Sheltair’s FXE Hangar Complex Now Fully Operational

Sheltair has completed its major hangar complex on the north side of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). The $30 million project, which was begun in 2018, includes eight hangars of up to 22,500 sq ft with 28-foot doors that were designed to accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets.

The nearly five-acre development just off Taxiway November also has 31,000 sq ft of office space and a private access road for its tenants. Sheltair is providing potential lessees the option to choose between private or community hangar space, along with the ability to customize spaces with build-to-suit options.

"As a three-generation family business, our values are focused on the customer's experience and our pursuit to deliver unmatched aviation products,” said Sheltair president Lisa Holland. “There are no shortcuts to achieving these goals, and our FXE hangar complex reflects our sustained and undivided focus on what matters most—our customers."

Managed by Banyan Air Service, which operates a massive FBO on the field with hundreds of thousands of square feet of hangar space of its own, this new complex will be served 24/7 by Banyan’s recently-finished, dedicated north side satellite terminal. Attached to Hangar A, at 9,485 sq ft it offers a passenger lounge, pilot lounge, shower facilities, eight-seat conference room, business center, flight planning area, catering storage, and tenant offices.

WEF Report Examines SAF Needs

Recognizing that climate change is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, a newly-released report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) says a transition to carbon-neutral flying is possible, with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as the most promising decarbonization option in the near-term. Published yesterday, Clean Skies for Tomorrow: Sustainable Aviation Fuels as a Pathway to Net-Zero Aviation states “the decade until 2030 is our window of opportunity to shift the global trajectory to a sustainable future. Indeed, the actions taken now will determine the ability of future generations to sustain themselves on this planet.”

According to the report, while enough feedstock supplies such as municipal waste, agricultural residues, and cooking oil waste currently exist to reach production of 500 million tonnes annually—enough to fuel all aviation by 2030—planned production capacity investments will only yield four million tonnes a year by 2030, representing 1 percent of the projected global jet fuel demand in 2030.

Despite the cost differential that currently exists between SAF and conventional jet-A, the WEF believes that price delta will narrow as further technology innovations and efficiencies of scale in production are achieved. The main challenges, it noted, will be in developing appropriate financing, incentives, and regulatory mechanisms to spur investment and increase production.

GAO Calls For Holistic Review for Skills Gaps at FAA

A U.S. government watchdog is recommending that the FAA’s Office of Aviation Safety (AVS) conduct continual organization-wide evaluations for potential gaps in the competency of its inspector and engineering workforce as well as for adequacy of its training curriculum. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the agency’s workforce competency and training approaches under a directive from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.

That directive stemmed from concerns that the FAA’s technical knowledge could be strained in the face of a large number of potential retirements on the horizon coupled with the rapid introduction of new technologies, GAO said in a report to Congress. In fact, 52 to 62 percent of the AVS will be eligible to retire by Fiscal Year 2025, it said. 

AVS officials have begun to identify critical competencies necessary to oversee the aviation industry, GAO acknowledged. But the organization does not assess organization-wide workforce competency gaps on a recurring basis, it said, adding that skills evaluation typically is conducted individually. “This approach does not provide AVS an organization-wide view of competency gaps,” GAO contended.

Similarly, while AVS trains inspectors and engineers on skills required for their safety work, the organization has not assessed on a recurring basis whether the training curricula is adequate. Without such assessments, GAO added, AVS does not have the ability to determine whether there are gaps in training.

Honeywell Unveils New Dassault FalconConnect Platform

Honeywell Aerospace has reconfigured the FalconConnect portal for owners and operators of Dassault Aviation business jets that includes a new dashboard bringing together in-flight connectivity, flight planning and optimization, and flight database services in a single platform. Powered by Honeywell’s Forge analytics platform, the new portal includes high-speed airborne connectivity, hardened aviation cybersecurity, real-time data and alerts, aircraft tracking and monitoring, flight planning, and efficiency tools.

“The new FalconConnect portal will provide the same quality of services that customers love, but now customers will have a singular connection to access their FalconConnect service subscription,” said Jean Kayanakis, Dassault senior v-p of the worldwide Falcon customer service and service center network. “Included are all the FalconConnect offerings—such as flight planning, flight database, and cabin connectivity software, services, and applications—and we will continue to add new features in the months ahead.”

Honeywell software and services v-p and general manager John Peterson said it will better enable Falcon customers to improve operational performance by bringing connectivity and productivity tools that enhance and manage owners’ and operators’ flight experiences. The new platform is available with a current FalconConnect subscription.

