Vista Global’s Charter Operations Finish 2020 Strong

Vista Global experienced double-digit increases in new memberships and bookings at its charter operations VistaJet and XO in 2020 and expects continued growth this year, the Dubai-based business aviation holding company announced. “We are entering 2021 with optimism and grounded positivity following the unprecedented events of 2020,” said Vista Global chairman and founder Thomas Flohr. “It is a pivotal and exciting time in our sector, and I am extremely aware of the critical, growing role private aviation will play as part of the global economy for years to come.”

VistaJet recorded a 29 percent year-over-year gain internationally in new memberships last year, with Europe leading the gains with a 43 percent increase, followed by North America at 25 percent, Asia at 18 percent, and the Middle East at 10 percent. In addition, VistaJet’s on-demand bookings climbed 15 percent in the same period.

Vista’s XO on-demand platform also saw a 2020 surge in new memberships that was three times higher than in 2019. XO flight hours were also 6 percent higher year-over-year.

The company said it is confident of “further significant” membership growth in 2021 and noted that its “highly generative cash model and the prudent financial decisions made through 2020 have resulted in a robust liquidity position with broad access to capital to be able to support its growth plans.”

Tamarack-equipped CitationJet To Race Stock Aircraft

Tamarack Aerospace is sponsoring a fly-off between a Cessna CitationJet modified with the company’s Atlas active winglets and an unmodified “flat-wing” CitationJet. Slated to take place tomorrow, weather permitting, the race will start in Portland, Maine, and finish in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Tamarack modification includes a wing extension, a winglet, and an autonomous load-alleviation system. According to the manufacturer, Atlas provides “an instantaneous and autonomous adjustment to turbulence, affording smoother and safer flights, quicker climbs, fewer stops, up to 33 percent reduced fuel use, and more stable approaches.”

Wick Zimmerman, an owner-pilot with more than three decades of flight experience, will be flying the Atlas-equipped Citation, while the standard CitationJet will be operated by Mike Laver, an industry veteran and owner of Carolina Turbine Support.

“This kind of race has never been done before, and it will put to rest once and for all any question about the value of these active winglet installations,” said Laver, whose shop is now an authorized Tamarack installer. “I’m doing to do my best to win the race.”

Based on the improved fuel economy, the winglet-equipped jet might make the 1,292-mile trip without stopping, according to Tamarack CEO Nick Guida. AOPA will document the contest along with the National Aeronautic Association, which will determine if a new city-pair record for the aircraft is set.

Hawker 800XP Flies with InSight Flight Deck

Universal Avionics has added the Hawker 800XP to the airframe installations list for its InSight integrated flight deck. The STC for this InSight upgrade was done by Redimec, a Universal Avionics-authorized dealer based in Argentina; Redimec is making the STC available for purchase by other dealers for 800XP upgrades. While Argentina regulator DGAC approved the original STC, it can be converted to a U.S. STC, according to Robert Randall, Universal Avionics director of strategic business development.

The InSight flight deck for the Argentinian Hawker 800XP includes three EFI-1040 displays, dual UNS-1Fw SBAS FMSs with ADS-B Out, one Data Concentrator Unit II, dual touch EFIS control display units (ECDUs) and alphanumeric keyboards, one Reference Select Panel, a UniLink-801 Communications Management Unit (CMU) with a Latitude Technologies Iridium satcom for CPDLC, and a CVR-120 cockpit voice recorder. Synthetic vision system, electronic charts, advanced mapping, own-ship position (including on runway), and autotuning of radios are all features included in the InSight upgrade.

In this 800XP, the InSight flight deck integrates with the existing Collins autopilot and flight director, as well as radios. Radio tuning is done using the InSight Touch ECDU.

With the new FMSs, satcom, CMU, and CVR, the 800XP can take advantage of modern airspace capabilities, including Aeronautical Telecommunications Network Baseline 1 (ATN B1), ADS-B Out, CPDLC, Data Comm, FANS 1/A+, and LPV approaches.

New Procedures in Las Vegas To Take Effect Next Month

The FAA is altering five procedures that are set to take effect next month as part of the agency’s Las Vegas Metroplex Project. A multi-year initiative, the metroplex project has been designed to improve the efficiency of airspace in the region surrounding McCarran International Airport (LAS), Henderson Executive Airport (HND), and North Las Vegas Airport (VGT). However, the Covid-19 crisis has delayed the implementation of associated planned routes until February 25.

These procedure adjustments come after the agency completed its final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD). While the procedures approved in the FONSI/ROD would have been safe, the FAA said, the changes meet criteria established after the review was issued. 

