Bombardier Builds on Challenger Family with 3500

Bombardier today unveiled a new look and branding for its venerable Challenger 300/350 family that brings it in line with the Global nomenclature, borrows from some of the high-end interior features from its flagship Global 7500, and adds new equipment, including an autothrottle. Revealed during an event at its facilities in Montreal that featured a mockup in the bronze and gold livery used during the Global 5500/6500 launch, the Challenger 3500 builds on and will replace the 350 on the production line, the company said.

To be available in the second half of 2022 and offered at the same $26.7 million list price of the Challenger 350, the 3500 will introduce features such as voice-controlled cabin management and wireless charging. Also part of a complete cabin refresh is the addition of Bombardier's Nuage seats. An app provides for voice-activated controls for everything from lighting to sound and media that can play on 24-inch, 4K displays.  

Bombardier also lowered the cabin altitude by 2,000 feet, to 4,850 feet, at FL410, notching a 31 percent improvement. As for sustainability, Bombardier is marking its second full aircraft Environmental Product Declaration with the Challenger 3500 and is offering an eco app for the Challenger 3500 for flight optimization to reduce fuel burn. Further, Bombardier is offering more sustainable materials in the cabin finishings.

Luxaviation and Shell Plan Joint Investment in New FBOs

Luxaviation and Shell Aviation will jointly invest in new FBO locations, adding to their existing shared network of outlets through a new strategic alliance. Announcing the collaboration today, the two companies did not provide details as to where new FBOs might be established but indicated that the fuel group and the business aviation services provider expect to expand their combined operations and product portfolios globally.

“By bringing together Luxaviation’s extensive FBO network with our global expertise in fuel supply and airport operations, we are confident this agreement will provide genuine value to our customers,” said Shell Aviation president Anne Mascolo.

Luxaviation, which operates aircraft in multiple countries and already runs FBOs at 24 airports worldwide, views the partnership as means to reducing the environmental impact of its business. “The strategic alliance with Shell Aviation is the mere start of a game-changing cooperation of two players in the industry nurturing a common ambition for a future sustainable aviation industry,” said Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen.

FAA’s Dickson Named as Keynote on BACE Opening Day

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson will be a keynote speaker on the opening day (October 12) at NBAA-BACE 2021. The show will run until October 14 at the new West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This will mark the fourth time Dickson has been a speaker at an NBAA event since he was sworn in as the FAA chief in August 2019.

“NBAA is pleased to welcome once again Administrator Dickson to NBAA-BACE,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “His insights into issues that impact business aviation, such as safety, sustainability, diversity, and innovation, are always of the utmost interest to our attendees.”

At the NBAA-BACE 2019 (also held in Las Vegas), Dickson was featured at the Careers in Business Aviation Day, speaking to high school students, as well as at the National Safety Forum, where he discussed his perspectives on business aviation safety. He also participated in NBAA’s Virtual Business Aviation Town Hall last August, where alongside Bolen he highlighted business aviation operational and safety issues such as the controversial pilot records database rulemaking.

UK Charter Operators Lament Brexit Changes at ACE 2021

During a session this morning at the Air Charter Expo (ACE) conference at London Biggin Hill Airport, the UK charter industry lamented the country’s departure from the European Union (EU). Under Brexit, UK operators have needed to obtain country-specific permits for charter flights into the EU since January.

“The permit system has been a nightmare, and January was the worst month of my career,” David Lacy at UK-based charter operator RVL Group told ACE attendees. While the situation has somewhat improved with some block permit arrangements now in place for countries such as France, Ireland, and Italy, “for other countries it has been crazy,” he complained. “We’ve had to work with arrangements from a bilateral agreement going right back to 1956. Since January, we’ve only been able to fly one intra-European flight.”

Mark Bosly, chief air services negotiator with the UK Department of Transport (DfT), said charter companies cannot expect to operate as they were pre-Brexit. “The rules have changed; you are now regarded as a foreign operator within the EU.”

He noted that the UK government is “working hard” to help ease the operating burden through bilateral arrangements with each of the 27 EU member states. Meanwhile, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has secured more than 200 block permits for UK non-scheduled passenger operators from the EU 27 that allow Third and Fourth Freedom rights to and from the EU.

Safer Training Through High-Tech Reality Replication

Safely preparing a crew for whatever anomalies the aircraft or nature may bring is best done in a full flight simulator – the more realistic, the better. Through continuous improvement and technology innovation, FlightSafety continues to provide the most realistic simulator training available for the business and private aviation market.

