ATR unveiled a HighLine collection of high-end cabins for business and commercial operators of its twin-turboprop regional airliners today at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. Created in collaboration with “luxury design experts,” the collection comprises five main cabin configurations, spanning the operational needs of air carriers seeking to offer their customers a premium flying experience, according to the Franco-Italian company.
They include the Bespoke VIP cabin, for personal transport or lifestyle missions; All Business Class of up to 30 seats for Part 135 and scheduled private operations; Premium Flex, which can convert standard double-seats into single premium seating for boutique airlines and charter operators; the head-of-state Multi-Section cabin; and Multi-Class, a 50-seat interior with a dedicated first class.
With the increased focus on sustainability, ATR noted its aircraft burn and emit 45 percent less fuel and CO2 than regional jets, and it labeled the prospective HighLine-outfitted ATRs “a responsible choice for commercial and business aviation operators.”
“Our aircraft offer the same cabin size as the largest business jets while cutting carbon emissions [almost] in half,” said ATR head of business development Tarek Ben Omrane. The high-end cabins, he noted, are part of ATR’s efforts “to disrupt the regional travel industry from within by creating a superb onboard atmosphere and using the lowest-emission technology on the market.”
AE Industrial Partners (AEI)—a long-time investor in the business aviation space—has acquired a majority share in Kansas-based Yingling Aviation. Located at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, Yingling operates a 24/7 FBO and also provides Part 145 MRO services to private aviation and government customers.
Yingling chair and CEO Lynn Nichols and president Andrew Nichols will remain active leaders and investors in the company, which was founded in 1945 and occupies more than 300,000 sq ft of facility space with a staff of 180 employees. The company’s broad range of FAA and EASA-certified maintenance services includes airframe, engine, avionics upgrades, paint, interiors, propeller sales and service, and parts sales.
“We have known Yingling Aviation and its owners for several years and are excited to be partnering with them to continue to build this platform serving the needs of business aircraft owners and operators,” said Jon Nemo, a senior partner in the private-equity firm. “This investment represents the beginning of our strategic vision of creating a unique, independent platform of scale providing best-in-class services within this growing market.”
AEI's past industry experience includes ownership of former FBO chain Landmark Aviation and maintenance provider StandardAero.
NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen appealed to lawmakers to update Part 135 pilot rest and duty time regulations as part of the overarching FAA reauthorization bill. Specifically, Bolen supported the elimination of “tail-end ferries” and updated recordkeeping that would more accurately reflect rest and duty-time practices.
In a June 1 letter to House leaders, Bolen noted that “preventing and mitigating fatigue remains a universal area of concern.” He pointed to the recommendations of the Part 135 Pilot Rest and Duty Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which called for the elimination of tail-end ferries and recordkeeping mandates addressing the scheduling of duties and prospective rest.
Both the FAA and NTSB have expressed concern that following a maximum duty time under Part 135 with a Part 91 flight—or a tail-end ferry—poses a safety risk and is unacceptable. “NBAA does not believe that the cost of ending ‘tail-end ferry flights’ will be significant, as many Part 135 operators already recognize the risks posed by such operations,” Bolen added.
As for recordkeeping requirements, the ARC recommended that the FAA mandate certificate holders record rest, duty, and flight times in sufficient detail to demonstrate compliance with the regulations. “Today, operators are only required to record flight time,” he said. “While monitoring flight time is an important component of preventing fatigue, it...is insufficient to ensure flight crews receive adequate, prospectively scheduled rest.”
Runway excursions are the cause of more than a third of all aviation accidents, with many resulting in substantial damage or destruction of the aircraft. It’s why FlightSafety makes sure its training keeps pilots prepared to manage these risks.
Canadian aviation services provider Fast Air Executive Aviation is progressing with its expansion with the groundbreaking of its third location at Vancouver-area Abbotsford International Airport (CYXX). The full-service company, which offers aircraft charter, management, and maintenance, also operates FBOs at Winnipeg International Airport (CYWG) and Red Lake Airport (CYRL) in Ontario.
The facility at CYXX will include a 3,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal and adjoining 16,000-sq-ft hangar capable of accommodating aircraft up to super-midsize jets. The terminal will offer a passenger lounge with views of nearby Mount Baker, crew lounge and flight planning area, café bar and complimentary snacks, upstairs conference room overlooking the runway, business center, tenant office space, and concierge service. Phase one of the multi-million dollar project is slated for completion by year-end and subsequent phase two will add a larger hangar capable of sheltering ultra-long-range jets.
CYXX has a 10,000-foot runway and provides an alternative to the congested Vancouver International Airport.
