The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) stepped up its call for the FAA to fully staff air traffic control (ATC) facilities, citing a recent Transportation Inspector General report that found that the agency lacks a plan to address shortages.
The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s (DOT OIG) report, “FAA Faces Controller Staffing Challenges as Air Traffic Operations Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels at Critical Facilities,” found that “the lack of fully certified controllers, operational supervisors, and traffic management coordinators pose a potential risk to air traffic operations.” DOT found that managers it interviewed at 16 of 17 facilities felt their locations were not adequately staffed. Many controllers have been working mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks to cover shortages. It further said the FAA has made “limited efforts” to ensure adequate controller staffing, and that it lacks a plan to address the issues.
NATCA maintained the report echoed what it has been saying for years. “There are currently 1,200 fewer fully certified controllers today compared to 10 years ago,” said NATCA president Rich Santa. “FAA’s flawed staffing model and inconsistent hiring have resulted in new hires not keeping pace with attrition over the past decade. The status quo is no longer sustainable.”
Online air charter marketplace JetASAP has found that operator billable flight-hour rates are still increasing, jumping by 7 percent month-over-month in May. All categories of chartered aircraft saw rate increases last month.
Turboprop charters led that increase with a 12 percent average hike to $4,110 per billable flight hour, according to JetASAP. This includes a low of $2,500 and a high of $5,955 per hour, with 52 percent of the turboprop rates coming in above the average.
Light jets experienced 9 percent higher average rates of $6,691, with the high level reaching $9,688 per hour. A trip from Chicago to Las Vegas in May on a Cessna Citation CJ3 was quoted at $19,000.
Midsize jet charter prices were up 4 percent on average to $7,669 an hour, with a high of $11,000, and super-midsize aircraft soared by 6 percent to $10,376 per hour, with a high of $15,177. A trip from Miami to Aspen, Colorado, was quoted at $30,100 on a Citation XLS+ and $35,573 on a Citation X.
Meanwhile, heavy jet charters experienced a 3 percent increase to $12,411 per billable flight hour, with a high of $18,020. A trip from Van Nuys, California, to White Plains, New York, was quoted at $43,000 on a Bombardier Challenger 604.
Business aircraft charter management and brokerage firm FlyUSA acquired 3B Aviation this week, combining two Tampa Bay, Florida Part 135 operators. The deal expands FlyUSA’s fleet to 15 privately managed aircraft.
Prior to the acquisition, 3B Aviation employed 10 pilots and managed 13 aircraft on behalf of more than 25 private owners. Nick Barrows, 3B Aviation founder, is also moving to FlyUSA as president of acquisitions and management.
“We are excited at the opportunity to expand our aircraft acquisition and management services on behalf of our more than 700 on-demand charter clients across the country,” said FlyUSA CEO Barry Shevlin. “With the expansion of our team to include 3B Aviation founder and president Nick Barrows and his staff, we are now even better positioned to assist our clients who are looking to acquire their own aircraft.”
FlyUSA, which does not require a deposit for membership, claims its pricing model delivers cost savings of 20 percent over competitors’ membership benefits programs.
Focus on Runway Excursions Spurs New Training
No pilot, no matter how experienced, is immune to having a runway excursion. But a solid understanding of the risks and mitigation strategies can prepare pilots to handle challenging takeoff, approach, and landing situations. It may be the most important aspect of recurrent training.
Schweizer has received FAA approval for its crash-resistant fuel system (CRFS), which is available on new-production S300-series helicopters. The company also plans to offer it as a field retrofit for existing S300s in the near future.
Available for both main and auxiliary tanks, the system is comprised of a rubber puncture-resistant internal fuel bladder mounted inside a carbon fiber external shell. Each tank holds 32.5 gallons (123 liters) of fuel for a dual tank capacity of 65 gallons. The CRFS is 50-foot drop test and 25-hour fatigue test compliant, has a 370-pound puncture resistance, and a breakaway safety shutoff valve.
Schweizer’s new ownership restarted production of the 300C and 300CBi models in 2021, but sales have been limited to the export market because of the FAA Part 27 CRFS mandate that took effect in 2020. The company made foreign military sales to Senegal and El Salvador in 2021 and 2022.
