London Biggin Hill Airport said it expects more growth this year after logging a 12 percent increase in business aviation traffic in 2018, per the latest data from WingX Advance. That makes it one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe over the past 12 months, as well as bucks the overall 1 percent decline last year in business aviation activity at London-area airports.
“The London Heli Shuttle service, extension of the opening hours, competitive handling fees and charges, and the absence of slot restrictions has fuelled this success, with much of the activity stemming from the charter market,” said Biggin Hill business development director Robert Walters. “Following significant investment in recent years, we have had an extraordinarily successful 2018. During December, we led the London market in terms of charter requests and saw a big increase in large-cabin aircraft movements of more than 25 percent.”
Meanwhile, the airport continues its commitment to local education, outreach, and training that will support ongoing growth at the airport. Last week, it appointed five new apprentices, who will assist with the daily operation of the hangar and ramp, moving aircraft, and supporting customers. Also last week, it launched a new initiative—Unite to Inspire—that encourages young people to pursue STEM subjects by demonstrating how this path can lead to “stimulating” jobs within aerospace.
Click Aviation Snaps Up CharterPad
Business aviation trip support services company Click Aviation Network has acquired CharterPad, an online platform for air charter professionals, for an undisclosed amount, the companies announced yesterday. Founded in 2011, U.S.-based CharterPad has a live database of 20,000 aircraft available worldwide for charter or cargo, offering digital solutions to charter brokers and operators through a single platform.
Click developed a similar platform, Click Omega, in 2016 that takes this concept one step forward with the addition of its networking concept, which it now plans to integrate into CharterPad. Click Aviation’s platform allows users to access a network of aviation professionals and use their combined expertise for flight planning, ground handling, aircraft charter, catering, and other aviation-related activities at reduced costs, the company said.
According to Click Aviation, the acquisition further expands its ability to serve the North American market while enhancing CharterPad’s existing capabilities and potential for growth in the coming years. “CharterPad’s current customers will see improvements in the existing system that incorporate a new layer of artificial intelligence software for enhanced efficiency,” it noted.
“We are excited about joining forces with Click Aviation and to accomplish our shared vision of connecting the private aviation industry through intelligent technology,” said CharterPad president Armando Antonini. ”Click’s expertise in creating operational efficiency will enhance our service offering for our members buying and selling aircraft charter.”
Flightworx Adds New Fuel Procurement Portal
Global trip support provider Flightworx Aviation has launched a fuel portal application through its independent fuel comparison and procurement division, Flightworx Fuel Services.
Known as Fuelworx, the portal offers users the ability to view global fuel pricing at the click of a button through the web-based system, as well as create and send instant fuel quotes and release requests and navigate through the various options available at any location. Pricing is updated continually, with multiple fuel options per location, and users can review previous quotes and fuel-release information.
“The portal is so convenient for all users due to its web-based nature which means that you can access it anywhere in the world at any time of day,” explained James Kossick, the UK-based company’s fuel manager, adding the system will continue to evolve with new features. “We are continually expanding the database with new locations being added daily, and we hope to achieve more than 5,000 locations by the end of the year.”
TAG Aviation Unveils Its First Asia-Pac FBO in Macau
TAG Aviation launched its first FBO in the Asia-Pacific region on Friday in Macau. The new facility offers an around-the-clock suite of services, including VIP and business-executive amenities, on-site customs and immigration, flight planning, charter, and aircraft maintenance services. Globally, this is TAG Aviation's fourth FBO, which joins its international network of FBOs currently in Farnborough, UK, and Geneva and Sion, Switzerland.
Among the executives and guests who attended the opening ceremony were Macau Airport Authority executive committee chairman Dr. Deng Jun, Civil Aviation Authority of Macau SAR president Simon Chan, Macau Government Tourist Office director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, and Macau Airport operations department director Antonio Barros.
TAG Aviation aims to deliver top-notch FBO services at its new facility in Macau, a location that the company believes is quickly becoming the destination of choice for business aviation end-users in the Asia-Pacific region.
JetNet Head Passes Away
Vincent Esposito, president of business aviation data provider JetNet, passed away last week. He took over as head of the Utica, N.Y.-based company in 1991, following the death of his father, who founded JetNet in 1988. Born and raised in Utica, he graduated from Utica College with a degree in business administration and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University’s School of Law in 1990.
Along with his brother, JetNet executive vice president Tony Esposito, Vincent helped expand the company from a small aircraft listing service to a worldwide aviation intelligence leader. He kept his focus on building its research base, expanding markets and products, and embracing new technologies.
“Vincent brought a steady hand and great vision to JetNet, steering the firm to phenomenal growth, both domestically and internationally,” the company noted in a statement. “He supported and encouraged his management team to constantly innovate and think ahead.”
Aviation Services Provider ACC Opens U.S. Office
Months after opening an office in Malaysia, UK-based ACC Aviation Group has opened its first U.S. office in New York City. “The office’s primary focus will be to enhance ACC’s global foothold within the aircraft charter market, using our extensive experience in arranging large charter programs for a broad range of industries,” said ACC chief executive Phil Mathews.
