UAE-based private flight provider Falcon Aviation will launch eVTOL air services connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai under an agreement with manufacturer Archer announced today. The partnership calls for the two companies to develop a network of vertiports connecting the two cities with Archer’s four-passenger Midnight aircraft, with operations to begin as early as next year.

The starting point for the joint operation will be the Falcon Tours Heliport Terminal at Dubai’s Atlantis The Palm resort that Falcon Aviation upgraded last year and officially opened on Friday. The Abu Dhabi-based operator already provides helicopter charter flights and sightseeing tours across the UAE, as well as operating business jets and providing ground handling and maintenance support to other companies.

Flights from Atlantis will connect with the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche district. Flying over the Gulf, the Midnight aircraft will make the trip in 30 minutes from takeoff to landing, which compares with a 90-mile drive of around two hours during peak traffic. 

Last month, Dubai’s government granted Joby exclusive access to the local market for on-demand air taxi services within the emirate for a six-year period. The agreement with the Road and Transport Authority envisions operations from a network of vertiports, with the first four locations being at Dubai International Airport, the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai marina, and Dubai downtown.

After more than 18 months of development and testing, private aviation industry consultancy FBO Partners is launching HangarIT cloud-based hangar occupancy software this week at the 2024 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC).

According to the company, HangarIT is the first purpose-built platform designed to store, manage, and optimize revenue from aviation lease and sublease agreements such as hangar space and offices. It can also provide on-demand hangar occupancy reports allowing service providers to increase revenues from transient aircraft storage.

The system is intended to provide flexibility for all operators, ranging from independent FBOs to large chains, to airports, with a user interface that includes analytics tools, occupancy and pricing metrics, and rent roll reporting. Through integration with JetNet’s database, HangarIT can also accurately identify and verify turbine aircraft by registration, serial number, and type.

A roll call feature captures and records all movements of tenant and transient aircraft to provide an accurate inventory of available hangar space. The system’s lease forecasting tool will offer added insight on the revenue side by monitoring lease renewal rates, identifying vacancies, and providing an overall view of the facility’s real estate portfolio.

Price for the software-as-a-service is approximately 1.5 percent of the subscriber’s monthly rent roll, in addition to a lease set-up fee. FBO Partners estimates users will see three to four times the return on this subscription cost.

The fiscal year 2024 FAA funding package that was signed into law over the weekend is drawing praise for key provisions that NBAA said will boost business aviation. The U.S. Senate approved the package on Friday by a 75-22 vote as part of the multi-agency Consolidation Appropriations Act of 2024. Senate action followed House approval earlier last week.

Also last week, the U.S. Senate approved by unanimous consent the third extension of the FAA’s authorization, this time until May 10. That approval followed House passage a week earlier, and President Biden signed the measure on Friday before the agency’s authorization was set to lapse.

The funding bill provides a $20.28 billion budget for the FAA for the current fiscal year, a $1.25 billion increase over FY2023. NBAA commended the bill, saying it contains measures to strengthen the aviation industry, including various funding for research into sustainability efforts.

“This important legislation bolsters our nation’s business aviation community and helps our industry move toward the next generation of safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

Other measures NBAA highlighted would codify the FAA’s data privacy program, require the FAA to consider the diversity of business aviation in its forthcoming safety management system mandate, include funding for the workforce, and provide grants to assist in the development of advanced air mobility infrastructure.

China-based Skyco International Financial Leasing has signed a contract to purchase six Airbus Helicopters H175s. The Guangdong Provincial Government will use the super-medium helicopters for search-and-rescue, EMS, disaster-relief, and public-service missions.

Skyco Leasing will also work with Airbus Helicopters to expand the European rotorcraft manufacturer’s footprint in Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area. The joint effort includes developing support and services activities, promoting general aviation in China, and further opening low-altitude airspace. 

“This cooperation goes far beyond the purchase of helicopters. It is an unmistakable sign of Guangdong Province's willingness to lead the development of the helicopter market in the southern region of China,” said Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even.

The H175 entered service in 2015 and can fly up to 626 nm, with a top cruise speed of 144 knots. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67E turboshaft engines and can carry up to 18 passengers when configured for commercial transport. The 55 H175s in service have flown more than 210,000 flight hours, with the majority—184,000 hours—in energy sector service.

Gogo Business Aviation is migrating its Gogo Biz air-to-ground (ATG) network to LTE technology. Anyone operating an aircraft that currently has a “legacy” Gogo system (ATG 5000, 4000, 2000 or 1000) installed will be impacted and needs to act quickly by upgrading to AVANCE by Dec. 31, 2025.

