Geneva Airpark, the private aviation hangar complex at Switzerland’s Geneva International Airport, is offering new customized sheltering options for business jets. With hangar space at a premium at the airport, the Airpark, located near Terminal C3, has 107,639 sq ft (10,000 sq m) of hangar space, large enough to fit a pair of Boeing 747s, and it usually operates at more than 90 percent capacity. The operator announced that it will now provide tailor-made hangarage options for short-, medium-, and long-term stays.
In addition to guaranteed aircraft shelter, among the benefits offered by the IS-BAH Stage 1-registered facility are improved opportunities for obtaining desired departure and arrival time slots; a private ramp for autonomous movements; immediate access to Terminal C3, which is reserved for business aviation; and single point of contact with airport authorities and handling agents to coordinate services such as fueling, maintenance, and aircraft cleaning.
Four USAF Global Jets Cross 100k Flight-hour Milestone
Four Bombardier Global jets in special-mission configuration for the U.S. Air Force have collectively flown 100,000 hours, the Canadian airframer announced yesterday. Part of the Air Force’s Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) program, the jets extend communication ranges, bridge radio frequencies, and translate incompatible communications systems.
The aircraft—a Global Express, two Global Express XRSs and a Global 6000—have regularly flown more than 18 hours a day for months at a time over the course of their missions. Designated by the Air Force as E-11A, the aircraft were developed and modified by Bombardier Specialized Aircraft in Wichita.
“We are extremely proud of the outstanding reliability and performance of the Global aircraft platform as part of this elite assignment,” said Bombardier Specialized Aircraft v-p Steve Patrick. “This 100,000-flight-hour milestone is a testament to the aircraft's performance and endurance, clearly demonstrating that the Global platform excels in demanding situations.”
There are more than 500 specialized Bombardier aircraft in service, the company said.
EASA Validates G1000 NXi for Citation Mustang
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has validated Garmin’s G1000 NXi flight deck upgrade for the out-of-production Cessna Citation Mustang, Textron Aviation announced yesterday. Included in the upgrade is wireless cockpit connectivity, split-screen capability, map overlay within the horizontal situation indicator, visual approaches, and other new and enhanced features.
The upgrade is available immediately through the Wichita-based airframer’s service centers. Minimal aircraft downtime for Mustang owners is expected, the OEM said, because panel and wire modifications on the light-twin are limited. A two-year limited warranty from Garmin covers the G1000 NXi upgraded components.
“Customers appreciate the Cessna Citation Mustang for its value and efficiency,” Textron Aviation senior v-p of global customer support Kriya Shortt said. “We successfully implemented the supplemental type certificate (STC) for the G1000 NXi integrated flight deck upgrade in the U.S., and now we’re happy to offer this technology and equipment upgrade as an aftermarket option in Europe.”
AviationManuals Adds FBO Manual to Lineup
AviationManuals has introduced a new manual to help managers and staff improve the professionalism, standards, and safety of their FBO operations. “For more than 20 years we have been a convenient and effective resource for helping aircraft operators improve their operations through the development of quality manuals. We are now channeling that extensive experience for FBOs,” said AviationManuals CEO Mark Baier.
Key operational requirements covered by the FBO manual include internal policies and procedures; safety management system; environmental and occupational health/safety guidance; facility, ramp, and emergency operations; training requirements; ground support equipment maintenance control procedures; and security.
“Our FBO manual is particularly helpful for operations with multiple bases and/or multiple shifts. The manual can help standardize FBO operations so that customers receive the same experience no matter who is on duty or what location they fly in or out of,” said Baier. “For small to midsize companies, our FBO manual can help with everything from procedural standardization to the onboarding of new employees.”
AsBAA Concludes First Hong Kong Safety Day
The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) organized its first safety day in Hong Kong last week at TAG Aviation Asia’s Flight Training Resources. “We are very pleased with the outcome of the inaugural safety day. We had a capacity of 60 seats and it was fully subscribed,” said AsBAA vice chairman and TAG Aviation Asia maintenance director Phil Balmer.
He said there is an interest in the areas of safety management systems to promote just culture, as well as gray (illegal) charter, where operators are flying charter flights without proper certification and documentation. The event saw a number of presentations from flight operations practitioners from major Hong Kong business aviation operators, including Sino Jet, Metrojet, and Gama Aviation, as well as Hong Kong air accident investigation bureau chief inspector Darren Straker.
