Large fractional operations and charter operations now have the option of establishing a 70-year-old age ceiling for pilots under a little-noticed provision in the omnibus federal spending bill that was adopted late last month.
The measure is not mandatory but provides the option of the 70-year-old age limit to Part 91K and 135 operators that logged at least 75,000 jet operations a year in 2019 or any subsequent year. This threshold is half the number of hours of an unsuccessful but similar measure offered in the 2018 FAA reauthorization package that had represented a carefully crafted compromise between NetJets and the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots.
The 2018 measure, however, would have established a mandatory retirement age. Neither the most recent measure nor the earlier one specified NetJets, and in fact, the operations threshold is believed to have been lowered to 75,000 so it could apply to more operators.
Originally, the push was for 150,000 operations to ensure that other operators—such as offshore providers or medevac companies—do not inadvertently get caught up in such a new mandate, but a voluntary limit alleviates such concerns. While voluntary, the most recently-passed measure would establish a permanent ceiling if the operator chooses that path—and the operator would not have the option of lifting that ceiling.
A Lockheed JetStar formerly owned by the late Elvis Presley and left to bake in the New Mexico sun for nearly four decades was sold last week in a Florida auction. Lacking its engines and some cockpit instruments but with its cabin still furnished as Presley had desired, the 1962-vintage aircraft sold for $286,000, including the seller’s commission and other fees.
The buyer, an internet personality named Jimmy Webb, said he plans to refurbish the aircraft. His hobby of finding derelict aircraft and restoring them has become a YouTube series, and Webb intends to fully document the process undertaken on this aircraft. “It will not fly again but it will move under its own power,” Webb told AIN, adding he has yet to see the jet in person.
In mid-February, he plans to head to New Mexico and disassemble the JetStar and then spend roughly $30,000 to truck it across the country to a warehouse outside of Tampa for its restoration.
“For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said, adding that the sale price for the jet was reasonable only because of the Elvis cachet attached to it. “I’ll get to do what I love to do, which is find something kind of broken and get it going again, and it makes really good content for the show, so it’s just a win-win all the way around.”
Rapidly expanding FBO chain Modern Aviation has begun construction of a $17 million hangar complex at Puerto Rico’s Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci/Isla Grande Airport. Attending a groundbreaking ceremony late last week were Pedro Pierluisi, the island’s governor; Joel Pizá-Batiz, executive director of the Puerto Rico Airports Authority; and other local officials.
The project includes a pair of 24,000-sq-ft hangars with geo-pier foundation systems that are designed to withstand earthquakes and extreme weather such as hurricanes. They will be in addition to the location's existing 87,000 sq ft of hangar space, which can accommodate aircraft up to a Bombardier Challenger 350 or Gulfstream G280.
Modern Aviation expects the first of the hangars to be completed by the end of this year, with the second to follow in the first quarter of 2024. They will be the first hangars at the airport able to hold heavy business jets, which have previously had to remain on the ramp, said Modern CEO Mark Carmen.
Backed by private equity fund Tiger Infrastructure Partners, the company acquired the location—the lone FBO on the field—at the end of 2021.
The Air Charter Association (ACA) is raising awareness of the dangers of illegal charter flights this Saturday with its annual Fly Legal Day. It will also honor soccer star Emiliano Sala, who was killed in the Jan. 21, 2019 crash of an illegally chartered aircraft in the English Channel.
Marking this four-year anniversary, the ACA is again calling on industry partners to support its mission to broaden awareness and help passengers recognize the dangers of illegal charter. Support can be shown via something as simple as social media posts, the association said.
“Sadly, while rare, chartering illegally remains an ongoing issue in our industry and, together, we can spread the word about this and prevent future tragedies like the Sala case,” said ACA CEO Glenn Hogben. “January 21 will mark our second annual Fly Legal Day. The ACA’s priority is always to uphold the highest industry standards, trust, professionalism, and, above all else, safety. Booking with one of our trusted member companies ensures those involved in organizing air charter, and the passengers, will avoid illegal charter flights and prevent putting anyone at significant risk.”
