More than 450 members of the Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) Owner Pilot Association flew to California's Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) this week for the organization's annual meeting in Indian Wells. About 120 Citations landed at KTRM, welcomed by host FBO Desert Jet Center. The conference started on Wednesday and runs through tomorrow.
“We continue to grow with record numbers,” said Trent Corcia, who took over as CEO of CJP on June 1. “We have almost 1,400 members and over 900 Citations listed in our database.”
CJP members travel to the annual event not just to meet friends and learn more from CJP sponsor partners and exhibitors but for the safety sessions that are a hallmark of the association, including companion training for non-pilots flying with Citation owner-pilots. The work put in by members is paying off as “we’ve been accident- and incident-free for this year,” said Charlie Precourt, a former Space Shuttle astronaut, Citation owner, and chairman of the CJP Safety Committee.
The rest of the Citation fleet suffered 51 events during the past year, including three fatal accidents. “As a group, we’re safer than the rest of the Citation operators,” he said. “Let’s keep that going. Insurance underwriters notice [that excellent safety record].”
The CJP conference continued with its annual Safety Standdown, led by Precourt, as well as with breakout sessions on operations, engines, and avionics for each CitationJet model.
AINsight: Long-haul Single-pilot Ops Face Turbulence
Cathay Pacific is working with Airbus to introduce a concept that reduces the number of flight crew on long-haul flights. Project Connect, as it's known internally at Airbus, would certify the Airbus A350 for single-pilot operations during the high-altitude cruise phase of flight. Cathay hopes to introduce this idea on long-haul passenger flights beginning in 2025.
The project will likely encounter some turbulence on its path to wider spread acceptance. In a post-737 Max environment, convincing regulators and passengers that automated technology is the best solution won’t be easy.
Not surprisingly, pilot groups are uneasy with Project Connect. With only one pilot at the controls, they suggest an aircraft may be vulnerable to pilot incapacitation or the pilot going rogue. There are also fears that autonomous aircraft are more vulnerable to hacking by cyber-criminals and that one less pilot in the cockpit could increase the risk of an intrusion by hijackers or terrorists.
By regulation, transport-category aircraft rely on redundant systems to ensure the highest level of safety. By design, these aircraft have multiple engines, electric generator sources, hydraulic systems, and other backup systems—this philosophy makes air travel the safest form of transportation. Project Connect calls for removing the single most critical component of this system—the pilot.
NATA Video Highlights Preparation for Vaccine Mandates
U.S. employers with 100 or more workers should prepare to get ahead of looming vaccine requirements, in part by confidentially surveying staff to determine how many people might be affected. That was the advice of Alison Squiccimarro of the Law Offices of Paul Lange during a videotaped question-and-answer session with NATA senior v-p Ryan Waguespack.
While final details have yet to be released, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week sent its draft emergency temporary standard to the White House that will implement a Covid-19 vaccine mandate or weekly testing requirement for all private companies with 100 or more employees. The requirement could take effect as early as December 1.
Squiccimarro advised companies to anticipate that the requirement will cover those that have employed 100 workers total—including part-timers—within the past 24 months. The rules are believed to have a component for testing employees who have exemptions from vaccination for medical or religious reasons. Some questions remain about the tests, such as who is responsible for paying for them, she said, but added that full PCR testing would likely be required weekly.
Squiccimarro advised companies to get a handle on how many employees are or will need to be vaccinated, and how many may need testing. “Figure out what the scope of your problem is,” she said. “You can set your policy on real information.”
Million Air will expand its Texas footprint with the establishment of an FBO at Laredo International Airport, where it will join two existing service providers. The Houston-based company expects to break ground on the $15 million greenfield development in January, with an eye toward commencing operations by the end of 2022.
The facility will include a 12,000-sq-ft, two-story terminal with a passenger lounge, three conference rooms, two snooze rooms, and a pilot lounge. An “initial” 29,000-sq-ft hangar is planned to accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets, and the development will also include a 1,000-sq-ft ground service equipment maintenance facility.
Company CCO Terry Cross said that the latter is required due to the airport’s status as a major cargo hub on the South America-Canada route, and it will fill a need for on-field equipment repair. That building, designed to include offices and a lounge, will allow it to function as a temporary terminal in case delays are encountered during main terminal construction, according to Cross. The company will also add a fuel farm with a capacity of 60,000 gallons of jet-A and 12,000 gallons of avgas.
The FBO at Laredo will be the Houston-based chain's sixth location in its home state. Cross told AIN that the company is excited “to service more international clients through one of the top airports for cargo in the U.S.”
