Flexjet Postpones European Expansion, Citing Covid-19

Flexjet had planned to announce a “significant expansion” in Europe two weeks ago at what would have been EBACE 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic has caused the company to postpone this until next spring, company CEO Mike Silvestro said last week during a Jefferies Equity Research webinar. The company’s European affiliate, which holds an air operator certificate via UK-based subsidiary Flairjet and has a controlling interest in aircraft charter and management firm Sirio at Milan Linate Airport, currently has 15 aircraft—mostly Nextant 400XTis and a few Embraer Legacy 600s—in its fleet.

Kenn Ricci, Flexjet’s chairman and principal at parent company Directional Aviation, told AIN late last week that Flexjet has deferred an unspecified number of new aircraft deliveries due to putting the European expansion plans on hold. Silvestro said during his Jefferies presentation that the Embraer Praetor 600 will eventually be deployed in Europe, but Ricci would not confirm if this model accounts for the delivery deferrals.

Ricci added, “We were unsure of the impact of Covid in April when we pulled the plug on the Flexjet Europe expansion. We didn’t have the foresight at the time to think there would be a significant positive [outcome] of the virus [for business aviation]. So, in hindsight, we might have made a different decision, but since it involved new aircraft deliveries, we couldn’t take the risk.”

Bizav Movements into the UK Spike Ahead of Quarantine

Business aircraft arrivals into the UK spiked in recent days as travelers rushed to re-enter the country before being required to be quarantined at a fixed address for 14 days under rules that came into force just after midnight today. Data from industry analyst WingX showed 80 arrivals yesterday, which was more than double the meager 38 arrivals seen on May 17.

Flights into the country started climbing steeply from June 2, when it became clear that the UK government would not yield to aviation industry pleas not to implement the quarantine. The WingX data shows that 102 business aircraft departed the UK yesterday. On the same day in 2019, 195 aircraft flew out of the country.

Airline and business aviation groups have argued that the quarantine is not a valid public health measure given that most other countries now have lower Covid-19 infection rates than the UK. On June 4, the British Business and General Aviation Association appealed to the UK Home Office for business aviation traffic to be granted a block exemption to the quarantine, based on the relatively low number of passengers carried and the industry’s offer to implement extra protective measures, including testing and strict social distancing.

British Airways, EasyJet, and Ryanair confirmed today that they have mounted a legal challenge against the government to have the quarantine suspended.

NATA: Scheduled Air Service Cuts Offer GA Opportunities

A June 3 U.S. Department of Transportation final order allowing airlines to proceed with cuts in scheduled air service at smaller commercial airports presents an opportunity for general aviation to fill in those gaps, according to National Air Transportation Association president and CEO Tim Obitts. Despite dozens of comments against the planned service cuts by 15 airlines, including those that received financial support from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the final order upheld their actions.

That affects at least nine airports in the West, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast U.S., such as Palm Springs International Airport in California, Williston Basin Airport in North Dakota, Mobile Downtown Airport in Alabama, and Portland International Jetport in Maine. Comments and objections to the DOT’s May 22 show-cause order that preceded its final order noted the cuts would result in job losses, limit access to transportation for medical treatment, interrupt those using air service to commute to work or visit clients, and reduce service for areas dependent on tourism.

“The utility of general aviation services, when faced by a shrinking airline footprint, is not a new topic of conversation,” Obitts said. But “as air service demand rebounds, general aviation businesses are uniquely positioned to quickly and efficiently assist in providing essential services that support and empower people, businesses, and communities nationwide.”

ADS-B Installs Continuing through the Pandemic

While the U.S. deadline for ADS-B equipage took effect at the beginning of the year,  aircraft operators are still steadily upgrading their aircraft to meet the mandate, with some 21,175 aircraft becoming compliant through the first five months of this year. “We knew there would be aircraft being equipped post-mandate and it certainly has materialized,” said Jens Hennig, GAMA v-p of operations and co-chair of the ADS-B Equip 2020 working group's general aviation subcommittee. 

The ADS-B upgrades have continued through the pandemic, with 3,598 occurring in March, ebbing to 2,857 in April, and then picking back up again to 3,146 in May. According to the FAA, the total number of upgraded general aviation aircraft approached 100,000 in June and neared 90,000 of “good installs." Hennig said he believes many of the installations this year involve those who own or operate piston, experimental, or rotary-wing aircraft. 

The FAA did establish a tool to enable limited requests for flights involving unequipped aircraft through ADS-B airspace. By the second week of February, out of some 70,000 flights a day, the agency was receiving about 100 daily requests or so a day for such latitude. The limited number suggests “we have done our due diligence that across the FAA and across the industry to get everybody who was going to be affected by the mandate compliant,” Hennig said.

