Cutter Aviation Denver Adds Mobile AOG Unit for Pilatus

Cutter Aviation has added a dedicated mobile response unit (MRU) for Pilatus aircraft requiring AOG service around its Denver-area authorized Pilatus sales and service center at Centennial Airport (APA). It’s the second MRU that Cutter has added for AOG service, with the first from its flagship maintenance facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

“We know aircraft malfunctions don’t always happen at the most convenient locations, such as your base airport or near your service center,” said Cutter Aviation president and CEO Will Cutter. “Based on Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24 versatility, we as service centers must be prepared and equipped to help our clients at any remote location their mission has taken them to.”

From APA, Cutter is able to provide Pilatus maintenance and repair with factory-trained technicians, as well as avionics and instrument services as an authorized service center for Honeywell, Garmin, Collins Aerospace, and Advent Aircraft Systems.

Baird Analysts Look To Double-digit Bizjet Delivery Increases

According to a report from equity analysts at Baird, new business jet deliveries this year are expected to increase 10 percent, to 578 units, and another 15 percent, to more than 660 units, next year. Over the next four years, business jet deliveries are projected to rise at an 8 percent compound annual growth rate, the report said, with light and midsize jets accounting for most of this increase.

This year, Baird analysts are forecasting 208 light jet deliveries, a 16 percent increase from a year ago that they said will be led by “a significant pickup by Textron Aviation.” In the midsize category, deliveries are expected to total 186, a 12 percent increase from 2020 bolstered by the Citation Latitude and Longitude, as well as the Bombardier Challenger 350. Large-cabin aircraft deliveries are anticipated to climb just 3 percent year-over-year, to 187 units.

However, Baird's analysts expect growth in the large-cabin category to accelerate in 2022 and 2023 with the service entries of the Gulfstream G700 and Dassault Falcon 6X, as well as ramped-up deliveries of the Bombardier Global 7500.

Baird analysts noted a low used business jet inventory, higher aircraft utilization, and record order activity in a “healthy pricing environment” as the drivers behind increased deliveries.

TMx Aero Adds Falcon 50, Hawker 800 to Mx Capabilities

TMx Aero, a Fort Pierce, Florida-based business jet MRO, has added the Dassault Falcon 50 and Hawker 800 to its repair station capabilities, bringing its total to 24 regional and business jet and turboprop types. This list also includes the Bombardier Challenger 600-series and Global 5000/6000 and Gulfstream G550/V/V-SP and G450/IV/IV-SP. According to TMx, there are more than 300 Falcon 50s and 400 Hawker 800s in the active fleet.

“Today, we are able to service customers flying these two aircraft types, adding them to our ever-growing capabilities list,” said TMx CEO Travis Stein. A few years ago, TMx began a transition from being a regional airline to being a business aviation MRO and an FAA, EASA, and Transport Canada repair station. “We have a robust rotables department, allowing us to expedite AOG issues, as well as regularly scheduled maintenance, keeping aircraft in the air while also keeping within the client’s budget,” Stein added.

TMx's additional capabilities come following a redesign of the company’s website and brand, Stein added.

Jetex Now Stocking SAF at Paris Le Bourget FBO

Jetex announced this week that it is now stocking a permanent supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Paris Le Bourget FBO. The company began offering SAF—produced from used cooking oil by TotalEnergies in France—at the facility.

In its neat form, SAF can reduce life-cycle carbon emissions by up to 80 percent. Jetex Le Bourget also uses a fully electric refueling truck, which further reduces the carbon footprint of the operation.

According to Jetex, the use of SAF is a major focus for the company and forms part of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In February, the company partnered with Shell to offer carbon credits to customers at Jetex FBOs at airports in Dubai; Paris; Singapore; Dublin; Dusseldorf, Germany; and Salalah, Oman.

“We take pride in being part of the aviation community that has yet again proven to be accountable and responsible, taking a positive step towards reducing carbon emissions,” said Jetex fuel director Sufiyan Asif. “Jetex has reiterated its stance towards this goal by making it easier for customers to avail SAF at its FBO base at Paris Le Bourget. We are pleased to be able to include SAF arrangements as part of our services for customers looking to meet the challenge of carbon neutrality.”