“Abbotsford is an ideal location for our new project as we continue to expand to serve clients and the growing demands of the region,” said Fast Air president and CEO Dylan Fast. “We have been pleased with the great reception, support, and collaboration of the Abbotsford International Airport leadership and the regional business community.”
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has validated what is claimed to be the first helicopter flight in Asia using performance-based navigation technology. On June 1, private operator Poonawalla Aviation flew its Airbus Helicopters H145 from Mumbai Juhu Airport to Pune on low-level route (LLR) RNP 0.3 using India's Gagan satellite-based navigation system.
The demonstration flight was part of the government’s Akash (meaning sky) project, through which the LLR RNP 0.3 route has been developed and designated to provide an optimized flight path for helicopters. The Akash project aims to augment the safety of helicopter flight procedures and support all-weather operations. Three dedicated corridors have been created for flights in India and more are to be added. India’s civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced that Juhu’s heliport will be upgraded to handle night flights and IFR routes using Gagan.
“All new aircraft except trainers coming into India will now require Gagan-compatible receivers,” said Vishok Mansingh, CEO of aircraft leasing group Vman Aero. Gagan was jointly developed by the Airports Authority of India, Indian Space Research Organisation, and Raytheon Technologies for both rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft to support operations similar to a Cat-3 landing.
Swiss aeromedical operator Rega has purchased a full-flight simulator to train pilots for its Bombardier Challenger 650 fleet. Furnished by Austria-based Axis Flight Training Systems, this will mark the first level-D simulator for the type in Europe.
“We operate three of these aircraft and each year fly around 1,000 people back home to Switzerland in them for a total of some 4,800 annual flight hours,” said Urs Baltisberger, a Rega pilot and head of crew training, adding that usage makes the charitable foundation among the world’s top operators of the aircraft. Twice a year, Rega’s 27 jet pilots must undergo mandated simulator training and are therefore required to travel across the Atlantic to Montreal for the closest Challenger 650 simulator.
“So it makes sense that we should also have our own simulator for the type,” said Baltisberger. “After careful research, we came to the conclusion that Axis is the best partner for us.”
Scheduled to enter service in September in Opfikon near Zurich Airport, the simulator will be operated by Lufthansa Aviation training on behalf of Rega and any unused capacity will be offered to outside customers.
Surf Air Mobility has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to plans to list its stock in an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, the California-based company said yesterday.
In November, the flight-booking platform signaled its intention to go public on its own following the termination of a $1.42 billion merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Tuscan Holdings Corp. II. Surf Air expected that deal, originally announced in May 2022, to raise around $467 million to fund its effort to introduce electric aircraft at partner operators.
Surf Air's plans now center on converting Cessna Grand Caravan turboprop singles to a hybrid-electric propulsion system under development by MagniX in partnership with airframe modifications specialist and systems integrator AeroTec. Surf Air will support efforts to bring the modification to market under a supplemental type certificate it will own.
Michael “Mick” Pittard, 80, passed away on May 27. Pittard owned Hoosier Air Sales, which was later known as Indianapolis Aviation, Kokomo Aviation, and the FBO at Lafayette Airport that became Purdue Aviation. He also founded commuter airline Direct Air and air charter operator Aviation Charter Services. Pittard served as chair of the NATA air charter committee and as a member of the NATA board of directors before being elected as board chair in 1996. In 2022, he was inducted into the Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame as an industry entrepreneur and champion.
ACASS hired Nathalie Drolet as sales director for its Northwest U.S. and Western Canada territories. Drolet has more than 23 years of experience in the industry, having previously served in sales and marketing at Bombardier and sales, market analysis, and business development roles at Eclipse Aviation, BBA Aviation, and AirSprint Private Aviation.
Elite Jets hired Peter Boyd as director of aircraft management. Boyd's more than a decade of industry experience includes director of business development and strategy for JSX, senior account director for the western region and Asia-Pacific for Jet Aviation, and as a consultant with Chartright Air Group.
ACC Aviation appointed Zeineb Lassoued regional v-p for the Middle East and Africa. Lassoued has seven years of industry experience, most recently serving as a commercial director at a Monaco-based company.
Paragon Aviation Group hired Crystal Kubeczka as v-p of sales. Kubeczka’s background in aviation includes 15 years with FlightSafety International, where she led Gulfstream training sales and marketing efforts, and various positions with Air Routing International. She most recently served as v-p of sales at UAS International Trip Support.
John Foster III, co-founder of OgaraJets, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Aircraft Dealers Association. The award recognizes “Foster’s 50 years in aviation sales while serving as a model of professional standards for the entire industry.”
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