JetNet Hosts Ninth Annual iQ Summit

The ninth-annual JetNet iQ Summit kicked off this morning with a panel discussion featuring NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen; GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce; and, making his first appearance at the conference, EBAA secretary general Athar Husain Khan.

Each described key challenges faced by their constituencies. Khan noted that EBAA continues to see business aircraft facing perception challenges, citing as examples criticism of the arrival of hundreds of private jets to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, where delegates discussed climate change, and safety questions following the death of a popular soccer player in a general aviation accident, among others.

Bunce spoke to the increased scrutiny the industry is facing in the aftermath of the Boeing 737 Max accidents, describing it as a tumultuous three months. “GAMA’s entire membership is affected tremendously by what has happened and the scrutiny that is being placed on how we certify aircraft each and every day.” The organization has increased its educational efforts on Capitol Hill in attempts to dispel misconceptions about the FAA’s supervisory role in the certification process.

“The challenge that is clear is we need talent,” said Bolen, addressing the pilot and technician shortage. “But I think we’ve got a story that is better than virtually every industry that is out there.”

Mitsubishi’s Talks To Buy CRJ Line Won’t Affect CL650

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed today that it has reached an “advanced” stage of negotiation with Bombardier over the potential acquisition of the CRJ program. Though CRJ family aircraft are derivatives of its Challenger 600-series business jets, “The potential sale of the CRJ will have no impact whatsoever on the Challenger 650 as the two aircraft belong to completely separate programs both from production and support perspectives,” Bombardier told AIN in a statement.

In a statement, Mistubishi stressed, “Neither has any corporate decision been made, nor are there any prospects as to the contents of such a transaction. If ever any such decision is made, we will disclose as necessary in accordance with the applicable stock exchange regulations.”

News of the possible acquisition comes as Bombardier continues its efforts to divest completely from the commercial aircraft business. Just two days ago Viking Air parent Longview Capital said it completed the acquisition of Bombardier’s Dash 8 aircraft business. That deal followed the more celebrated sale of a controlling stake in the Bombardier C Series to Airbus last July. Last month, Bombardier said it would sell its aerostructures businesses in Belfast and Morocco as part of consolidating its aerospace enterprise into a “single, streamlined, and fully integrated” unit located at sites in Montreal, Mexico, and Texas.

Constant Completes 15th Challenger 300 Mid-life Check

Constant Aviation has completed its fifteenth 7,500-cycle inspection event on a Bombardier Challenger 300, the U.S.-based MRO network announced yesterday. To date, only 18 such inspections have been completed worldwide, it said.

This maintenance check is the most comprehensive inspection on the Challenger 300 airframe, requiring extensive dismantling, significant non-destructive testing, ground service equipment tooling, and expert training, it said. Inspections of this magnitude are still rare in the industry. Introduced in 2004, the Challenger 300 fleet is just beginning to reach this “mid-life inspection” milestone, it added.

According to Constant Aviation president and CEO Stephen Maiden, maintenance technicians at his company have accumulated more than 150,000 man-hours of experience on these mid-life inspections. “We have learned and gained efficiencies from the experience. The first delivery required more than 10,000 man-hours. Now with 15 delivered, we are truly efficient with a streamlined and repeatable system in place that optimizes all of the intricate processes.”

Overall, 457 Challenger 300s were manufactured, and most are still in operation today, Constant said.

Former Tesla Exec Zean Nielsen Takes Helm at Cirrus

Cirrus Aircraft has brought on board a seasoned sales executive, Zean Nielsen, to succeed Dale Klapmeier as CEO. Nielsen stepped into his new role on Monday, marking a major transition for the Duluth, Minnesota aircraft manufacturer that has been attached to the Klapmeier name since Dale and his brother Alan co-founded it in 1984. Dale Klapmeier announced at the end of last year plans to step down as CEO but will stay on as a senior advisor for Cirrus, one of the most successful aircraft manufacturing startups in the past 35 years.

“Cirrus Aircraft has a remarkably bright future ahead,” Klapmeier said. “We are fortunate to have someone of Zean’s caliber and experience to lead us into the next era of growth.”  

Nielsen’s experience comes primarily from outside the aviation industry, but he brings a deep background of senior leadership at major companies. He most recently was executive v-p of North American sales for James Hardie, a leading industrial building materials company. He also was v-p of global sales operations for Tesla and spent 17 years with electronics maker Bang & Olufsen, where he rose to president of Bang & Olufsen North and South America.

“I am honored to join this team of experienced general aviation leaders and a world-class workforce as we continue to bring game-changing products and services to market,” Nielsen said.

