New FBO Opens in Caribbean

The U.S. Virgin Islands welcomed a new FBO today with the grand opening of the Standard Aviation facility at St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport. The 28,000-sq-ft complex features a 24,000-sq-ft hangar, currently the largest free-span building in the Caribbean, which can accommodate aircraft up to a Gulfstream G550. It was heavily reinforced to enable it to withstand tropical storms and hurricanes and was put to the test when it easily sheltered 21 aircraft—including a G200, GIV, Falcon 2000, and Falcon 900EX—as Tropical Storm Isaias blew through at the end of July.

The Air Elite Network and CAA-preferred facility, developed in partnership with the Virgin Islands Port Authority, includes a two-story, 4,000-sq-ft terminal with passenger lounge; upstairs pilot lounge; shower facilities; flight-planning area; eight-seat conference room overlooking the runway; and a fully appointed kitchen with a dishwasher, wine refrigerators, and ice machines; complimentary laundry; concierge services; and 24/7 U.S. Customs pre-clearance capability.

"Our team is elated to welcome jet owners, charter guests, and their crews to our world-class facility in the Virgin Islands,” said Shaun Miller, managing member of Standard Aviation. “For St. Thomas and numerous surrounding islands, there has not been an FBO to meet the expectations of modern, high-net-worth travelers. Standard Aviation raises the bar, enabling St. Thomas to compete with the world's most lavish FBOs."

TechnicAir UK To Offer Authorized Citation, Hawker Mx

Signature TechnicAir’s maintenance facility in Bournemouth, UK, has been named a Textron Aviation-authorized service facility for Cessna Citation and Hawker business jets. The designation allows TechnicAir to offer Citation and Hawker operators authorized heavy maintenance, avionics upgrades, modifications, and mobile AOG support in the UK and across mainland Europe.

“Our company has a long history of working on the Cessna Citation range of products, during which time we have developed a very strong reputation for delivering reputable and flexible aircraft maintenance services in the UK and European markets,” said Andy Preston, TechnicAir managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. “I am confident that our team’s extensive experience and knowledge of the Citation products, together with our investments in growing our service capabilities, will prove to be a valuable addition to the authorized Textron Aviation support network in the region.”

TechnicAir holds EASA Part 145, EASA Part M, and FAA Part 145 repair station certificates and offers line stations and mobile service unit teams based at several UK airports, including at London Luton, London Biggin Hill, Farnborough, and Manchester.

CAE Achieves Carbon Neutrality

Aviation simulation training provider CAE yesterday laid claim as the first Canadian aerospace company to become carbon neutral. According to the company, it achieved carbon neutrality by reducing its own emissions and making investments in carbon-offset projects.

"This is a bold achievement and we hope that CAE’s commitment in the fight against climate change will inspire other companies to take tangible actions today,” said CAE president and CEO Marc Parent. “We wanted to honor our pre-pandemic commitment and up our contribution now—a testament to CAE’s environmental leadership and engagement towards future generations. We are also working with the industry towards the development of electric aircraft and undertaking other measures to reduce our overall emissions.”

CAE said its actions will prevent hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted each year by training pilots in simulators. In the near-term, it is using carbon offsetting and renewable energy certificates—including wind energy projects in India and forest preservation in Canada—until new technologies and solutions can be developed to reduce its emissions. CAE will also continue to undertake other measures to reduce its overall emissions, including investments to make its flight simulators more energy efficient.

FAA, EASA Give Nod for LuxStream Satcom on Globals

Collins Aerospace is expanding the availability of its LuxStream high-speed airborne connectivity service to Bombardier Global 5000, 6000, and XRS models through recent supplemental type certificate (STC) approvals from both the FAA and EASA. Working with Collins, Q.C.M. design Switzerland completed the STCs to install the KuSAT-2000 satcom system aboard the Global models, providing access to the LuxStream service.

Part of Collins Aerospace's ArincDirect portfolio, LuxStream offers speeds of up to 25 Mbps in the U.S. and up to 15 Mbps globally through SES’s Ku-band high-throughput satellite network. Collins said the SES network’s capabilities have been extensively validated on aircraft carrying more than 25 passengers.

The capabilities support passengers' use of multiple 4K video streams, virtual conferencing, and other high-bandwidth online activities while in flight. Collins, which has developed a series of pricing packages based on usage for the LuxStream service, is offering the hardware, service, and support for the system.

