Administration renewed the membership of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) with administrator David Pekoske either appointing or reappointing a number of representatives from across the aviation industry to discuss and develop security recommendations. Now at 33 members, ASAC was initially established after the 1988 bombing of Pan American World Airways Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and had convened on and off since then but was made a permanent entity through a 2014 congressional mandate.
“Recruiting and retaining key thought leaders in aviation security is critical to the creation of a thoughtful, productive ASAC,” said Pekoske. “I am confident that this group of stakeholders will foster fruitful discussions that beget creative solutions and will enhance transportation security around the world.”
The committee can have up to 34 members from 19 industry categories. Appointments usually involve two-year terms but are staggered to ensure continuity. New to the committee from the business and general aviation community is NBAA COO Steve Brown, while NATA v-p of regulatory affairs John McGraw and GAMA v-p of operations Jens Hennig are reappointments. Joe Dalton, who is director of security for NATA Compliance Services, also remains on the committee. ASAC is scheduled to meet next in a closed session on September 8 and a public meeting on December 7.
First Five-blade Airbus H145 Delivered in North America
Canadian air ambulance operator Stars has become the first North American operator of the five-blade Airbus Helicopters H145 light twin. The company accepted the aircraft on Friday at its Fort Erie, Ontario base. Stars, a physician-driven, non-profit helicopter air ambulance operation, serves western Canada.
The new H145 is part of Stars's fleet-renewal program that will see it take 10 of the new aircraft and eventually give it an all-H145 fleet, with all-new aircraft either delivered as the five-blade variant or converted to it via retrofit. These H145s are replacing its fleet of BK117s and were selected after an independent review indicated the necessity for Stars to operate a unified, single-model helicopter fleet.
“By renewing our fleet with the H145, we deliver on our commitment to continually enhance the emergency care services we provide, as each life we save makes a huge difference in someone’s family, someone’s community,” said CEO Andrea Robertson.
The five-blade H145 features a 330-pound useful load increase and simplified maintenance. It is powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines and equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite. More than 760 Airbus helicopters are currently in service throughout Canada.
People in Aviation
Aero Asset added Jim Morford as director of market research and Holly Gilewski to its aircraft sales support team, both based in the U.S. Morford began his aviation career in 2007 as a customer service manager for Amstat and worked with OEMs, operators, financiers, and maintenance organizations. Gilewski worked for Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance before joining Aero Asset.
West Star appointed Brian Decker Citation project manager at its East Alton, Illinois facility. Decker brings 30 years of aviation experience to his new role, serving 15 years at Jet Aviation along with Windwalker, Solarius, Cessna, and Dallas Airmotive.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation board of governors elected Jessica Naor and Tom Huff to its executive board. Naor is COO of the Maryland-based GrandView Aviation and a member of FAA’s Duty & Rest Aviation Rulemaking Committee, as well as vice-chair of NATA's Part 135 Committee. Huff is the aviation safety officer for Gulfstream Aerospace, recently chaired both the Flight Test Safety and NBAA Safety Committees, and is now the chair of the Flight Safety Foundation Business Advisory Committee.
Lindsey Oliver was named director-general for the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA). Previously operations and development manager, Oliver has worked alongside CEO Marc Bailey overseeing the running of the association since 2009 and before that served with the National Farmers Union and Buckinghamshire Agricultural Association.
Planephd appointed Pete Ring v-p of growth and strategy, Adam Webster v-p of customer experience, and Michael Cohen chief technology officer. Ring has spent the past 15 years with a number of aviation organizations, including Avidyne, FreeFlight Systems, and Thommen Aircraft Equipment. Webster has 25 years of experience in developing operator software, aircraft acquisitions, and marketing products, as well as management tools for Part 135 and 91 operations. Cohen has more than 30 years of coding and software development engineering experience, most recently working for Amazon on the Echo Show product line.
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