With the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix taking place this weekend, transforming the city's famed Strip into a racecourse for the first time, area airports are gearing up for a major surge of private aviation aircraft. At Harry Reid International Airport (KLAS), Henderson Executive Airport (KHND), and North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT), all transient aircraft arrivals must receive prior permission from their FBO through November 20.

“If you land without PPR [prior permission required], you will not be permitted to deplane passengers," said Heidi Williams, NBAA’s senior director of air traffic services and infrastructure. "You will have to depart immediately or, if additional fuel is needed to continue to another location, you will be permitted to upload fuel.”

Atlantic Aviation—one of two service providers at KLAS—told AIN that it is now at capacity for overnight stays throughout the event, with drop-and-go operations available through Monday. The company noted that it has brought in additional staff to help serve its clients. AOPA is reporting that Atlantic is charging a special events fee of $3,500 for arriving aircraft at KLAS, while Signature Aviation’s fee is $7,700.

At KHND and KVGT, Clark County is charging an event arrival fee of either $750 or $3,000, depending on aircraft size. Both airports are reporting that they are already fully booked for overnight parking.

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has launched the NATA Aviation Apprenticeship Tracking Tool to streamline the process of developing well-documented aviation maintenance technician applicants who are ready for testing. The tool, created in collaboration with the organization's Maintenance Committee, is available only to NATA members and provides a structured approach to recording the on-the-job tasks mandated to fulfill the prerequisites for FAA Form 8610-2.

Structured as an Excel document, the tool aligns with the FAA Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-1). It facilitates the visibility of an applicant's progress and also provides a clear pathway to obtaining an FAA aviation mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant privileges in approximately 30 months or privileges in either airframe or powerplant in about 18 months.

“NATA is pleased to support a member-driven resource that follows FAA guidance to provide a more comprehensive pathway to employee mechanic certification," said association president and CEO Curt Castagna. “The NATA Aviation Apprenticeship Tracking Tool prepares an applicant to return to an MRO as an FAA-certificated aircraft mechanic more expediently and efficiently with credible training, real-world experience, and profit-making ability.”

This tool offers multiple benefits, including an FAA-recognized format for documenting hands-on experience across all necessary segments for testing qualification, as well as tracking capabilities for technicians ranging from piston- to turbine-based systems.

Investigators in South Carolina are searching for clues to the cause of a fire that destroyed a hangar at Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU) and several aircraft within, including a Cessna Citation V Ultra. According to Robert Hoover, the airport’s public relations director, the fire occurred in the early morning on Monday and caused the roof on the 10,000-sq-ft hangar—managed by Special Services Corporation (SSC)—to collapse. He added that the fire did not disrupt operations at the dedicated general aviation airport.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in a matter of hours, but crews are still attempting to stabilize the structure on the southeast side of the field. Investigators need to enter the hangar to determine what started the conflagration.

SSC—which provides aircraft management, charter, and maintenance, and is slowly developing its FBO services at KGMU—told AIN that the aircraft casualties included the aforementioned Citation and a Cirrus SR-22 from the company's managed fleet, as well as a pair of Diamond airplanes that were in for maintenance. The company, which is looking to obtain a larger location at the airport to build a new FBO, still has another 10,000-sq-ft hangar, as well as a 12,000-sq-ft temporary aircraft shelter.

KGMU—which has a 5,394-foot runway—is home to nearly 20 business jets and sees approximately 230 operations per day.

Empire Aviation Group will become the first operator in the UAE to deploy Satcom Direct's Plane Simple Ku-band terminal. The two-line-replaceable-unit aircraft connectivity system, consisting of the tail-mount antenna and SD modem unit, will undergo installation by ACC Columbia Jet at its Hamburg, Germany facility on Empire’s Bombardier Global XRS.

“As a leading management company, our clients entrust and empower us to deploy solutions that deliver reliability, commercial value, and, of course, passenger satisfaction," said Empire Aviation Group founder and managing director Paras Dhamecha. "For us, the SD Plane Simple option just made sense."

Since the commercial introduction of the SD Plane Simple Ku-band terminal about a year ago, the compact terminal has logged more than 10,000 flight hours using the Intelsat FlexExec network, delivering broadband connectivity globally. The Global XRS will be re-delivered to Empire Aviation later this month.

