Flapper Prepares To Land in Mexico

Belo Horizonte, Brazil-based business aircraft digital charter broker Flapper, which currently provides both per-seat and whole aircraft bookings in Brazil, is expanding into the Mexican market in the second quarter. Flapper cited a large domestic market and low utilization of technology as key reasons why it selected Mexico as its first international market.

“The Mexican market is attractive for several reasons, including large domestic fleet, proximity to the U.S., and an existing private aviation hub at [Mexico City] Toluca Airport,” said Flapper CEO Paul Malicki. “At the same time, this market faces the same challenges as Brazil: little utilization of technology and large fragmentation of the air-taxi segment. Our intention is to turn private aviation into the mainstream travel option and increase the size of the existing market.” According to the company, 35 percent of its customers never flew private aircraft before flying with Flapper.

Flapper’s charter booking app, which currently has 160,000 users in Brazil, is now being “localized” into Spanish and Peso-based pricing. The online charter broker said it has already registered 10 Mexican air-taxi operators and is in advanced discussions with domestic investors who will finance its expansion there. Flapper estimates that the Mexican market will be around $700 million annually. It plans to begin offering scheduled seasonal flights between Toluca and Acapulco, as well as empty leg flights across the country.

Textron Aviation Turns To the Wind To Power Factories

Textron Aviation has signed a 20-year agreement with utility provider Evergy to receive 55 megawatts (MW) of power for its two Kansas plants in Independence and Wichita from a new wind farm under construction in Manhattan, Kansas. The Soldier Creek Wind Farm will generate 300 MW and is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

A tariff passed in 2018 by the utility regulator Kansas Corporation Commission called Direct Renewable Participation Service allows large commercial and industrial customers to buy wind energy at rates lower than Evergy’s current offerings. For Textron Aviation, the rate will decrease from 2.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 1.8 cents per kWh, a nearly 22 percent savings.

“The purchase of renewable energy demonstrates our commitment to a more sustainable future for our employees, communities, and customers,” said Textron Aviation senior v-p of operations Brad White. “Textron Aviation claims nearly 20 percent of the zero-emission and renewable energy generated by the Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center.”

NTSB’s Sumwalt Sees Need for Level Field in Safety

As the NTSB has heightened its focus on elevating Part 135 safety, chairman Robert Sumwalt acknowledged efforts of attendees at the recent Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) 2020 Air Charter Safety Symposium to improve safety but warned that any accident in the segment reflects upon the whole industry.

While Part 135 is on the NTSB’s “Most Wanted” list of safety improvement, he noted the varied operations in the category and the different levels and approaches within Part 135 to safety. But Sumwalt added, “Unfortunately you get painted with a broader brush. Your neighbor’s accident is really your accident. That’s how the public sees it.”

He also pointed to the safety roundtable the NTSB held on Part 135 earlier last week, highlighting some of the key thoughts of the industry to come out of it. Specifically, he noted suggestions about a potential mandate for flight data monitoring (FDM), which the NTSB has recommended. “It does not necessarily have to be a full FOQA program, but FDM in some sort of fashion can enhance safety.”

Sumwalt further noted the efforts of some operators that do everything possible to enhance safety, while others are not as diligent. That’s why sometimes safety regulation is necessary, he said. “From a safety perspective, we want you to be able to compete on a level playing field.”

Coronavirus Puts the Bite on Bizav Conferences

With NBAA’s annual Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference (SDC) due to kick off tonight in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the organization’s International Operators Conference (IOC) slated to follow it next week in the Queen City, several exhibitors have decided they will not attend due to health concerns revolving around the spread of coronavirus.

Among them is Universal Weather & Aviation, which explained its thoughts in a letter on its website from chairman Greg Evans and CEO Ralph Vasami. It reads in part: “After careful consideration and an abundance of caution, Universal has made the difficult decision to cancel our participation in this year’s SDC and IOC 2020 conferences. We are extremely disappointed to not be attending. SDC and IOC are events we love, and NBAA and the SDC/IOC Committees do an outstanding job of hosting these. However, we feel being prudent at this time must take precedence. We also want to acknowledge the extremely difficult position NBAA and the SDC/IOC Committees have been put in due to an unpredictable and quickly evolving situation. There is no doubt, the next few months are going to be challenging for our industry and the world.”

Other stalwart exhibitors who made the decision to withdraw from SDC include Atlantic Aviation and Air BP, and as of press time Signature Flight Support was still said to be weighing its options.

Guardian Flight Brings Helo Air Ambulance to Alaska

Global Medical Response (GMR) unit Guardian Flight will open its first Alaska rotary-wing base at the Kenai Municipal Airport this spring, serving hospitals in Homer, Soldotna, and Seward with an Airbus Helicopters H125. The Kenai base will operate 24/7 with a staff of four pilots, four clinicians, and two mechanics.