“The FAA is constantly evaluating how to make our safe system even safer. Adjustments similar to these occur with virtually all large airspace projects, and the FAA normally makes them after the procedures are implemented, during what is called the post-implementation phase of the project,” the agency said. However, since the Covid pandemic delayed implementation, the agency has been able to make these adjustments ahead of time.

Changes will affect the HOOVER SEVEN departure route for LAS, the precision approach to LAS Runway 19R from the east, the precision approach to LAS Runway 19R from the north, the precision approach to LAS Runway 19L, and the GAMES arrival route for HND.

Optionally-piloted K-Max To Begin Testing by Midyear

Kaman expects its K-Max optionally-piloted vehicle module to enter ground and flight testing during the first half of this year, it announced late last week. The company is continuing to develop a commercial optionally-piloted version while working with the U.S Marine Corps on upgrading the autonomous capabilities of the unmanned K-Max heavy-lift utility helicopter.

“Our team has done a great job assessing the global market, identifying future technologies, and working with potential and existing customers to secure additional orders for our K-Max helicopter,” said Darlene Smith, president of Kaman Air Vehicles/Precision Products Division.

Kaman began accepting customer commitments for the unmanned module last year. It can be applied to either new-build or in-service K-Max helicopters and weighs approximately 200 pounds less than previous versions developed since the 1990s for military applications. In Afghanistan between 2011 and 2014, unmanned K-Max operations replaced the activity of more than 900 ground convoys that would have been forced to traverse perilous roads and possible enemy attack. A pair of K-Max moved 4.5 million pounds of cargo during the deployment.

The company also announced it was delivering a third new K-Max built over the last two quarters and that the helicopter model had recently received Brazilian certification.

Treasury Department Begins Processing PSP Requests

On Friday, the Treasury Department began sending agreements to Part 135 carriers that applied for assistance under the second version of the Payroll Support Program (PSP) that Congress authorized late last year under the Fiscal Year 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, according to the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).

The act set aside $15 billion to cover passenger air carrier worker compensation and $1 billion for their contractors. The Treasury Department has released a list of about 240 applicants, NATA noted, advising members to contact the association if they applied for PSP support before January 15 but did not see their names on the list.

NATA said the Treasury Department has indicated it will process the 121 applications first—as it did with the initial PSP—with approximately $12.25 billion anticipated to be earmarked for those carriers. The Treasury Department is prorating payments at a level of 39 percent of the awardable amount in accordance with the measure in the appropriations act, NATA added.

The association also advised its members that the Treasury Department has not yet started processing contractor applications.

VFS Cancels In-person Forum 77

Add the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) to the growing list of aviation organizations cancelling in-person events in 2021 as the global pandemic hangover continues. On Friday, VFS announced that it has scrapped its annual in-person Forum 77 gathering, which was slated for Palm Beach, Florida, from May 10 to 14. That event will now go virtual on those same dates.

VFS executive director Mike Hirschberg informed members that there would be “no way to hold the forum safely with any kind of in-person presence.” The extent of the reluctance of VFS members to gather in-person was revealed in a recent survey conducted by the organization: 75 percent said they would not attend; 65 percent said their organizations precluded travel to Palm Beach; only 8 percent said they are confident that they would be vaccinated by May 11; and 51 percent said they were not confident.

Of those who said they would not attend, 55 percent said it was due to personal covid concerns, while 29 percent said it was because of travel and/or conference restrictions. The VFS Forum cancellation comes on the same week the Helicopter Association International (HAI) pulled the plug on its in-person annual Heli-Expo convention, which had been scheduled for March 22 to 25 in New Orleans.

CDC Testing Mandate Poses Questions for Bizav

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has mandated that all air passengers entering the country starting tomorrow supply recent negative Covid-19 test results, and NATA held a webinar late last week with MedAire staff to discuss the effects of this rule on private aviation.

Noting the recent grim milestone of more than two million deaths worldwide as a result of the virus, including more than 400,000 in the U.S., Dr. Paulo Alves, MedAire’s global medical director for aviation health, assessed the situation starkly. “The reality is the pandemic is beyond control at this point,” he said, stressing the need for aircraft operators to take mandates seriously. He believes aircraft operators bear primary accountability for ensuring passengers comply with the mandate.

While the CDC's testing requirements will not apply to duty crew or even crew deadheading, they will apply to all passengers, even those who have already received vaccinations, according to Alexander Smith, the medical advisor’s director of health screening services. While testing attestation for incoming passengers may or may not be reviewed by local officials, he noted that operators should assume it will be and act accordingly.

Make Your Voice Heard in the 2021 FBO Survey

AIN’s FBO survey is open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2021 survey is February 5. 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.