“Satcom Direct is a natural partner for us,” said Dhamecha. “They are well established, knowledgeable, and dependable, and our experience with the team has been nothing but positive. Working with Satcom Direct gives us comfort and confidence, and we look forward to what the future holds together.”

Aviation crew management provider Crewise is now introducing human factors and mental health programs, along with reliance training, to the business aviation industry.

According to the Dallas-based company, which launched in June, these services will become critical given the FAA’s recent announcement that it will establish a pilot mental health aviation rulemaking committee to provide recommendations on breaking down the barriers that prevent pilots from reporting mental health issues to the agency.

Crewise offers proactive support to establish safe workplaces and provides guidance on optimal working conditions for aviation professionals globally. Among its services are drug and alcohol abuse monitoring and management, fitness for duty evaluations, mental health recertification, critical incident management, aeromedical support, and corporate culture and professional standards coaching.

“The heart of our mission is the safety and well-being of pilots,” said Crewise COO Whitney Bohac, an aviation professional with more than a dozen years of experience in aviation management, business strategy, and program development. “We are not just about making things better for them; we aim to lead the way in creating a safer and more reliable aviation industry. These programs are building a stronger and more supported community, propelling ourselves towards a brighter future.”

Valdor Aircraft, an MRO provider at Quebec’s Val-d’Or Airport in the province’s Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, has received Transport Canada supplemental type certificate (STC) approval to re-engine de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-34, along with other modifications.

Intended as an upgrade for the Mark 1 Beaver, the package also includes BX wings manufactured by Valdor; a 106-inch, three-blade, reversible Hartzell propeller with full feathering, start locks, and spinner kit; propeller and overspeed governor; MVP-50T engine monitoring; lightweight and fire-resistant carbon fiber cowling; heavy-duty engine mount; electrically actuated inertial particle separator and ice bypass; and a 200-amp Ametek starter generator and generator control unit.

The BX Turbo Beaver package—with a price tag of $1.18 million—also features a redesigned fuel system, new bleed air cabin heat, custom stainless steel exhaust stacks, Concorde lead-acid stainless steel encapsulated battery, and revamped instrument panel. According to the company, it has four Beavers in the process of being upgraded, with a current eight-month delivery schedule.

“Collaboration is key when propelling an industry and joining forces with Valdor Aircraft continues the legacy of the BX Turbo Beaver upgraded with the PT6A-34 engine,” said Pratt & Whitney Canada v-p of global services and marketing Anthony Rossi. "We are bringing new life to the aircraft and creating value for operators for many years to come."

Sierra Vista Municipal Airport (KFHU) has become the newest member of Avfuel's dealer network. Located in Southern Arizona, amid the Huachuca Mountains, KFHU is a gateway to Fort Huachuca, Karchner Caverns State Park, and the Wild West town of Tombstone.

Co-located with Libby Army Airfield, military operations make up 80 percent of the airport's traffic. KFHU has a 12,000-foot main runway, and the airport-operated FBO features a passenger terminal with a pilot lounge and flight planning area, snooze room, full-service jet and avgas fueling, self-serve avgas pump, and hangar rental for smaller aircraft.

As a member of the Avfuel network, the FBO will now offer contract fuel and the Avtrip customer loyalty program. It will also accept the Avfuel Pro Card for payment.

“This partnership is a testament to our mutual dedication to excellence in aviation services,” said Avfuel v-p of sales Mark Haynes. “Avfuel looks forward to supporting Sierra Vista Municipal Airport’s continued growth and success as, together, we connect aviators with all that southern Arizona has to offer.”

The FAA has approved Vision Aircraft Records’ electronic recordkeeping system, the Nevada-based company announced. Its digital logbook centralizes and digitizes all aspects of recordkeeping, including maintenance entries, inspections, and airworthiness data.

To enhance data security, Vision Aircraft Records said blockchain technology is integrated into its system, which ensures that data records are cryptographically linked, timestamped, and immutable. Equipped with the company’s secure managed aircraft records technology, the system allows users to search, share, and manage all of their aircraft records in one place.

Vision Aircraft Records claims its system is the only FAA-approved electronic recordkeeping system available on the market. The FAA Advisory Circular AC 120-78A-compliant system was designed to be scalable and to adapt to future regulatory changes and new technologies. According to the company, adoption of its electronic recordkeeping system is growing rapidly among business aircraft maintenance organizations and operators.