Argus: U.S. Bizav Flying Sees 2.4% Climb in July

Business aircraft activity rose 2.4 percent year-over-year in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean last month, as stronger-than-expected Fourth of July traffic boosted results, according to TraqPak data released yesterday by Argus International. Unfortunately, these rosy figures aren’t likely to continue into this month, with Argus predicting a 0.3 percent decline from August 2018. 

All operating categories saw increases last month, led by a 6.5 percent year-over-year rise in fractional flying. This was followed by Part 91 and Part 135/charter activity, which climbed by 1.9 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, from last July.

The aircraft categories were mostly positive, with midsize jets posting the largest activity increase from last July, soaring 5.3 percent. Light-jet flying surged 3 percent year-over-year, while turboprops logged a modest 0.5 percent gain. However, large-cabin jets dropped slightly, falling 0.3 percent from a year ago.

In individual categories, fractional midsize-jet activity garnered the only double-digit increase, rising 12.3 percent. Meanwhile, fractional large-cabin flying experienced the only double-digit loss, dropping 17.3 percent from July 2018.

Weekday flights were up 1.1 percent, while weekend traffic fell 3.8 percent, according to the Argus data. The U.S. Southeast once again led all departures, at 49,700, followed by the Great Lakes region at 35,324; Mid-Atlantic states, 31,684; and West Coast, 31,422.

Garmin Announces Flight Control System for Bell 505

Garmin expects to certify the GFC 600H flight control system for the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X in the first half of next year, the Olathe, Kansas-based avionics manufacturer announced today. The attitude-based system will have several helicopter-tailored features, including attitude hold, Garmin Helicopter Electronic Stability and Protection (H-ESP), dedicated return-to-level mode, hover assist, and over-speed and low-speed protection. Following STC approval, the GFC 600H will be available through select Garmin dealers as a retrofit installation.

According to Garmin v-p of aviation sales and marketing Carl Wolf, “The GFC 600H combines our expertise in safety-minded technology for helicopters with our flight control experience to deliver a system that essentially affords the pilot the option to fly hands-off, which would be unheard of without an autopilot.”

The GFC 600H includes AHRS technology and redundant, cross-checking sensors to support smooth handling throughout the flight envelope, Garmin said. It features a console-mounted mode controller with push-button controls that interface with the Garmin integrated flight deck on the Bell 505. Using navigation information from the integrated flight deck, the GFC 600H can also be used to automatically fly approaches, provide en route navigation guidance, and search-and-rescue patterns.

Additional autopilot modes include altitude hold, altitude select, vertical speed, indicated airspeed, and heading select. The GFC 600H on the Bell 505 will also be night vision goggle compatible.

Analyst: Heavy Jets To Lead Bizjets to 2019 Gains

Analyst Jefferies is predicting business jet deliveries to grow 8 percent overall this year with a 30 percent leap in heavy jet deliveries, thanks in part to products such as Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 and Bombardier’s Global 7500 reaching the market. Business jet deliveries in the second quarter improved 6 percent year-over-year overall and heavy jet shipments are up more than 20 percent on the quarter.

Gulfstream and Embraer were drivers in the second-quarter increase, each up five units. Gulfstream delivered its first G500 in the third quarter of 2018 and five in the most recent quarter. Embraer also marked the most recent quarter with its first delivery of a Praetor 600. But the Brazilian manufacturer also enjoyed a boost in Phenom deliveries.

After a 22 percent first-quarter jump, Cessna saw weaker business jet shipments on declines in the Citation M2 and Sovereign. But Jefferies believes its volumes will improve with the anticipated upcoming service entry of the Citation Longitude.

While midsize jets have made gains over the past few years, shipments of those models have stumbled this year, down 7 percent through the first half of the year.

Slow To Head PrivateFly’s U.S. Operations

Charter booking platform PrivateFly is laying the groundwork for its next stage of growth in the U.S. with the appointment of Gregg Slow as president for the Americas. Slow, a former XOJet executive, will head the U.S. division for England-based PrivateFly, including the Boston base, sales office in Fort Worth, and teams across the country.

PrivateFly joined Directional Aviation’s OneSky family of business aviation solutions in September 2018, alongside Flexjet and Sentient Jet. In his new role, Slow will work with Adam Twidell, who co-founded PrivateFly in 2008 and is continuing as global CEO.

The appointment comes as the U.S. market has grown to account for half of PrivateFly’s global flight sales. It also follows PrivateFly’s launch of fixed-pricing programs earlier this summer, including U.S. cross-country routes on Challenger 300s.

He brings 19 years of business aviation experience, including as chief client officer for XOJet, where he developed the commercial client-facing offering and assisted in the company’s acquisition by VistaJet. He also was a senior v-p for NetJets. “I am delighted to join PrivateFly at such a time of opportunity for the company,” Slow said. “There is huge passion and energy both within the team and as a client-facing brand. And with Directional Aviation’s OneSky behind us, we have a unique and compelling proposition in the market, on which we can now accelerate growth.”

