Daher Delivers First TBM 960 in Switzerland

Daher delivered the first TBM 960 registered in Switzerland to Paolo Buzzi, who previously owned a TBM 930. Buzzi is a founding partner and board member of online bank Swissquote and logged 1,200 flight hours in his TBM 930.

The first TBM 960 was delivered in April. The newest model in Daher’s TBM series, the 960 is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engine with dual-channel digital engine and propeller electronic control system and autothrottle, in addition to Garmin G3000 touchscreen-controlled avionics and the HomeSafe emergency autoland system introduced on the TBM 940. The engine control system and autothrottle provide full digital envelope protection, lowering the pilot’s workload.

With a maximum payload of 1,446 pounds, the TBM 960 can carry up to six people. Maximum cruise speed is 330 knots and maximum range is 1,730 nm.

Buzzi plans to fly his TBM 960 to New Zealand after completing transition training. He is no stranger to long-distance flying, having flown his TBM 930 on a round-the-world trip organized by Air Journey. “At the end of our circumnavigation, it just looked like the world was smaller,” Buzzi said.

OneWeb Satellite Launch Deploys 40 More Satellites

OneWeb earlier this month successfully deployed 40 satellites for its connectivity network, which is expected to provide global coverage next year. The company already provides some services on its network, which is now about 80 percent complete with 502 satellites in low-earth orbit (LEO). Once the constellation is complete, Gogo Business Aviation will provide high-speed satcom connectivity globally in partnership with OneWeb, supplementing Gogo’s existing North American air-to-ground system.

The OneWeb launch was accomplished on a SpaceX rocket. SpaceX also plans to serve airborne users with its own Starlink LEO network.

Next year, OneWeb is planning three additional launches of satellites to complete its LEO network. Aviation services are expected to be available starting in 2024. OneWeb’s service will provide speeds “comparable with terrestrial broadband services,” according to Gogo. This will allow users to stream video, do videoconferencing, and use cloud-based business services.

“This launch is an immensely gratifying way to close out 2022,” said OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson, “bringing OneWeb another step closer to activating our coverage solutions globally and reflecting the shared ambition and collective goodwill that is driving the satellite communications industry. We are thankful for the support of other leaders in the space industry allowing us to quickly restart our launch campaign and are delighted to work with SpaceX today for our first-ever launch from Florida, where our satellites are manufactured.”

Jefferies: Used Bizjet Inventory Climbing

After reaching historic lows in 2021, the percentage of available used business jets for sale is creeping back up, marking a 14 percent year-over-year jump in December and a 6 percent month-over-month climb, according to analyst Jefferies. Meanwhile, pricing is up 21 percent from a year ago.

In the past six months, the available inventory is up 31 percent, Jefferies added, citing Amstat data. Young jet inventory—those less than seven years since production—have increased 64 percent year-over-year and 12 percent from November.

Despite these increases, only 3.3 percent of the fleet is for sale, well below the five-year average of 5.9 percent, Jefferies further pointed out. In December, heavy jet inventory increased by 27 percent, while medium and light jets were up 13 percent and 9 percent, respectively, from a year ago.

Embraer aircraft for sale increased by 26 percent from a year ago, to 24 units. The number of Cessna Citations, meanwhile, jumped 62 percent year-over-year, to 105, and Bombardier aircraft inventory has scaled up by 71 percent, to 60 units. Gulfstream's available inventories similarly grew by 78 percent. Dassault's available inventories are also up 83 percent, but with only 11 units for sale that amounts to just 2.1 percent of the active fleet.

FlightSafety Helicopter Training Saves Lives of Crew

Sergeant David Sizemore’s experience reinforces that even highly skilled officers who have been trained to respond quickly and appropriately in times of extreme stress benefit from FlightSafety rotorcraft training. It doesn’t just take you to proficiency, but to preparedness. For any situation.

Electric Air Conditioning Coming to King Air 360s

Textron Aviation will soon be equipping its production Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprop twins with an electrically driven air conditioning system. The Wichita airframer said deliveries of the type with the system are expected to begin in the coming months.

“The new system for the King Air 360 represents our continued investment in an already iconic product,” said Textron Aviation senior v-p of sales and flight operations Lannie O’Bannion. “Last year, we brought all new interiors and enhancements to the cockpit, and now we are bringing more amenities and comfort to the passengers and crew ahead of each flight.”

Built into the structure of the aircraft, the system doesn’t affect cabin space. The system can operate without the aircraft engines running by plugging into a ground power unit, which reduces the environmental impact of engine emissions. It wasn’t immediately clear if the system will eventually be incorporated into the King Air 260.