Jet Aviation Geneva Expands Gulfstream Mx Capabilities

Jet Aviation’s Geneva facility can now provide base and line maintenance to Turkish-registered Gulfstream G450, G550, and G650 business jets under a new approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Turkey. The General Dynamics company said the Geneva approval builds on its Turkish-registered Gulfstream aircraft capabilities at its Basel maintenance facility.

“We sought this approval in direct response to customer demand and look forward to welcoming TC-registered Gulfstream aircraft to our facility in Geneva,” said Edgar Guerreiro, senior director of Jet Aviation’s Geneva MRO and FBO operations and general manager of Geneva. “Turkey has a significant fleet of private aircraft and our team of dedicated maintenance professionals in Geneva is delighted to extend its expertise to help keep these aircraft in the air, where Turkish owners and operators want them.”

The Geneva facility also provides heavy maintenance for Boing Business Jets and Bombardier Global Express models.

FAA Proposes $2.2M Fine against Indy Jet Management

The FAA is continuing to highlight enforcement actions surrounding illegal charter, this time announcing a proposed $2.2 million civil penalty against Indy Jet Management and associated parties in Indiana for allegedly conducting illegal charter flights. 

This latest proposed action follows an announcement earlier this month of a proposed $1.23 million in fines against five companies for alleged illegal operations. And the action is among a handful of such announcements the agency has made this year.

In Indy Jet Management’s case, the FAA alleges that a collective group of parties conducted 168 paid passenger-carrying flights in multiple Cessna Citations. The parties did not have the required FAA operating or air carrier certificates, conducted flights without the requisite operations specifications, and used unqualified pilots, the FAA is alleging.

Indy Jet Management was the lead party named as involved in the FAA case, but the agency listed a number of other responsible parties: GSA Investment, AirXL LLC, Excel 2 LLC, Excel 3 LLC, Excel 4 LLC, CJI LLC, Indy Bravo LLC, Bradley Cable, and Citation Management LLC. The investigation, which began in 2013, primarily surrounded the use of leases and whether the clients involved were aware of their operational control responsibilities.

When reached by AIN, the parties had no comment on the latest FAA action. The parties have 30 days to respond to their enforcement letters.

AeroParts Now Adds JSSI Parts & Leasing as Customer

JSSI Parts & Leasing has selected AeroParts Now’s integrated parts management and sales software to manage large parts inventories and increase quoting speed to support its customer base that includes a global fleet of more than 2,000 business jets, turboprops, and helicopters on JSSI maintenance programs. JSSI has a  worldwide network of MRO parts providers offering more than 38,000 stock lines  to draw from, it noted.

“By implementing AeroParts Now, we have made considerable progress in efficiency in responding to customers,” said JSSI Parts & Leasing senior director of operations Martijn Mathot. “Synchronized with our ERP system, the AeroParts Now platform gives us real-time visibility into the supply chain, enabling us to accelerate our responsiveness as a supplier. The number of steps to respond to customers has been significantly reduced, and we can provide a more consistent response.”

AeroParts Now CEO Jeff Jerge called the addition of JSSI Parts & Leasing a “major milestone” for his company, which has more than 400 members using its parts management and sales software.

Meanwhile, JSSI Parts & Leasing today appointed Ben Edwards as its regional manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This move will bolster the company’s presence and service offering across the EMEA region, JSSI said.

FAA Reopens Comment Period for Airport SMS Proposal

The FAA has reopened a comment period for a 2016 rulemaking that would require airports to implement safety management systems (SMS). Published on July 14, 2016, the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) actually was an update to a proposal from an NPRM that was published in October 2010.

That SNPRM had clarified that SMS would be required only at certificated airports that are classified as small, medium, or large hub facilities in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems; serve international air traffic; or have more than 100,000 total annual operations. In addition, the agency had extended the original implementation period from 18 to 24 months.

Since so much time has passed, the FAA said, “it is appropriate to solicit comments on any new information or data that has come to light since the close of the comment period.” The reopened comment period is now extended through September 23.

This effort comes as the FAA is expected to release a proposal next year requiring SMS for charter operations, MROs, and manufacturers, and as many organizations seek to adopt their own SMS independently. Separately, Garmin’s FltPlan business is planning a webinar on its own SMS program for Part 91 and 135 operators on August 26 at 4 p.m. Central Time.