With continuing reports of the global spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, organizers are taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of attendees at next week’s Singapore Airshow, but said today the show will go on as planned. It will enhance its cleaning and trash disposal procedures, have hand sanitizers available, and position a team of doctors and medics on-site to assist attendees.
However, three major business aircraft OEMs have confirmed to AIN that they won’t be exhibiting at the upcoming event being held February 11-16. Over the weekend, Cessna and Beechcraft airframer Textron Aviation announced it was pulling out of the show, followed by Gulfstream Aerospace yesterday, and Bombardier today.
The three airframers cited the well-being of their employees and customers as the reason behind their decision. “In light of the recent coronavirus outbreak, we...have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the upcoming Singapore Airshow,” Gulfstream said in a statement.
Airshow organizers said 10 exhibitors from China and five from three other countries had withdrawn from exhibiting.
Meanwhile, UAS International Trip Support today is advising business aviation operators against traveling to China, noting that more coronavirus cases have been reported. “While a general travel ban has not been issued, we advise postponing travel to China as rapid changes in administrative safety measures are imposed,” UAS said. “Hotels are suddenly closing and/or no longer accepting guests for health safety concerns.”
While the expansion of the civil turbine helicopter fleet in the Asia-Pacific region continued in 2019 (up 2 percent), the growth trajectory is slowing, according to the latest fleet report from Asian Sky Group (ASG). The fleet reached 4,373 civil helicopters at the end of 2019, up from the 4,289 counted at the end of 2018.
The rate of increase in 2019 is half of the 4 percent compounded growth rate the civil helicopter market experienced over the past five years that brought an additional 800 units to the Asia-Pacific region. The aviation services provider and fleet analyst forecasts a further dampened 1.5 percent growth in 2020.
The 84 total increase region-wide in 2019 comprised the addition of 121 new deliveries and 115 pre-owned units. They were offset by the removal of 152 helicopters.
“The growth rate slowed down in 2019, as the fleet experienced a significant increase in the number of deductions from 2018,” ASG said, adding, “This reflects a maturing market in the region.”
This occurred in Mainland China in particular, the firm added. After seeing a 10 percent jump year-over-year in 2018, that softened to 6 percent net growth, or 41 helicopters, in 2019. While the rate is still well above the region’s average, it marked the first time since 2009 that it had fallen to a single-digit percentage.
Global standards-development organization ASTM International has approved another pathway to the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Catalytic hydrothermolysis jet fuel (CHJ) is the sixth approved pathway for the production of SAF, and the synthetic kerosene represents the newest annex to the sustainable fuel specification D7566.
Acceptable feedstocks include any lipid, triglyceride, or fatty acid-based renewable oil, including low-cost sources such as brown grease.
CHJ was developed with support from the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), a coalition of airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, energy producers, researchers, international participants, and U.S. government agencies that are leading the development and deployment of alternative jet fuels for commercial aviation.
The standard provides that CHJ fuel, which was developed by Applied Research Associates (ARA), may be blended at up to 50 percent by volume with conventional jet fuel.
Morocco Airport Opens New Private Aviation Terminal
Morocco’s Marrakech-Menara International Airport debuted its new business and private aviation terminal last week. The 32,300-sq-ft structure is home to FBOs from Jetex and Swissport. Jetex added its latest location in Morocco, which sees more than 10,000 private jet movements a year, joining Casablanca, Agadir, and Rabat, and bringing the Dubai-based company to six FBOs in Africa. At Marrakech, its 24/7 facility occupies 10,800 sq ft of the new terminal, making it the global support company’s second-largest FBO after its flagship location in Dubai. “It is an honor for us to establish the first VIP terminal of its kind in North Africa,” said Jetex founder and CEO Adel Mardini. “We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Government of Morocco."
Swissport, the second service provider operating in the new terminal, has a 5,650-sq-ft facility that includes a lounge for 40 passengers with a bar and media corner. A separate VVIP lounge can hold nine guests. The first floor of the FBO is reserved for crew members with a TV lounge, kitchen, snooze rooms, and shower facilities. The company also shares the Casablanca private terminal with Jetex. “With the opening of our second Moroccan FBO in this new, state-of-the-art VIP terminal in Marrakech, we are further expanding Swissport’s strong position in the North African executive aviation market,” said Swissport Morocco CEO Christophe de Figueiredo.
Buyers Will Determine Used Biz Aircraft Prices in 2020
This year will be a solid year in terms of dollar volume of preowned business aircraft sales, but don’t expect 2020 to be record-breaking in terms of units, according to a new analysis by business aviation broker and consulting firm Mente Group. The Dallas-based firm sees a flat to a slightly down year in terms of the number of preowned aircraft that are sold.
“Generally, the business jet industry moved from a seller's market early in 2019 to a more balanced market at mid-year while we ended the year as a predominately buyer's market,” said Mente Group president and CEO Brian Proctor. “We expect that trend to carry over into 2020 with perhaps fewer transactions and heightened price sensitivity for used business aircraft.”
He expects a price-driven market in 2020, with the most activity occurring in the first and fourth quarters. And, buyers will be opportunistic. “Buyers are seeking value where they can find it,” Proctor explained. “A lot of wealth has been created in the last couple of years, and those buyers will continue to buy if and when they see good deals in the marketplace.”
But Proctor notes that price sensitivity will put pressure on sellers and OEMs.