Gemini Adds Aircraft, Avionics to MRO Approvals

Gemini Air Group is increasing its Part 145 repair station capabilities with the addition of approved aircraft models and avionics and instrument ratings. Along with its Cessna Citation, Hawker, and Turbo Commander authorizations, Gemini Air Group is now approved for Cessna Caravan and Conquest 441, Cirrus aircraft, and related engines.

According to Gemini, it added the avionics and instrument approvals to support customer needs for ADS-B Out requirements. In concert, Gemini is expanding its technician group, including the hiring of maintenance veteran Lance Terrill to serve as avionics team manager. Terrill, who will be responsible for both installation and repair work, brings more than 40 years of general and business aviation experience to his new role, including with Delta Air Elite, Landmark Aviation, and Signature Technicair. 

“Our expansion continues to move forward based on the need for quality support in our region,” said Gemini Air Group general manager Greg Laabs. “We continue to hire skilled technicians who will provide our customers with the best possible maintenance visit. The addition of Lance will enhance our capabilities and ensure our customers' avionics needs are met.”

Based at Arizona's Scottsdale Airport, Gemini Air Group provides MRO support from its new 60,000-sq-ft hangar, as well as offers Part 135 charter, aircraft management, sales, leasing, and fueling.

House Panel OKs FAA Budget Boost with Safety-first Call

The House Appropriations Committee yesterday approved a $17.7 billion budget for the FAA in Fiscal Year 2020 that includes an emphasis on the need for a “safety first” approach and funding to staff its aviation safety workforce accordingly. It recommended $10.68 billion for the FAA’s operations account.

Lawmakers dedicated $1.6 billion of that to aviation safety, saying they expect “the multiple, ongoing reviews of the certification process to result in the need for greater technical competency at the FAA and deep, substantive responses to the recommendations from these reviews.” They added they are providing resources accordingly. “Incorporating a ‘safety first’ approach into the FAA and its operations is essential and takes precedence over the commercial success of any technology, manufacturer, carrier, or airport."

The committee proposed flat funding for the FAA’s facilities and equipment account ($3 billion); research, engineering, and development ($191 million); and the Airport Improvement Program ($3.35 billion), along with an additional $500 million dedicated to discretionary airport grant funding.

Also included are the continuation for Teterboro Airport weight restrictions, reimbursements for airports affected by certain presidential TFRs, and privacy protections from real-time flight-tracking programs. GAMA praised the bill for funding key provisions included in the last year’s sweeping FAA reauthorization bill, including those addressing workforce shortages.

Metro Aviation Earns EASA Mx Approval

Louisiana-based Metro Aviation has received foreign-Part 145 approval from EASA for its repair station and completion center. Located in Shreveport, the company is an approved Airbus Helicopter-approved service center specializing in the EC135 and EC145 and is a worldwide provider of completion services for all missions and rotorcraft types.

To achieve this EASA authorization, Metro met the steps of the process, including technical familiarization and certification, the establishment of the certification process, compliance demonstration and technical closure/issue of approval. “With the addition of this rating, we will be able to better support repair approval for our EU customers who are using any of Metro Aviation's STC/PMA products,” noted Milton Geltz, the company’s managing director.

Privately-owned Metro Aviation has also developed several STCs for many air medical components and installations, including fixed- and rotary-wing, and has aircraft or aircraft parts on six continents. It is also one of the largest FAA Part 135 air medical operators in the U.S.

Dickson FAA Admin Nomination Comes Under Question

Steve Dickson’s nomination to the FAA administrator post apparently has hit a stumbling block as the Senate Commerce Committee reviews reports regarding a legal complaint alleging moves on the part of Delta Air Lines management to retaliate against a pilot whistleblower who brought safety concerns to light. The moves allegedly took place while Dickson had been senior v-p of flight operations for Delta.

“Since holding the nomination hearing with Mr. Dickson, new information has come to the committee’s attention that merits further examination. The committee has been reviewing this information and I have asked the Department of Transportation and the White House to do the same,” said Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), chairman of the Commerce Committee that has jurisdiction over the nomination. The committee had not been aware of the complaint before holding a confirmation hearing last month and Dickson apparently did not report the legal action on the requisite confirmation questionnaire.

The complaint alleges that a pilot who raised safety questions to airline leadership was subsequently ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation that ultimately led to the loss of pilot privileges. Two subsequent evaluations disagreed with the initial evaluations and the pilot returned to duty. The complaint was filed against Delta Air Lines, but it mentions Dickson’s involvement in receiving the safety concerns.

How are OEMs doing at supporting their products?

Tell us about the product support you receive from business aviation OEMs. The 2019 AIN Product Support Survey is now online, ready for selected readers to rate aircraft, engine and avionics support. AIN readers who have been selected 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 7. Visit this site for more information or if you want to participate in the survey.