PrivateFly Expands Fixed-price City Pairs Program

UK-based private charter platform PrivateFly has added the Embraer Legacy 600 and three new routes with the large-cabin jet—London-Mykonos, Paris-Marrakech, and Moscow-Nice—to its fixed-price City Pairs program. This follows Nextant 400XTi City Pairs service that it launched in April. The program will be available for both aircraft until the end of September, it added.

PrivateFly said its fixed-price flights have proved popular with on-demand charter clients since their launch two months ago and now account for more than a quarter of its flights. This increased demand prompted the new routes and the bigger cabin option, it noted.

According to PrivateFly, City Pairs are 20 percent to 30 percent lower than average year-round prices on the same or equivalent aircraft and as much as 50 percent lower than peak summer pricing. Pricing is for the whole aircraft and, for the Legacy 600, costs €26,500 ($29,688) between London and Faro and €35,500 ($39,771) between London and Mykonos.

“We know many clients are put off by the uncertainty and fluctuation in charter pricing often seen in the summer,” said PrivateFly CEO Adam Twidell, “so by buying bulk aircraft hours in advance, we can fix prices at lower-than-usual rates and guarantee to keep them that way even at peak times.”

EASA Issues Second Proposal on Aviation Cybersecurity

EASA issued a notice of proposed amendment (NPA) that introduces provisions for the management of information security risks related to aeronautical information systems used in civil aviation. These cybersecurity provisions would apply to authorities and organizations in all aviation domains: design, production, management of continuing airworthiness, maintenance, training and training devices, air operations, aeromedical, aircrew, air traffic control, air navigation services, and airports.

This NPA and similar others are in response to EASA’s concern that cyberattacks are no longer just random events. “Therefore, not enough focus may have been put in properly addressing cybersecurity because existing flaws can be exploited by individuals with a malicious intent,” EASA said. “Such a risk is constantly increasing in the civil aviation environment as the current aeronautical information systems are becoming more and more interconnected.”

These information security risks have the potential to generate events that can have direct consequences on the safety of flight. “Therefore, the interactions between information security and safety management systems (SMS) may be relevant for addressing information security risks,” EASA added. Comments on the NPA are due September 27.

This NPA is the second in a series to help protect the industry from cybersecurity attacks. The first NPA, published earlier this year, dealt exclusively with mitigating cyberattacks on aircraft and their systems through proposed changes to airframe, engine, and accessory certification rules.

Belgian Airport Gets New Private Terminal

North Sea Aviation Center (NSAC), the new business aviation terminal at Belgium’s Ostend-Bruges Flanders International Airport (EBOS), opened last week. Previously, private and business aviation flights were handled through the airport’s main terminal.

The $2.9 million facility features a three-story, 9,225-sq-ft terminal, with in-house customs and border control, a VIP lounge, concierge service, pilot lounge with snooze rooms and shower facilities, a 20-seat conference room, tenant office space, and a rooftop bar/terrace offering views of the airport. The complex also includes nearly 50,000 sq ft of hangar space.

NSAC was created as a result of increasing private jet traffic at the airport, which currently accounts for 6 percent of its movements. According to general manager Erik Vermeersch, EBOS, which features a 10,500-foot runway, is a 15-minute flight to London, making it an affordable alternate for remote aircraft parking.

“The intention is to bring more larger private jets to the airport,” said Vermeersch. “The operational capacities of the airport on one hand and the new NSAC facilities, on the other hand, are important assets in this context, which we will certainly use on international trade fairs and with our direct contacts with the operators.” He added that the location is targeting approximately 1,500 operations a year.

Foley: GAMA 1Q Data Shows Pockets of Strength, Weakness

The 14.5 percent year-over-year increase in first-quarter airplane shipments and accompanying 10.5 percent rise in their combined values recently reported by GAMA “makes it appear the general aviation industry is on fire,” said industry analyst Brian Foley. “However, a more detailed view reveals pockets of strength and weakness.”

Turboprop deliveries rose a modest 7 percent, from 115 to 123 units, thanks to “a pop in Textron Aviation’s King Air and Caravan sales,” said Foley. “Turboprops will soon become an interesting and high-growth segment to watch over the next couple of years as Textron introduces the Denali and SkyCourier.” While the latter will displace some Caravan sales, he said the effects of the two new aircraft will still be additive.

Meanwhile, business jet deliveries increased by just nine units, from 132 to 141. “Business jets are still relatively flat for the moment but should gain momentum as new products continue to hit the market such as the Gulfstream G500/600, Bombardier Global 7500, Dassault Falcon 6X, and Cessna Citation Longitude,” he said. “Incremental improvement should continue over time and until it is again tested during the next U.S. economic downturn.”

