JSX To Continue Ops Indefinitely at John Wayne Airport
JSX will continue to operate its hop-on service in one of its largest markets following an Orange County board of supervisors action on January 12. The board voted to strike language from leases with its FBOs at John Wayne Airport (SNA) that would have prevented JSX from using their facilities for scheduled charter service.
According to the board's meeting minutes, it directed the director of SNA to amend and execute revised lease agreements with ACI Jet, Clay Lacy Aviation, and Jay’s Aircraft Maintenance to omit the following language: “Lessee shall not permit the operation of a Regularly Scheduled Commercial User as defined in section 2.40 of John Wayne Airport’s Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan and Regulation.”
The board’s action follows JSX’s December 14 filing of a lawsuit seeking to continue operations at SNA. Later that month, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order permitting JSX to continue operations at the airport.
The legal flap began when the board approved new lease agreements in September between the county-owned airport and ACI Jet and Clay Lacy Aviation that prohibited JSX from leasing space at ACI for its operations there. An airport spokeswoman told AIN officials couldn’t comment on the development because of pending legal action. JSX doesn't plan to drop its lawsuit at this time, a spokeswoman told AIN.
The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed another aviation gathering. Less than a week after four major rotorcraft OEMs and other major industry players decided not to attend, the Helicopter Association International (HAI) made the “difficult decision” to cancel Heli-Expo 2021, which was slated for March 22 to 25 in New Orleans.
In a prepared statement issued last night, HAI said, “While some in our industry have urged us to carry on with the show, the majority have recently expressed discomfort with the logistics involved in business travel at this time. HAI appreciates hearing from our diverse VTOL community, and we are grateful for the honest feedback that we've received from our members, exhibitors, attendees, and other stakeholders.”
HAI said registered attendees would receive full refunds for the show and any related professional courses; hotel reservations made through the organization’s housing vendor would be canceled; and exhibitors could either receive refunds, apply the amount to next year’s show in Dallas, or use it to support other HAI advertising and sponsorship opportunities. Association president James Viola apologized for the cancellation. “Like many others during this past year, we have had to adjust course in response to changing conditions,” he said.
HAI’s decision comes following London-based HeliOffshore’s move to cancel its in-person annual conference in April in Lisbon. That conference will now be held virtually from May 11 to 12.
Buttigieg Poised To Sail Through Confirmation for DOT
Senate Commerce Committee leaders today welcomed Peter “Pete” Buttigieg, President Joe Biden’s nominee to become the next Transportation Secretary, with chairman Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) opening his confirmation hearing saying he was “quite certain” of full Senate approval. Wicker praised the selection of the former South Bend, Indiana mayor and U.S. Navy Reserve intelligence officer for the post, saying he has “impressive credentials” with “valuable perspectives” from a local level. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) echoed those sentiments and highlighted Buttigieg’s vision and leadership.
In his testimony, Buttigieg emphasized the need for infrastructure investment and support, as well as maintaining safety. He called infrastructure investment “part and parcel” of economic recovery and said given the support of the committee, administration, and public, there’s “a historic opportunity in terms of support…to make those kinds of investments.”
When asked by Cantwell about whether he would ensure that FAA reforms mandated by Congress remain a priority, he agreed. Cantwell additionally stressed the importance of aviation manufacturing support. Buttigieg also highlighted safety: “Safety is the foundation of the department’s mission, and it takes on new meaning amid this pandemic.”
Buttigieg, who served two terms as mayor, is a Harvard University graduate and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. While serving in the Navy Reserve, he achieved the rank of lieutenant.
Atlantic Aviation has completed a major renovation at its Las Vegas McCarran International Airport FBO. The $22.5 million project spanned 18 months and included the addition of a 25,000-sq-ft hangar capable of sheltering the latest flagship business jets with 5,150 sq ft of adjoining office and shop space. That brings the facility, one of two FBOs at the gambling destination gateway, to 152,200 sq ft of hangar space.
In addition, the company built a 3,700-sq-ft designated charter terminal. That building served as a temporary terminal for nearly a year while construction took place at the two-story primary terminal, which was enlarged, bringing it to a total of 31,500 sq ft, with the newly-added space. Once the work was completed, the FBO relocated back into its regular facility, which includes amenities such as conference rooms, pilot lounges with shower facilities, Wi-Fi throughout the entire facility, concierge, and an on-site deli. Meanwhile, the charter terminal is now being rented to a tenant.
“Completion of this project provides our stakeholders with premier facilities that match our uncompromising commitment to customer service, making Atlantic Las Vegas one of the best FBOs in the United States,” said Jay Hamby, the company's senior v-p of operations for the Midwest region.