Metro Aviation Achieves FAA’s Fully-compliant SMS

Air medical operator Metro Aviation has entered the active conformance stage of the FAA’s safety management system (SMS) voluntary program. An early participant in the regulator’s SMS pilot project, Metro was the first operator to achieve Level IV in 2014, remaining in the project because it was the only available program for an FAA-recognized SMS.

In 2015, when 14 CFR Part 5 was formally introduced for Part 121 operators, Metro joined the SMS voluntary program for Part 135 operators. The active conformance recognition means Metro’s fully-compliant SMS meets all FAA requirements.

“This is a considerable investment in resources and we are extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said Metro v-p Todd Stanberry, who credited director of safety Ed Stockhausen and assistant director of safety Brady Carpenter for the achievement. “We are a company that values safety above all else. This latest accomplishment is just another example of our dedication to operating in the safest manner possible.”

Low-time Retired Boeing BBJ 747-8 Scrapped

Ten years after delivery and fewer than 50 flight hours of service, the first Boeing 747-8 to be scrapped—a BBJ variant ordered by the Saudi Arabian government—was dismantled on Monday, according to digital aviation hub Aerotime.

The aircraft, N458BJ, was intended for use by Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Abdul Aziz, who died unexpectedly in 2011, some nine months before the scheduled delivery. Five months after manufacture in 2012, the aircraft was ferried to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Airport (LFSB) for scheduled interior completion. No reports on the extent of work performed subsequently appeared, and the jumbo BBJ had remained at LFSB in the decade since, marketed sporadically for about $95 million; the Saudis reportedly paid more than $300 million for the green aircraft.

In April 2022, Boeing bought the 747-8 from the Saudi royal family, and three days later ferried it to Pinal Airpark (KMZJ) in the Arizona desert, one of the world’s largest aircraft boneyards. The four General Electric GEnx turbofan engines were reportedly removed soon thereafter. Wing flaps and some empennage and fuselage parts of the all-white double-decker jet may have also been removed.

Boeing, which ceased manufacture of the 747 this month after a production run of 54 years, will likely use those parts for its customers’ MRO needs; Boeing did not respond to inquiries about the dismantling before press time.

WAI Conference Sets Keynote Lineup

Women in Aviation International (WAI) has lined up the slate of keynote speakers for its upcoming conference in February. The 34th annual edition of the WAI Conference, to be held February 23 to 25 in Long Beach, California, will highlight a range of accomplished women from government and industry, as well as Maya Ghazal, the first female Syrian refugee pilot.

Other speakers include Michelle Parker, Boeing Defense, Space, and Security v-p and deputy manager for the space and launch division; Sherrexcia “Rexy” Rolle, v-p of operations and general counsel for Western Air; retired U.S. Air Force Col. Merryl Tengesdal, who was the first Black woman to pilot the Lockheed U-2S Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft; Huy Kim Tran, NASA Ames Research Center director of aeronautics; and Susan Ying, Ampaire senior v-p of global operations.

Returning to the stage is Wheels Up chief growth officer Stephanie Chung, but this time as the luncheon speaker for Girls in Aviation Day Long Beach, which will be held in tandem with the WAI conference.

“We are excited that our annual three-day gathering, featuring an inspiring group of keynote speakers, will enable thousands of our members to take advantage of educational opportunities, networking events, and exhibit hall visits with a variety of industry companies and organizations,” said WAI CEO Allison McKay.

EASA Publishes Cabin Crew Training Guidelines

EASA has published Initial Training for Cabin Crew guidance outlining the primary training required to qualify as a certified flight attendant on airlines and certain other commercial operations. This guidance provides information to operators and training organizations with the main objective of fostering harmonization by EASA member nations.

Implementation experience has shown that the duration of initial training varies between 50 and 168 hours among member nations, EASA said. To address this variance, the guidance document recommends a “minimum net training time (excluding breaks) for the conduct of initial training of 95 hours.” However, “a certain level of flexibility in determining the hours assigned to each training element can be substantiated by the training provider to the respective competent authority.”

Another key area covered in the guidelines to encourage congruency includes recommended teacher/student ratios. For example, “to provide for sufficient supervision and control, a maximum of 20 trainees per trainer is recommended in a classroom environment. When facilitating computer-based training, the trainee‐to‐trainer ratio may be more flexible. A maximum of 30 trainees per trainer is recommended, assuming that the role of the trainer is limited to providing support.”