As the summer heats up in Europe, so too is business aviation traffic, according to the latest monthly TraqPak Global Business Aircraft Activity Report from industry flight data firm Argus International. The company noted that while year-over-year activity on the continent last month was down 6.1 percent, it was less of a delta than what was observed in May, indicating signs of stabilization.
In North America, Argus stated that June flight activity finished 2.7 percent off from a year ago, with the largest decline—12.6 percent—seen in the light jet charter market. Only the large-cabin jet segment saw an overall year-over-year gain at 1.4 percent, with large-cabin fractional usage up by 16.5 percent.
Regionally, flight activity in the Pacific Northwest saw the largest month-over-month gain at nearly 20 percent, followed by New England with an 18.6 percent increase; the Southeast saw the largest decline at 15.6 percent.
“The summer flying season has started and activity remained status quo in June. On the negative side, we continue to monitor the declines in Part 135 activity and we did revise our second-half 2023 forecast slightly lower to account for those declines,” said Argus senior v-p of market intelligence Travis Kuhn. “On the positive, while activity is down in Europe it has stabilized in recent months and is following its normal [upward] summer trend on the continent. Compared with June 2019, European activity was up 17.9 percent last month.”
Medical and security support group MedAire today hosted a meeting of the EBAA's ambassadors at its London Assistance Center. The trade association is expanding its newly formed group of member companies willing to make the case for the industry among their networks in a bid to convey the social and economic benefits that the industry provides.
There are now around 26 companies acting as ambassadors for EBAA, with each of these tasking senior leaders with using their connections to communicate a positive narrative about the industry. The group was inspired by the NBAA Leadership Council and operates in a similar way.
Delegates to the event from companies including NetJets, Duncan Aviation, UAS International Trip Support, and Gama Aviation, heard that part of this positive contribution is the way business aircraft are used to provide assistance in crisis situations. In 2022, MedAire’s parent company International SOS arranged more than 1,200 repatriation flights using business aircraft. Even during the two-year pandemic, its activities generated around 12,500 flight hours.
The London Assistance Center is one of 28 MedAire facilities worldwide. Earlier this year, the company reorganized its resources, expanding the facility’s capabilities to mirror those available at its Global Response Center in Phoenix so that it can more effectively provide around-the-clock service.
Seneam, Mexico’s provider of ATC services, is expected to implement a directive applicable to aircraft with outstanding unpaid ATC overflight fee balances. According to a notice issued by Toluca-based FBO Manny Aero, under the new Seneam policy, unpaid balances could result in flight plans being rejected and/or denied departures.
“The debts owed and possible penalties apply to specific aircraft tail numbers, not the management company or trip support company that may have coordinated the flights,” says the notice. “Seneam has a master list of aircraft with outstanding debts, which will be sent to local centers for enforcement.”
In response to the impending directive, Manny Aero said its flight operations office can help operators retrieve information about debts owed to Seneam and can facilitate payments before the mandate becomes official. Operators of aircraft found to have an outstanding balance “must obtain IDs registered with Seneam to remit payments,” the FBO noted. “Manny has been approved to provide this service on behalf of the aircraft operator at a cost of $50.”
AIN has queried Seneam for more information on the mandate’s publishing date and fee payment deadlines.
Aviation training provider AV8 Prep has launched an online flight school platform that has been under development for more than two years. Coursework paths include private pilot, instrument rating, commercial license, certified flight instructor, and drone operation license.
Featuring more than 2,000 clips of inflight video, green screen studio work, and live-style lectures/interviews, the lessons include 3D graphic animations, in-cockpit videos, interactive simulations, and real-time communication with instructors and fellow classmates. Instead of having one host/presenter, the program employs modules—each with five to 10 short lessons—that rotate between five instructors. Students can progress through the coursework at their own pace, anytime, anywhere.
“AV8 Prep gives aspiring pilots the chance to have more accessibility to all the necessary tools they need in one place,” said company CEO Drew Clark. “Our platform represents a significant leap forward in aviation training, offering a modern and accessible approach to learning.”
To publicize the launch, Clark and fellow AV8 Prep instructor Bob Kamm set off in a Cirrus SR22 on a mission to visit as many Florida airports as they could in 72 hours. The flight will be documented on YouTube, and for each one they reach, the company will award free enrollment to its online ground school through a code in the video.
5G Harmonization with Avionics and its Effect on Business Aviation
The FAA, the aviation industry, telecommunications companies, and regulators have been discussing and weighing the concerns of the expansion of 5G and possible C-Band interference for years. In an effort to help operators stay on top of this dynamic topic, Duncan Aviation has developed a landing page with applicable resources.
