Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC), the sole FBO at Hong Kong International Airport, has broken ground on a HK$400 million ($51 million) expansion of its facility. Construction is scheduled to be conducted in two phases, with the first featuring the refurbishment and enlargement of the existing terminal with a new VIP lounge and suites for individuals, families, and groups. It will also see the enhancement of crew lounges and an upgrade to the on-site customs, immigration, and quarantine processing area with exclusive drop-off and fast-track check-in.
Outside, an 85-foot-wide aircraft arrivals canopy attached to the terminal building—the first of its kind in Asia—will protect passengers from the elements. As well, the number of vehicle parking spaces will be doubled.
The second phase will involve the construction of a second terminal to support large-capacity charter and group travel flights and provide additional tenant office space. This expansion will involve environmentally-friendly features such as solar panels, electric vehicle charging, and smart building management systems.
In pre-pandemic 2019, the facility handled 9,000 flights and more than 40,000 passengers. The project—slated for completion in 2025—will double HKBAC’s business jet handling capacity in conjunction with the opening of the airport’s new 3,800-meter (12,500-foot) third runway.
Officials in France continue to debate adding more regulations and taxes on the country’s business aviation sector in an effort to minimize its environmental impact. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said he wants to “go even further” by requiring jets to fly with biofuels.
According to Jo Dardenne, the aviation director at clean transport campaign group Transport and Environment, members of Parliament will discuss aligning jet-A taxation with other fuels this week. Transport and Environment and other allied environmental groups claim the French government could generate at least €660 million in revenue by 2030 via higher fuel taxes and new per-flight fees on business aircraft. This revenue could then be used to fund the decarbonization of aviation, she added.
The environmental groups are also calling on the French government to require business jets to use only sustainable aviation fuel after 2030, as well as the mandatory use of carbon-neutral aircraft on short-haul routes.
Marc Cottignies, an engineer at the French Agency for Ecological Transition, said there is a need to gather data and adopt the proper methodology before imposing more burdens on business aviation in France. “We could expect from users and the market that, first, they monitor their climate impact…and then they should adopt ambitious objectives of reduction to show that they stand in solidarity with decarbonization efforts of the other sectors,” he said.
Business aviation catering specialist On Air Dining today launched On Air Dry Cleaning & Laundry following a successful trial with several longstanding customers. Initial service will be offered at On Air Dining’s bases at Farnborough and Stansted airports, with service expected to be extended to all London-area airports in the first quarter.
On Air said the division offers seamless service alongside its catering business since laundry collection is simple, billing is included in the catering invoice, and items are delivered directly to the aircraft with catering.
The company has invested nearly £200,000 ($226,200) in dry cleaning and laundry equipment and brought in a team of industry veterans with more than 50 years of experience to manage the 24/7 division. In addition, the On Air team worked with business aviation flight attendants to ensure the dry cleaning and laundry service, packaging, and delivery is tailored for the private aviation sector.
“I’m excited to launch this new arm of our company that builds on my long-term vision of being a world-class, single-source provider of ancillary in-flight services to our customers,” said On Air CEO Daniel Hulme. “With this strategic in-house addition, On Air Dining is a trusted, single-source vendor for catering, laundry, concierge services, floral, and dry stores.”
Leonardo is debuting an air ambulance interior mockup of its AW609 civil tiltrotor this week at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Tampa, Florida. The AW609 features a 35-inch-wide main cabin door that easily accommodates patient transfer from ground ambulance litter to the aircraft’s medical pedestal. The cabin is large enough for one patient and four medical attendants or two patients with fewer attendants.
AW609 marketing manager William Sunick thinks there is a large untapped market for the aircraft in rural areas and for use to co-transport transplant organs and associated medical teams. “The aircraft has drawn a lot of attention, especially in the EMS configuration,” he said. “The ability to have a point-to-point high-speed vertical lift aircraft with a pressurized interior to transport that organ is huge.”
In rural applications, the 609 has the ability to do scene work and quickly transport patients to the medical facility with the most appropriate level of care, including special needs such as burns and eye injuries, according to Sunick. “You don’t have to go to the first medical facility that you come across.” He also pointed out that the cabin can be pressurized down to sea level, enabling a higher level of care to be administered to patients.
Duncan Aviation Acquires and Refurbishes Citation VII
Duncan Aviation’s Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions team recently purchased a Citation VII and then immediately took it to Battle Creek, Michigan, to receive new paint, full interior refurbishment, Universal Insight Flight Deck install, Gogo AVANCE L3, and USB Power Ports.
Jet Linx has completed construction of a private jet terminal and hangar in Scottsdale, Arizona, that will replace another terminal the charter provider has operated there since 2021. Increasing demand from jet card members and aircraft owners led to the development of the facilities, which are expected to be celebrated at a grand opening in December.
The 3,000-sq-ft terminal includes a central lobby with individual workstations, a private conference room, fully stocked kitchenette, and refreshment bar. The building also features floor-to-ceiling glass with panoramic views of the Sonoran desert and McDowell mountains. Direct access to the ramp is provided through a private gate that allows customers to drive up to their airplanes. Covered parking is also provided. In addition, a 30,000-sq-ft hangar will accommodate an expanding managed fleet at Scottsdale that has doubled within the past five months.
