Fractional jet ownership company Airshare will expand into five new cities with the hiring of two new sales directors, Chris Mahon and Matt Hall, the Lenexa, Kansas-based firm announced yesterday. Airshare is looking to add fractional owners who reside in Chicago; Milwaukee; Indianapolis; Cincinnati; and Louisville, Kentucky.
“We've answered the demand from customers, and we're pleased to announce our commitment to meeting those needs,” said Airshare chief executive John Owen. “Our Upper Midwest expansion allows us to aggressively grow our customer base with the most efficient fractional program in private aviation. The addition of these markets will greatly enhance the service we provide to our existing customers as well.”
Most of Airshare’s 12,000 annual flights operate to and from cities such as Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, and the Great Lakes region. In the past decade, the company has seen 200 percent growth. The expansion also positions Airshare for additional growth in the Northeast U.S.
“We plan to double the size of our revenue and customer base in the next three years, along with significantly growing our overall fleet,” Owen added. AirShare’s fractional fleet consists of 100 Embraer Phenom 100s and 300s, as well as 20 other types that make up its managed aircraft fleet.
Textron Aviation Marks 50 Years of Citation Bizjets
It was 50 years ago this Sunday that the first Cessna Citation business jet made its maiden flight, Textron Aviation publicly noted yesterday. Since that flight, the Wichita-based manufacturer of Citation business jets has delivered more than 7,500 of them, with the fleet amassing more than 35 million flight hours.
Unveiled as a mockup at the National Business Aviation Association Convention in October 1968 in Houston, it was a year later, on Sept. 15, 1969, that the first FanJet 500—later renamed Citation 500—took off on its first test flight, which lasted an hour and 45 minutes, reached a speed of 225 knots, and an altitude of 10,000 feet (weather prevented a planned climb to 20,000 feet). The type received its first certification—for Part 25—on Sept. 10, 1971.
Today, the Citation family comprises seven models—the M2, CJ3+, CJ4, XLS+, Sovereign+, Latitude, and Longitude—with seating from seven to 12 passengers and range between 1,550 and 3,500 nm.
“The same vision that led to the creation of the original Citation 50 years ago still guides us today,” said Textron Aviation CEO Ron Draper. “We are building on our history as an industry leader and investing in the future to continue to exceed customer expectations.”
Industry Calls For Stronger Penalties on Illegal Charter
The British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) is calling for legal changes to strengthen deterrents for illegal charter and boost enforcement. “Fines are pointless and they are not being enforced,” aviation attorney and BBGA council member Aoife O’Sullivan said today at the Air Charter Expo conference at Biggin Hill Airport. “We need a change in the law.”
Conference panelists—including EBAA chief operations officer Robert Baltus and NATA v-p of aircraft management, charter services, and MROs Ryan Waguespack—acknowledged that regulatory agencies generally have inadequate resources to police illegal charter. They indicated that abuses are increasing, partly facilitated by online charter platforms and abuses of dry-lease arrangements.
According to O’Sullivan, the industry should focus efforts on better informing charter end users of the liabilities they could face in the event of an accident. James Moreton from insurance broker Hayward Aviation added that end users also need to be more aware that illegal charters can invalidate insurance coverage. He acknowledged that insurance companies could do more to raise awareness about the resulting liability issues.
EBAA is in the process of setting up a platform to make it easier for legitimate businesses to report cases of illegal charter.
Records, Setbacks for Pulkovo-3 FBO in St. Petersburg
The Pulkovo-3 Center for Business Aviation experienced a significant increase in traffic last year thanks to the FIFA 2018 World Cup that Russia hosted, according to statistics released last week at the RUBAE 2019 business aviation show. Located inside the fence of the Pulkovo International, the only airport serving St. Petersburg, the center last year served 4,292 business aviation flights carrying 26,746 passengers. Of those passengers, 6,558 (24.5 percent) were registered between June 14 and July 15, when the football matches took place. Last year on July 11, the FBO served 262 business jet flights and 1,338 travelers, setting its all-time record.
Sergei Pugin, general director at JetPort SPb, the company that runs the Pulkovo-3, told AIN the FBO still has enough room for further development and improvement without additional investments. That includes a climate-controlled hangar complex with three sections, each measuring 26,910 sq ft/2,500 sq m.
According to statistics from the Russian United Business Aviation Association (RUBAA), there were 7,888 business jet movements (arrivals and departures) in 2014 at Pulkovo-3; 7,191 in 2015; 7,598 in 2016; and “almost 8,000” in 2017. RUBAA did not yet have a figure for 2018.
This year, Russian business aviation is likely to show an overall negative dynamic, due to the nation's stagnating economy and the absence of traffic-generating events comparable to the FIFA competition.
NBAA Flying Safety Awards To Honor Cox’s 75 Safe Years
NBAA’s Flying Safety Awards program will honor nearly 1,000 individuals and companies next month at NBAA-BACE for their contributions to business aviation safety, including 11 organizations that have amassed either 50, 60, or 75 years of safe operations. These awards demonstrate a “high degree of professionalism and outstanding safety culture within participating companies,” it said.
“NBAA is honored to recognize member companies and individuals for their years of safe operations, which for decades has been a key focus for the association and industry,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “These award recipients are proven industry leaders, not only in the safety of flight, but in all aspects of their operations.”
During a luncheon at the NBAA annual convention, Cox Enterprises will receive an award for 75 years of operations. Meanwhile, five companies will be the recipients of the 60-Year Safe Flying Achievement Award: Archer Daniels Midland Company; American Intl. Group; Bissell; H-E-B; and Lockheed Martin.
