CEO Sees Positive Market Conditions at Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper told attendees of a Wichita Aero Club luncheon yesterday that the company is seeing positive metrics that portend increasing business aircraft demand for the airframer, including increased utilization of some 14,000 in-service Beechcraft King Airs and Cessna Citations. Not only has utilization returned to pre-pandemic levels, but it is exceeding them by “probably 15 percent” since April, he said.

What’s more, the number of used Citations for sale is down to 4 percent of the in-service fleet—the lowest level in nearly 30 years. “That’s of any Citation,” he explained. “That could be 20-, 25-year-old airplanes. Most people actually want something less than 10 years old. So that’s been great to clean out all the used inventory…it’s a very healthy market right now and when the used [aircraft market] is that healthy, then the new [aircraft market] is pretty healthy as well.” Also, Textron Aviation has seen a doubling of first-time business aircraft buyers in the market, to about 20 percent of sales.

Regarding specific models, he said the CJ4 Gen2 twinjet unveiled in February has developed “a nice backlog.” Meanwhile, the twin-turboprop SkyCourier is about 75 percent of the way through its FAA flight certification, with first delivery to launch customer FedEx planned for later this year. Textron Aviation also expects its turboprop-single Denali to achieve first flight by year-end.

Aero-Dienst Awarded Mx Contract on Research Aircraft

Nuremberg-based MRO provider Aero-Dienst has been awarded a four-year contract from the German aerospace research center DLR to provide maintenance support on its highly modified Falcon 2000X EASy research aircraft. The scope of the contract ranges from 12-, 24-, and 36-month inspections to special inspections of engines or structural parts that are required because of the aircraft’s various research projects.

Aero-Dienst has about 30 experienced Falcon technicians to draw from to address maintenance needs regarding airframes, avionics, engines, and other equipment. They will carry out their work at DLR’s in-flight systems and technology airborne research (ISTAR) base at Braunschweig. That will enable DLR’s specialists to make efficient use of the aircraft’s downtime to perform instrument installations and modifications for new research projects.

“This research aircraft plays an essential role in the development of new environmentally friendly and efficient aircraft, engines, and assistance systems because the technology needed for climate-neutral aviation will be pushed ahead with the aid of ISTAR,” said Martin Gestwa, head of DLR's research flight department and technical operations. “In view of extensive modifications to DLR research aircraft, maintenance and repair procedures differ significantly from those used for unmodified aircraft. So, we are very grateful to have found an extremely competent partner for our ISTAR research aircraft in Aero-Dienst.”

Ross Aviation Adds to Florida Footprint

Ross Aviation has expanded its network in the booming Florida market with the acquisition of Stuart Jet Center, one of two service providers at Witham Field Airport. The 53-acre leasehold features 15 acres of lighted, secure ramp, and more than 340,000 sq ft of hangar space that can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets. A new 30,000-sq-ft hangar with an adjoining 6,000 sq ft of office space is slated to open next month.

The facility, to be rebranded as Ross Aviation at Stuart Jet Center, has a 7,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal with a passenger lounge and refreshment bar, pilot lounge, showers, concierge, valet parking, crew car, and on-site car rental. A recently launched interior upgrade on the crew and passenger areas is expected to be completed within six months. The staff, including the members of the Capen family who formerly owned the location, will remain. The airport, with its 5,828-foot main runway, has had U.S. Customs service since 2019.

This brings Ross to 19 FBOs at 16 airports, mainly in the U.S. “It is our second in Florida, and really important to us from a city-pair perspective because we are very prominent in the Northeast and even the Cayman Islands and out to the West Coast,” Ross CEO Brian Corbett told AIN, adding the FBO has been one of the top-ranked service teams in the country.

Duncan Now Offering Tool Calibration at Satellites

Duncan Aviation has added tool calibration capabilities at three of its satellite facilities, with plans to expand the availability of the services to more locations as technicians are trained throughout its network. Initial tool calibrations services for torque wrenches, multimeters, and crimpers, among others, will be available at Duncan’s satellites in St. Louis, Missouri; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Oxford, Connecticut. Technicians at those locations were trained in July.

“In response to customers' requests, we’ve been expanding services at many of our satellite shops beyond avionics line and install,” said Matt Nelson, manager of satellite operations for Duncan. “For instance, 19 of our satellite facilities now include main ship and emergency power battery capabilities, and we’re adding tool calibration services to most of the satellites.”

The calibration services are tailored for aviation maintenance tools. “The service is available to anyone in the area who needs an annual calibration on any of the tooling we maintain,” Nelson said. “We tried to focus on the tools most commonly found in the maintenance technician’s toolbox.”

