Gulfstream Inaugurates New Arizona Service Center

Gulfstream Aerospace officially opened its $130 million service center yesterday at Arizona’s Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA). A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the company's newest facility in its customer service support network was attended by company leaders, employees, and local officials.

The airframer announced the start of the 225,000-sq-ft facility in 2021 and the following year opened an interim service facility in the SkyBridge development on the opposite (west) side of the field from where the now-opened center was slated to be built. In October 2022, it expanded that existing facility—known as the Mesa west campus—which will be retained and can now accommodate up to 10 large and midsize aircraft.

The newly-opened Mesa service center builds on that capacity to handle up to 13 more large-cabin jets simultaneously with the ability to support maintenance and avionics services, inspections, and drop-in work.

Designed to support the OEM’s goal of sustainability, the facility incorporates recycled, regional, and lower-emission materials, as well as reduced power and water consumption technologies. It is expected to receive LEED Silver sustainability certification later this year. The Mesa campus also includes a fuel farm with a 30,000-gallon tank dedicated to storing sustainable aviation fuel.

AINsight: Aircraft Fractional Shares 101

Would you be interested if you could buy a portion of an aircraft or rotorcraft as if you acquired it all but at a fraction of the price? If you plan to fly more than 25 hours per year but do not need or want a whole aircraft, an aircraft fractional share may make sense.

Whole aircraft demand constant attention whether you use them or not. For example, you still must monitor and pay constantly for the operations, maintenance, insurance, crew, management, scheduling, and taxes associated with them.

Although a fractional share may entail premium costs over other travel options, the overall economics may work when you analyze your anticipated “missions” compared to other flight options, including owning, chartering, buying a jet card, or leasing a whole aircraft. A mission refers to your specific and/or general expected plans for business or personal use, including the passengers you bring on board.

Like air charter, fractional share program aircraft can provide supplemental or primary lift, as well as security and privacy. Compared to operating your own whole aircraft, fractional use may mitigate the risk of intruders tracking your program aircraft using publicly available flight-tracking technologies.

Civil Drone Causes Midair Collision with Super Scooper

A Canadair CL-415 aerial firefighter collided with a drone while flying over the Palisades fire near Los Angeles yesterday, according to the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD). In a post on X, LACoFD said “SuperScooper Quebec 1 was struck by a civilian drone that was not assigned to the Palisades fire.”

One of the airplane’s wing leading edges showed a deep indentation and cut metal in the photo attached to the X post, and Quebec 1 “was taken out of service,” according to LACoFD. The agency added that “flying a drone in the midst of firefighting efforts is a federal crime and punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine of $75,000.”

Two Quebec government-owned CL-415s were dispatched to help manage the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area, which have killed 10 people and destroyed thousands of homes and buildings.

The twin-turboprop CL-415 has a tank capacity of more than 1,600 gallons and can refill during a scooping water run in just 12 seconds. The type certificate for the CL-415 is now held by De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, which continues supporting and upgrading the aircraft.

Hermeus Brings the HEAT with Hypersonic Test Facility

High-speed aircraft developer Hermeus has brought online the first phase of a facility designed to address what it calls a critical shortage of hypersonic test infrastructure. The High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test (HEAT) facility has already been used to complete a series of trials on a Pratt & Whitney F100, the base engine model that will power Hermeus’ supersonic and hypersonic test vehicles.

Based at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, the HEAT facility incorporates upgraded test infrastructure from the former Cecil Naval Air Station. Hermeus inherited test cells built in 1959 and an aircraft “hush house,” or sound-dampening structure, that followed in 1989, the company said. It is updating these facilities to provide a venue for modern military and commercial engine testing.

“In just three months since breaking ground, HEAT has come online and is positioned to unlock low-cost, high-capability propulsion testing that will support the delivery of hypersonic aircraft before the end of the decade,” said Hermeus co-founder and CEO A.J. Piplica. “HEAT will alleviate capacity limitations, offer more affordable options, and establish itself as a critical national resource for hypersonic testing.”

Plans call to continue to build out the HEAT facility incrementally, including adding a continuous high-Mach vitiated airflow to simulate more flight-like hypersonic testing conditions.

Investigators Probe Coast Guard Dhruv Helicopter Crash

Customers for the civil variants of the Indian Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III Dhruv are closely monitoring the investigation into a fatal accident involving a military version of the rotorcraft on January 5. The crash was the second fatal accident with a military-configured Dhruv rotorcraft operated by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

According to a short statement from the ICG, the latest Dhruv accident happened during a training flight at Porbandar Airport in the western state of Gujarat. Two pilots and an ICG diver were killed, but no further details have been released about the accident that is now being investigated by the government’s Board of Inquiry.

Dhruv manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) did not respond to questions about reports that the company is examining possible flight control failure. Videos posted on social media by The New Indian Express show the helicopter in flames to the side of the main runway.

Government-owned HAL is working on type certification of the civil version of the Dhruv with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation in a process expected to take another 18 months. Launch customers for this aircraft include offshore operator Pawan Hans, which is owned by the country’s Oil and Natural Gas Commission.

Photo of the Week

Deice ice, baby. This Prince Aviation crew had to complete the mission, and in aviation there is no wishin’; so there was no playing, and they had the deicers spraying (apologies in advance to Vanilla Ice). Thanks to Vladimir Jovanovic—executive director at the Serbia-based air charter, maintenance, and training firm—for sharing this photo of his company’s Dassault Falcon 2000LXS being deiced before taxi out.

Keep them coming. If you’d like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.