Emerging Markets Help Boost Bizav Flying in May

Worldwide turbine business aircraft flight activity last month rose 2.7% year over year (YOY), largely boosted by 14% growth in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South America, according to TraqPak data from Argus International. North America and Europe saw modest gains of 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, versus a year ago. The company’s analysts are predicting a 1.1% YOY increase in North American flight activity and a 0.4% YOY uptick in Europe this month.

In North America, all aircraft categories except for midsize jets saw YOY gains in activity last month: light jets, +1.9%; large-cabin jets, +1.7%; and turboprops, +0.8%. Midsize jet flying was mostly flat, falling 0.1%. By operator, only fractional providers posted a gain—up 6.8% YOY—while Part 91 and charter flying (Part 135) were more sluggish, falling 0.2% and 0.8%, respectively. Two individual categories experienced double-digit increases: fractional large-cabin jets (+23.8%) and fractional light jets (+15.9%).

Europe’s “surprise gain” last month—Argus analysts expected a 3.6% drop—was thanks to a surge in activity of midsize (+1.5%) and large-cabin (+4.8%) jets, offset by turboprops (-1.2%) and light jets (-2.8%).

Meanwhile, turboprops boosted flying activity in the rest of the world with a 23.3% increase, followed by light (+10.1%), large-cabin (+9.3%), and midsize (+0.8%) jets. Argus’ heat map indicates that Brazil and Australia featured prominently in these gains.

AINsight: Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Aircraft Laser Strikes

Laser strikes are a serious threat to aviation, with the FAA recording nearly 13,000 such incidents last year in the U.S. Effects on flight crews from these strikes range from a mild annoyance to serious injury or incapacitation. To the latter point, the FAA has reported 328 serious eye injuries to pilots caused by aircraft laser strikes since 2010.

Fueling this problem are low-cost, high-powered lasers that are easily purchased on the internet. Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. According to the FAA, people who shine a laser at an aircraft can face fines up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple events. Additionally, violators can face criminal penalties from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Some prosecutors now favor a five-year sentence in a federal prison.

In a recent case, a Texas man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for pointing a laser at a police helicopter. In Washington state, another individual was arrested for shining a laser on a Horizon Air aircraft in Seattle; charges include second-degree assault, resisting arrest, second-degree criminal trespass, and second-degree unlawful discharge of a laser.

According to FAA data, most laser strikes occur at night between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Most events occur below 10,000 feet during the initial climb or during an approach.

Tennessee FBO Operator Expands to New Territory

Azure Flight Support is adding a third location to its network, and its first outside of Tennessee, with the addition of the lone FBO at Maryland’s Salisbury Regional Airport (KSBY) on July 1. The company won the RFP process issued by the airport last year and will take over the facility next month from incumbent Bay Land Aviation, which was not among the operators to submit proposals.

The 3,600-sq-ft single-story facility features a pilot lounge, flight-planning area, concierge, crew cars, and refreshment bar. Azure will begin an immediate renovation on the two-decades-old terminal, and it plans to build a 4,500-sq-ft replacement terminal within the next two to three years. The complex also includes an above-ground 32,000-gallon fuel farm and 16,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of sheltering light jets.

Azure was given a 20-year lease for the facility, along with a 10-year renewal option. Its other facilities in Tennessee are at Smyrna (KMQY) and Crossville Memorial (KCSV) airports.

“We are thrilled to begin this new chapter as we take over FBO operations at KSBY,” said Azure partner and COO Jenny Hoffman. “As a company that has proudly grown its roots in Tennessee, expanding to Maryland represents a meaningful milestone for Azure Flight Support.”

Error in Speed, Distance Caused 2023 HondaJet Excursion

Improper landing speed and distance calculations by the pilot caused a HondaJet HA-420 to overrun a wet runway at Summerville Airport (KDYB) in South Carolina on May 18, 2023, according to the NTSB’s final report. The pilot and five passengers were uninjured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged after it ran off the end of the runway, slid down an embankment, and caught fire.

Registered as N255HJ, the aircraft departed Wilkes County Airport (KUKF) at 11:29 p.m. on an IFR flight and landed at KDYB around 12:14 a.m. in night visual conditions on a wet, 5,000-foot asphalt runway. The pilot told investigators he had used the aircraft’s cockpit display unit (CDU) to calculate a landing reference speed (Vref) of 119 to 120 knots and believed the runway length was sufficient.

ADS-B data showed the aircraft crossing the runway threshold at 120 knots ground speed and 119 knots calibrated airspeed. However, based on the weather and landing weight, HondaJet engineers later determined that the correct Vref should have been approximately 112 knots, and that the landing distance required on a wet runway was about 4,829 feet. A CDU programmed for those conditions would have issued a warning: “LANDING FIELD LENGTH INSUFFICIENT.”

The aircraft was not equipped with a cockpit voice or flight data recorder, nor was one required. Investigators reconstructed the accident timeline using ADS-B and witness statements.

Paris Show To Open with Complex Geopolitical Backdrop

The 55th Paris Air Show opens on Monday against one of the most consequential geopolitical backdrops in the event’s history. At face value, the world’s largest air show will be as robust as ever, with 2,500 exhibiting companies from 48 countries preparing to receive up to 300,000 visitors between June 16 and 22.

Behind a façade that includes more than 150 aircraft on display, the aerospace and defense sectors are adjusting their strategies in response to the Trump administration’s mercurial trade tariffs and shifts in defense policy. Since January, these challenges have compounded stubborn problems around supply-chain weaknesses that continue to undermine productivity, especially for air transport.

At the top of the food chain, European airframer Airbus will have a strong presence in the static display with an A220, A321XLR, A350, and A400M. These will line up against a new example of the 777-300 widebody produced by its U.S. rival, Boeing.

With more than 100 start-ups among the exhibitors at the Paris Le Bourget Airport-hosted airshow this year, future technology is high on the agenda, with a strong emphasis on propulsion systems, autonomy, and artificial intelligence. Several pioneers developing electric and hybrid-electric aircraft will be seeking attention, including Beta Technologies, Archer, Joby, Eve Air Mobility, VoltAero, Ascendance, Aura Aero, and Boeing’s advanced air mobility spin-off, Wisk Aero.

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Photo of the Week

Me looking at you, and you looking at me. Using a GoPro camera, Learjet 60XR captain Ed Rod captured this photo on approach to Runway 10 at St. Martin's Princess Juliana International Airport as he crossed the famed Maho Beach, which is typically packed with aviation spotters. And that was certainly the case here, according to Ed: “If you zoom in, you are able to see a gentleman with a red shirt and a huge Canon camera that captured our approach.” Six months later, Rod discovered a photo of his landing on FlightAware. Thanks for sharing, Rod!

Keep them coming. If you’d like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.