Eco-protestors yesterday broke onto the ramp at Sylt Airport in northern Germany and covered a Cessna Citation CJ1+ almost entirely with orange paint and then glued themselves to the business jet and the tarmac. Local police confirmed that five people aged between 21 and 60 were arrested and that a criminal investigation is underway.
Photos showing the Citation after it was sprayed with paint make it impossible to confirm the registration and ownership of the aircraft, which had an Austrian flag decal on its tail. The paint covered most of the wings and fuselage and also got into the jet’s turbofan engines. The police statement did not include any details about the aircraft's ownership.
In its lengthy public statement, the group called Letze Generation (Last Generation) admitted that it used bolt cutters to break through the airport fence in two places before running toward a group of business jets parked on the apron. The protestors appear to have selected the CJ1+ somewhat randomly for their protest.
The group accused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of failing to take strong enough action to reduce carbon emissions and, specifically, of not targeting private aviation. They repeated much of the rhetoric used by the groups that disrupted EBACE last month, conflating allegations of disproportionate environmental damage with perceived unjust wealth disparities.
HondaJet operators in Southeast Asia now have access to improved support with the opening of an authorized service center (ASC) in Kuala Lumpur by local company KarbonMRO. The opening comes after Malaysian aviation authorities issued approval to maintain the type to KarbonMRO’s parent company, the Dviation Group, and the move cements its role as the sole ASC for HondaJet operators in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Dviation managing director Kevin Teoh told AIN that KarbonMRO has welcomed its first HondaJet for refurbishment work at the facility at Kuala Lumpur’s main gateway, Subang International Airport. The project is expected to take approximately two months.
Securing the Malaysian approval took almost a year after North Carolina-based Honda Aircraft appointed KarbonMRO as an exclusive ASC for HondaJet operators in Southeast Asia. Looking forward, Dviation is aiming to leverage its extensive network and local expertise to expand services across the wider Asia-Pacific region. It also has a presence in Bangkok; Delhi, India; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Jakarta, Indonesia; Kathmandu, Nepal; Manila, Philippines; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Singapore; Yangon, Myanmar; Zagreb, Croatia; and Zurich. In addition to Malaysia, the ASEAN states also include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Several Embraer Phenom 100 accidents in icing conditions have prompted Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to issue a special airworthiness bulletin providing information regarding the twinjet’s ice protection system. It also alerts owners and operators about the “importance of proper adherence to the standard operating procedures established by the airplane manufacturer.”
Three accidents cited in the bulletin occurred in icing conditions when operators used non-icing landing speeds that were close to stall speed. Two non-fatal accidents—on Feb. 08, 2021, at Paris Le Bourget Airport and Feb. 15, 2013, at Berlin Schonefeld Airport—resulted in both aircraft suffering substantial damage when they stalled just before touchdown.
On Dec. 8, 2014, a Phenom 100 on approach to Maryland’s Gaithersburg Airport stalled and crashed about three-quarters of a mile from the approach end of the runway. The pilot, two passengers, and three people on the ground were killed. According to the NTSB, the airplane flew in conditions favorable for structural icing for several minutes without the ice protection system activated.
The bulletin makes several recommendations about the use of the aircraft's ice protection systems and considerations for landing and approach speeds. Additionally, ANAC recommends that Phenom 100 owners and operators view an Embraer video on the subject.
Texas Aerospace Technologies has been named as the European distributor for Genesys Aerosystems’ HeliSAS helicopter stability augmentation system. In addition to the renewed emphasis on HeliSAS for the EMS market, Texas Aerospace Technologies will identify and develop authorized Genesys HeliSAS dealer/installation facilities.
“Many aerospace companies are seeking a cost-effective way to increase their presence and improve shipping times for their dealer network,” said Texas Aerospace Technologies v-p Brad Sutphin. “We’ve positioned highly technical salespeople worldwide to improve the relationship, product knowledge, support, and distribution for aerospace products. We’re excited about this new opportunity with Genesys Aerosystems and helping them expand their European footprint.”
Texas Aerospace Technologies has provided sales, technical support, and distribution of IFR and VFR helicopter autopilots in South America since 2021. Adding Europe EMS markets to its list of responsibilities will expand Genesys Aerosystems’ footprint in-country by improving relationships and increasing product knowledge.
Genesys Aerosystems designs and manufactures safety-enhancing stability augmentation and advanced autopilot technology for a range of light to heavy helicopters.
For the first time ever: Streaming-level connectivity for smaller biz aircraft.
SmartSky is wowing large cabin customers across the country, and now SmartSky LITE delivers the same dependable, responsive and secure connectivity to smaller aircraft. Connecting to what’s most important is as effortless in the air as it is on the ground.
