VistaJet Bolsters Safety with Osprey Integration

VistaJet is bolstering its operational and flight safety through the adoption of Osprey Flight Solutions data-led risk assessment technology, the business aviation services company announced. The integration of the Osprey system enables VistaJet to assess the risk of each of its flights in real time through its proprietary operations software, according to Malta-based VistaJet.

Its platform combined with Osprey captures data from 200,000 sources in 60 languages, which is combined with machine-learning algorithms by a VistaJet team of analysts who also consider information such as a local taxi strike that delays its crew arrival to an airport or provide a detailed evaluation of no-fly zones.

“We look at the most efficient way to fly, with safety being the core driver,” said VistaJet chief operations officer Nick van der Meer. “By providing even more meaningful data to our in-house experts, they are able to create a smoother flight experience for our customers.”

VistaJet received the Diamond Safety of Flight Award from the European Business Aviation Association in 2016 and 2018 and has a fleet of more than 70 Bombardier jets. Since its founding in 2004, VistaJet has completed more than 146,00 flights globally with some 367,000 passengers traveling to more than 1,900 airports, the company said. 

Global Jet Capital Opens Hong Kong Office

Global Jet Capital has opened a new office in Hong Kong, citing increasing demand for business aviation financing solutions in Asia-Pacific. Its new office will be headed by Violet Kwek, the company’s sales director for Greater China and North Asia.

The company—which has more than $2 billion in assets under management and is backed by The Carlyle Group, FS/KKR Advisor, and AE Industrial Partners—believes as many as 581 new midsize to large-cabin business jets, worth an estimated $20.9 billion, could be delivered to the region over the next decade, with more than 2,000 used aircraft transactions in those categories during the same period.

Currently, midsize to large-cabin jets make up about 71 percent of the Asia-Pacific business aircraft fleet, and Global Jet Capital estimates that between 2015 and 2018 the region saw around 364 new and used transactions in those categories, with a combined value of nearly $12 billion.

“The opening of this new office in this rapidly growing market is a pivotal step in our expansion strategy across Asia,” Kwek explained. “As one of the world’s most globally connected cities, Hong Kong represents a major strategic location for business aviation in Asia-Pacific, and our dedicated presence in Hong Kong will be vital to capitalize on the huge opportunities that this key market has to offer.”

Flexjet Sues NJASAP for ‘Intimidation’ in Decert Vote

Flexjet said its lawsuit against the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and NetJets pilot Jeffrey Stein will move forward now that a Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Common Pleas judge has denied the defendants’ request to dismiss the case on a technicality.

The complaint alleges that the NetJets pilot union “and its operatives” sent hundreds of “vulgar, threatening, and malicious mailings” to the homes of Flexjet company managers and employees who spoke up in support of a May 2018 union decertification election. “In at least one instance, a recipient called a fire department and explosives experts in response to receiving a box full of plain white envelopes with no return address,” Flexjet said. Although they were sent anonymously, a postal investigation revealed the identity of the sender.

Flexjet’s lawsuit seeks damages for these “acts of menacing and intimidation.” The postcard mailings occurred during a 28-day voting period when Flexjet pilots were voting on whether to decertify their union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 1108. Ultimately, the pilots voted 318 to 220 to reject union representation.

NJASAP said it could not comment on pending legal action.

Shareholder Suit Lodged Against Bristow

The first of what could be several class-action lawsuits on behalf of shareholders was filed on Thursday against Bristow Group in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The civil suit charges Bristow, CEO Jonathan Baliff, and CFO L. Don Miller with multiple violations of U.S. securities rules from Feb. 8, 2018, running Feb. 11, 2019, the date the company disclosed “material weakness” in its internal controls over financial reporting at the legacy helicopter service provider. 

Specifically, the suit charges that the defendants made “materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose materially adverse facts about the company’s business, operations, and prospects.” The suit alleges that, as a result, “the company could not reasonably assure compliance with non-financial covenants…was reasonably likely to breach certain agreements…[and] the company had understated its short-term debt. Required corrections would materially affect financial statements, the suit alleged, and the “defendant’s positive statements about the company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and lacked a reasonable basis.”  

The suit contends that Bristow’s alleged misstatements constitute violations of the Exchange Act, characterizing these violations as “substantial acts in furtherance of the alleged fraud.” It also alleges that Bristow’s failure to disclose resulted in its shares trading at inflated between February 2018 and February 2019, thereby damaging shareholders.

Bristow did not respond to multiple inquiries from AIN seeking comment.

Biz Aircraft Acquisition Focus of New Course

Mente Group, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Aero Law Group PC plan to host a week-long aircraft acquisition and operations course for flight department leaders and managers, according to a February 12 announcement. The Business of Business Aviation course will be held June 3 to 7 at Embry-Riddle’s David B. O’Maley College of Business in Daytona Beach, Florida, with instructors provided by the three host organizations.

