Citi Reiterates ‘Cautious Optimism’ for Bizjet Market

Ford von Weise, global head of aircraft financing for Citi Private Bank, termed the overall atmosphere last week at EBACE as “benign” during a conference call earlier this week hosted by Citi Research addressing the current state of the business jet market. Participants on the call were also cautious about macro factors and trade war risks that could negatively affect the certainty the market thrives on.

“That said, there’s still some optimism behind that caution based on stabilized pricing/values and new products driving demand,” Citi Research aerospace analyst Jonathon Raviv said. “It’s also worth remembering that the market is in a better spot than it has been for several years, which could provide some cushion if macro weakens significantly.

“In our view, business jets are showing signs of life, with legacy orders supporting stabilized or modestly higher legacy production rates. But we do sense some jitters…which in our view means [aircraft manufacturers] are still reticent to raise rates meaningfully.”

Citi Research noted the business jet market relies on “aircraft need, liquidity, and confidence.” While it said the first two are currently in good shape, “confidence could falter, which could be coincident with aircraft need. Confidence is very important for the high-net-worth crowd, which our expert suggests comprises 50 percent of buyers. A sentiment swoon can freeze their purchase decision.”

NATA Encourages Training To Guard Against DEF Risks

Recent incidents involving diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) contamination underscore the “very real threat” such events pose and the need for increased training, NATA said. The latest contamination occurred earlier this month, resulting in loss of power in the engines of two Cessna Citation 550s. An FBO at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida had fueled the aircraft. This was the third time in less than two years such an event has occurred, NATA noted, adding in all three cases multiple in-flight engine failures occurred.

After a 2017 contamination incident, NATA created a free DEF Contamination Prevention training course. “This most recent incident, however, highlights yet again, just how serious the DEF contamination risk is,” the association said. “FBOs and aircraft operators must be diligent in ensuring that staffs are not only properly trained, but that company policies and procedures used to prevent DEF contamination are being followed.”

While a review of the most recent contamination is still ongoing, the earlier incidents involved an inadvertent addition of DEF into the fuel truck’s fuel system icing inhibitor (FSII) storage tank and then injected into the jet fuel supply. NATA encouraged fuel providers to read the FAA’s guidance on the inadvertent use of DEF instead of FSII and undergo training for safe handling. NATA further recommends storing DEF and FSII in separate, locked locations and that only trained personnel should handle DEF.

Chantilly Air Breaks Ground on New D.C.-area FBO

Virginia-based aircraft charter and maintenance provider Chantilly Air broke ground last week on a new FBO at Manassas Regional Airport, the state’s busiest general aviation airport. The nine-acre complex, which is in addition to the company’s current 4.5-acre leasehold, will feature 60,000 sq ft of new hangars, more than doubling the company’s existing aircraft storage space, as well as an 11,000-sq-ft terminal with a passenger lounge, fitness center, conference rooms, and crew planning area. There will also be another 19,000 sq ft of offices available for the company and tenants.

Chantilly Air, which has had a presence at the airport since 1990, currently provides fueling services for its managed aircraft and hangar tenants, and after the $13 million facility opens in the first quarter of 2020, it will expand that service to transient aircraft.

“The Chantilly Air team looks forward to growing general aviation activity at the Manassas Regional Airport by providing comprehensive aviation services,” said COO Tim Sullivan. “Our goal is to create a memorable experience for passengers and crew. Superior customer service is at the core of who we are, and our expanded facilities will allow us to provide this to anyone flying into the airport."

By the time the new facility opens, it will face one less on-field competitor as long-term services provider Dulles Aviation is closing its FBO tomorrow.

Mexico-bound Business Aircraft See Rise in Ramp Checks

Foreign business aircraft arriving at Mexican airports have noted an increase in ramp checks by authorities. According to flight-planning firm OpsGroup, operators, particularly of N-registered aircraft, have reported being subjected to inspections at Monterrey, Loreto, Tampico, and Veracruz, while southern entry ports such as Tapachula and Cozumel are likely to be affected as well. The company warned, “If you are flying anywhere in Mexico over the next month or so, you should prepare for a ramp check!”

Mexican ground handler Manny Aviation Services has issued a memo to its customers warning them to ensure they are carrying their original aircraft and pilot documents, including airworthiness certificate, proof of insurance (when flying under Part 135 both worldwide and Mexican insurance is required), pilot licenses, pilot medical certificates, and if they are holding multiple-entry authorization it must be onboard. During charter operations, the list also includes an air operator certificate, aircraft maintenance logbook, flight manual, minimum equipment list, preflight checklist, weight and balance manifest, and first aid kit, among others.

While Manny Aviation believes the Mexican Civil Aviation Authority has instituted the inspections to ward off cabotage, Ops Group noted that the scrutiny comes in the wake of the fatal crash earlier this month of a U.S.-registered Challenger 601.