The federal government is turning up the heat on defendants in the Hansen Helicopters case in Guam. Last month the federal government added new charges to indictments originally levied in 2018. The new charges cover aircraft parts fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, aircraft registration violations, and employing an unlicensed pilot and mechanic. The revised charges were levied against Hansen owner John Walker, and three company employees—executive v-p Marvin Reed, director of operations Kenneth Crowe, and director of maintenance Phillip Kapp—as well as a company vendor, Randall Rodgers, of Valdosta, Georgia.
According to the initial May 2018 indictment, beginning as early as 1997, Walker, Reed, Crowe, and Kapp circumvented U.S. aviation safety regulations to maximize profits at Hansen. They allegedly used aircraft that had been deregistered—because they were destroyed, scrapped, or otherwise deemed not airworthy—and concealed that fact in records submitted to the FAA.
Most of the charges in the original indictment stem from an NTSB investigation of a 2015 fatal accident of a Hansen-operated Hughes 369HS, N9068F, on a fish-spotting contract in the Pacific near Manra Island, Kiribati. The NTSB determined, “The pilot did not hold a pilot certificate issued by the U.S. FAA, which is required to operate a U.S.-registered aircraft while in international airspace.” Nor could the NTSB locate any personal flight records for the pilot. Both Crowe and Kapp are accused of lying to investigators and falsifying records.
Robert Redland, who had served as general manager for aircraft interior component specialists Lou Martin & Associates and Technical Composite Corp., died on January 20 after a battle with leukemia.
Born in 1974 in Austin, Texas, Redland spent two decades in the aircraft interiors business, including stints with Custom Air Interiors, Fiber Art, CoreMax Aerospace, and Decrane Aircraft. He joined Technical Composite in 2009 and added the role at Lou Martin & Associates in 2014.
Lou Martin & Associates noted the passing “of our dear friend,” saying, “Over the years, always with a smile and can-do attitude Robert worked with customers in the design, manufacture, and certification of various products for the aviation industry.”
He was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2019, according to his obituary information, which added, “he met this challenge with a positive attitude.”
He is survived by his wife, Angela; daughters Alyson, Kathryn, Jillian, and Madelyn; and sister Rebecca Redland Sturzl.
Hillsboro, ADAC Collaborate On EMS Pilot Pathway
Hillsboro Aero Academy has formed a partnership with ADAC Luftrettung GmbH (ADAC Air Rescue) to provide a pathway for emergency medical service pilots in Germany. Under the collaboration, Hillsboro and ADAC have created a program primarily aimed at German-speaking individuals that will include mentorship from ADAC and support during student training. The program is open individuals without previous flight experience as well as instructors and Hillsboro graduates.
Hillsboro graduates who have earned appropriate licenses and ratings, and the requisite 1,000 flight hours (including 500 in emergency medical service or a similarly challenging operation), will receive an interview with ADAC. Once the student receives a recommendation for employment, it will begin as soon as a suitable position becomes available.
The partnership is designed to provide some relief to a growing need for emergency service pilots in Germany, Hillsboro said, noting that German rescue organizations see a need for at least 100 to 200 more pilots over the next decade.
“This cooperation with Hillsboro is a key component to building an innovative and sustainable foundation for the recruitment of new pilots, thus helping us avoid a shortage in staffing of free pilot positions at an early stage and ensure the aerial emergency medical aid of the general public for the future,” said ADAC Luftrettung managing director Frédéric Bruder.
Act Now: FBO Survey Closes This Week
Don’t wait—AIN’s FBO survey is now open for year-round feedback. It takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel or any other time that is convenient for you. Log on to www.ainonline.com/fbosurvey to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit. Voting for this year's survey closes February 7.
People in Aviation
The Killick Aerospace Group named Bill Molloy to the newly created position of COO, responsible for steering sales growth across the company portfolios and new business development opportunities that include recent business aircraft parts distribution acquisitions. Molloy previously spent 30 years with Bombardier, holding roles developing customer support infrastructure for the C Series, managing the parts services organization for both commercial and business aircraft, and most recently serving as v-p of aftermarket sales for business aircraft.
CAE named Todd Probert group president of Defense and Security. He succeeds Gene Colabatistto, who retired from CAE in December. Probert previously spent 10 years with Raytheon, most recently leading its Command, Control, Space, & Intelligence business unit and also has held roles with Honeywell Technology Solutions and Anser.
Sage-Popovich, Inc. (SPI), a global aviation consulting and asset management firm, promoted Petar Todorovic to v-p of operations across the SPI family of companies as owner Nick Popovich transitions to an advisory role. Todorovic joined Sage-Popovich in 2014 and has worked in nearly all facets of the company, most recently as asset valuation manager.
Six West promoted Matthew Gee to COO. Gee, who has more than two decades of aviation experience, joined the flight operations services provider in 2017 as director of flight operations.
Laurence Petiard was appointed head of external communications for Airbus Helicopters. Petiard, who joined Airbus Helicopters in 2005, has spent five years in the media relations department handling external communications for a variety of civil and military helicopter programs and also has held various project management roles.
Rose DeLong, a senior aviation academic advisor for Purdue University, retired after 30 years of service. During her career, she advised thousands of students who went on to become aircraft technicians, engineers, professional pilots, flight instructors, air traffic controllers, managers, vice presidents, presidents, and CEOs.
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