Jet Linx Grows with Elliott Jet Management Purchase

Business jet management provider Jet Linx, the third largest in the U.S., has continued its growth with the acquisition of Elliott Aviation’s management division. Jet Linx recently passed a milestone with its fleet having flown more than 100 million miles. Since 2015, it acquired two other management companies: ProJet Aviation in Washington, D.C. and Flight Concepts in Oklahoma. This latest move adds another nine aircraft to the Nebraska-based company’s current fleet of 105 aircraft under management.

“Both Jet Linx and Elliott Aviation are respected family businesses and industry leaders that have enjoyed a thriving partnership for more than two decades,” said Jamie Walker, president and CEO of Jet Linx. “This acquisition will enable Jet Linx to expand our operations in the Midwest as well as provide private jet management services and jet card offerings to Elliott Aviation’s clients, allowing Elliott Aviation to continue serving our aircraft owners' maintenance, paint, and refurbishment needs while focusing on the development of its core business.”

Elliott has facilities in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, and the company plans to surrender its charter certificate after the transfer of the aircraft management operation.

“As Elliott Aviation enhances our focus on our maintenance, repair, and overhaul business, we wanted to find the right company to take over our existing aircraft management division,” said chairman and CEO Wynn Elliott. “As Jet Linx shares many of our core values, it is the ideal choice to take over this part of our business.”

G550 Captures 55th Record with Shanghai/Seattle Trip

Gulfstream Aerospace continues to amass speed records with its fleet of mid-cabin and ultra-long-range aircraft, the latest of which involves a 10-hour and 29-minute journey between Shanghai and Seattle in a G550. That record is the 55th for the G550 alone, and among 269 that the in-production Gulfstream portfolio has accumulated.

In the latest G550 announced event, the aircraft took off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 2:09 p.m. local time on April 19 and landed at Seattle’s King County International Airport-Boeing Field, at 9:38 a.m. local time. The G550 averaged a speed of Mach 0.85 during the 5,123-nm trip.

Once the record is approved by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association, Gulfstream will present the city-pair record to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale for world-record recognition.

Gulfstream has delivered more than 575 G550s since the model entered service in 2003. Since that time, the fleet has topped 1.8 million flight hours. With a maximum range of 6,750 nm at long-range cruise of Mach 0.80, the 19-passenger G550 has become a choice for numerous governments for special missions that range from personnel transport; open patrol; high-altitude atmospheric research; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and air ambulance, among others.

“The G550 never fails to impress as it continues to break records and uphold its lasting reputation, demonstrating why the G550 is a consistent choice for business aviation and special missions operations,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.

Jetex Calls for New Term To Replace Aging ‘FBO’ Moniker

A Middle East FBO specialist has issued a call to the business aviation industry to create a new name for the FBO, suggesting the term needs replacement. In an open letter to the global industry, Adel Martini, president and CEO of Jetex Flight Support, said after 100 years the term “FBO” had become outmoded.

“We're challenging the history of aviation to not just redefine but reinvent the term ‘fixed base operator’ (FBO),” Mardini wrote. “We are initiating an opportunity for aviation experts and passengers alike to ask themselves what the term 'FBO' means to them and to share what it means [with] us.

“The description of an FBO labels it as a gas station for planes, but since its origin in 1918, it has progressed to mean a relaxed and stress-free setting for busy travelers.”

Jetex has committed to set up more than 50 FBOs around the world by 2020. Over 25 are understood to be operational today. Its facility at the VIP Terminal at Dubai South has won worldwide plaudits for its quality and level of hospitality.

Mardini concluded, “I ask you to question whether you agree that the evolution of FBOs prompts a chance to rename them in order to fully celebrate the extent of what they now offer."

FAA Warns of GPS Interference from SPOT PEDs

Aircraft operators have notified the FAA of several instances of an intermittent loss of GPS position information that has been the result of the use of a SPOT portable electronic device (PED) as the cause of the interference. The SPOT satellite messenger PED transmits position information to a satellite communications network at user-selected intervals from 2.5 to 60 minutes.

As a result of this interference, the FAA has published InFo For Operators 19006, which provides awareness to Part 91 aircraft owners, operators, and pilots on the safe use of SPOT PEDs. It also reminds the flying public of existing regulations, policy, and guidance covering the safe use of PEDs on board aircraft.

Pilots often place the SPOT PED on the glareshield and consequently, the device may transmit in close proximity to the aircraft’s installed GPS antenna. Operators have identified this proximity as a contributor to the interference issue. “SPOT is working cooperatively with the FAA to provide detailed information to its existing and future customers regarding the safe use of SPOT PEDs during aircraft operations,” the agency said. “SPOT plans to include this updated information on its website, in its products' quick-start guide pamphlets, and in an email notification to its existing customers.”

