Businessman, aircraft owner, and legendary basketball superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson kickstarted NBAA-BACE 2019 in celebratory, championship-style at yesterday morning’s keynote presentation, which also featured pioneering internet entrepreneur Sky Dayton and aircraft developer Gamebird Composites founder Steuart Walton. The gala opening ceremony set the tone of what promises to be “the most exciting convention the NBAA has ever hosted,” as NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen proclaimed in his welcoming remarks.
“Good things are happening, and you’re a part of it,” Bolen told attendees, pointing to urban air mobility vehicles, sustainable fuel initiatives, and the new aircraft coming to market—all on display at the Las Vegas gathering.
When Bolen brought Johnson to the podium, he talked about his career and the key role business aviation has played in his post-basketball life. “When I first got started playing basketball, we had to fly commercial,” he said, recounting the wear and stress that put on a team trying to compete. “I’m still surprised we won over 65 games a year.”
After basketball, “I reinvented myself,” Johnson said. “I wanted to be a businessman. My partners had these incredible airplanes,” and he wanted one of his own. Johnson and his partners eventually opened 125 Starbucks franchises in 40 cities, and when the group sold them, “I had the money to buy my aircraft. It’s put years on my life,” he said.
Wheels Up has ambitious goals to expand beyond its initial membership model, founder and CEO Kenny Dichter said this week at NBAA-BACE, as he recapped a year of growth and discussed plans for the private aircraft access provider’s future.
The year’s developments began with the launch of Wheels Up’s online charter marketplace in January, bookended by its September purchase of flight management software developer Avianis. In between, the New York-based company introduced its entry-level Connect Membership and acquired wholesale light jet charter operator Travel Management Company (TMC), among other investments.
Wheels Up plans to create a seamless access portal offering options including flight sharing, membership access to a fixed fleet, and charter. Using the Avianis software engine, it will link vetted operators and consumers, increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of access beyond what other providers currently offer, Dichter said.
The new Connect membership ($2,995 for the first year; $2,495 annually for renewals) targets those flying 10 or fewer hours per year, and offers access as-available (rather than guaranteed) to its fleet and services, including flight sharing.
Going forward, the public will have access to its charter marketplace, which will offer dynamic pricing and instant booking via mobile devices.
Finally, Europe might be its next area of geographic concentration. Dichter said the company is already booking flights in Europe and will soon mount an aggressive expansion on the Continent.
Gulfstream hit paydirt with initial fleet orders valued at nearly $2 billion from Qatar Executive and Flexjet for the new G700 flagship unveiled on Monday evening at the NBAA-BACE static display at Las Vegas Henderson Executive Airport.
The Qatar Executive charter arm of Qatar Airways is taking 10 G700s worth $750 million at list price, with Qatar also having the honor of being the G700 launch customer. This supplements Qatar’s earlier orders for G500s and G650ERs, and the company is currently operating six G650ERs and five G500s.
Flexjet, the first North America G700 fleet customer for the new Gulfstream, placed a firm order for 16 G700s worth $1.2 billion at list price. It already operates G650ERs, G500s, and G450s, and was North America launch customer for the G500. Flexjet plans to make the G700 available for its Red Label service.
“The G700, with its speed, range, and versatility, will make an exceptional fractional offering,” said Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci. “We anticipate that it will be ideally suited for those companies that need occasional access to global markets and will be the pinnacle of our Red Label offering.”
Gulfstream's 7,500-nm G700 has five living areas, including an extra-large 10-foot-long galley, and is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 turbofans. First flight is planned in the first half of next year, followed by G700 service entry in 2022.
Pennsylvania-based Innovation Solutions & Support's (IS&S) ThrustSense autothrottle system recently received U.S. FAA supplemental type certification on the King Air B200, Tom Grunbeck, director of autothrottle programs for the company, announced on Monday. ThrustSense had already been STC’d for the PC-12 and PC-12NG.
