GIP Set To Acquire Signature Aviation in $4.6B Bid

Signature Aviation, which operates Signature Flight Support—the world’s largest FBO chain—could soon be under new ownership with news that the UK-based company has accepted a cash deal worth more than $4.63 billion from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP). This comes as a bidding war involving other investment firms such as The Carlyle Group, which previously owned the former Landmark Aviation FBO chain, began to heat up.

Last month, private equity group Blackstone Infrastructure Advisors and Blackstone Core Equity Management Associates presented an offer for $4 billion and over the weekend came word that Cascade Investment—which manages a large portion of Microsoft founder Bill Gates’s personal fortune and a nearly 20 percent stake in Signature—joined with Blackstone to strengthen its bid.

Last month, private equity group Blackstone Infrastructure Advisors and Blackstone Core Equity Management Associates presented an offer for $4 billion and over the weekend came word that Cascade Investment—which manages a large portion of Microsoft founder Bill Gates’s personal fortune and a nearly 20 percent stake in Signature—joined with Blackstone to strengthen its bid.

The deal is subject to legal review and the approval of at least 75 percent of Signature's shareholders.

Vaccine Rollout Leaves Open Many Questions

Air ambulance pilots are the first among the pilot community to receive the Covid-19 vaccines, but the question of when the larger pilot community in the U.S. will have a turn remains unknown. This was among topics discussed Thursday during an NATA webinar, “Covid-19 Vaccine Intelligence for Pilots and Essential Workers."

NATA senior v-p of aircraft management, air charter services, and MROs Ryan Waguespack noted some aviation workers, such as crew, can be on the higher “1b” priority list as essential workers but “the problem is that it doesn’t correlate across the board state to state.” Waguespack said he has heard from air ambulance operators in Arizona who have already received the vaccine. Other states have air ambulance as the first priority as well. He recommended that aircraft operators reach out to their own state health departments to find out how to get their workers in the queue.

Once workers receive vaccines, they should get verification. Some countries have discussed requirements for proof of vaccine. While there is some talk of electronic tracking, more likely a verification card might be necessary because not all countries will have capabilities for such electronic processing, said Dr. Thomas Faulkner, a senior aviation medical examiner who participated in the webinar. Waguespack added that NATA is exploring means for its Known Crewmember program to assist in this area.

Elliott Aviation Expands MRO Footprint with Acquisition

MRO provider Elliott Aviation has expanded into the southeastern U.S. with the acquisition of Atlanta-based The Maintenance Group. With the acquisition, Elliott adds a fourth location, as well as expands its airframe service capabilities, the company said.

Those additional airframe service capabilities include the Gulfstream III through G550, as well as the G100/150 and G200/280; Dassault Falcon 50/50EX and 2000; and Bombardier Challenger 350 and 600/601/650. Operating from a 40,000-sq-ft facility at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, The Maintenance Group can perform major airframe inspections, structural repairs and modifications, wing corrosion repair, DAR import/export airworthiness approvals, STC installation and certification projects, and pre-purchase inspections.

“For 25 years, we’ve built long-standing partnerships with customers in the Atlanta metro area and throughout the United States,” said Dan Furlong, owner of The Maintenance Group. “We’re happy to partner with Elliott Aviation because they share the same values that have driven our company since the 1990s.”

The additional capabilities build upon Elliott’s authorized service facilities for the Beechjet 400A/400XP, Hawker, King Air, and Premier I/IA; Embraer Legacy 400/500 and Phenom 100/300; and TBM, in addition to approvals within its Part 145 repair station certificate for the Challenger 300 and 604/605; several Learjet models; and most Cessna Citations.

Elliott operates facilities in Des Moines, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Moline, Illinois, which also serves as its headquarters.

New Broker RightJet Focuses on Environmental Progress

RightJet opens for business this week, offering aircraft charter, sales, leasing, consultancy, and management supervision services to the private aviation sector. The Dubai-based startup has been founded by Mark Hardman, who has more than 25 years of experience in the industry with companies such as Qatar Executive, Flying Group, Dubai South Airport, ExecuJet Aviation, Bombardier Skyjet, and Harrods Aviation.

According to Hardman, who is the company's CEO, RightJet will seek to reduce business aviation’s environmental footprint by prioritizing the use of operators committed to lowering carbon emissions. Its environmental policy includes measures such as using more fuel-efficient aircraft, offering carbon offsets, reducing positioning flights, recycling and eliminating single-use plastics from cabin service, and sourcing catering supplies locally.

“The future of private aviation is very bright, with many new clients interested in entering the market and keen to travel privately once [Covid-related] border restrictions have eased,” Hardman said. “The market is also ready for new entrants that can offer great pricing, expertise, transparency, and exceptional service.”

RightJet is headquartered at Dubai International Airport.