Guardian’s helicopter base will join the company’s 11 fixed-wing air ambulances in the state, including Learjet 45s that fly from Guardian Flight bases in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan; a trio of King Air 200s that serve Dead Horse, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage; and a Cessna Caravan in Dillingham. 

Guardian participates in the AirMedCare Network (AMCN) air medical transport membership program. For an annual fee of $65, patients flown by an AMCN provider do so at no additional out-of-pocket costs after payment from member or third-party insurance.

"GMR and Guardian Flight Alaska are pleased to expand our services to now include helicopter support for emergency patient airlifts, in addition to interfacility transfers,” said GMR v-p of northwest operations Jared Sherman. GMR air ambulance companies include American Medical Response (AMR), Rural Metro Fire, Air Evac Lifeteam, REACH Air Medical Services, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corporation, and AirMed International. Privately-held GMR was formed in 2018 through the combination of Air Medical Group Holding and American Medical Response and is controlled by investment firm KKR. 

Safran Eyes Aviation Biofuel Production in France

Safran Helicopter Engines is joining a diversified academic, industry, and government group to study the feasibility of producing aviation biofuels in southwest France. The company had previously committed to making its engines compatible with “green” fuels in the 2030 to 2035 time frame. Group members have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to evaluate local skills and capabilities in the agricultural, chemical, and energy sectors required to produce and distribute aviation biofuels.

“Safran is committed to an industry that treats the environment with greater respect,” said Franck Saudo, CEO of Safran Helicopter Engines. “Success in this ecological transition will evolve from expertise in several technologies.” He added that the company is exploring several enabling technologies, including hybrid-electric power, optimized turboshaft designs, and alternative fuels. “Our ambition to create this local biofuel source will satisfy the latter objective. And our engine test facilities will help us develop even more advanced alternative fuels,” Saudo said.

LOI signatories include agriculture and chemical companies Euralis, Teréga, ACD (Aquitaine Chimie Durable), Chemparc, Agri Sud Ouest Innovation; forest products concern Xylofutur; the Chamber of Commerce of Pau Béarn; the Pau and Pays de l'Adour University; and the Aerospace Valley consortium.

NAA Honors Chabrian, Simi

The National Aeronautic Association on Friday honored Women in Aviation International founder Peggy Chabrian with its 2020 Cliff Henderson Trophy. The association separately will present its 2019 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Trophy to Shelly Simi.

The Henderson trophy was established in honor of the creator of the National Air Races and recognizes “a living individual, group of individuals, or an organization whose vision, leadership or skill made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace in the U.S.” Chabrian is honored for founding WAI and its conference. The association's membership now spans more than 14,000, while the conference draws 4,500.

The Stinson Trophy was created in honor of Katherine and Marjorie Stinson, who were among the first certified American women airplane pilots. “Simi is being recognized for ‘her accomplishments as a successful and passionate aviation professional and for dedicating over 25 years to opening minds and doors for women in pursuit of aviation opportunities,’” NAA said. She has represented the industry at GAMA and worked for Adam Aircraft, Jeppesen, Boeing Digital Aviation, and Aurora Flight Sciences. Most recently president and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, Simi is a founding WAI board member and helped develop industry growth initiatives, including Be A Pilot, Learn to Fly, GA TEAM 2000 and No Plane, No Gain.

Traffic Losses Propel Russian Airlines into Bizav Ops

Russian airlines are seeking to expand into the business aviation arena in an attempt to offset ever-declining passenger traffic, which has further been exacerbated by the coronavirus, according to several airline representatives. In fact, Russian air carrier Red Wings has confirmed it plans to start business aviation flights shortly.

According to a Red Wings spokesman, its initial business aviation flights will be conducted with Tu-204-100Vs, a medium-range airliner, converted for the “needs of business aviation.” The company has already received all the needed permissions and certificates for such flights, it said. Red Wings’ business aviation fleet will be based at Moscow Vnukovo International Airport.

Oleg Panteleev, the head of aviation consultancy AviaPort, told AIN that while the Tu-204 is not currently a high-demand business aircraft in Russia, it makes sense for Red Wings to use aircraft already in its fleet. “Red Wings has experience in operating the Tu-204, so the choice is quite logical,” he said.

Meanwhile, other Russian air carriers are also planning to follow suit, especially since many are predicting a significant decline in revenue this year due to the coronavirus and the current tensions between Russia and Turkey, the main destination for Russian tourists.

Airbus ACJ319 Bizliner Offers Spacious Alternative

Anyone who has ever flown on a medium-range airliner with up to 150 other people on board will be astounded to see what happens when these aircraft are configured for VIP use. The Airbus ACJ319 is a classic case in point. Fundamentally, the A319 is built to earn its living in the hard-working airline environment where it might fly as many as 3,000 hours per year. In the VIP role, it's unlikely to log more than around 300.