"Our new location comes intelligently designed to provide more convenience, cohesion, and comfort for our members,” said Jet Linx Scottsdale base v-p Shooter Smith. “Every aspect of our new facility was built in response to current and future needs as we continue to experience client growth and more flight activity.”
Jet Linx also plans to add enhancements to its Dallas private terminal and looks for completion of a 70,000-sq-ft flagship facility at its Omaha, Nebraska headquarters next year.
NBAA-BACE, held last week, provided a big boost to the Central Florida economy, according to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA). The three-day show generated an estimated $51 million in economic impact and attracted more than 21,000 visitors from around the world.
Held at the Orange County Convention Center, BACE returned to Orlando for the first time since 2018, with the 2020 edition canceled due to the pandemic. The number of exhibitors this year topped 800—on par with 2018’s total. At Orlando Executive Airport (KORL)—which hosted the show’s static aircraft display for the 12th time—nearly 70 business jets, turboprops, and piston aircraft from all the leading manufacturers were on exhibit.
“Hosting the world’s largest business aviation event speaks volumes for the service and facilities offered at [KORL],” said GOAA CEO Kevin Thibault. “This show, which generates millions in economic impact, demonstrates the importance of general aviation and showcases the significant role [KORL] plays in the region.”
At this year’s show, however, NBAA senior v-p for events Chris Strong confirmed rumors that this will be BACE’s last appearance in the Sunshine State for at least the next several years. The annual event will be taking up residence in Las Vegas through 2026.
Solairus Aviation has revised its aircraft management program to provide a tailored service for turboprops and light jets. The light jet and turboprop program is designed to provide owners of those models economically priced support services with access to full flight and maintenance services and safety management. This includes maintenance oversight, fiscal management, crew recruiting and employment, flight coordination and logistics, and charter, along with benefits such as market discounts on fuel, crew training, insurance, travel, and airborne connectivity.
“The core foundation of the light jet and turboprop management program is the integration of our client’s aircraft into our flight management system, providing access to our industry-leading processes and procedures,” said Solairus executive v-p David Davenport. “We then give all clients access to our safety management system, we integrate their maintenance tracking programs into our operations software, and their operations are included in our dispatch and flight-tracking services.”
Davenport added that the program is comprehensive and customizable. Solairus operates a fleet of more than 280 aircraft with more than 70 base locations and 1,700 flight crew and support personnel.
Airbus Helicopters announced continuing strong sales into the U.S. medical market at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference this morning. The OEM said more than 35 new single- and twin-engine Airbus helicopters were sold in the air medical market over the past 12 months.
Orders cited include an H125 by The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, which will be donated to the Hawaii Fire Department to enhance its emergency medical services and search and rescue; three H135s to Atrium Health in the Carolinas; two H135s for Global Medical Response; one H145 to OSF HealthCare to augment its current fleet of four H145s in Illinois serving Peoria, Bloomington, Peru, Galesburg, and Rockford; and two H145s for Mayo Clinic.
Earlier this year Boston MedFlight placed a multi-year order for six five-blade H145s. The operator was the first air medical provider in the U.S. to place an order for the five-blade helicopter—a deal announced at Heli-Expo 2022.
“Airbus is proud to support our partners in the air medical industry with the most comprehensive line of aircraft that ensure they can perform their mission of caring for patients each day,” said Romain Trapp, president of Airbus Helicopters Inc. and head of the North American region.
People in Aviation
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) appointed Declan Fitzpatrick as interim CEO for the aviation regulator, succeeding Diarmuid Ó Conghaile, who has accepted a new role as managing director of Wizz Air Malta. Fitzpatrick has 16 years of experience with IAA, having previously held the position of director of regulatory performance and innovation.
Voting members of NBAA re-elected Charlie Precourt and Richard Walsh to the association’s board of directors last week during BACE. Precourt serves on the association’s audit committee and was re-elected for a one-year term on the board. Walsh chairs NBAA’s nominating and governance committee and will serve for a three-year term on the board.
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) selected Susan Mallett as the recipient of the 2022 Frank G. Brewer Trophy, which was established in 1943 to honor “significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States.” Mallett is being recognized for “her passionate and sustained aviation education leadership and ambassadorship to create enduring collaborative partnerships, programs, and products, which have impacted and inspired over two million American youth since 1986.”
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association’s (ARSA) board of directors elected Josh Krotec to serve as its 2023 president. ARSA’s immediate past president, Terrell Siegfried—assistant general counsel, and corporate secretary of the Nordam Group—will remain on the board. Krotec is senior v-p of First Aviation Services and has been engaged in the association’s volunteer leadership for several years, serving as government affairs chairman before his election to the board in 2019.
Electric aircraft manufacturer Eviation Aircraft appointed Dan Nale to its technical steering committee and Jon Piatt to its board. Nale’s experience includes a nearly 40-year career in business aviation at Gulfstream Aerospace, where he most recently served as senior v-p of programs, engineering, and test. Piatt has 35 years of experience in aerospace and defense, including more than 20 years in senior leadership and strategic growth roles. He served most recently as president and general manager of reconnaissance missions systems at L3Harris Technologies.
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