Abu Dhabi Aviation Inducts Two New AW169s into Fleet

Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), a helicopter and fixed-wing oil and gas and charter operator, inducted two new Leonardo AW169s into its fleet last month. “One is going onto an offshore oil and gas contract, while the other is available for charter or other contracts,” Mark Pierotti, ADA's commercial department director, told AIN. “ADA is proud to bring into its fleet a brand-new type; the AW169 is a state-of-the-art offshore-capable helicopter.”

Out of ADA's fleet of 61 aircraft, 54 are helicopters. The majority of the fleet is on permanent contract, while around six—including its AW139s, Bell 412s, and AW169s—are available for ad hoc private charter.

The International Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) Association has developed recommended standards for the industry, including aviation transportation. The AW169 is among the leading IOGP standards-qualified aircraft in the four- to five-ton category, he said.

Last month, ADA received the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 3 safety accreditation. “This is to enable us to access the charter market with the correct and relevant accreditations, giving our customers confidence,” Pierotti said.

In operation since 1976, ADA claims to be the largest operator and maintainer of helicopters in the Middle East and North Africa region. The company also operates and maintains Dash 8 Q200, Q300, and Q400 regional turboprops, offering charter and leasing services worldwide.

Chuck Kegley Becomes President of Hawthorne

Veteran FBO executive Chuck Kegley has joined Hawthorne Global Aviation Services as president. Based at the FBO chain’s Long Island MacArthur Airport location in Islip, New York, Kegley steps into his new role with 35 years of aviation experience, including serving as president of corporate aviation services for Advance Aviation Services, as well as president of Gateway USA, which does business as Clay Lacy Aviation. He also has served as general manager of Galvin Flying Services and as an engineer with Boeing.

"Chuck brings a tremendous depth of experience in the general aviation services industry, including management of fixed-base operations, aircraft charter and management, and aircraft maintenance organizations, and we look forward to his help continuing to improve and streamline our business through these unprecedented times,” said Hawthorne CEO Bryon Burbage. “Hawthorne remains committed to safe operations for our customers, and employees and Chuck's experience bringing Clay Lacy to IS-BAH status will only enhance that commitment."

Hawthorne Global Aviation Services, which has a history dating back to 1932, operates FBOs at Atlanta Cobb County International Airport; Chicago Executive Airport; Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Regional Airport; and Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, in addition to its Long Island location.

Duncan Adds TCCA Approvals to Avance L5 Lineup

Duncan Aviation is continuing to expand the applications and market for its Gogo Avance L5 Wi-Fi installations, most recently with Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) validations covering the Cessna Citation 680, Citation 750, and Gulfstream G280.

With the latest round of approvals, Duncan now has TCCA validations in hand for all nine supplemental type certificates the MRO has developed for the Avance L5 system. The STCs include the Wi-Fi certification and full equipment and antenna installation of the Avance L5 system on a range of Bombardier Globals, Challengers, Gulfstreams, Falcons, and Citations.

The approvals come as interest in connectivity installations has continued to peak, the company said. “Many of the requests for quotes we’ve been getting are for connectivity, and we expect demand to remain strong well into 2021,” said regional avionics sales manager John Spellmeyer.

Duncan Aviation is offering unlimited Gogo Text & Talk and Gogo Vision subscription services free for up to one year with Avance installations conducted at one of its full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; or Provo, Utah.

FSF Honors John Goglia, Stuart Matthews

The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) recently honored former U.S. NTSB member, airline maintenance professional, and safety advocate John Goglia with its Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award. Goglia was recognized during FSF‘s 73rd annual International Air Safety Summit (IASS), which was held virtually.

The organization further presented an honorary Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award to former FSF president and CEO Stuart Matthews. FSF said the award “recognizes and celebrates original and remarkable worldwide contributions─in method, design, invention, study or other advancement─in the field of aviation safety, be it civil or military.”

Goglia, who is an AIN contributor, was the first, and to date still only, airframe and powerplant mechanic appointed to become an appointed NTSB member, serving on the Board from August 1995 to June 2004. He joined the NTSB with some 30 years of experience as an airline mechanic, union flight safety representative, and owner of an aircraft service company. He has since remained active in aviation safety initiatives, serving as senior v-p with JD Aviation Technology Solutions and then with his own firm, John Goglia LLC. 

Matthews was president and CEO of FSF between 1994 and 2006. Before that, he had served on the FSF board of governors since 1989, including as chairman.