FAA Notice Warns of Damage to AOA Sensors

The FAA has issued Information for Operators (InFo) 19009 to advise pilots and maintenance personnel of the potential for damaging angle of attack (AOA) sensors on aircraft. Based on continued airworthiness activity on multiple foreign and domestic large transport aircraft and small general aviation aircraft, the FAA has determined it is necessary to advise operators of the importance of performing proper operations and maintenance on AOA sensors.

“It is imperative that all operators are aware of the criticality of AOA sensors and the potential for damage during normal operations, maintenance, and any other procedures around an aircraft where damage to an AOA sensor could occur,” the FAA cautioned. “Operators can find the requirements for maintaining this component in the instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA).”

In addition, all pertinent personnel “should review current procedures identified in their appropriate operational, maintenance, or servicing manuals. The review should ensure that the manual adequately identifies all aspects and appropriate policies/procedures around AOA sensors.”

The most recent serious issue involving a malfunctioning AOA sensor concerned those on the Cirrus SF-50 Vision. Three in-flight incidents of uncommanded engagement of the single-engine jet’s stall warning and/or stability protection systems caused by the AOA sensor prompted the FAA in April to temporarily ground the fleet. In June, the FAA published a new AD mandating replacement of the aircraft’s AOA sensors with improved ones.

Jet Linx, Medjet Partner for Client Benefits Program

Jet card provider and aircraft management firm Jet Linx has added Medjet to its client benefits program, Elevated Lifestyle, the Omaha, Nebraska-based company announced today. Under the partnership, Jet Linx Jet Card members and aircraft owners can receive proprietary discounts on the MedjetAssist or Medjet Horizon annual membership programs that provide hospital-to-hospital, domestic or international air medical transportation, and medical escort services for an injury or illness that occurs more than 150 miles from the member’s home.

“Medjet's services seamlessly align with our mission to deliver the highest standard of safety and we are thrilled to partner with a company that puts the wellbeing of their members first, especially as our growing fleet of heavy jets nationwide expands the travel footprint of our members and aircraft owners,” said Jet Linx president and CEO Jamie Walker. “We are confident that our clients will find great value in the superior services Medjet offers through the Elevated Lifestyle program.”

Jet Linx’s benefits program offers to its members specialty rewards, services, and access to partners in areas such as health and wellness, wine and spirits, and travel and fashion.

Embraer To Double Engineering Space for Boeing Split

With Embraer’s regional jet division slated to become Boeing Commercial Brasil by year-end, Embraer has announced the construction of $30 million in new facilities in the São José dos Campos suburb of Eugênio de Melo. That area already houses much of Embraer’s engineering staff and is where the ground-test “iron birds” are constructed for new aircraft, but those physical buildings will eventually also be occupied by Boeing Brasil.

Separating what facilities Boeing gets from what Embraer keeps in the Boeing Brasil deal is complicated, though the two companies can buy and sell parts both companies need where capacity isn’t duplicated. Eugenio de Melo will house engineers for both firms. The expansion will raise the site’s capacity from 1,500 employees to more than 4,000, and its size from 754,000 sq ft/70,000 sq m to 1.2 million sq ft/110,000 sq m. Additionally, it will include four new buildings and upgrades to existing facilities.

Slated to move to the new facility, freeing up space for Boeing in its complex adjoining the SJC runway, are Embraer’s customer service and training, including flight simulators, administrative areas, and the company’s history center. The new facility will also include “Embraer’s defense and security, air mobility, aerospace, and other technology-based businesses”—in other words, areas that aren’t being sold to Boeing.

Long-time Houston Chief Pilot Hank Henry Dies

C.G. “Hank” Henry, the long-time chief pilot for West Houston Airport who has flown dignitaries such as Charles Lindbergh and Glenn Curtiss, died on August 7. He was 94. A renowned flight instructor who was involved in aviation throughout his life, Henry amassed more than 35,000 hours of flight time and flew more than 300 models of aircraft, according to the West Houston Airport.

Born on Jan. 10, 1925 in Crossville, Tennessee, Henry learned to fly at an early age and joined a B-24 crew flying missions over the English Channel during World War II. Later, Henry managed flight operations for an FBO in Galveston, Texas, and then served as the chief pilot/test pilot for Navion Aircraft and mechanic and pilot for Guinn Flying Service in Pearland, Texas. 

His five-decade tenure with West Houston Airport began in 1973. Over the years, he held positions with the airport that included maintenance supervisor, charter pilot, certified flight instructor, chief pilot, and FAA-designated pilot examiner. Along with Lindbergh and Curtiss, Henry further has flown T. Claude Ryan, Dwane Wallace, and Gene Cernan, among numerous others.

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