Five more will be recipients of the 50-Year Safe Flying Achievement Award: Air Products & Chemicals; American Express; Auburn University–Air Transportation; Bayer-Monsanto; and Keller Companies.
Also part of the Flying Safety Awards, NBAA is recognizing nearly 280 companies with either commercial, corporate/business, or maintenance awards. Further, more than 700 individuals will be recognized with pilot, scheduler and dispatcher, support services, or technician awards.
FlightSafety International is now offering Collins Pro Line 4-to-Pro Line Fusion differences training to operators of Bombardier Challenger 604s upgraded by Nextant Aerospace with the latter avionics system. The FAA recently approved this differences training, which is required for Part 135 operators flying Nextant 604XTs.
“Challenger 604 operators have been anxiously awaiting an FAA-approved differences course for the Pro Line Fusion STC upgrade. FlightSafety International has delivered and operators are already being trained,” said Nextant 604XT program director Steve Bruce. “This also establishes the groundwork for EASA to have a training basis to support the European requirements.”
According to Nextant, demand for its 604XT Pro Line Fusion upgrade “is so strong that the company currently has seven installations in progress, with an estimated 30 that will be completed by the end of the year.” The upgrade modernizes the flight deck, adds touchscreen technology, and increases situational awareness. It also brings the aircraft into ADS-B compliance and replaces aging CRT displays.
Next FAA Runway Safety Meeting Set for Hanscom Field
To help reduce wrong-surface incidents (such as landing or taking off from a taxiway or the wrong runway), the FAA is sponsoring “special focus” meetings hosted by the agency’s runway safety action team (RSAT). The next meeting will be September 26 at the Boston MedFlight facility at Hanscom Field (KBED) in Bedford, Massachusetts.
These meetings will discuss factors that are contributing to recent wrong-surface events at airports, including attempted arrivals and departures, and to assess if current mitigations are adequate. “Wrong-surface landings occur at a rate of approximately one every other day and nearly 90 percent are committed by general aviation pilots,” the FAA said.
“We are inviting safety professionals from all major airport interests, including airlines, FBOs, industry groups, airport operations, and maintenance personnel,” said the Massachusetts Business Aviation Association (MBAA). “FAA participation will include the regional administrator’s air traffic, airports division, and flight standards divisions. Participants will help drive discussion and assist with recommendations and solutions to enhance surface safety.”
The air traffic manager will be the primary presenter during the RSAT, though the airport will have an opportunity to brief attendees on airport issues such as runway incursions and construction projects and their effects to airport operations. “There will be time for all airport users to address concerns and to answer any operational questions attendees might have,” the FAA added.
West Star Co-founder Rasberry Retires
Robert Rasberry, who co-founded West Star Aviation with the acquisition of Premier Air Center in 2002, is retiring from the MRO provider but will remain chairman emeritus and serve as a senior advisor for West Star’s parent and investment firm Northwest Equity Partners, the company announced.
Rasberry joined Sam Haycraft, Jim Swehla, and Mike Durst in the acquisition of East Alton, Illinois-based Premier Air Center 17 years ago. They added a second location in 2005, rebranded the growing operation as West Star Aviation, and steered the company from an entity with 150 employees to one that now has more than 1,400 and spans four major MRO centers along with a half-dozen more satellite facilities.
"I find much comfort and pride in knowing that I leave West Star in extremely capable hands. Many leadership decisions have been made over the past several years to prepare for this day, including appointing Rodger Renaud as COO as president and hiring an industry veteran, Jim Rankin, as CEO,” Rasberry said. “Their commitment to our employee and customer-centric culture is unwavering and aligns with the same principles upon which West Star was founded."
No immediate plans were announced for a successor in Rasberry's role of chairman.
Free Webinar: The Connected Flight Department
The mission of a flight department is to be able to safely and efficiently operate its aircraft in a manner that meets the demands of its passengers. In some instances, this is a very dependable and routine schedule. In other cases, the passengers may have schedules that are fluid and more reactionary. Either way ensuring real-time communication between all members of the flight department is key to being able to meet the mission needs. Join our free webinar on October 2 and learn what you need to look for in today's technology as well as gain insight from the people on the front lines. AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber will moderate this discussion. Sponsored by Flightdocs.
People in Aviation
Vivek Kaushal was named COO of Global Jet Capital. He steps into the role formerly held by Dave Labrozzi, who recently became vice chairman. A former chief risk officer for GE Capital Business Aviation, Kaushal joined Global Jet in 2015 when it acquired the GE Capital business aircraft portfolio.
Epic Fuels named Owen Busch senior v-p of sales for Epic Fuels and the Signature Select FBO brand. Busch has nearly 20 years of experience in the business and general aviation fuel sector, holding roles with Avfuel, Signature Flight Support, and Atlas Oil before becoming v-p of global sales excellence for World Fuel Services.
Dassault Aviation named Anne Devilliers Falcon sales director for Great Britain, Ireland, the Balkans, and Greece. Most recently Falcon international sales manager, Devilliers joined Dassault in 2003 at the company’s Dassault Falcon Jet U.S. subsidiary, holding a number of marketing positions before joining the Falcon sales team in 2016.
Mike Tamkus is joining the executive leadership team of Solairus Aviation. Tamkus has more than 20 years of aviation industry experience, most recently as senior v-p of client services and sales for NetJets subsidiary Executive Jet Management.
CHC Group promoted Miguel Carrasco to senior v-p of operations and supply chain. Carrasco, who formerly served with Conoco Phillips and American Airlines, joined CHC in 2016 as v-p of maintenance and supply chain.
AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter.
AIN Alerts is a publication of AIN Publications, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
For advertising in AIN Alerts please contact Nancy O'Brien at nobrien@ainonline.com.