VistaJet Unveils New Corporate Membership Program

Charter provider VistaJet has launched a new program called Dynamic Corporate Membership designed around heightened passenger health concerns and aimed at businesses considering travel via private means rather than commercial because of the Covid-19 pandemic. VistaJet has seen a 49 percent increase in corporate interest for private business travel globally since the onset of the pandemic.

“The impact that Covid-19 is having on the availability of commercial flights is clear to see and business aviation is taking up the urgent demand to connect globally,” said VistaJet chief commercial officer Ian Moore. “With the Dynamic Corporate Membership, we want to offer companies maximum flexibility with minimum commitment, as we recognize the need for safer and more reliable solutions as companies look to build back their business for the future.”

Features of the program include single-day membership sign-up; an option to pay in arrears; unlimited flying hours; and guaranteed availability of additional aircraft. Also included in the program is a cabin hostess who is assigned to a single client to minimize Covid-19 exposure and a dedicated VistaJet flight manager assigned to the corporate client’s own headquarters. With access to a fleet of more than 70 aircraft and 187 countries, VistaJet also offers its clients a carbon-offset option.

Elliott Builds on Learjet Wi-Fi STC

Elliott Aviation has added a slew of Learjet models to its STC that covers the activation and use of Wi-Fi products such as routers and allows for blanket approval of the activation of newer Wi-Fi bands. The STC now applies to all variants of the Bombardier Learjet 60, 55, 36, 35, 31, 29, 28, 25, and 24, as well as the Hawker 750.

Applying to new installations and allowing for updates to existing installations, the STC covers Wi-Fi bands A, B, G, N, and AC. Other types already approved under the STC are the Learjet 40 through 75; Hawker 800 through 1000; Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP; Beechcraft King Air 200/300 series; Astra; Embraer Phenom 100/300; Cessna Citation 500/550/S550, 560/560XL, and 650 series; and Daher TBM series.

The Moline, Illinois-based MRO will perform installations at its three facilities or sell the STC to dealers for one-time use at $5,000 each. “This STC has been a proven solution and we are happy to be able to offer it to many different Lear customers,” said Mark Wilken, Elliott v-p of avionics programs and operational logistics.

NATA, NBAA Seek Further IRS Clarification on Mgmt Fees

NBAA and NATA jointly praised the IRS for releasing a long-awaited notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) outlining the U.S. agency’s approach to taxation of management fees, but the associations expressed a number of concerns about the details of that approach.

The IRS released the proposal last summer, implementing a measure in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that specifies that certain management fees are not taxable as commercial air transportation. While the industry was encouraged by the congressional measure, initial IRS guidance left open a number of questions. The NPRM is intended to clear up those questions.

“Our industry secured a significant victory for aircraft owners and management companies through tax reform, and we look forward to working with the IRS on a final rule that provides clear guidance and follows congressional intent," said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

“This rulemaking represents another milestone in our successful campaign to ensure appropriate application and understanding of the tax laws,” added NATA president and CEO Timothy Obbitts.

The associations agreed that the NPRM cleared up a number of questions but in comments said more needs to be done to ensure the final rule more accurately reflected the intent of the congressional measure. These include concerns around the definition of leases, treatment of owner trusts, the status of owner exemptions, and documentation requirements.

Leonardo, ENAV Pair on Helicopter PBN

Leonardo and ENAV, Italy’s air navigation service provider, have signed a letter of intent aimed at modernizing helicopter airspace with advanced navigation technologies, including the implementation of more performance-based navigation (PBN). The agreement is expected to help facilitate the implementation of urban air mobility in Italy and internationally.

Leonardo and ENAV noted that satellite-based PBN has the potential to contribute to airspace optimization, greater safety, and more precision and accuracy. It also could reduce noise and carbon emissions via the use of more dedicated and efficient routes. 

The partners will offer public and private sector helicopter operators advanced navigation products and services while participating in the modernization of relevant infrastructures. “Today, the air navigation infrastructures, particularly procedures and airspace development, are designed mainly to support fixed-wing aircraft flight operations, limiting rotary-wing aircraft’s potential and versatility. Helicopters inherently feature great flexibility,” they added. 

Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo said the agreement confirms Leonardo’s commitment to “contribute to Italy’s growth and competitiveness by strengthening a critical infrastructure like our sky, as well as the systems and rules regulating its use. We do this by introducing innovation, digitalization, and procedures, which will come closer and closer to the future of ‘urban air mobility’ scenarios.”