Overall average hourly air charter pricing in the first weeks of January was lower than in December, according to the latest report from private aviation charter marketplace JetASAP.
“Entering the New Year, JetASAP fliers experienced an overall 4 percent decrease in charter rates in the first weeks of January as the industry comes out of holiday peak season travel,” JetASAP said. “This trend can be seen over all classes of jet aircraft following an overall increase from November to December in which rates increased an average of 2.6 percent.”
The pricing data is based on 2,830 quotes from customers using the JetASAP app. More than 700 charter operators are part of the JetASAP marketplace.
These declines were experienced among light, midsize, super-midsize, and heavy jets. Super-midsize jets saw the steepest drop, down 16 percent to $10,177. Light jet charter pricing fell 6 percent to $6,602, while midsize pricing slipped 5 percent to $8,083. Heavy jets fell 7 percent to $12,496. The outlier was turboprops, the pricing of which remained relatively unchanged at $4,133 after increasing in November.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
Which of the following statements regarding flightpath management (FPM) is correct?
A. FPM is the responsibility of the entire flight crew.
B. FPM is the responsibility of the pilot monitoring.
C. FPM is the responsibility of the pilot in command when acting as pilot monitoring.
The FAA has approved Garmin’s software update and service bulletin to fix the “potential runaway pitch trim issue” that has affected some GFC 500 autopilots. The situation applies to aircraft that are equipped with the GFC 500 and optional pitch trim.
Garmin explained that the software update for the GFC 500 with G5 instruments and G3X Touch displays “allows pitch trim to be enabled as a closing action to Service Alert 22109 and STC Service Bulletin 22110.” The Olathe, Kansas, avionics manufacturer expects to release software to cover GI 275 instrument installations “in the coming weeks.”
A Garmin aviation service document notification tells owners that the software update must be accomplished in the next six months or at the next service interval, whichever comes first. The warranty reimbursable period ends on June 30, 2023.
According to Garmin, affected units include “GFC 500 autopilot systems with an optional GSA 28 pitch trim installed using STC SA01866WI, master drawing list 005-01264-00, Revisions 1 through 76.” Validation of the software update from European, UK, and Brazilian aviation regulators is underway, the company said.
Bristow Group has entered into a $176 million, 13-year deal with National Westminster Bank that gives Bristow some financial breathing room. It will use the funds to retire debt associated with the refinancing of associated expenses and 10 aircraft being used on its search-and-rescue (SAR) contracts with the UK Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
“These new credit facilities increase our financial flexibility, significantly extend our debt maturities through 2036, and demonstrate our access to capital as the global leader in vertical flight solutions,” said Bristow president and CEO Chris Bradshaw. The proceeds from the financings will be used to refinance the indebtedness of the previous equipment financing facilities with Lombard North Central.
The credit facilities are expected to fund during the current quarter. They will have 13-year terms with repayment due in quarterly installments, beginning March 31. The credit facilities will bear interest at a rate equal to the Sterling overnight index average plus 2.75 percent per annum.
Ventura Air Services in Farmingdale, New York, has added two Bombardier Challenger 604s and a Cessna Citation XLS to its aircraft management program, the company announced last week. The additions expand Ventura’s floating fleet to 11 charter aircraft.
Through Ventura’s owner lease management program, the company absorbs all the fixed costs of aircraft management, such as standard maintenance, storage, insurance, fuel, pilots and crew, and charter bookings. There are also financial benefits for owners, it added.
“Adding three jets to the fleet through our owner lease management program proves that our approach works and that it is appealing to those who need to secure greater value from their aircraft investment,” said Ventura CEO Nick Tarascio. “We efficiently and effectively use aircraft for owners while they retain the benefits and receive financial compensation.”
With the addition of aircraft, the company will be hiring more than 20 employees, including pilots, crew, office staff, and maintenance technicians.
Make Your Voice Heard in AIN’s 2023 FBO Survey
AIN’s FBO survey is open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2023 survey (to be published in April) is February 3. 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.
AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter.
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