In the panel discussion on illegal charter, Diana Chou, founder and chairman of Dragon General Aviation Group, pointed out that as charter operations are still very new in Asia, especially in China, operators and clients still do not understand Part 135 and Part 91 clearly. “A lot of operators walk the gray line and the industry should get together and address the issue, or the consequences will be severe,” she said.
AsBAA’s next safety day will be held in the Philippines in November.
An aircraft sales website created by the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) has seen more than $1.6 billion in sales of more than 235 pre-owned aircraft in its first seven months of operation, the group announced. “The sales of previously owned aircraft have actually exceeded our expectations for a startup website and the momentum is building,” IADA executive director Wayne Starling said. “That's more than an aircraft a day seven days a week since beginning the site and we are getting spooled up for an even higher volume of aircraft sales going forward.”
Since its launch on February 1, the website has targeted high-net-worth individuals and C-level executives with preowned business aircraft listed exclusively by IADA accredited broker-members. Currently, more than 500 aircraft are listed for sale on the site, including nearly 400 jets, 70 turboprops, 20 piston airplanes, and 15 helicopters.
The organization said it has contracted with Diane Levine-Wilson to oversee the integrity of the aircraft information presented on the website.
Safran, Boeing Jointly Invest In Battery Specialist EPS
Boeing and Safran this week announced a joint investment in energy storage specialist Electric Power Systems (EPS). The undisclosed investment during a Series A funding round will help Utah-based EPS to develop a highly automated industrial base capable of producing aviation-grade batteries at far higher rates than is possible today. It will also support work to reduce the cost of the batteries, making them more viable for electric aircraft.
France-based Safran is actively involved in a number of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developments, including Bell’s Nexus, for which it is providing a new turboshaft to support its hybrid-electric powerplant. It has also been involved in Zunum’s ZA-10 fixed-wing program, which appears to be stalled due to a lack of funds, and reportedly with MetroSkyways’ City Hawk.
Boeing’s HorizonX division is supporting the development of the new Personal Air Vehicle and Cargo Air Vehicle by subsidiary company Aurora Flight Sciences. The Boeing group also has a new partnership with Kitty Hawk, which is developing the Cora eVTOL design in New Zealand.
EPS is already providing energy storage units for the Nexus model. It is also supporting Bye Aerospace’s electrically powered eFlyer fixed-wing aircraft.
Trials of the new airport collaborative decision-making (A-CDM) procedures started on Monday at Canada’s Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport and are scheduled to continue until next spring. The program was originally set to start in February, although at that time a revised takeoff and landing reservation system for business and general aviation operations did go into effect.
“The objective of the program is to optimize aircraft turnaround procedures by ensuring the best possible coordination of resources and increasing common situational awareness for all operational departments and airport partners,” according to airport authorities.
Airport-based operators can book slots up to 30 days in advance. However, transient operators will be allowed to request slots only within 72 hours of their flight. FBOs Skycharter and Signature Aviation can arrange slots on behalf of operators and because they are “home-based” the companies can request reservations up to 30 days in advance.
Operators themselves must arrange slots by completing an online application form emailed to the airport reservation office. The airport will email confirmation of acceptance. However, according to international flight information provider OpsGroup, “Toronto is a busy airport, and this [72-hour] restriction may mean that you won’t be able to get the arrival/departure times that you want.”
Alternative fuels are slowly but surely working their way into fuel supplies worldwide and many of the turbine-powered aircraft that will fly to Las Vegas for the NBAA-BACE static display will burn some amount of sustainable aviation fuel. AIN’s 1.5-hour live forum during the NBAA show in Vegas will bring together a panel of industry experts to explain how this fuel is gaining ground, why it is good for turbine engines and the environment, and how you can help move the needle on the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the aircraft that you operate. Register today for this free luncheon seminar on October 23 at 12 noon PT (seating is limited). Moderated by AIN editor in chief Matt Thurber, it will feature panelists Steve Csonka, Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative; Charles Etter, Gulfstream Aerospace; and Keith Sawyer, Avfuel Corp. Sponsored by World Fuel Services, TAG Farnborough and Gulfstream Aerospace.
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