In addition to aircraft charter, ACC provides aircraft seat supply and refurbishment and wet leasing. Its New York office, which opened January 7 in Brooklyn, also will help it further develop its supplier relationships and aircraft leasing in the Americas, Mathews said.
The office will also operate as its U.S. subsidiary, ACC Aviation Inc. It will be led by Jamie Harris, who has rejoined ACC after stints at Air Charter Service and Chapman Freeborn. ACC’s other offices are in Rome, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur, the latter of which it announced in November.
Veteran Helo Operator Makes Case for Cockpit Cameras
Cameras in the cockpit don’t just improve the safety of helicopter flight operations, they save money, and occasionally can even save a pilot's job, according to Paul Spring, president of Phoenix Heli-Flight in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Phoenix operates a mixed fleet of Airbus light singles and twins and has had cameras in its cockpits as part of its flight data recording systems for nearly ten years.
“The environment we work in can go from good to bad in a hurry, but when you know better, you do better,” Spring said. “Cameras should be in the cockpit of every aircraft. Cameras always seem to be a touchy subject for a lot of reasons, and there are cases of crews intentionally defeating these devices. But if cameras are operated responsibly, the pilots do not need to fear these recordings."
Spring said the financial cost of installing a system is small, starting at $10,000, considering that a new turbine single can start at $3 million and up and that damage awards from accident lawsuits can easily top $50 million. Putting cameras in the cockpit and then using the lessons learned from that video also helps Spring pay what he said are some of the lowest hull insurance rates in Canada: 0.5 percent. Cameras also help him safeguard his firm’s most valuable asset—its reputation.
Michael Hohm, 63, the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) director and liaison to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), died on January 11, following a battle with a brain tumor. He represented the business aviation industry on the ICAO Air Navigation Commission and, as IBAC liaison, was responsible for day-to-day relationships with the ICAO Secretariat and national delegations.
“Michael was a tremendous advocate for our industry and a dear colleague to all of us at IBAC and to all our member associations,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “He will be missed dearly, especially for his sincere dedication [to] and passion for aviation, and his kindness that fostered so many relationships throughout the industry during his career.”
An ATP-rated pilot, Hohm had accumulated 5,800 flight hours as a professional pilot, flying in Canada, the Arctic, and the U.S. After serving as a de Havilland DHC-7 and -8 flight instructor at FlightSafety International, he joined Transport Canada in 1988 as a civil aviation inspector and later took the role as supervisor of airport policy and standards. He moved over to Nav Canada in Ottawa in 1996, spending the next 13 years as manager of airspace planning and design. In 2009, he became a technical officer for ICAO before ultimately becoming IBAC's director and ICAO liaison.
He is survived by his wife, Christine Saint John.
Make Your Voice Heard in the 2019 FBO Survey
AIN’s FBO survey is open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2019 survey is February 8. The results will be published in the April issue. The survey 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. Participants will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. Log on to www.ainonline.com/fbosurvey to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.
People in Aviation
VREF Aircraft Reference Value & Appraisal Services added two new senior staff members: Richard “Dick” Hart as chief helicopter appraiser and Jeremy Cox as senior aircraft appraiser. Hart brings more than 40 years of helicopter experience to his new role, having conducted thousands of aircraft appraisals and heading up companies such as National Helicopter Service and Engineering Company, Elite Helicopter Tours, and his family’s Aerial Motion Picture business. Cox also has 40 years of aviation experience, previously holding vice president roles for JetBrokers and a St. Louis-based FBO and MRO, as well as serving with a number of OEM service centers.
Daniel Lafrance was appointed vice president/general manager of Greenwich AeroGroup subsidiary Professional Aviation Associates in Atlanta. Lafrance moves over to the new role after serving as vice president of sales and marketing for Greenwich AeroGroup since 2009 and before that, spending 21 years with Bombardier Aerospace.
Passur Aerospace appointed Niels Steenstrup to the newly created position of chief commercial officer. Steenstrup previously served as senior v-p, international at Gogo and has more than a 20-year background global in online and technology services.
Wings of Mercy named Jeff Ostrander executive director. Ostrander has been a pilot, software developer, and writer for the organization, as well as flight instructor and proprietor of flight school Majestic Air.
Westair Charter hired Joshua Weinshank as director of operations. Weinshank, an ATP-rated pilot and flight Instructor, has more than 27 years of corporate, charter, and airline operations experience.
Kasey Harwick has taken over the role of vice president of maintenance for Duncan Aviation’s airframe department in Lincoln, Nebraska. Harwick has spent 20 years with Duncan Aviation, beginning as an interior shop assistant and holding positions of increasing responsibility, most recently vice president of maintenance at the company’s Battle Creek, Michigan facility. Travis Grimsley, meanwhile, was named director of maintenance for the aircraft services group in Battle Creek. Grimsley has had a 14-year career at Duncan Aviation in the line services department, most recently as manager of customer service in Battle Creek.
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