Qatar Executive Presses G500s into Charter Service

After taking delivery of two Gulfstream G500s last month, Qatar Executive has become the world’s first commercial service operator of the recently certified twinjet, it announced today. Both of its new G500s received operations specification approval from Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, allowing them to begin commercial operations on January 14.

“Our new G500 will offer a remarkable flying experience to many of our loyal passengers,” said Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker. “With two of these aircraft in our fleet already, we are excited to be receiving an additional five G500s to offer our passengers much more of an elite choice and flexibility.”

Qatar Executive said the G500s are one of the fastest and most advanced jet types in its fleet, which also includes five G650ERs, three Bombardier Challenger 605s, four Global 5000s, and a Global XRS. Besides five more G500s, the operator will take delivery this year of another G650ER, for which it is already the largest commercial operator worldwide.

According to Qatar, its G500s are outfitted with satcom and high-speed data connectivity, as well as the Oryx One entertainment system and Gulfstream’s cabin management system, which allows passengers to use their own personal electronic devices to control audio, video, lighting, temperature, window shades, and other cabin functions.

Global 7500 To Make Touchdown at PDK for Super Bowl

With business aircraft operators descending on Atlanta-area airports this weekend for the 53rd Super Bowl, Bombardier Business Aircraft is using the event to kick off a world tour of its flagship Global 7500. The newly certified, 7,700-nm twinjet will be on display this weekend at Signature Flight Support’s Atlanta DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) facility, where the Canadian aircraft manufacturer will also have a support team on standby for any operational or maintenance needs of customers flying in for the big game.

“This year, Bombardier jets will be on display at more locations than ever before,” said  Bombardier Business Aircraft senior v-p of worldwide sales and marketing Peter Likoray. “Our Global 7500, as well as our entire fleet, is taking to the skies to bring the show closer to customers. The Super Bowl is the first major stop on the Global 7500’s schedule of weekly worldwide appearances in 2019.”

Meanwhile, the company will have its mobile response team (MRT) technicians on site at PDK along with two MRT trucks, ready to get any operators needing maintenance assistance back in the air. Last year’s Super Bowl attracted more than 1,500 business jets from around the world, and this year’s event is expected to do the same, Bombardier said.

In Shutdown Wake, NATCA Remains Wary of Future Funding

While relieved that the partial U.S. government shutdown ended Friday, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) fears that workers could face a repeat when the temporary funding agreement lapses on February 15 and says the experience underscores the need for a predictable funding stream for federal agencies.

NATCA president Paul Rinaldi credited Friday’s temporary agreement to fund the government through February 15 in part to “the tireless activism of NATCA’s members,” adding, “We express our deepest gratitude to NATCA members who continued to work for the past 35 days despite the stress caused by the shutdown.” He made an equal acknowledgment of other aviation safety professionals furloughed and expressed appreciation for the support received from other industry stakeholders.

Having said that, “We must not lose focus on the short-term nature of this agreement,” Rinaldi said, noting that industry groups need to keep up the pressure to ensure that the shutdown does not return in mid-February. “This 35-day shutdown reinforces our strong belief that the status quo is broken,” he added. “The NAS requires a stable, predictable funding stream to adequately support air traffic control services, staffing, hiring and training, long-term modernization projects, preventive maintenance, ongoing modernization to the physical infrastructure, integration of new entrants, and the timely implementation of NextGen modernization projects.”

Crises from stop-and-go funding “wreak havoc on our system,” he concluded.

ASG Sees Mixed Global Helo Market, Lights on Upswing

The rotorcraft market faced worldwide turmoil last year but is seeing steady demand for lighter models and some improvement in medium/super-medium segments, according to Asian Sky Group’s (ASG) latest edition of its Asian Sky Quarterly. Released late last week, the report notes a gradual slide in new helicopter deliveries from the OEMs that began in 2010, dipping to an estimated 460 new shipments in 2018, down 44 percent from 2010.

ASG managing director Jeffrey Lowe cited a number of reasons for the results. “There was major restructuring from a notable leasing company, the ongoing after-effects of the O&G [oil and gas] downturn and a market oversupply,” he said. “While demand for single-engine and light twin-engine helicopters has been consistently stable in the utility and corporate segments, it has not been the case for heavy helicopters and for the majority of medium-sized models.” However, Lowe pointed to possible recovery trends with price stabilization and increased interest in certain medium and super-medium helicopters.

On the preowned side, rotorcraft values have held up despite growth in inventory in recent years, ASG said. With the turbulence in the O&G industry, a number of helicopters were placed on the market from 2013 to mid-2017. On average, inventory level increased from 3.9 percent in 2013 to 6.2 percent in 2017, marking an oversupply, ASG said.

