Dassault Aviation’s future flagship, the Falcon 10X, has received the Chicago Athenaeum Award for Good Design, the French aircraft manufacturer said today. Bestowed by the Chicago-based Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, this award is the second in the past year for the 10X’s interior.
Last year, the ultra-long-range aircraft’s cabin won a Red Dot Award and was also shortlisted for the International Yacht & Aviation Awards in the private jet interior category.
The 10X, which is expected to fly next year and enter service in 2025, will be the largest purpose-built business jet on the market. Offering a 2,780-cu-ft modular cabin, Dassault said it aims for the interior to offer a blend of “spaciousness, quiet, and physical comfort.”
According to Dassault, parts production for the 10X is currently in “full swing” and industrial teams are gearing up to begin the final assembly of the first aircraft.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) is building on its efforts to reach further into advanced air mobility (AAM) matters as it rounded out its recently formed AAM Committee and held a town hall to dig into a range of issues. The town hall enabled the AAM community to connect with committee members and other NATA policy leaders and collectively discuss issues such as operations, ground infrastructure, safety, maintenance, security, and ground handling training.
In addition, the committee named two co-chairs: Craig Teasdale, v-p of operations at Ferrovial Vertiports, who provides an infrastructure focus, and Toni Drummond, U.S. president of Titan Aviation, who brings a flight operations focus to the committee. Besides infrastructure and air charter operations development, the committee has outlined a strategic vision that also focuses on legislative and regulatory priorities, community education, and industry relations.
“With the advent of emerging technologies, the aviation business industry needs a unified approach to modernization of both our infrastructure and operational framework. Communication, collaboration, and cooperation across all aviation verticals over the next decade will be key to creating a healthy and vibrant AAM ecosystem,” said NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna. “NATA appreciates the committees’ work to examine potential challenges, seek opportunities, and identify solutions that will assist our members today, tomorrow, and 10 years from now.”
NBAA has developed a Business Aircraft Scheduler Certificate program to help provide comprehensive introductory to mid-level scheduling training for flight department personnel. Announced yesterday on the eve of the 2023 Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, the program was developed in collaboration with Part 91 scheduler experts and with Universal Weather and Aviation.
The assessment-based certificate program includes nine asynchronous learning modules: business aviation basics; mission control; global regulations; technology; crew scheduling; safety and security; finance, legal, and tax responsibilities; pre-trip logistics; and real-time trip support.
Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate and digital badge. The certificate further is approved for NBAA Certified Aviation Manager program credit.
“NBAA strives to provide valuable learning opportunities for its members from all sectors of business aviation, and this latest credential will allow schedulers and others in the flight department to affirm they are among the best in the industry,” said NBAA director of certification Tyler Austin. “This program is ideal for flight department personnel who have been assigned aircraft scheduling responsibilities or professionals looking to work in business aviation operations.”
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has introduced the AeroCareers website as a “one-stop shop to help recruit and retain the next generation of talent.” According to AEA, the site offers a “spotlight on career paths in aviation” and links to jobs, scholarships, aviation schools, veterans’ resources, information for educators, and salary data, among others.
“Developed by a team of industry representatives who acknowledge the path to a career in aerospace can take many forms, this workforce initiative strives to provide clear and simple information for those who aspire to reach a higher altitude,” said AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson. “Business owners, aircraft technicians, pilots, engineers, marketers, and manufacturers all joined the effort to sharpen the focus on opportunities in aerospace and make the path to success easier to navigate.”
AeroCareers is designed to “inform, educate and direct students, parents, teachers, counselors, veterans, and career changers” to help attract the best talent for the industry. The online resource also includes a showcase featuring industry professionals who work in various segments of the industry. Each individual offers advice and outlines his or her personal career path to help inspire the next generation of aerospace professionals.
SmartSky is Live Nationwide and Everyone’s Talking
Inflight connectivity providers have long overpromised high performance, only to create frustration for passengers, crews, ground operations, and even those at the other end of the connection. Finally, there is a new network that provides a connected experience in the air that’s like on the ground—and people are talking.
Individual charter brokers can earn up to a 4 percent cash commission when they book available Volato HondaJets. Volato’s Broker Rewards program launched this week at the NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference.
Brokers receive instant pricing with Volato’s online pricing tool through the program. The rewards apply to any booking on Volato’s national fleet, including fixed-price Volato Go, Daily Deals, and traditional charter. There is no cost or commitment to enroll.
“Reflective of the value we place in the broker community, the Broker Rewards program aims to build trusted, transparent, and long-term relationships,” said Volato co-founder and chief commercial officer Nicholas Cooper. “We are confident that not only the cash incentive but our customer support, service, and fleet of modern aircraft will make both brokers and their clients happy.”