The FAA warns that this GPS interference also affects aircraft systems that rely on GPS position data, such as ADS-B.  

Avidyne IFD Update Allows Pro Line 21 Interface

The new R10.2.3.1 software update for Avidyne’s IFD series navigator allows the units to interface with Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, including flight director and autopilot coupling for LPV approaches. Installing an IFD system in legacy turbine aircraft eliminates “the need for more costly OEM display hardware and software upgrades,” according to Avidyne.

The Avidyne IFD’s GPS Legacy Avionics Support (GLAS) also provides synthetic vision, electronic charts, ADS-B, and wireless connectivity to Stratus ADS-B receivers, ForeFlight’s EFB app, and other Wi-Fi devices. Other features include ADS-B In weather and traffic integration with ForeFlight, support for L3’s Lynx NGT-9000 ADS-B transponder, support for Garmin’s G5 HSI and GDL 69A SiriusXM weather datalink, and a host of display and other capabilities.

Pilots can practice using the new features with Avidyne’s iPad IFD Trainer app. While the software update is a free upgrade for IFD owners (installation labor not included), the GLAS enablement costs $24,999 per aircraft. 

“With our popular IFD series gaining wider adoption throughout the GA market, Avidyne is now actively targeting legacy turbine-class aircraft, starting with the Citation and King Air fleets, where there are a significant numbers of aircraft operators who are looking for more affordable safety and performance enhancements like GPS-based SBAS/LPV approaches, synthetic vision, electronic charts, ADS-B, and wireless connectivity,” said Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn.

Veasey, Graves Reignite GA Caucus

Reps. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) and Sam Graves (R-Missouri) are returning as co-chairs of the House General Aviation Caucus and have kicked off a membership drive. They recently circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter to encourage their House colleagues to join the effort, underscoring the importance of the industry in the overall economy.

“The GA industry employs over 1.1 million workers and contributes more than $219 billion to the U.S. economy annually,” they said in the letter, adding that U.S. GA manufacturers shipped 1,746 airplanes valued at $11.6 billion in 2018, 39 percent of which involved exports. “In fact, the GA industry is one of the few remaining U.S. manufacturing industries that provide a trade surplus for the U.S,” the lawmakers added.

The caucus was established in 2009 to promote the value of the industry at a time when it faced negative perception issues both on Capitol Hill and in the general public. The caucus has since provided an educational role and fought for key industry issues.

NBAA praised the effort to reignite the caucus and established an online tool that members can use to ask their representatives to join. “Time and again, House GA Caucus members have been among the most effective champions for the general aviation community,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, adding the caucus represents a diverse group that has a clear understanding of the importance of the industry.

Minor Injuries as Bell 206 Crashes into Hudson

Only minor injuries were reported yesterday after a Bell 206L4 operated by Zip Aviation crashed into New York City’s Hudson River on a repositioning flight from the West 30th Street heliport. The 34-year-old pilot, the only person on board, escaped with an injury to his left hand. A dock worker at the heliport slipped and injured his right wrist while trying to evacuate the area as the distressed helicopter approached.

The New York Police Department said the helicopter had just refueled at West 30th and was departing for an unknown location when the accident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time off 34th Street on the New York side of the river close to the heliport. First responders were on scene within three minutes, but by then, the pilot was already safely on shore. New York Fire Department divers entered the water to inspect the helicopter for additional occupants and planned to remove the fuel from the aircraft later today before surrendering the wreckage to the NTSB.

Multiple video sources show the pilot slowly orbiting over the water off the heliport before the helicopter entered a low altitude spin. The pilot appeared to attempt to arrest the spin by lowering the helicopter’s nose and then deploying the emergency pop-out floats and leveling off shortly before impacting the water at an accelerated rate. Shortly thereafter it rolled inverted in the water.

Duncan Now Offers Fueling at Provo

While construction continues on Duncan Aviation’s newest MRO location at Utah’s Provo Municipal Airport, the facility’s 90,000-gallon fuel farm is staffed and open for fueling from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In anticipation of the start of FBO operations, line services supervisor Bob Cornett recruited team members from the company’s existing locations in Lincoln, Nebraska and Kalamazoo, Michigan as well as experienced technicians from the local area. He plans for the facility to undergo its Stage One International Standard for Business Aviation Handling audit in May.

“We are very proud of the team that Bob has assembled,” noted company COO Bill Prochazka. “We look forward to providing the same world-class service in Provo that has been Duncan Aviation’s hallmark for more than 63 years.”

The facility, which already has new maintenance and paint hangars, has received FCC certification for Arinc, and its radio frequency is now active, allowing incoming pilots to notify the desk team of their inbound aircraft.

Upon its completion in the second quarter of 2020, the location will have 275,000 sq ft of maintenance, modification, and paint facilities.