“A certified crash-resistant fuel system was not developed for these aircraft prior to us taking ownership of the company,” said Schweizer v-p of operations Craig Nielsen. “I am exceptionally grateful for the hard work of our engineering team and the Fort Worth Aircraft Certification Office of the FAA. Together they’ve helped ensure the Schweizer S300C and S300CBi are fully compliant with all FAA-mandated fuel system safety requirements.”
Working with industry advocates, the FAA’s safe air charter team has reached nearly 10 million people through its educational campaign about the dangers of illegal charter, agency officials said last week.
Speaking during the NATA Air Charter Summit on Thursday, Paul D’Allura, assistant manager of the special emphasis investigations team (SEIT) at the FAA, explained that the Covid pandemic, “as bad as it was, helped us do that.”
The team formed in 2019 through a collaborative effort and has undertaken a range of informational initiatives to help the flying public be aware of illegal charters. D’Allura noted that with the pandemic, “We've learned that through technology we can have audiences of thousands through social media and other methods...I don't think we could have ever done that in the past.”
Don Riley, operations safety instructor at the FAA SEIT, added, “We’re very passionate about this.” Among its activities, the team has been meeting with civil aviation authorities globally to explain the issues and recruit their help in spreading the message, he added. It has now reached almost all of the civil aviation authorities in South America and the Caribbean and is working with officials in the Middle East. Next up will be Central America and Africa.
In addition, the team has worked with the DOT to reach air charter brokers, as well as universities to reach flight students.
Aero Center Epps Atlanta at Peachtree Dekalb Airport (KPDK) is the latest service provider to join the Fly Louie Alliance Preferred FBO Network. Launched in 2019, the program aims to bring economy-of-scale savings to the independent charter market and other private aviation businesses, including access to savings programs through wholesale business opportunities.
The Epps FBO has been operating at KPDK since 1965, and the family-owned business was acquired by the growing Aero Center group earlier this year. According to the company, which now has five FBOs across the U.S., the decision to join the network is a move to expand its charter aircraft market service share at the airport—the second busiest in Georgia.
“We have seen good results from other Aero Center locations participating in the Fly Louie fuel savings program, and we’re excited to work with the Fly Louie team to help boost awareness of our great facilities and services at KPDK,” said Jeremy Epperson, the facility's president.
The Alliance network includes more than 80 partners nationwide, with its members able to receive special fuel rates with the Fly Louie Avfuel card, as well as special discounts on hotel rates and other services.
Eurofighter Goes Wild at Paris Air Show
The Eurofighter Typhoon fighter demonstration pilot pushed the aircraft to its limits during the flying display last week at the 2023 Paris Air Show, wowing spectators on the ground.
People in Aviation
West Star Aviation hired Todd Pogue as director of Bombardier at its East Alton, Illinois facility and Anthony Irwin as program manager at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility. Pogue has more than 30 years of experience in the industry with a background in avionics, maintenance, interiors, and operations management. His previous roles include service team manager, project manager, and aircraft refurbs supervisor. Irwin holds FAA A&P inspection authorization and a commercial pilot certificate and has 31 years of experience in the industry, having previously worked at Embraer and the Embraer NetJets Phenom 300 program.
Gulfstream promoted Tim Wood to regional v-p of sales for Africa, Turkey, and South Asia. Wood previously held the role of regional sales manager for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. Before joining Gulfstream, he was responsible for the business development of aircraft management in Europe for Gama Aviation.
Epic Fuels, a Signature Aviation company, appointed Bridget Gonchar COO. Gonchar has more than 15 years of experience in the aviation industry, having previously held various leadership positions at Signature, including v-p of operations support, v-p of integration, and director of FBO operations.
Jet Access promoted Walt Schmeis from Hawker captain to chief pilot at its Part 135 charter operation. Schmeis has nearly 31 years of piloting experience in a variety of operations and holds airman certificates from five different countries, with multiple jet aircraft type ratings.
The National Air Transportation Association board of directors elected Todd Anderson, COO of Sheltair, as board chair, taking the helm from Clive Lowe, executive v-p at Atlantic Aviation, who will continue to serve as immediate past chair on the organization's executive committee. Five new board members were also elected to serve at large: Travis Grimsley, v-p of aircraft services at Duncan Aviation; Cristine Kirk, president and CEO of Malone AirCharter; Mary Miller, v-p of industry and government affairs for Signature Aviation; Kathryn Purwin, CEO and owner of Helinet Aviation Services; and Craig Teasdale, v-p of operations for Ferrovial Vertiport.
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