Cooper added that wholesale charter is a key component of Volato’s plans in generating revenue share for its fractional owners. “We look forward to continuing to expand benefits and service opportunities for our wholesale partners, including bespoke programs with large brokerages,” he said.
Pegasus Elite Aviation has been acquired by Prima Air Group, a holding company founded by Charles Huang after he became the majority stakeholder of Prima Air. Van Nuys, California-based Pegasus is a Part 135 operator with a fleet ranging from turboprop aircraft up to the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650ER. Pegasus joins a company with more than 100 full-time employees, including 49 pilots, 29 flight attendants, and ground support employees.
“With the combination of management, high-level operational experiences, and efficiencies, along with the ever-expanding fleet of managed and owned aircraft by Pegasus, Prima Air's future vision and business models will establish the company as a strong player and industry leader,” said Prima Air partner and CEO Lina Tullberg.
Tullberg founded Prima Air in 2019 with the aid of venture capital firm Pasaca Capital, which is solely owned by Huang.
The Australian government has awarded Dovetail Electric Aviation an AUD$3 million grant to advance its plans to convert turboprop aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, DHC Twin Otter, Beechcraft King Air, and Casa C212 to electric propulsion. This marks a further boost to the startup’s plans to market electric aircraft.
The University of New South Wales and the government-backed Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation will also be involved in the project. Sydney Seaplanes, which is part of the parent company for Dovetail, will also help to develop, test, and certify the propulsion technology and its integration with the aircraft.
Initially, the partners are seeking a supplemental type certificate to convert the Caravan. They then aim to get approval for another version of the aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells and, after that, to add retrofits for the King Air, Twin Otter, and C212 between 2027 and 2028. The battery electric conversions will initially use MagniX’s 650-kilowatt motors and batteries provided by Mobius energy.
Want more? You can find a longer version of this article at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology.
Avfuel has expanded its network of branded dealers with the addition of Crownair, one of two service providers at San Diego Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport (KMYF).
The Crownair FBO offers a two-story, 16,000-sq-ft terminal that was completed in 2021. It features a 35-foot-high atrium lobby, passenger lounge, concierge, pilot lounge with two snooze rooms, a 15-seat conference room with an adjoining outdoor deck overlooking the ramp, and a business center. A pair of recently constructed 7,000-sq-ft hangars brings the location to 170,000 sq ft of aircraft shelter space.
"At Crownair we strive to offer the highest level of service to our customers, and we have that in common with Avfuel,” said Ray Richmond, the FBO’s president. “We look forward to providing competitively priced fuel and Avtrip rewards along with the benefits customers don’t think about—but certainly want—like supply logistics and on-time delivery.”
People in Aviation
Lilium appointed Oliver Vogelgesang CFO and Sebastien Borel chief commercial officer. Vogelgesang has nearly 30 years of finance and aerospace experience, most recently serving as managing director of finance at Airbus Germany. Borel joined Lilium in 2021 as v-p of business and was appointed senior v-p of commercial in 2022.
Duncan Aviation named Phil Suglia as v-p of modifications and completions at the company’s facility in Provo, Utah, and Terry Stehlik as program manager for government and special programs at its facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Suglia joined Duncan as a line services rep in 2000 and held various positions with the company including as line services team lead, FBO services manager, and sales manager. Stehlik has served in various roles with Duncan since 1996 including as a credit analyst in accounts receivable prior to joining the government and special programs office in 2008 as government contract manager.
Aircraft broker JetAviva promoted tenured sales directors Ben Dow and Jason Deifik to senior managing directors, and Jade Hofeldt and Kandi Spangler to managing directors. Kyle Delphon, who previously served as a sales operations specialist, was also promoted to sales director with specialization in the Citation CJ4 and Citation Excel Markets. JetAviva also hired HaileyKnight and Samantha Harris as sales operations specialists.
The American Association of Airport Executives named David N. Edwards, Jr.—accredited airport executive, president, and CEO of the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District—as the recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to airport executives in honor of an exemplary career and contributions to the airport industry. Edwards has more than 30 years of experience in airport management.
Levo appointed Joe Moeggenberg as CEO. Moeggenberg has more than 40 years of experience in the aviation industry having previously founded American Air Services, which was acquired by NetJets in 1987 and renamed Executive Jet Management (EJM). He then served as EJM president and CEO and in 1992 assumed additional responsibilities as president of NetJets. After leaving NetJets in 1995, Moeggenberg formed Argus International, where he served as president and CEO.
Embraer hired Daniel J. Hickey to serve as v-p of government relations for North America. Most recently, Hickey served as the director of government affairs at 3M Company. He joined 3M with the acquisition of Federal Signal Technologies, where he held the position of director of government relations. Hickey previously worked at the Department of Transportation and FAA.
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