GrandView Continues Fleet Growth, Levels Up on IS-BAO

Part 135 operator GrandView Aviation has established its newest base in Van Nuys, California, with the addition of an Embraer Phenom 300E, bringing its owned fleet to 12 Phenom 300s and bases in or near eight U.S. cities, including Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Denver; and Phoenix.

Additionally, Baltimore-based GrandView received International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 2 registration as part of a multi-year auditing process of the operator’s development of a safety management system and recognition of its safety risk management. “The IS-BAO audit process is incredibly comprehensive and thorough,” said GrandView director of safety Emanuele Figlia. “GrandView Aviation is committed to moving beyond industry best practices in safety into industry-leading practices. This is our next step in that process.”

Along with the addition of bases and aircraft, GrandView has doubled its staff over the past year, including flight crews and management and administrative personnel.

Kansas-based Global Parts Acquired by VSE for $38M

VSE Corp. has acquired business and general aviation (B&GA) parts distributor and MRO provider Global Parts Group for $38 million in cash. Based in Augusta, Kansas, Global Parts Group’s distribution business supports airframe components while its MRO services focus on the repair of hydraulics and pneumatics. In 2020, Global Parts generated $65 million in revenue, according to VSE.

The deal is expected to provide VSE with access to Global Parts’ more than 3,000 small- and medium-sized business jet customers who represent more than 100 platforms. It will also serve to benefit VSE’s existing B&GA parts distribution and engine component MRO services. In addition to aviation, VSE provides MRO services, parts distribution, and supply chain management for tactical tracked and wheeled vehicles and amphibious vehicles and naval vessels within the commercial, federal, and defense markets.

“By bringing together Global Parts with our recently announced Pratt & Whitney Canada engine accessory distribution agreement and existing B&GA distribution and MRO offerings, we’ve laid a solid foundation to build a sustainable and profitable business of scale in this market,” said VSE Aviation president Ben Thomas. “With the addition of Global Parts, VSE is well equipped to meet the stringent, real-time demands of business jet owner-operators, positioning us to take share and drive growth into the ongoing aviation recovery.”

Teterboro Airport To See 24-hour Closure This Weekend

New Jersey business aviation hub Teterboro Airport will be closed to fixed-wing aviation traffic for 24 hours starting at noon on Saturday, August 7, lasting until noon the following day. According to the airport’s operations division, the closure is due to a pavement repair on 6,000-foot Runway 06/24 that will require time to cure before the runway becomes operational again.

The work will enter the safety area of intersecting Runway 01/19, which will necessitate the closure of both runways for the period. Airport officials advise aircraft operators to check local notams for the latest information on the closure.

A dedicated general aviation airport serving the New York City area and home to scores of business jets, Teterboro is normally one of the busiest airports in the world for private aviation, and while it is lagging its 2019 year-to-date activity by some 30 percent, according to industry data tracker WingX Advance, its activity in July doubled its level from a year ago during the height of the global pandemic.

Bombardier Begins Smart Link Plus Box Installs

Following FAA certification of the Smart Link Plus box for Bombardier Challenger 300 and 350 aircraft last week, Bombardier has begun installing the health monitoring unit on these models. Developed in collaboration with GE Aviation and announced at the 2019 NBAA-BACE, Smart Link Plus records aircraft data that allows flight and maintenance crews to proactively troubleshoot aircraft in-flight fault notifications.

First introduced as original equipment on the Global 7500, Bombardier is offering the box for free—not including installation charges and annual Smart Link Plus subscription fees—to existing Global and Challenger owners. Certification of the box for Challenger 604, 605, and 650 and Global aircraft is expected in the coming months. Eventually, Bombardier plans to add the box to all new-production aircraft, a spokeswoman told AIN.

At the time of the announcement, Bombardier estimated more than 2,500 in-service Challengers and Globals were eligible for the aftermarket installation. The Canadian airframer further added that more than 98 percent of current Global 7500 owners have enrolled in the Smart Link Plus service.

Fourth Ross Aviation Location Joins Air Elite Network

Ross Aviation Lincoln (formerly Silverhawk Aviation) is the latest FBO to join the Air Elite Network, the World Fuel-sponsored group of upscale service providers whose members must undergo facility standards and service quality audits to maintain their status.

