Decatur, Texas-based aircraft MRO, completion, and support provider AeroBrigham has purchased the SkyDisplay head-up display (HUD) division from MyGoFlight. The HUD was developed by the late founder of MyGoFlight, Charlie Schneider, who spent years bringing the SkyDisplay HUD to market at a cost far lower than any other HUD product.
SkyDisplay holds approvals for installation in numerous aircraft under an approved model list supplemental type certificate. They include Cirrus SR piston singles and SF50 Vision Jet; Beechcraft Bonanzas, Barons, and King Air 300s; Cessna turboprops and light jets; Embraer Phenom 100; Mooney M20; Pilatus PC-12; Piper Twin Comanche, Cheyenne, and Malibu Matrix; and Daher TBM 700 and 850.
Under the new company name AeroDisplay, AeroBrigham plans to continue the development of the HUD, including configurations for additional Part 23 airplanes, as well as Part 27 helicopters. For rotorcraft, the HUD will add engine, external load values, and other critical information to its display, according to AeroBrigham. AeroDisplay also offers integration with thermal imaging systems, including the Astronics Max-Viz enhanced flight vision system.
AeroDisplay operations will remain in the Denver area. “Our goal is to continue the development of this game-changing safety enhancement and continue the legacy of our friend Charlie Schneider,” said David Brigham, co-owner of AeroBrigham and AeroDisplay with his brother Danny Brigham.
On March 1, Wings Air Helicopters will begin morning commuter flights from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, to Manhattan East 34th Street Heliport. Operating three days a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—the 15-minute flight in the company’s six-passenger Airbus AS350 departs at 8 a.m.
The price is $499 per seat, with discounts available for frequent fliers, and reservations are subject to a 48-hour cancellation notice policy. The company plans to add additional flights as demand merits.
Wings Air Helicopters was founded by investment banker Javier Diaz in 2002. It offers charter and air tour flights and flight training and operates an Airbus AS350 and AS355, as well as a Robinson R44 Raven II. Diaz is a native of Colombia and comes from a family of pilots, including his father and uncle. His firm has also participated in various movie projects such as “The Bourne Legacy,” “Now You See Me,” and “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”
Luna Aviation Group reported a 45 percent jump in revenue across the European company in 2022 as its LunaJets private charter brokerage exceeded $150 million for the first time in its history. LunaJets alone saw a 40 percent year-over-year increase in revenue, organizing more than 12,000 movements and bringing in 1,250 new clients.
Meanwhile, LunaGroup Charter—a commercial group charter division that is in its second year of operation—exceeded $15 million in revenue and reported a 290 percent increase in the number of flights organized.
"Considering the post-pandemic situation, particularly the uncertainty of whether international events are hosted, and a slow start of the year, we are delighted by these numbers and by growing our market share. Our worldwide activity enabled us to achieve a record-breaking fourth quarter,” said Rémi Aubin, LunaGroup Charter sales director.
Growth comes as Luna Aviation Group opened offices in London, Paris, Monte Carlo, and Riga, Latvia, over the past two years. In addition, this month, the group opened a Dubai station. Plans call for continued expansion with offices in Zurich and Madrid this year.
"We experienced immense growth in 2022 and it [Dubai] is our first expansion outside Europe,” said Alain Leboursier, managing director of Luna Aviation Group. “It embodies our continued commitment to positioning LunaJets as a worldwide market leader and closer to our growing clientele in the region.”
Universal Aviation—the ground handling arm of Universal Weather & Aviation—has extended its ground handling supervision to Brazil’s São Paulo Caterina Executive Airport (SBJH). Located in São Roque, 40 minutes west of the capital city, SBJH is considered one of the country’s most modern airports with an 8,100-foot (2,470 m) runway and the ability to handle up to 200,000 passengers a year.
“Since opening in 2019, we’ve seen an increase in customers using [SBJH],” said Andre Camargo, general manager of Universal’s Brazil operations. “Due to the airport’s growing popularity with international operators and to help give Universal customers a greater span of control of their missions, we have added full-time staff at Catarina."
According to the company, its supervisory ground handling agents are trained under its standards to provide the meet and greet of the passengers and all the necessary coordination with the airport, authorities, the under-the-wing fuel supplier, and other third parties as needed by the customer.
“We have a very good working relationship with the airport’s management and the local authorities, allowing us to secure parking and permits quickly, as well as handle any surprises that may pop up on the ground,” added Camargo.