Go Rentals, a luxury car rental provider that focuses on the private aviation market, on Monday announced a “significant investment” from private-equity firm RedBird Capital Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to Go Rentals, this funding will fuel organic growth while allowing the company to benefit from RedBird’s ecosystem of aviation, sports, entertainment, and financial services platforms. Under the Agreement, co-founders and owners Kavous and Kaye Gitibin will continue to lead Go Rentals, along with the current management team. RedBird partner Andrew Lauck and managing director Alexander Blankfein will join Go Rentals’s board.
“RedBird is a world-class private equity investor with an exceptional record of building industry leading businesses and creating opportunities for access and expansion to adjacent luxury markets,” said Kaye Gitibin.
Newport Beach, California-based Go Rentals has grown from a fleet of seven vehicles in 1995 to a provider of high-end rental cars to sports, media, and private client customers in more than 175 markets throughout the U.S. Yesterday, the company opened a new location at Oakland County International Airport (KPTK) in Pontiac, Michigan.
The Air Line Pilots Association has ratcheted up the opposition to the use of Part 380 through a filing with the Department of Transportation (DOT) that takes aim at JSX’s operations. The filing is in response to an application SkyWest Charter filed a year ago seeking DOT Part 380 authority, but highlights JSX’s operations as a scheduled service that belongs under FAR Part 121. “JSX simply is wrong [about scheduled charter],” ALPA said. “If it looks, swims, and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Since JSX does in fact provide scheduled service, it should be deemed to do so, regardless of the fictitious regulatory disguise that it dons.”
As for the actual filing, ALPA expressed opposition altogether to the SkyWest application and Part 380, calling the latter a “regulatory sleight of hand” that allows operators to re-label scheduled flights as on-demand charter. “The line between scheduled service and on-demand charters…has been blurred beyond recognition,” ALPA maintained. “A complicated regulatory loophole allows charter flights to run so frequently that enterprising carriers can market them as scheduled service, but be free from the Part 121 safety regime that governs most scheduled flights.”
The ALPA opposition comes as a group of business aviation and other industry organizations cautioned the DOT about making regulatory changes over an economic dispute, saying Part 380 opponents are misusing the SkyWest application for competitive reasons.
McCauley Propeller Systems’s C780 propeller for the Beechcraft King Air B300 series has gained FAA certification, the Textron Aviation subsidiary said Thursday. Featuring four aluminum swept blades and a 105-inch diameter, the propeller allows for additional payload, increased takeoff and climb performance, reduced noise in the cabin and cockpit, and greater time between overhauls.
“The McCauley C780 is a new, lightweight, scimitar blade design propeller that enhances the already legendary King Air flying experience,” said McCauley Propeller Systems v-p and GM Heidi McNary. “We’re proud to continue to offer customers the quality and craftsmanship that aviators have come to expect from McCauley over the past 85 years.”
Installation of the C780 propeller also results in a weight savings of more than 50 pounds, extended time between overhaul of 5,000 hours or 72 months, and the benefit of Textron's 4,000-hour or 36-month limited propeller warranty. King Air B300 customers can have the propeller installed at a Textron Aviation service center or an authorized McCauley service facility without the need for additional modifications.
A trio of Leonardo AW139s flying for the Victoria, Australia police has amassed 10,000 hours in the last three years, making them the most heavily used of the 149 AW139s tasked to law enforcement worldwide. Collectively, the Victoria police helicopters flew 1.1 million nm, were dispatched 30,000 times, assisted in 3,000 arrests, and completed 60 winching tasks. The aircraft are fitted with infrared cameras, mapping systems, and object-detecting software, among others.
StarFlight Victoria, which was started by Australia's LifeFlight and the Linfox Group, delivered the helicopters to the police and support their operation. Over the three-year initial deployment period, StarFlight provided 50,000 hours of maintenance for the fleet on a 24/7 basis with services and materials that included 34 heavy inspections, eight modifications, 50 main landing gear tire changes, and 288 gallons of engine and gearbox oil.
"The contribution these helicopters, and the support teams behind them, make to the Victoria Air Wing’s capabilities is incredibly significant,” said StarFlight Victoria director Ashley van de Velde. “This milestone reflects the collective effort from Victoria Police and StarFlight.”
More than 1,100 AW139s have been delivered worldwide since the helicopter was certified in 2004.
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Vision Systems in Business Jets: SVS, EVS, and CVS Webinar
Join us on July 19th for a webinar panel discussion with Collins Aerospace and experienced business jet pilots discussing synthetic vision systems and how they improve the operational efficiency of business jet flights.
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