Nextant Joins Constant Aviation at Orlando Facility

Aircraft structural modification and remanufacturing specialist Nextant Aerospace is opening an office on the campus of its MRO parent Constant Aviation at Central Florida's Orlando Sanford International Airport. The move expands the Directional Aviation companies’ presence in the Orlando area and comes in response to increased demand for specialized engineering, design, drafting, and analysis for aircraft modifications and upgrades in the Southeast U.S., Nextant said.

Nextant is hiring a range of professionals to accommodate a “robust pipeline” of projects that range from aerospace engineering and design work to inspection services, landing gear repairs/overhaul, and structural repair and upgrades on key components such as Beechjet 400A/400XP horizontal stabilizers and Bombardier Challenger 300/350 engine inlets, the company said.

The company further noted the additional staff will help provide for faster turnaround time on projects as it works collaboratively with Constant Aviation. Constant has a team of 115 at Orlando Sanford and, collectively with its Nextant division, plans to add 50 more employees this year. “Having the capabilities of Nextant and Constant Aviation, functioning as a seamless platform, allows us to perform more jobs completely in-house, without costly and inefficient outsourcing resulting in enhanced quality and far quicker turnaround for aircraft owners,” said Constant Aviation CEO David Davies.

AINsight: Do LLCs Shield Aircraft Owners from Liability?

As first-time purchases of business jets took off during the pandemic, many buyers formed limited liability companies (LLCs) for the sole purpose of owning their aircraft. Many did so in the belief that, as members/owners/managers of the LLC, the LLC would insulate them from personal liability for accidents or incidents involving the LLC’s aircraft.

Like these buyers, you too may assume that an LLC will take the hit for damages to third parties and shield you from the same fate. Unbeknownst to many LLC members, though, that assumption is based on an incomplete, if not a flawed, assessment of the potentially significant financial and legal exposure connected to managing their LLC and controlling their aircraft.

Despite these uncertainties, using an LLC often makes sense as part of an overall aircraft ownership structure. You can use an LLC to pay certain aircraft-related bills, enter into dry leases, arrange cost, tax, and cash accounting services, and facilitate shared use of the aircraft. Managed correctly, LLCs may dispute business claims with no personal liability of any member.

Million Air Burbank Now Stocking Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Million Air has become the latest FBO chain to offer continually available sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with its facility at Los Angeles-area Bob Hope Burbank Airport (KBUR) receiving its first load late last month.

The approximately 8,000 gallons of blended SAF, produced by Neste and supplied by Avfuel, represents a 22-tonne reduction in carbon emissions over its lifecycle, compared to conventional jet-A. A drop-in replacement that fully meets ASTM D-1655 specifications for jet fuel in its blended form, SAF does not require any separate storage tanks or system modifications and, in most cases, it is simply pumped into the FBO's fuel farm.

“I think most of us in the aviation industry have been looking for ways to play a part in the battle against climate change,” said Priscilla Howden, the location’s general manager. “When we were given the opportunity to provide SAF to our customers, we jumped on it. Working with flight departments, Avfuel, Neste, and [KBUR] on a joint effort to reduce carbon emissions has been an incredible and inspiring experience.”

Given the state’s sustainable fuel incentives, California has become a hotbed for SAF usage as more FBOs receive supplies. Sonoma Jet Center at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (KSTS) also recently began permanently stocking the renewable fuel after receiving several truckloads on behalf of a flight department customer over the past few months.

French Court Acquits Pilots in ‘Air Cocaine’ Case

The pilots of Dassault Falcon 50 F-GXMC were acquitted on appeal yesterday by the French court of Aix-en-Provence in a case that resulted from their March 2013 arrest in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, just before takeoff for Saint-Tropez, France. Authorities had found 1,500 pounds of cocaine on board in approximately 20 suitcases belonging to the jet's passenger. Pilots Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos had each faced six years of prison in France.

They escaped to the French territory of Saint Martin before being handed a separate 20-year prison sentence from a Dominican tribunal in August 2015 for their “connection to commit international drug smuggling.” The French court of Aix-en-Provence then opened its own case into what has been called “Air Cocaine” and in April 2019 found the pilots guilty.

Yesterday, the French court confirmed the sentences for other defendants in the case but acquitted Fauret and Odos. According to a report in Le Monde, the acquittal came after a “key figure”—someone found guilty of being an intermediary between the drug smuggler and the charter operator (now-defunct SN-THS, then trading as Aerojet Corporate)—told the judge that the pilots had been “scammed." 