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The chief engineer for the Cirrus SF50 jet program was killed Friday afternoon less than four minutes after taking off in a 2016 Cirrus SR22 GTS G6 from Duluth (Minnesota) International Airport (KDLH). David Rathbun, 52, was flying the piston single—which was registered as N929DR—when it crashed onto the frozen St. Louis River near the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge at the Wisconsin-Minnesota border.
Eyewitnesses said the aircraft skidded across the ice and then fell into open water and became mostly submerged. Rathbun was the sole occupant. Authorities on scene said there is no evidence the aircraft hit the bridge. One eyewitness said the aircraft was smoking as it descended. After takeoff, the aircraft reached a speed of 181 knots and an altitude of 2,975 feet, according to tracking data from FlightAware. Last contact showed the aircraft at 128 knots and an altitude of 1,325 feet. Weather at the time was reported VFR.
Rathbun joined Cirrus in 1996 where he held a variety of positions, including engineering flight test pilot. He held a master’s degree in engineering from Louisiana Tech. In a post on social media, his brother, airshow pilot Daniel Rathbun, described him as a “brilliant” engineer.
Priester Aviation added five aircraft to its managed fleet as it continues to grow its services and operations. Four of the aircraft—a Nextant 400XT, Cessna Citation XLS, Embraer Phenom 300, and Embraer Praetor 500—are based at Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK), while the fifth, a Bombardier Challenger 300, is stationed at Dallas Love Field (KDAL).
The additions follow the expansion of the company's managed fleet, bases of operation, and services with the acquisition of Mayo Aviation in late 2022. Priester now manages nearly 80 aircraft with large bases in the Rocky Mountain region and its Chicagoland home.
Rich Ropp, president of Priester, said its managed clients “receive the full support and capabilities of the biggest national operations, but they also receive the individual attention of a personal flight department. When there’s a question about the aircraft, they can talk to one person directly without getting lost in a massive, impersonal company.”
Priester supports the new aircraft for Part 91 owner use, including administration, financial services, crewing and dispatch, and maintenance coordination for seamless flight operations. In addition, some aircraft have the option for use in charter operations.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
Which of the following are recommended strategies for effective monitoring of autoflight modes?
A. Stay in the loop by mentally flying the aircraft even when the autopilot or other pilot is flying the aircraft.
B. Monitor the flight instruments just as when the pilot is manually flying the aircraft.
C. Be diligent in monitoring all flightpath changes, including pilot actions, system modes, and aircraft responses.
Midwest helicopter air tour company MyFlight Tours is addressing noise complaints in Milwaukee by altering its flight patterns. MyFlight began air tour operations in late January at its Milwaukee base at Gen. Mitchell International Airport (KMKE). It also operates bases in Michigan and Tennessee.
Mitchell is bounded by residential neighborhoods, particularly to the east and north. MyFlight runs air tours of Milwaukee from the airport on weekends, flying a Robinson R44 an average of 12 times per day. Prices begin at $55 per seat. But MyFlight plans to increase its Milwaukee tempo to daily operations during the summer season.
The company said it will fly higher and make more arrivals from, and departures to, the west of the airport, which is bounded by highway I-94 and has a heavy concentration of commercial and industrial properties.
The airport, which has a noise-monitoring program and a noise-complaint hotline, is host to several major passenger and freight airlines and the 128th Refueling Wing of the Wisconsin Air National Guard. MyFlight also encouraged residents to call it directly with complaints or comments.
Luxaviation Group is heading into the Avalon 2023 Australian International Airshow this week with strong activity throughout the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the Europe-based international operator reported. The airshow runs from February 28 to March 5 at Avalon Airport in Victoria.
Its fleet in APAC has continued to expand in recent months, said Darren McGoldrick, v-p of the APAC region for Luxaviation Group. He noted that the company recently added a Dassault Falcon 2000LX to its Australian charter fleet, as well as a pair of Bombardier Global 6000s, one of which will be available for charter.
“Across Asia, our managed fleet is expanding also,” he further stated. In Malaysia, Luxaviation added a Dassault Falcon 7X and is in the process of adding an 8X. In Singapore, a Hawker Beechcraft 900XP and a Global 6000 have joined the fleet in the last two months. McGoldrick added that Luxaviation has more deliveries in the pipeline for the region.
This growth comes as Luxaviation Group bounces back from the pandemic with record charter hours and FBO movements in the APAC region last year.
“The most pleasing aspect of the recovery has been the number of first-time passengers we have welcomed to fly in our aircraft, many of whom rapidly became repeat customers,” McGoldrick said. “Clients are increasingly moving away from airlines as they clearly see the benefits of business aviation."
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