N. American Bizav Flying Regains Third of Covid Losses

North American business aviation flight activity reclaimed a third of the Covid-19-induced losses last month, rising 84 percent month-over-month but still down 49.2 percent from a year ago, according to TraqPak data released today by Argus International. The company’s forecast expects more post-Covid recovery this month, predicting a 26.6 percent decline from June 2019.

Year-over-year, Part 91, charter, and fractional flying in May decreased 50.5 percent, 45.4 percent, and 54.2 percent, respectively. And following recent trends, business aircraft on the lower end of the market are recovering faster than larger jets. Light jet flying fell 42.2 percent year-over-year, followed by turboprops, -45 percent; midsize jets, -53.1 percent; and large-cabin jets, -61.9 percent.

While May traffic fell short of Argus's optimism two weeks ago about a potential overall triple-digit increase month-over-month, fractional flying did hit this mark, rising 140.3 percent above April levels. Part 91 flying was up 85 percent from April, while charter flying rose 70.4 percent month-over-month. Notably, midsize jets logged the largest month-over-month gain, surging 113.6 percent. Light jets gained 98.5 percent from April, while large-cabin jets were up 93.3 percent. Turboprops performed the worst from April, rising just 56 percent.

The Southeast was the busiest region in May with 38,309 departures, more than double that of the next-closest southern West Coast region.

Citing Covid-19 Effects, Air Service Basel To Exit Mx

Air Service Basel (ASB) plans to wind down its aircraft maintenance operation by August 1, citing economic pressures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Business aviation has undoubtedly been facing challenges for a while now and the coronavirus pandemic has certainly not been in our favor,” said ASB chief executive Claudio Lasagni. “It’s with a heavy heart that we close the maintenance department, but we remain positive about the industry bouncing back after this crisis.”

In light of the closing, Lasagni added that the company will turn to develop new areas of the business. ASB will continue its FBO operations at EuroAirport in Basel, Switzerland, including Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) services, aircraft parking, and executive aircraft handling. Earlier this year, ASB became an authorized service center for Cirrus Vision Jet SF50s with either EASA or FAA registrations. It has been a certified Cirrus Partner for 15 years, providing full service for the Cirrus SR22 series, including full Garmin avionics services.

Airflow Launches eSTOL Electric Cargo Aircraft

Airflow, a startup launched by five former members of Airbus’s Vahana eVTOL aircraft development team, today announced plans to build an electric-powered short takeoff and landing aircraft (eSTOL) for cargo operations. The California-based company said it can get the fixed-wing aircraft into production and certified under FAA Part 23 rules by 2025.

The unnamed aircraft is intended to be operated from short landing strips of just 300 feet in length. Airflow said it will actually only require around 150 feet for takeoff.

The company intends to develop what it calls an “aerial logistics network” for moving cargo between warehouses and distribution points with so-called “middle mile” trips of between around 50 and 250 miles and at speeds of up to 115 mph. It believes it can provide more efficient freight transportation than trucks.

Airflow's eSTOL is intended for single-pilot operations and will be able to carry a payload of 500 pounds in a 90-cu-ft cabin. Airflow claims that it will be operated at around one-third of the average hourly cost of a comparable helicopter or one of the new eVTOL aircraft now under development.

According to co-founder and CEO Marc Ausman, Airflow will require only around $200 million for development and certification costs.

This story comes from the new FutureFlight.aero resource developed by AIN to provide objective, independent coverage and analysis of new aviation technology, including electric aircraft developments.

Fargo Jet Center Earns EASA Part 145 Nod

Fargo Jet Center (FJC) has received EASA authorization for its Part 145 repair station. According to the North Dakota-based company, which also operates an FBO at North Dakota’s Hector International Airport (FAR), the certification was granted via a recommendation by the FAA’s Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

The airport is a tech stop on the great circle route between Europe and the U.S. West Coast, with a 24/7 U.S. Customs port of entry, and the EASA authorization will permit FJC to support maintenance on European-registered aircraft. Among the types it specializes in are Beechcraft, Bombardier, Cirrus, Cessna, Gulfstream, Hawker, Piper, and Pilatus.

Additionally, FJC has a contract with Polish EMS operator Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe for the design, modification, and maintenance support on a pair of Bombardier Learjet 75s, and with the new EASA approval it can now perform work on these aircraft both in the U.S. and Europe.

“This certification is a significant step forward in our department capabilities and allows us to provide unique services for our clients based in Europe,” said Mike Clancy, the company’s v-p of technical services. “The approval is also helpful in supporting our sister company Weather Modification International and aircraft sales division, Exclusive Aircraft Sales, as the demand for special mission aircraft completions and support continues to rise.”