Topics of the course will include accounting, budgeting, corporate financing and legal and tax issues around business aircraft purchases. “This course is a must attend for those in the industry and those breaking into the corporate flying industry,” said Cole White, Mente Group v-p of strategic consulting, who also will serve as one of the course instructors. The curriculum also covers aircraft selection, the transactional process, and pitfalls for aircraft acquisition and disposition, and asset life-cycle management, White said.

In addition to White, the course’s instructors include Kevin Austin, founder of Bellevue, Washington-based Aero Law Group, and accounting professor Bert Zarb and associate professor of management John Longshore, both of Embry-Riddle. Mente Group is a Dallas-based business aviation broker and consultancy.

Sydney Leads Australia in Wake Turbulence Events

Nearly 44 percent of the 179 wake turbulence incidents in Australia occurred at Sydney Airport between 2012 and 2016, according to a new study from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). When compared with the combined data from other major Australian airports, at Sydney Airport an aircraft was more likely to have a missed approach or go‑around, a ground proximity alert, or have control issues following a wake turbulence encounter.

Sydney Airport is the only major Australian airport currently with parallel runways. More than half of the 78 reported wake turbulence occurrences during arrival at Sydney Airport were associated with one or more of three factors: high arrival densities across the parallel runway; wind blowing across the parallel runways from the longer to the shorter runway, especially when a heavy or super heavy aircraft was arriving on the longer runway; and arrivals following an Airbus A380.

Airservices Australia will publish an Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) that will advise operators of the injuries associated with wake turbulence for Runway 34R and will recommend that cabin crew should be seated and secured in the earlier part of the approach. Airservices will also implement several ATC measures to reduce the frequency of wake turbulence occurrence at Sydney Airport, including increasing separation distances for arrivals from four nm to five nm on Runways 16L/R and 34L/R.

Apex Aviation Expands Reach into Mexico with DGAC Nod

Apex Aviation received sign-off from the Mexican Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC) as an approved maintenance organization, clearing the way for the Las Vegas MRO to perform repair and maintenance services on aircraft registered in Mexico. “Las Vegas is an international tourist destination, so it makes sense for us to be able to service aircraft from Mexico,” said Apex Aviation CEO Scott Bullock.

Founded in March 2014, the company operates from two locations in the Las Vegas region, including its 40,000-sq-ft hangar and corporate offices facility at Henderson Executive Airport (HND). It also operates a 21,000-sq-ft facility at North Las Vegas Airport (VGT).

The company provides maintenance, repair, modifications, ADS-B upgrades and avionics installations, and repairs and overhauls for turbine and piston airplanes and rotorcraft. Its VGT location also is an authorized Robinson Helicopter center.

In addition, the company offers global mobile repair services with “no borders,” noting it has traveled as far as Australia and Siberia to provide services.

In-Flight Data Sets Three BVLOS Drone World Records

In-Flight Data has set three new Guinness World Records for drone flights while conducting a variety of missions, including a cemetery-mapping mission in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The city of Calgary commissioned UAV operator In-Flight to collect mapping data for the development of Calgary’s first new cemetery since 1940. The flights were conducted using a senseFly eBee Plus fixed-wing drone. In-Flight conducted a total of 414 km (257 miles) in BVLOS flight, at an average distance of 2.35 km (1.46 mi) from the pilot.

The records include longest cumulative beyond visual-line-of-sight battery-powered UAV flight, 2,723.04 km (Alberta); longest cumulative urban flight for a beyond-visual-line-of-sight civilian UAV (small class—up to 25 kg): 414 km (Calgary); longest single urban flight for a beyond-visual-line-of-sight civilian UAV  (small class—up to 25 kg), 40 km (High River). 

“The success of this groundbreaking project was a real milestone for us and the wider UAS industry,” said In-Flight Data owner Chris Healy. “Not only did we demonstrate that BVLOS operations can be carried out in urban environments, but we were also able to show that BVLOS is a safe, efficient, and cost-effective tool that has the potential to revolutionize both rural and urban commercial drone operations.”

AINWebinar: A New Approach to Flight Department Tech

Modern flight departments and operations are eager for solutions that embrace 21st century technology and accessibility, especially for the critical task of maintenance tracking. Learn about how embracing technology can have a positive effect on your flight department and aircraft value, as well as reduce inefficiencies and error-ridden processes that lead to a reactionary culture.

Join AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber on April 10 at 1:30 p.m. EDT as he moderates the discussion with Jeff McClean, aviation director of maintenance, Procter & Gamble; Deborah Bew, founder, Aircraft Acquisitions; and Lee Brewster, director of product marketing at Flightdocs. Sponsored by Flightdocs. Register for the free webinar.