“Over 1,000 airplanes have been outfitted with IS&S cockpits,” said Grunbeck. “We’re excited to add the ThrustSense technology to our 4D Next Generation Flight Decks for PC-12 and King Air platforms.”
Consisting of an integrated standby unit (ISU) and linear actuators that control each throttle lever, the ThrustSense autothrottle provides smooth and synchronized power and speed control based on the aircraft’s pilot operating handbook values through takeoff, climb, airspeed hold, landing, go around, and other modes. The system can also instantly recognize an engine-out condition and adjust the throttle setting for the running engine to prevent hazardous yaw.
The ThrustSense ISU contains an integrated computer, inertial measurement unit, air data system, and flat panel display in a box that directly replaces the existing standby unit in the flight deck. Its ISU computer uses proprietary software to determine the throttle positions needed to prevent over-temp, over-torque, over-speed and hot start conditions for engines that do not already use an electronic control system.
With pilot and technician demand at an unprecedented high level, training provider FlightSafety International (FSI) is ramping up to meet the challenge. Among many initiatives, the company will build a new learning center at the Houston Spaceport area of Ellington Airport. This facility will replace its current Houston learning center, which opened in 1976, said FSI president and CEO David Davenport.
The new center will initially house 12 full-flight simulators for a variety of aircraft types. FSI will train pilots, flight attendants, and technicians, the latter including a specified area for Pratt & Whitney Canada engines. In a move Davenport said demonstrates a commitment to providing turnkey services for operators of FAR Part 25 aircraft, FSI has also entered into an agreement with an unidentified “large commercial aircraft operator” to have exclusive use of an area with flight simulators, classrooms, and offices.
Meanwhile, FSI is expanding its Gulfstream G280 training program, introducing a fourth simulator at its Wilmington, Delaware learning center. At its Teterboro, New Jersey learning center, FSI will launch a new Dassault Falcon 2000LXS/900LX interchangeable simulator next week, following pending FAA level-D qualification. In addition to its Vital visual system and CrewView collimated glass mirror display, the new sim has Dassault’s FalconEye combined vision system head-up display.
Aviation job website JSfirm is reporting a 134 percent increase in aviation job seekers using its website. Job seekers using the online employment postings represent all levels of experience, from entry-level candidates to seasoned executives. The company is predicting an increase in aviation job seekers through 2019 and into 2020. Concurrently, the number of companies advertising job openings on the site has increased by 117 percent compared with last year.
Company executive director Abbey Hutter said JSfirm “constantly strives to develop new initiatives including industry partnerships, student outreach programs, and continually adding new website features and tools for our users.” She further characterized job-search activity as brisk, with a mix of entry-level job seekers and experienced employees exploring their employment opportunities.
"Among pilot candidates, we're seeing more activity across the board,” Hutter told AIN, whether "regional airline pilots looking to upgrade or business aviation pilots looking for the next step up.” She also said demand is rising for mechanics, service personnel and management positions.
A combination of newer turboprop testing standards and engine preparations required for its flying testbed are driving a delay in the initial delivery of GE Aviation's new Catalyst turboprop to Textron Aviation for the Cessna Denali, said Brad Mottier, v-p and general manager of business, general aviation, and integrated systems for GE Aviation.
Textron Aviation on Monday announced the delay in the turboprop single’s first flight to sometime next year. Both Textron Aviation and GE Aviation had anticipated first flight of the Denali later this year.
The primary holdup has been eight test certification requirements for turboprop engines put in place by the FAA over the past 10 years. Among those more stringent requirements are ones that center around engine icing, added GE Aviation general manager of turboprops Paul Corkery.
A King Air 350 that will serve as the Catalyst flying testbed is being outfitted for the engine, although that has brought its own set of challenges, including a new structure to affix it to the airplane’s wing. Once the Catalyst has been fitted to the King Air, trialing with the flying testbed will begin in Europe.
Catalyst will eventually have European Union Aviation Safety Agency and FAA certifications.
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