FAA Solicits Input on Aircraft Noise Research
The FAA is seeking comment on a number of noise research projects that the agency has undertaken and has released results of one such study, the Neighborhood Environmental Survey (NES), which found an increased level of annoyance from aircraft noise.
These projects could be used to help shape future noise policy, such as a revised use of the Day-Night Average Sound Level (DNL), but the agency said it would not make any determinations until it has considered public and stakeholder input and completed any additional necessary research. Broadly, the research is exploring three main themes: effects on individuals and communities; noise modeling, metrics, and environmental data; and, reduction, abatement, and mitigations.
The multi-year NES accumulated responses from more than 10,000 people living near 20 airports across the country. In contrast to earlier surveys, the NES results “show a substantially higher percentage of people highly annoyed over the entire range of aircraft noise levels (i.e., from DNL 50 to 75 dB),” the agency said. However, the FAA added more work needs to be done to assess the reasons for this.
These findings come as the FAA notes that the number of people exposed to significant levels of aircraft noise in the U.S. has declined since the mid-1970s from roughly seven million to just more than 400,000 today.
Following the delivery of additional Embraer Phenom 300s and new bases in Atlanta and Scottsdale, Arizona, last year, charter operator GrandView Aviation plans to open its sixth base on February 1 at Denver Centennial Airport (APA). This will be the first of three expansion bases for the Baltimore, Maryland-based Part 135 operator this year, it said.
"We're thrilled to open this new location in the heart of ski country—and the slopes are a great outdoor activity to maintain social distance,” said GrandView COO Jessica Naor. “We take the utmost care in protecting our passengers and crew by using electrostatic disinfection technology on our fleet, plus additional safety protocols like multiple temperature checks daily.”
Last year, Grandview took delivery of five Embraer Phenom 300s, bringing its total of the type to 10. Its fleet also includes a Sikorsky S-76D and Bell 407 GXi. Grandview’s other bases are located in Austin, Texas, and Chicago. Naor told AIN the company expects to open a base in Boston and another in an as-yet “undisclosed location” this summer as it pursues a plan to become a nationwide operator.
Aero Friedrichshafen Postponed until July
Aero Friedrichshafen organizers have pushed off the Germany-based general aviation show until July 14 to 17, adding it to the growing slate of events that have been either postponed or canceled in the first half of the year due to the pandemic.
"Following the cancellation of the event last year, the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic coupled with the renewed lockdown extension, unfortunately, mean that Aero Friedrichshafen will have to be postponed,” Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann said in an announcement released today. “With the aim of creating clear parameters for all our customers and partners, we have now decided at this relatively early stage to hold our upcoming Aero as a summer edition.”
Despite initial hope that the Covid-19 situation was improving, it became clear that it would not be possible to hold Aero 2021 as an international show as originally planned for the third week of April, according to the head of Aero Roland Bosch and project manager Tobias Bretzel. Exhibitors who already registered for the event originally scheduled in the third week of April will receive details about the summer edition in the coming days, Aero Friedrichshafen organizers said. However, they advised attendees and customers to book as soon as possible because the Lake Constance region around Friedrichshafen is a popular holiday destination in July.
Carver Aero, which operates a pair of FBOs in Iowa, will make that a trio with the acquisition of Advanced Air, the lone service provider at Council Bluffs Municipal Airport. In addition to the 7,800-sq-ft FBO terminal, the purchase includes Advanced Air’s flight school, one of the largest in the Midwest, as well as its aircraft charter, maintenance, and avionics operations, according to Lisa LaMantia, the company’s former owner who will join the Carver team and continue to manage the facility. “Carver plans to expand that service which will result in better-paying careers including [for] flight instructors, charter pilots, maintenance crews, and avionics technicians,” she said.
The company, which was approved by the airport authority, is now in negotiations on a new long-term lease, according to authority executive director Andy Biller. “Carver plans to make our airport a magnet for our community and for a new breed of customers, as well as a nationally-known place for a stop-over and to refuel,” he said, adding the board especially likes the company’s established apprenticeship programs that it developed in cooperation with community colleges.
Carver has gained experience as a sole-source service provider, operating the lone FBOs at Davenport and Muscatine Municipal Airports.
Rolls-Royce's VR Training Wins Top Flight Honors
Rolls-Royce won the AIN Top Flight Award in the training category for its virtual reality-based (VR) BR725 familiarization class. Participants join the class remotely, logging in over the internet while wearing VR glasses and handheld VR controllers. Its rollout of the VR training class in March came at a propitious time when much of the world became inaccessible for travelers due to the pandemic. A main benefit of this VR training is that students can learn about parts of the engine they might be able to see only if the real engine was fully disassembled.
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