ACI Issues Airport Ramp Up Guide for Covid Crisis

Anticipating an increase in aviation travel as countries begin to relax their Covid-19 restrictions, Airports Council International (ACI) has issued a comprehensive advisory guide. Aviation Operations During COVID-19 — Business Restart and Recovery is aimed at helping airport operators follow best health practices while traffic ramps back up.

Among the topics explored are re-acclimating furloughed staff; examining areas of airport pavement that have been used for long-term aircraft parking, especially taxiways and runways that are not intended for such use; dealing with the encroachment of wildlife that might have become more comfortable during a period of fewer flights; assessing equipment that has been dormant; establishing health screening protocols; and evaluating operational tempos in the “new normal,” which might require aircraft to stay at gates longer for enhanced cleaning procedures.

ACI noted the restart guide is a “living” document, which will be amended and/or expanded as more information becomes available. The organization estimates that airports worldwide will suffer a reduction of more than 4.6 billion passengers and a decline in revenue of more than $97 billion U.S. in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

“For airports, the focus is to protect the health and welfare of travelers, staff, and the public, to minimize the opportunities for dissemination of disease while maintaining efficient operations,” said ACI World director general Angela Gittens.

AviationManuals Offers Free Guide on Understanding MELs

Digital operations manuals publisher AviationManuals has created a free guide to understanding minimum equipment list (MEL) requirements. Simpler to use than a master minimum equipment list (MMEL), an MEL allows aircraft operation even with certain inoperative equipment aboard.

“An MEL is the best and most widely accepted way to determine the conditions under which a flight can be commenced with inoperative equipment,” said AviationManuals CEO Mark Baier. “This complimentary MEL guide helps flight departments understand where and when an MEL is required, and why they should consider getting one.”

Describing the differences between an MMEL for aircraft types and a custom MEL tailored to a specific aircraft, the guide also provides information on requirements for operators based on the state of registry and area of operation, as well as the value of a nonessential equipment and furnishings (NEF) program.

AviationManuals also offers safety management systems software and iPad apps for fixed- and rotary-wing operators, drone operators, and FBOs.

Kentucky Airport Ups Construction Tempo During Lull

Like many airports, Kentucky’s Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport (OWB) is using the Covid-19-induced slowdown in aviation traffic to accelerate its infrastructure projects. The rehabilitation of the airport’s primary 8,000-foot Runway 18/36 was completed as scheduled last month under OWB’s 10-year master plan update, with the replacement of the panel joints and seals along its entire length, as well as re-marking and re-striping. Similar work was done on connecting Taxiway Charlie.

With the conclusion of that project, work has shifted to concrete repair and panel replacement on 5,000-foot crosswind Runway 06/24, which will be closed for approximately two weeks. Airport manager Rob Barnett noted that by switching to a 24-hour-a-day work schedule, it will shave 30 days off the span of that construction. Another project underway involves the building of a new service road to improve access for the airport’s rescue and firefighting crews.

“Our activity here at this airport is picking back up, pretty significantly day-over-day to be quite honest with you,” Barnett told AIN. “Although some of the projects that we have underway currently were planned through the airport capital improvement program, we have had the opportunity to expedite other projects, based on the minimal levels of activity, which makes it more convenient and less of a burden for our tenants and users.”

Avflight Expands Its Michigan Service Area

Aviation services provider Avflight has expanded the footprint of its network with the opening of an FBO at Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). It becomes the second at the Grand Rapids gateway and the company’s 22nd location worldwide.

The five-acre, $7 million facility was completed on schedule, despite complications from the Covid-19 crisis. Located on the east side of the field, it consists of a 5,000-sq-ft terminal, which is open 24/7 and offers a passenger and pilot lounges, concierge services, and 1,650 sq ft of tenant office space, along with indoor car parking, and complimentary car washes. The adjoining 30,000-sq-ft hangar, which has 400-amp electric service, can accommodate aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650.

“We are thrilled to bring Avflight’s expertise and passion for aviation to GRR as a gateway to West Michigan,” said Garrett Hain, v-p of finance for the Avfuel-sister company that now operates seven FBOs in its home state. “The region is full of vibrant communities and is an epicenter for business, education, art, dining, entertainment, and tourism. Our investment reflects our long-term commitment to the airport and the services it provides.”

Why Brokers Believe the Used Bizjet Market Will Recover 

Previous economic crises have hit the private jet market hard, but brokers believe Covid-19 is very different. Jetcraft president Chad Anderson explains what he’s hearing from buyers and sellers, why cash is king, and why he believes business aviation could come out of this situation stronger.