Clay Lacy Commits To Electric Aircraft Infrastructure

California-based FBO operator Clay Lacy Aviation has signed an agreement with Eviation Aircraft, which is developing the all-electric Alice airplane, to provide electric charging stations at all of its locations. The partnership makes it one of the first service providers to declare it will install the equipment required to support the operation of electric aircraft. Clay Lacy, which also operates a fleet of charter aircraft, has FBOs at Van Nuys and John Wayne Orange County Airports in California, with another slated to open next year in Connecticut.

According to president and CEO Brian Kirkdoffer, the company has prided itself on being in the vanguard of several environmental policies. “One of those firsts was introducing the first carbon offset program and a robust sustainability strategy in the aircraft management industry,” he noted. “We are proud to take that giant step further with charging the zero-emission Alice at our FBOs.”

Washington state-based Eviation expects the two crew, nine-passenger Alice to enter service in 2024. “This partnership is just the beginning for Eviation as we look to build out the supporting infrastructure needed to bring electric aviation to life,” said Omer Bar-Yohay, the airframer’s CEO. “With a network of visionary FBOs, we can ensure accessible, quick, and seamless charging as we march towards a cleaner aviation future.”

Blade Aims To Dominate Organ Transport Market in U.S.

Blade Air Mobility has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Trinity Air Medical, a nationwide, multi-modal organ logistics and transportation company. The transaction is expected to close this week for a purchase price of $23 million. Blade said it expects the combination of its own MediMobility business and Trinity to become the largest dedicated organ transport arranger in the U.S.

MediMobility is growing at a rate of 60 percent per year while Trinity is profitable and generated revenues of $16 million last year working with transplant centers and organ procurement organizations in 16 U.S. states. Blade said the combined company will rapidly transition to the use of drones and eVTOLs.

“Trinity’s end-to-end services integrate air missions with ground transport,” said Rob Wiesenthal, Blade’s CEO. “Given the existence of landing pads at most hospitals today, we have the ability to immediately replace Trinity’s ambulances with helicopters on certain hospital-to-hospital missions, while preparing for a transition to both existing ‘last-mile’ cargo drones, as well as electric vertical aircraft, as soon as they become available.”

Trinity CEO Seth Bacon will run the combined company. “Blade’s scale in air transport missions coupled with their aerospace manufacturer relationships position us to continue expanding share in today’s growing market,” Bacon said, "while laying the groundwork to deploy forthcoming drone and electric vertical aircraft technology, which will reduce transit times and improve patient outcomes.”

New York Equity Firm Invests in Avia Solutions Group

New York-based Certares Management is making a €300 million ($354 million) structured equity investment in Avia Solutions Group (ASG), a provider of business and commercial aviation services. ASG will use the investment to pursue its growth plans in passenger and cargo aviation, maintenance and engineering, crew training, ground handling, and logistics. That includes growth through strategic acquisitions. In addition, ASG will use the funds for capital expenditures and general corporate purposes.

“This important partnership marks the beginning of Avia Solutions Group's next long-term development stage and the continuation of the growth of our global partnership network,” said ASG founder and chairman Gediminas Žiemelis. “With their impressive track record and sole focus on the travel sector, we are convinced Certares will add significant value to Avia Solutions Group's next phase of growth.”

ASG operates nearly 100 offices and production facilities globally and serves more than 2,000 clients in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. It is the parent company of business aviation MRO Jet MS and private jet charter operators and brokers Skyllence and KlasJet.

Rachel Barrie To Head Global Aerospace

Aerospace insurance provider Global Aerospace is promoting Rachel Barrie to succeed Nick Brown as group CEO. Brown is retiring after serving with Global Aerospace for 17 years, initially as a chief underwriting officer and, since 2009, as group chief executive. Global Aerospace credited him with helping to establish a culture that fostered innovation and collaboration with clients and brokers globally and with leading the digital transformation.

“Nick has played an integral and pivotal role in guiding Global Aerospace. The company owes a huge debt of gratitude to him, and we respect his personal decision to retire,” said John Wilkinson, chairman of the board of Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers. “We thank him for his steadfast leadership and for developing a team that is poised to continue its future success.”

Barrie’s appointment, subject to regulatory approval, is set to take effect on January 1. Based in London, she has 18 years of aviation insurance experience and has been with Global Aerospace since 2007, most recently as group chief underwriting officer.

“Rachel is the right choice to lead Global through its next phase of continued growth and drive the future strategy for the company,” said Wilkinson. “Her deep market knowledge and expertise give the board full confidence that she will continue to provide dynamic leadership for our customers, employees, pool members, and shareholders."