U.S. Senator Offers Bill To Improve Certification Processes

As Capitol Hill continues its focus on the circumstances that led to the Boeing Max crashes, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee chairman Roger Wicker introduced a bill last week that would mandate safety management systems (SMS) for manufacturers and call for best practices for organization designation authorization (ODA) to avoid “regulatory coziness.”

Introduced by the Republican senator from Mississippi on June 2, the Aircraft Safety Improvement Act of 2020 (S.3866) further would have the FAA review its assumptions surrounding the human/machine interface, particularly when certifying automation functions in aircraft, as well as seek more human factors research. Additionally, manufacturers of aircraft flown under Part 121 rules would be required to involve a sample of international and domestic airline pilots in flight test, and the FAA would need to review its own expertise and capabilities surrounding the understanding of safety implications involved with the innovation of technologies, materials, and procedures.

Wicker said the bill is the culmination of the committee’s review of incident reports, aviation expert recommendations, witnesses and stakeholders statements, and hearing testimony in the aftermath of the Max accidents. Co-sponsored by Republican senators John Thune (South Dakota) and Roy Blunt (Missouri), the bill was introduced in advance of a June 17 Commerce Committee hearing on the FAA’s oversight of certification process. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson is scheduled to testify.

AMAC Keeps Hangars Full with New Mx Projects

AMAC Aerospace has taken on several new maintenance projects of Airbus, Boeing, and Bombardier aircraft, the Basel, Switzerland-based provider announced this week. In mid-May the company received a Bombardier Challenger 605 for a 12-month inspection and a Global Express for a 30-month check. It was also selected to do a pre-purchase inspection of a Challenger 605 on short notice.

In the bizliner category, AMAC has been awarded two Boeing BBJ projects. The first calls for a 6a-check and due maintenance, as well as service bulletin tasks. On the second BBJ project, AMAC will perform one-, six-, and 48-month checks.

Additionally, an Airbus ACJ320 has arrived at AMAC’s facilities for a full galley heating system modification that’s expected to tack on an additional six weeks to the aircraft’s base maintenance check. Finally, an ACJ318 will get a maintenance check and an avionics upgrade at AMAC.

Aviation Orgs Step Up Dispute over Ligado Network

A coalition of aviation stakeholders continued to step up its opposition to Ligado Networks’ plans for a high-speed 5G nationwide cellular network through bands that have been used for aviation communications, sending another filing to the FCC citing a “real threat of harmful interference.” The filing follows a petition the 10 organizations submitted last month urging the FCC to reconsider its approval enabling Ligado to move forward with its cellular network.

Ligado had responded to that petition, saying the FCC approval followed an “extraordinary 17-year-old proceeding. Presented with a compelling and unique opportunity to maximize mid-band spectrum that raised questions about impact on a small percentage of GPS devices, the Commission carefully and methodically worked through the complex technical issues presented in the record.”

Formerly known as LightSquared, the company added that its effort has garnered support from the administration, Congress, and industry, and said the aviation stakeholder’s arguments “do nothing to cast doubt on this conclusion."

The stakeholders, however, disputed Ligado’s contentions, saying the company seeks to downplay the expertise of the aviation stakeholders and adding that the aviation community offers ample reason to halt the FCC approval. “The oppositions filed by Ligado and its hired allies repeatedly resort to mischaracterization of the petition, the order, the FAA’s own analysis that the order is fundamentally based upon, and the record,” the groups said. 

ARSA Seeks Broader Input from Mx Providers in Survey

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is seeking a broad response from the aircraft maintenance community—including non-member maintenance providers—to a survey that will help shape its lobbying priorities in Congress and advocate for the industry in general with regulators around the world. Results of the survey also will help illustrate more expansively what is currently happening within the maintenance industry, according to ARSA.

With 23 questions, the survey is expected to take 15 minutes and responses are kept confidential. A company name is only required for data-management purposes, the association said. As “Part II” of its annual industry survey of members, it also focuses on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on repair shops, as well as recovery planning for the maintenance industry.

ARSA said the original survey for 2020 that closed in early March offered the “image…of a world long since left behind.”

AIN Product Support Survey Closes Friday

You still have time to tell us about the product support you receive from business aviation OEMs. The 2020 AIN Product Support Survey is online, ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine, and avionics support. AIN readers who have been tapped to participate in this year’s Product Support Survey should have received their account number and link to the online survey website by e-mail. The survey needs to be completed by midnight on June 12.