Wheels Up Partnering With HeliFlite on NYC-area Service

Private jet membership service Wheels Up is partnering with Newark-based HeliFlite, the companies announced today. Wheels Up members will now have access to HeliFlite’s fleet of Bell 430 and Sikorsky S-76 helicopters for transfers between Manhattan heliports and tri-state area airports in Teterboro, Morristown, White Plains, and Farmingdale. HeliFlite CEO Kurt Carlson said the partnership will enable Wheels Up members to “optimize their travel time with flexibility and convenience.”

Wheels Up founder and CEO Kenny Dichter noted, “HeliFlite maintains the highest level of safety and is highly regarded within the industry with leading practices including flying only twin-engine helicopters and always with two pilots.” HeliFlite aircraft are certified to Category A and are equipped with TCAS, electronic flight instrumentation systems, and GPS. Wheels Up members will also be able to purchase 10- to 20-hour “HeliCards,” enabling them to secure guaranteed lift. As part of the arrangement, HeliFlite customers will be able to access Wheels Down, the Wheels Up lifestyle and event service. 

HeliFlite provides service with a mixed fleet of medium twin helicopters from its hubs in Newark, Chicago, and West Palm Beach, Florida. Wheel Up provides private aircraft membership services with a nationwide mixed fleet of 90 turboprops and light and medium jets. 

Astronautics Secures TSOA for New Drop-In EFI

Astronautics has received FAA Technical Standard Order Authorization (TSOA) for its AFI4700 RoadRunner drop-in electronic flight instrument (EFI), available for retrofit on helicopters and airplanes. FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval is expected shortly and product shipments will begin immediately thereafter.

RoadRunner is a primary flight display replacement for older EFIS or electromechanical attitude director and horizontal situation instruments, and it can be linked with modern navigation equipment, thus enabling capabilities like localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches. The EFI is readable in all lighting conditions and requires minimal installation time. It also reduces operating and maintenance costs and is upgradeable with new software to meet customer-specific mission requirements.  

“RoadRunner offers operators an easy and affordable upgrade to modern electronic flight instruments on their aircraft with enhanced safety features,” said Astronautics president Chad Cundiff. “Receiving TSOA approval is a big step in bringing RoadRunner to the rotary- and fixed-wing markets.”

Astronautics manufactures avionics for military and commercial aircraft. Its product line includes electronic primary flight and engine displays, connected aircraft and cyber solutions, electronic flight bags, and certified servers for airborne applications.

Omni Sees Growth in Portugal

After experiencing strong private aircraft traffic in Portugal over the past year, business aircraft support provider Omni Handling is looking to expand its operations. According to the latest data from industry analyst WingX, business aviation movements in and out of Portugal grew more than 22 percent in the first quarter of the year, with 500 large jet departures.

According to Omni, the company holds a better than 50 percent market share in Lisbon, Cascais, Porto, and Faro. The latter saw an increase of 10.4 percent in movements, while Cascais grew nearly 20 percent in the same period.

“To boost our growth and maintain our leadership, we believe the time is now ripe to widen our offering,” said Omni CEO Ricardo Pereira. “We have some exciting new projects and territories planned.” He added that a new 1,600-sq-ft FBO is on tap for Faro, as the company, which was founded in 1998, looks to establish new ground handling locations in Santa Maria in the Azores and at Maderia.

Former NBAA VP Cooke Passes Away

NBAA recently marked the passing of its former vice president of operations and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Robert Cooke, who died on March 10 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cooke served with NBAA from 1973 to 1987, providing analysis and representing members on flight safety issues and federal aviation regulations.

Born in Schenectady, New York, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and became a naval aviator and navigator of the attack aircraft carrier USS Constellation in 1970 to 1971. After retiring from the Navy, he joined NBAA, where he worked on safety issues with the FAA, lawmakers, airport management organizations, and other entities on behalf of members. Cooke concluded his career as a consultant to the Flight Safety Foundation.

A commercial pilot, he was involved with a number of organizations, including the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), National Aeronautics Association, Washington Aero Club, and U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association. He is survived by his wife, Marcia; children Meredith McCollum, Robin Wilson, and Robert Cooke Jr.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

AIN’s Tales from the Flight Deck Podcast: Otto’s Pilots

A call for help from Washington, D.C., to Phoenix Air, based at a tiny airport in Cartersville, Georgia: Can you fly a medevac mission right away? 

The destination: North Korea.

This is the first of a two-part episode on the extraordinary mission to rescue Otto Warmbier from North Korea.