Dickson: FAA Progressing on Changes to ODA, Aging TCs
The FAA has stripped away some of the latitude that Boeing and other manufacturers have had under the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) program, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson reported yesterday during a House aviation subcommittee hearing on the agency’s implementation of congressional mandates adopted in the aftermath of the Boeing Max crashes. He also stressed that when implemented properly, ODA is a useful and “a very powerful tool.”
Dickson noted that the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act has more than 100 unique requirements that the agency is “implementing to make our aircraft certification and safety oversight more holistic, systematic, transparent, and effective. I could say with confidence that we are doing more for certification oversight, and we are doing it more systematically, since this time last year.” This includes delegating fewer responsibilities to manufacturers and demanding more transparency from them, he said, and his testimony referred to some “significant” changes to the ODA program overall.
Also as a result of the aftermath of the Max crashes, Dickson noted cultural changes ongoing at the agency, including reinforcement that inspector decisions would not be cast aside by a hierarchy. Further, some studies and a panel are exploring changes to amending older type certificates, and the agency is working with ICAO on improving upset recovery training.
Jet Aviation Touts Fleet Growth and New Charter Program
Jet Aviation has added 26 large and midsize jets to its managed fleet in the U.S. since January 1, with 11 of them available for charter, the General Dynamics-owned group announced. The Swiss company has also signed three aircraft to its newly authorized Part 125 certificate for large aircraft charters. The additions come as Jet Aviation has seen “a significant increase in demand for charter and aircraft flight,” said Leslie Cheshier, v-p of owner and charter services in the U.S.
Jet Aviation, meanwhile, launched a Freedom Access program to expand upon its array of options that includes ad hoc charter, block access, and card access. Freedom Access allows customers to interchange between block charter and card access according to their needs, with guaranteed availability globally.
“It is truly the program of the future, designed to give customers access to the open charter market and card pricing,” said Cheshier. “Customers can always fall back on card pricing for one-ways, but also take advantage of great offerings in the market when available. The best part about the program is that you can use any size aircraft including helicopters and airliners if necessary.”
Jet Aviation currently manages some 300 aircraft globally, with 180 of those residing in the Americas. The U.S. charter fleet totals some 70 aircraft,.
Four Corners To Offer Bizjet Users ‘What They Want’
Following the April launch of Aquila Aviation Ventures—a partnership between venture capital firm City+Ventures and business aircraft brokerage and consultancy Mente Group—the startup has created Four Corners Aviation. This new brand replaces Millbrook Air, a New York-based Part 135 operator and aircraft management firm owned by City+Ventures. Under the Four Corners brand and concept, it will serve as “a new platform to serve unmet industry needs” through Mente Group’s marketing services and City+Ventures’ aviation assets and financial capacity.
The intent of Four Corners is to offer “what consumers really want” from business aviation besides buying, selling, and operating aircraft, and that is access to transportation. “It’s not necessarily to buy or operate an aircraft,” said Four Corners president and CEO Cameron Gowans. “Consumers want access to what the aircraft provides: safe, simple, customized lift. They want a new way to fly, where they want it, when they want it.”
Aquila CEO Brian Proctor added that Four Corners plans to soon offer new products and services that will focus on supporting business aviation users.
London Biggin Hill Airport Seeks Young Talent in Futures Week
London Biggin Hill Airport is seeking to attract new talent to the business aviation sector with plans to hold a “Futures Week” Feb. 14 to 18, 2022. The event will give 15 young people the chance to gain hands-on experience by exposing them to career opportunities such as engineering, flying, air traffic control, and ramp operations.
“We are delighted to be launching London Biggin Hill’s first-ever Futures Week, which will help support the aspirations of young people,” said Hannah Gray, the airport’s STEM ambassador. “As the [UK] capital’s preeminent business aviation airport and a leading center for aviation technology and enterprise, it is important that we play our part in inspiring and helping them to become part of this exciting and varied industry.”
The young people will have the chance to work with the airport’s own team, as well as with multiple businesses based at the facility. The opportunity is open to applicants aged 14 to 18, and candidates will be interviewed at the airport. More information is available online.
Photo of The Week
Wilderness is calling. Neptune Aviation Services safety manager Scott Newell snapped this photo of his 1957 Cessna 182A at the Moose Creek U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Airport (K1U1) in Idaho earlier this month. He said the forest fire smoke in the air made for a great sunset. The USFS—which manages the backcountry airstrip (elevation 2,454 feet, with a 4,100-foot grass runway)—might beg to differ about the forest fire, though. Thanks for sharing, Scott!
If you’d like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.
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