Satcom Direct Logs 500th Global Xpress Activation

Satcom Direct has activated its 500th terminal for aerospace customers subscribing to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network through the Jet ConneX service, the companies announced this morning. This places Satcom Direct as the leading service provider of Inmarsat’s high-speed airborne data service to private and government aviation users worldwide. 

Jet ConneX is supported by Satcom Direct’s router family, which augments in-flight connectivity efficiency, delivers SD applications, and supports cybersecurity management. Satcom Direct was the first business aviation communications provider to provision its services and transmit data over Inmarsat’s first two Global Xpress satellites and has been a reseller of Global Xpress since its service launch in 2015.

“The activation of 500 Jet ConneX terminals using Inmarsat’s GX constellation demonstrates that connectivity has become an essential part of aviation today,” noted Satcom Direct business aviation president Chris Moore. “In addition to delivering powerful communications to improve in-flight productivity, the collection, aggregation, and analysis of data generated by the aircraft improve flight operations, enhance efficiency, and improve financial management.”

Leonardo Helicopters Makes Fresh Latin American Inroads

Leonardo reported new inroads into the Latin American helicopter market this morning, announcing new sales in Mexico and Colombia.

The OEM will deliver a VIP-configured AW139 intermediate twin to the Colombian Air Force for its presidential transport mission. This helicopter will feature an eight-seat cabin and a self-defense suite. The delivery, anticipated this spring, will add to the embedded AW139 fleet in that country, where five AW139s already operate for Helistar in the oil and gas space.

Leonardo is currently offering a military variant of the AW139, the AW139M, for the multirole requirements of the air force, army, national police, and navy in Colombia. Orders for nearly 1,200 AW139s have been placed by more than 280 customers in over 70 countries and more than 2.9 million flight hours have been logged in operations to date. Worldwide, more than 1,100 AW139s have been delivered. 

Separately, Leonardo announced a Mexican private operator will place an AW169 light intermediate twin into service later this year. Nearly 240 AW169s have been ordered by customers worldwide to date for a wide range of civil, para-public, and military missions. 

Leonardo currently claims a 40 percent multi-engine helicopter market share throughout Latin America with over 400 civil and military units in service throughout the region. 

Longstanding General Aviation Service Firms To Combine

Indiana-based Muncie Aviation Co. (MAC) has acquired aircraft sales and maintenance provider Des Moines Flying Service (DMFS) in a merger of two of the oldest companies in private aviation. DMFS, which is located at Iowa’s Des Moines International Airport, was founded in 1939, and in addition to serving as a HondaJet dealer, has been a Piper Aircraft distributor for the past 75 years. The company’s maintenance center specializes in Piper, King Air, and Cessna Citation aircraft, handling everything from avionics to engine removals.

Employee-owned MAC traces its lineage back even further with its startup in 1932. In 2004, the family of the founding Ball brothers sold the business to its employees under a stock ownership plan. It is the longest-tenured Piper Aircraft dealer in the world and is also an authorized sales distributor for Daher’s TBM line of turboprop singles. The company operates the lone FBO at Illinois Delaware County Regional Airport, where it has its own Piper and Daher factory-authorized service center.

“We look forward to taking our common values and business drives and expanding on DMFS’s already considerable abilities,” said MAC executive v-p Steve Thompson, who was named president of the Des Moines location. “The DMFS team has much to be proud of, and my teammates and I look forward to working with them as partners.”

Air Elite Network Adds Indiana FBO

Fort Wayne Aero Center, the airport-owned and -operated FBO at Indiana’s Fort Wayne International Airport, is the latest location to join the Air Elite Network, the World Fuel Services-sponsored group of upscale service providers.

Located on the west side of the field, it features a modern 15,000-sq-ft, two-story LEED-certified terminal that opened in 2016 and is staffed 24/7. It includes a passenger lobby with fireplace; refreshment area; two conference rooms accommodating eight and up to 25 people, respectively; flight planning area; pilot lounge; snooze room; fitness center; showers; on-site laundry and dishwashing; on-site car rental; and crew cars. A U.S. Customs clearance facility is adjacent to the terminal, and the FBO has more than 100,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of accommodating the latest big business jets.

The 77th member of the network, this FBO, like the other members of the group, will undergo audits to ensure the quality of its service and amenities are maintained.

“As a popular business aviation destination, Fort Wayne Aero Center is an exceptional addition to the Air Elite Network,” said Steve Dryzmalla, World Fuel’s senior v-p for business aviation bulk fuel. “We welcome the Fort Wayne team, whose services and facilities emulate the network’s commitment in Indiana and the surrounding area.”

How Autonomous Flight Could Revolutionize Air Cargo

Xwing is working to start pilotless air freight operations using converted Cessna 208B Grand Caravans in 2022. The company has already begun services with pilots to build the case for a transition to autonomous flight.