Daher Opens Base To Bolster TBM Support in Paris

Daher is expanding its customer support for TBM operators in France with the opening of a base outside Paris. Located in Hangar 111/112 at Toussus-le-Noble aerodrome southwest of Paris, the customer support facility will serve the Île-de-France geographic region surrounding Paris. The region, Daher noted, includes a technology cluster zone referred to as “Europe’s Silicon Valley.”

Including workshop and office space, the site is a subsidiary of the primary TBM Service Center at Daher’s Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport facility. Daher has obtained both European EASA and U.S. FAA Part 145 approval for the latest base, which will provide maintenance service, including scheduled inspections for TBM aircraft covered by Daher’s maintenance contracts.

"With more than a dozen civilian TBMs based in the Paris region—plus the French Ministry of Defense’s TBM fleet at the nearby Villacoublay Air Base—it was essential to offer our customers local maintenance services,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior v-p of the Daher airplane business unit. “Additionally, Toussus-le-Noble’s close proximity to corporate research sites, company administrative centers, and technology businesses makes it ideal in serving the needs of TBM owners and operators.”

Hugo Delpi, manager of the TBM Service Center at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport, will further manage the Toussus-le-Noble operation.

Aviaa Expands European Footprint with Convolus Merger

Business aviation group purchasing firm Aviaa has reached an agreement to acquire London-based Convolus in a deal that once concluded will support a member fleet of almost 500 aircraft and a supplier network with global operations, including an international FBO network. “It marks a significant strategic step for Aviaa, which will enable us to deliver larger-scale global purchasing for our collective members and suppliers,” Gillian Hayes, CEO of California-based Aviaa, said today.

With the expanded European footprint, Aviaa will establish an office in Munich, Germany. The merger also will see Convolus co-founder and CEO Irena Deville become Aviaa’s managing director of Europe and the Middle East. 

“The opportunity to scale up and expand with Aviaa means we can optimize our technology solutions [and] combine our procurement data sets globally to better inform pricing, predict spend, and streamline our transactions,” Deville said. Before launching Convolus, Deville oversaw implementation of Gama Aviation’s strategic development and acquisition strategy.

Aviaa said Convolus members will see increased buying power with the merger and additional cost savings in its supply chain that includes categories such as insurance, maintenance, fuel, business operations, and crew training. Aviaa members, who are largely U.S.-based, will see the benefits of a European FBO network that includes the likes of Dassault Falcon Service, ExecuJet, and Jet Aviation.

Signature’s TechnicAir Adds Mobile Service in Midwest

Signature TechnicAir has stationed new mobile service unit (MSU) operations at Chicago Midway International and Saint Paul, Minnesota Downtown Airports, it announced today. The new trucks are outfitted with tooling and staffed with technicians averaging 25 years of aviation experience.

These additions join seven locations the company also launched last year at Signature Flight Support facilities: in the U.S. at Teterboro, New Jersey, Scottsdale, Arizona, Greensboro, North Carolina Piedmont Triad International, and Kansas City Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airports; and in the UK at Bournemouth, London Biggin Hill, and London Luton Airports.

TechnicAir’s MSU teams are able to provide AOG, on-call, and light scheduled maintenance when and where customers require service, according to company director of mobile services Mark Singer. “Maintenance services at our Signature Flight Support destinations continue to be in high demand,” he said. “The rapid mobility of our MSU teams and their equipment is adding value by keeping customers ‘mission ready.’”

Private Equity Firm Levine Leichtman Buys AeroSafety

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP) has acquired SK AeroSafety—which inspects, tests, and maintains passenger safety equipment on airliners and private aircraft—from SK FireSafety, the companies announced today. Equipment serviced by AeroSafety includes life vests, fire extinguishers, oxygen masks, oxygen cylinders, evacuation slides, and life rafts.

The company supports a global customer base of more than 700 airlines, component service providers, maintenance and repair organizations (MROs), OEMs, from locations in The Netherlands, UK, U.S., Malaysia, and Dubai. According to AeroSafety, it holds certifications and accreditations from several OEMs, MROs, customers, and global aviation regulators, including the FAA and EASA.

Under the new ownership, AeroSafety CEO Chris Wright said he looks forward “to continuing to grow the business both through further acquisitions, as well as by expanding our service offering at our existing locations.” He added, “We remain highly committed to supporting our customers and will continue to strive for excellence and sustainable growth through superior service, quality, and commitment.”

AIN’s Tales from the Flight Deck: When It All Goes Sideways

Having reached their 43,000-foot cruise altitude, the crew of a corporate Citation XLS had their world almost literally turned upside down. Like a rogue wave far out at sea, clear air turbulence can come from nowhere, and a routine flight can instantly become a heart-stopping roller coaster ride. Like many before them, this crew battled not only a gut-wrenching upset and aerodynamic stall, but even more significantly, they experienced the paralyzing effects of shock. In this episode, we’ll hear from one of the pilots, as well as experts in the field of upset recovery training. We’ll also learn how proper conditioning can enable pilots to react quickly and calmly when confronted with a “one in a million” event.