ForeFlight Adds Takeoff/Landing Performance

Pilots flying with the latest ForeFlight integrated flight app can now calculate detailed takeoff and landing runway performance. This feature is available in ForeFlight v11.4 for Apple iOS devices and requires a Performance subscription plan.

The new runway performance feature is available for about 200 single- and multi-engine piston airplanes and single-engine turboprops, the latter including the TBM series and Pilatus PC-12. ForeFlight is planning to support business jets in a future version.

Data to support the runway performance capability is sourced from manufacturer pilot operating handbooks. For takeoff and landing distance calculations, ForeFlight incorporates weather from current sources such as Metars or, if airborne, ADS-B In or satellite weather. For flights planned in the future, ForeFlight uses the TAF or MOS forecast information. Pilots can override this information by plugging in current weather from ATIS broadcasts or gameplan future flights using projected weather information. 

To make the runway performance calculations more accurate, ForeFlight also takes into account takeoff and landing weights, based on user inputs in the Flights view.

Along with the runway performance features, the ForeFlight v11.4 update added new flight sharing features, automatic addition of flight photos and screenshots to a logbook entry, night-vision goggles currency tracking, an enhanced navlog with airport diagrams, a signature row, and average fuel flow per hour.  

Jet Aviation Riyadh To Move to Larger Facility

Jet Aviation is relocating to a new, larger facility at Riyadh Airport’s private aviation terminal, which is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter. This move comes as the company marks its 40th anniversary in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand operations further in the key Gulf Cooperation Council destination.

The two-story FBO will include a ground-floor reception and three VIP lounges, while the upper floor will accommodate a crew lounge. “The facility also features an office located airside for handling and line crew,” it said. Jet Aviation’s Riyadh FBO services include passenger and baggage handling, immigration and customs clearance, transportation, hotel, and catering coordination, and aircraft refueling.

“With the expected traffic growth to Riyadh in coming years, the additional space is necessary and offers great benefit in terms of passenger and crew comfort,” said Khaled Al-Ghamdi, general manager of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia. “As the country’s capital and main business center, Riyadh is a key strategic location for us.”

Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia is a joint venture company with local partners. It was the first company to set up an FBO in Saudi Arabia. and operates four FBOs—at Jeddah, set up in 1979, Riyadh (1983), Medina (2012), and Yanbu (2018). The Jeddah facility holds Saudi Arabian GACA 145 and FAA Part 145 approvals for business jet line maintenance and AOG services.

Viasat Shipping High-speed Ka-band Global Aero Terminal

Viasat is now shipping its new Ka-band Global Aero Terminal, the GAT-5518, which provides in-flight, high-speed connectivity for aircraft ranging in size from unmanned aerial vehicles to business jets. According to Viasat, the compact terminal delivers the “industry’s highest data rates” for an 18-inch antenna, allowing high-bandwidth applications.

For business jets, the GAT-5518 allows for onboard live video teleconferencing, voice calls, corporate VPN access, web browsing, audio/video, and live TV streaming, among others. It can also be used to meet various requirements for government/military-operated UAVs and fixed-wing aircraft such as performing real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; MedEvac and telemedicine services; search and rescue; and border and maritime surveillance.

“We’re focused on delivering advanced antenna systems that meet in-flight connectivity requirements across multiple airframes and end-user types,” said Viasat antenna systems general manager Kent Leka.

The GAT-5518, which recently completed FAA D0-160G certification, includes a two-axis steerable, two-way Ka-band antenna with an integrated antenna control unit, an antenna power supply unit, and a modem. Its antenna can be tail, fuselage, or hatch-mounted.

ELT Maker Eases 406 MHz Freq Transition

Safety and emergency equipment manufacturer ACR Electronics’ subsidiary Artex is advising customers to upgrade their aging, non-satellite-compatible 121.5/243-MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELT). This move is in response to an FCC rule that took effect this year prohibiting the manufacture, importation of, or sale of 121.5-MHz ELTs in the U.S. Satellite monitoring of those earlier frequencies was largely discontinued a decade ago, in a switch to the stronger 406-MHz frequency.

“The driving factor behind this recommendation is that battery components are no longer available, and 121.5/243-MHz ELTs are no longer satellite compatible,” said ACR v-p of aviation sales Jeffery Geraci. “ACR has worked hard to keep these legacy ELTs in service for over 35 years, but the timing of the FCC rule, coupled with parts obsolescence, is dictating action.”

Due to the age of legacy ELTs and the difficulty in sourcing parts, battery systems for those Artex units will be obsolete in 2020, and as the company noted, replacing an existing legacy unit’s battery will only provide compliance with FCC/FAA regulations for the battery’s two-year life. The 406-MHz units, which first entered service in 2014, have a five-to-six year battery life, giving further cost advantage. Artex is currently offering a special promotional rebate to those customers who replace their legacy units.