X-1FBO's second-annual Approach FBO and User Conference, to be held April 2 to 5 in Miami, will focus “on the modernization of [fixed-base operations] and foster open discussion around all the key factors impacting the ramp.” The company's chief technical officer, Humberto Zuluaga, said he is also looking forward to the event taking a broader look at innovations in technology for the industry.

“We have some of the sharpest folks in business aviation, all here to share what’s new, what works, and how we can all do things better. We’ll share ideas around modernization and leveraging technology. We’re here to shake things up in FBO management. It’s about evolving, and it starts now,” he said.

The conference will host interactive sessions on FBO safety, the impacts of artificial intelligence, quality control, aviation marketing strategies, and customer service. It will also have training sessions and networking events.

Palmetto Bay, Florida-based X-1 makes software for FBO operators.

Robinson Helicopter Company is now offering a symmetrical horizontal stabilizer for R44 helicopter models and has made the design standard on all new R44 models. Retrofit kits for earlier R44s are available at a discounted price of $3,600 until Dec. 31, 2024. The normal list price of the KI-285-2 retrofit kit is $7,050.

The symmetrical stabilizer was first certified on the turbine R66 in September and provides “enhanced handling characteristics during high-speed flight,” according to Robinson Helicopter. Included in the kit is a new stabilizer that can be installed on existing tailcones; new-production R44s will come with an updated tailcone design.

Work is underway to certify the new empennage configuration through validations with regulatory authorities in other countries. Once validated, Robinson Helicopter will deliver new R44s with the symmetrical stabilizer as standard.

“Robinson continues to invest in engineering enhancements that make our aircraft more accessible and easier to fly,” Robinson Helicopter said. “Our aim is to deliver unrivaled safety and reliability so pilots can accomplish their mission with confidence.”

Rolls-Royce has appointed PHI MRO Services as an authorized maintenance center, the companies said at Heli-Expo 2024.

PHI MRO Services’ alignment with Rolls-Royce marks what the MRO provider calls a step forward in delivering “unparalleled” service and maintenance for Rolls-Royce engines to operators around the globe. Operating in a 6,500-sq-ft engine facility that includes 22 workstations and two engine test cells, PHI boasts more than 75 years of experience in the increasingly competitive MRO business.

“Rolls-Royce is proud to welcome PHI Aviation to our global network of authorized service centers,” said Rolls-Royce helicopter program director Scott Cunningham. “Their specialized skills and expertise and customer-centric approach will strengthen our First network, giving operators additional flexibility and competition for local service and support on their Rolls-Royce helicopter engines.”

Located in Lafayette, Louisiana, PHI MRO Services’ maintenance and repair facility qualifies as an AS9110 and FAA Part 145 Certified Repair Station with DAR/DER authorization. It also has won service center certification from other OEMs. Meanwhile, a network of resources positioned worldwide allows PHI to meet requirements of multiple international regulators to support customer operations globally.

SpaceX has signed up Duncan Aviation as a dealer for its Starlink low-earth-orbit satcom system. Duncan will complete the Starlink installations at its three full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah, as well as at its satellite location in Houston.

While there are only three supplemental type certificate (STC) approvals for Starlink—Gulfstream G650, Bombardier Global 6000/Express/XRS, and Embraer ERJ 135/145—engineering companies such as Nextant Aerospace and others are developing additional Starlink STCs. These will include the Challenger 300/350; Global 5000/5500/6500/7500; Gulfstream G550/G450/GIV/GV; Embraer Legacy 600/650, Praetor 500/600, and Phenom 300; and Beechcraft King Air 200 and 300, and Duncan Aviation will be able to complete the installations.

“We have strong interest from Gulfstream owner/operators with G450s and G550s who are awaiting the FAA’s approval of STCs to install Starlink on their aircraft, and we expect to sign them as soon as the ink dries,” said Duncan Aviation senior avionics sales rep Justin Vena.

With download speeds of 40 to 220 Mbps and upload speeds of eight to 25 Mbps and global connectivity, Starlink service prices start at $2,000 per month for 20 GB and $10,000 per month for global unlimited. Onboard hardware consists of the top-fuselage-mounted antenna, power supply, two wireless access points, and wiring.

The AIN Media Group team will be at Booth 1706 at the Schedulers & Dispatchers conference on March 12 to 14, 2024. Stop by and say hello to our team, grab copies of our publications, and enter to win a bottle of Air Vodka, courtesy of Air Company. News for NBAA S&D 2024 can be sent to Curt Epstein.