Earlier this year, Ross acquired the facility, which offers an 18,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal with passenger lounge, business center, crew lounge with showers, eight-seat conference room, crew vehicles, and on-site car rental. It also has nearly 80,000 sq ft of hangar space and its own MRO operation. With its central Midwest location, the FBO offers a fuel-stop option for cross-country flights and thus specializes in quick turns.

“Our facility in Lincoln will continue to maintain the high standards upheld by Silverhawk and the Air Elite Network,” said Ross COO Cy Farmer. “We remain dedicated to providing elevated service and have also implemented sustainability initiatives that include our ‘Fly More. Leave Less’ carbon-offset program.”

The Lincoln location is also the fourth member of the Ross Aviation FBO chain to participate in the World Fuel-sponsored network, joining Ross Aviation Long Beach (California), Great Circle Flight Services in Alaska, and Ross Aviation Sarasota (Florida).

“We are excited to expand our relationship with Ross Aviation, and welcome this strategic location in the Midwest,” added Steve Dryzmalla, World Fuel’s senior v-p for business aviation bulk fuel.

Increasing Utilization Prompts Constant’s AOG Expansion

Constant Aviation has expanded its AOG mobile response network by nearly 15 percent this year because of growing demand, the Cleveland-based MRO provider and Directional Aviation subsidiary reported. The company added strategically located base stations in Scottsdale, Arizona; Los Angeles; and Salt Lake City. More than 50 fully-trained technicians and 30 mobile units now serve those and 21 other base stations in 13 states across the country.

“Private aviation flight activity has recovered significantly during the past year and is now at or above pre-pandemic levels in many cases,” said Constant v-p of AOG operations Paul Witt. “Business travel is expected to truly take root in late Q3. As a result, we are seeing both the need to return to service corporate aircraft that had been parked during the pandemic and aircraft with an overall increase in flight hours due to aircraft owners flying for leisure travel, requiring greater inspection and maintenance activity.”

Constant’s AOG mobile teams support 86 models from 14 business aircraft manufacturers. The company also operates full-service maintenance facilities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Florida's Orlando Sanford International Airport.

Leonardo AW109 Light Twin Helicopter Turns 50

Leonardo’s AW109 light twin turned 50 today. Originally designated the A109, the light twin helicopter made its first flight on Aug. 4, 1971, and was the company’s (then known as Agusta) first autonomous design. The helicopter entered service in 1976 and since then more than 1,600, including updated variants, have been sold in more than 50 countries. 

The original 2.4-tonne model featured a four-blade articulated main rotor, semi-rigid two-blade tail rotor, and retractable landing gear with seating for eight. A logistics center established in Philadelphia to support the A109 would eventually grow into the large assembly, support, engineering, test, and training center for a variety of Leonardo models, including the new AW609 civil tiltrotor. 

Larger and more contemporary three-tonne class models derived from the A109 include the Power, Grand, GrandNew, and Trekker. They also encompass military and government variants, including the LUH and Nexus. The newer designs feature modern digital avionics, revised cabins, enhanced aerodynamics, new engines, and main undercarriage options, including an offering on the Trekker that substitutes skids instead of wheeled gear.

Gogo Taps Jet East as Authorized Dealer

Maintenance provider Jet East has been named an authorized dealer for Gogo Business Aviation, enabling the Trenton, New Jersey-based company to provide Gogo’s suite of in-flight connectivity products and services. That includes Avance L5, which uses the Gogo Biz 4G network for full internet access and streaming and will be compatible with Gogo’s 5G network once it’s launched. So far, Jet East has four L5 installations scheduled, as well as a Phenom 300 installation underway.

“We have a long-standing relationship with the Gogo team and we are excited to be partnered with one of the premier connectivity companies in our industry,” said Jet East CEO Stephen Maiden. He added the company is currently recruiting for avionics installation technicians to fill spots and meet future demand at Jet East facilities in Dallas; Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, Florida; Trenton and Millville, New Jersey; and Las Vegas.

Jet It Brings Frax-share HondaJet to AirVenture

AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber caught up with Jet It founder and CEO Glenn Gonzales last week at EAA AirVenture. The fractional-share operator flies a fleet of HondaJets in the U.S. and in Europe (under the JetClub brand). Pilots who join the Jet It Red Jet Squadron can even fly their HondaJet along with the Jet It captain, after obtaining the necessary training.