Wichita Gets First Collegiate Pilot Training Program

WSU Tech is expanding its aerospace and aviation curriculum in August to include a professional pilot program, the technical college of Wichita State University announced this week. Graduates of the FAA Part 141 program will earn an associate of applied science in professional pilot and be eligible for five certificates and ratings from the FAA: private, instrument, commercial, multiengine, and certified flight instructor.

Completion of the program will take two years and require students to complete a minimum of 235 flight hours. Classroom and practical instruction will occur at WSU Tech’s campus at the National Center for Aviation Training at Col. James Jabara Airport (KAAO) in east Wichita.

Textron Aviation has donated the program use of a new Cessna 172 Skyhawk with a WSU Tech livery through the airframer’s Top Hawk program. A WSU Tech spokeswoman told AIN that there are plans to expand its fleet.

The pilot program will be open to 15 students each fall. It builds upon WSU Tech’s long-standing training and education programs in aerospace manufacturing and aviation maintenance.

FCC Certifies SmartSky Tower Radiohead

In a step that signals SmartSky’s progress towards the launch of service on its U.S. air-to-ground inflight connectivity network, the Federal Communications Commission has certified the radiohead for the ground-based towers that will serve the company's airborne customers. SmartSky expects to launch commercial service later this year.

The network’s hardware and software, including airborne transceivers and the terrestrial network infrastructure are “feature complete,” according to SmartSky. Airborne service opened earlier this year in the southeast corridor, although formal commercial launch awaits more complete expansion of the terrestrial network.

SmartSky has developed value-added reseller (VAR) relationships for connectivity services and partnerships for supplemental type certificate development and installation of airborne hardware in a variety of business aircraft. Recently, SmartSky announced that it selected Honeywell as a VAR for connectivity service in North America.

“Deployment of the FCC-certified tower radios for our network, coupled with the availability of our shipset products (high-performance antennas, aircraft radios), gives our service-partners and dealers great confidence to begin accepting orders,” said SmartSky CEO David Helfgott. “We are already seeing increased interest and demand with the business aviation markets rebounding ahead of schedule in 2021.”

New Tool Helps FAA Track Space Vehicles in Airspace

The FAA is implementing a Space Data Integrator (SDI) prototype that will enable the agency to track a space launch or reentry vehicle traveling through the national airspace (NAS) in near real-time.

SDI will automate the delivery of vehicle-related telemetry data to the FAA Air Traffic Control Command Center, “vastly” improving the agency’s ability to track those vehicles and increasing its ability to manage air traffic during space operations. This data includes vehicle position, altitude, speed, and any deviations. In addition, it provides for tracking during the full flight to enable the FAA to monitor performance and can display hazard areas should debris fall from the vehicle.

Becoming operational recently, the SDI capability was first used with the June 30 SpaceX Transponder 2 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the agency said.

“This is a critical tool as the number of users of our already busy airspace increases,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “With this capability, we will be able to safely reopen the airspace more quickly and reduce the number of aircraft and other airspace users affected by a launch or reentry.”

Last year, the FAA managed 45 space launches and reentries into the NAS, the most in the agency’s history. This year, that number is anticipated to exceed 70.

Sheltair To Support ERAU’s Project Liftoff

To help develop future aviation industry talent, FBO chain and aviation real estate developer Sheltair has pledged its financial support to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Project Liftoff Program. Its commitment, through May 2025, will fund scholarships for the program to remove financial burdens from students, allowing them to focus on their academic, personal, and professional growth. In addition, the Florida-based company will provide industry exposure through internships, job-shadowing opportunities, and speaking engagements.

The university’s O’Maley College of Business administers the Project Liftoff program, which requires all participating students to major or minor in business to establish the basis for success in future leadership roles. They receive increased mentorship, tutoring, and advising relationships, and early access to the campus to assist in their smooth transition to the university.

“Sheltair is committed to supporting the future of aviation and is thrilled to commit to the success of Project Liftoff,” said company president Lisa Holland, adding that Embry-Riddle produces some of the industry’s best and brightest future leaders. “The [goal] Project Liftoff seeks to accomplish is one we wholeheartedly support; Sheltair looks forward to seeing these future leaders make a difference in the aviation industry.”

Photo of the Week

Being kept in the loop. A long-time customer of ACI Jet MRO—a Cessna Citation corporate pilot—brought his Boeing Stearman in for a transponder check and, as a thank you, he took several of the company’s maintenance technicians up for rides in the open-cockpit biplane. This photo shows ACI Jet technician Colin Butler enjoying one of these rides while inverted off the coast over the Pacific Ocean. We’re envious, Colin, and thanks for sharing this one!