SkyFive is stepping up efforts to break into the business aviation market for air-to-ground (ATG) in-flight connectivity in Europe. The company was spun off from Nokia in 2019 and, until now, has been largely focused on the airline sector. SkyFive connects aircraft through terrestrial cellular networks.
“Business aviation is new for us because our focus was originally commercial aviation,” SkyFive CEO Thorsten Robrecht told AIN this week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. “Now, as the system is up and running, we have received requests from the business aviation community and we have appointed a new colleague who is now heading this business.”
The hybrid, integrated ATG S-band European Aviation Network (EAN) service was launched in 2019 with British Airways. Now, it supports onboard internet on hundreds of Airbus A320-series aircraft.
Outlining what SkyFive could offer a business jet operator, Robrecht said that the significantly reduced weight of the hardware—7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds)—and its ease of installation are huge advantages. He insists that SkyFive’s business model could also be of interest to private operators. Robrecht said the business is currently testing these different pricing models for the business aviation market. “We are originally telcos, we do not hail from an aviation or satellite business. For us, an aircraft is a flying mobile phone, which means for us it's an all-flat fee,” he noted.
Broussard, Louisiana-based Meridian Helicopters recently completed and delivered a custom-refurbished Bell 206L4 to Clearview Air, marking the company’s 25th upgrade to the Bell 206L3/L4.
“This Bell 206L4 is a full, ground-up refurbishment tailored for corporate operations,” said Meridian Helicopters managing partner Michael Bashlor. “It’s equipped with a new Garmin avionics package featuring Bluetooth technology, Bose headset system, glass cockpit with G500 TXi touchscreen flight display, GI 275 engine indication system, Genesys HeliSAS autopilot, air conditioning, and leather seating.”
According to Clearview Air owner Kevin Reed, “This is my second Bell refurbishment from Meridian Helicopters. After owning a Bell 206L3 model for the last five years, I decided it was time to upgrade. The specifications were meticulously detailed, and the final product exceeded my expectations.
“This Bell is one of the most advanced and elegantly finished L4 models in recent years,” he continued. “I intend to enjoy this aircraft for years to come, and I can’t thank Mike and his team enough for realizing my dream helicopter.”
The aircraft showcases approximately 70 percent average time remaining on its main components, engine, and airframe—demonstrating Meridian’s experience in retaining maximum value from the aircraft’s airframe and primary systems.
With the addition of its latest tenant, Tetelestai Aviation, Alabama’s Gulf Shores Airport Authority has now leased out all its available corporate hangar sites in its Southwest Corporate Hanger Complex.
The area, originally laid out and developed in 2008, sat idle for several years in the aftermath of the global economic downturn, but it now has nine corporate hangars completed, under construction, or in the permitting process, totaling 128,960 sq ft. These bring the number of new facilities on the field since 2017 to 13.
Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field (KJKA) director Scott Fuller noted that the surrounding county is the fastest growing in the state and added, “A study is underway to identify and develop the next-most-viable sectors of the airport to address additional unmet demands for new facilities.”
The authority also recently approved a lease with aircraft maintenance and flight training provider Resicum International to build a 21,800-sq-ft hangar/office complex next to the recently completed air traffic control tower. The company, through its Aeropro subsidiary, provides Part 145 turbine aircraft maintenance along with avionics sales and service at KJKA, and it is expected to break ground on the new facility in the third quarter.
Helicopter maintenance provider PHI MRO Services has launched Call PHI, an on-demand MRO support center providing maintenance assistance for helicopter operators worldwide. “Sometimes, during the course of maintaining rotorcraft, maintainers run into a challenge where they could use help,” said Tom Neumann, president of PHI MRO Services. “With 75 years of experience, our experts are now available to assist in real-time to help solve those challenges.”
Based at PHI MRO Services’ Lafayette, Louisiana headquarters, Call PHI connects rotorcraft maintainers to PHI’s team, which has experience working on a wide range of models and configurations.
The Call PHI helicopter maintenance experts are available 24/7 online or by telephone. In addition to providing the support found at Call PHI, PHI MRO Services has field teams available for in-person assistance throughout the U.S.
Midsize Ascend Joins Cessna Citation Family
At the recent EBACE show, Textron Aviation showed off a mockup of the new Citation Ascend business jet’s cabin. The latest model of the Excel/XLS series also has plenty for pilots to appreciate with Garmin G5000 avionics and an autothrottle system that reduces workload. The $16.7 million Ascend is expected to enter service in 2025.
Supersedes but retains requirements of AD 2022–18–03, which mandated modifying windshield heat operation procedures in the airplane flight manual and quick reference handbook until affected windshield assemblies are replaced. Updated AD corrects typographical errors.
Requires an inspection of the environmental control system pre-cooler clamps and replacement of non-conforming pre-cooler clamps. Prompted by a report that certain pre-cooler clamp assemblies may not conform to specifications.
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