Duncan has 28 satellite facilities and workaway locations.

FAA, Air Eagle Resolve Whitmer Flights Issues

The FAA is closing its investigation into a Detroit aviation operation that came under public scrutiny for flights transporting Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer between Michigan and Florida in March. “The FAA investigated and made clear to the operator what the rules are for chartered flights,” the agency said in a statement. “The operator took steps so a similar situation won’t occur in the future.” Reportedly, no penalties were involved.

The flights involving Air Eagle’s Gulfstream G280 came under question for both Whitmer's decision to go to Florida and the associated costs and payment involved. Local media had quoted the Whitmer office as characterizing the flights as “charter,” but Air Eagle did not have the associated air operating certificate.

Air Eagle operates the G280 for PVS Chemicals of Detroit. Whitmer’s office has said it would reimburse PVS Chemicals the $27,521 cost, according to the Detroit Free Press, which also said PVS Chemicals president David Nicholson had issued a statement that the company would deny future requests to fly candidates or government officials.

NBAA last year hosted a Newshour Webinar highlighting the pitfalls of Part 91 operators transporting public officials. “It’s a perfectly ordinary consideration,” NBAA said but noted the complex federal, state, and local laws surrounding such operations. NBAA created a members-only resource to provide information on reimbursement rates, government- and candidate-owned aircraft exemptions, and recordkeeping requirements.

RAS Group To Offer Mobile Aircraft Exterior, Interior Mx

Jet MS subsidiary RAS Group has established a mobile repair team (MRT) for business aircraft interior and exterior repair and overhaul. The UK-based company’s MRT services include seat and minor interior trim repairs, decal replacement, and paint touch-ups, as well as on-site damage assessments for aircraft exteriors and interiors, evaluation of the affected areas, completion of a critical areas list, and a cost and time estimate to return an aircraft back to service.

The team can also provide temporary exterior and interior repairs that allow an aircraft to be ferried to its home base for more extensive permanent repairs. “While this is usually not the first thing that comes to your mind when talking about aircraft interior repairs, our MRT is usually needed to ensure aircraft safety,” said RAS Group head of sales Andrew Tarry. “There have been many instances when a mobile repair team was needed to eliminate interior issues that jeopardized flight quality and safety.”

RAS Group is a unit of Lithuanian MRO provider Jet MS, which is part of the Avia Solutions Group.

Maverick Offering National Aviation Day Discounts

Maverick Helicopters is joining in the celebration of National Aviation Day on August 19 by offering discounts to many of its helicopter experiences to any aviation employees. Active pilots, flight attendants, airport staff, and other aviation employees can receive 20 percent price cuts on experiences booked from August 19 through the end of the month. The packages apply to its services in Las Vegas, Arizona, and Hawaii. Interested participants must show a valid employee ID at check-in to receive the rate for their party.

“We know it has been a challenging year for the aviation industry and we are greatly appreciative of all employees who have persevered through the challenges this past year has brought on all of us,” said John Buch, president of Maverick Helicopters. “We want to show our appreciation for their service and dedication to the industry.”

Established by proclamation in 1939 by then-President Franklin Roosevelt, National Aviation Day is celebrated on Orville Wright's birthday. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the late Wright brother's birth. National Aviation Day is typically commemorated at various events sponsored by organizations such as the First Flight Society in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

C&L Cleared To Convert ERJ-135s to Semi-private Use

C&L Aviation Group has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) to convert Embraer ERJ-135 regional airliners to a semi-private configuration. Structural modifications for seat track relocation that converts the model’s capacity from 37 to 16 seats with a 43-inch pitch and extended reclining are included in the FAA approval, as is a new center aisle and galley improvements that increase the aircraft’s beverage capacity.

Those modifications require another STC by C&L for removal of overhead bins, installation of new ceiling and valance panels, continuous-run LED lighting, and an additional row of overhead lighting. “Since we began producing custom, semi-private aircraft interiors a few years ago, we have received several inquiries for this type of configuration,” said C&L Aviation Services director of maintenance Phil Miholovich. “Having our own in-house engineering group allows us to dedicate resources to STC projects like this one that meets customer’s needs.”

The Bangor, Maine-based MRO and completions provider is also working on an STC amendment that would allow it to convert ERJ-145s to a 24-seat configuration.

AIN Events: Building a Sustainable Flight Department

AIN is hosting four one-day regional conferences on sustainability and the modern flight department. Attendees will learn about aviation’s contribution to carbon emissions and the reductions due to the Covid pandemic; regulator/government roles in minimizing aviation emissions (CORSIA, carbon credits); making sense of carbon offsets; building to LEED standards, and much more. Locations in NY, TX, FL, and CA.  Register today