Dassault Completes Acquisition of TAG Mx Facilities

As part of a move to expand its worldwide service network, Dassault Aviation announced today it has completed its acquisition of TAG Aviation’s MRO organization. That includes TAG's service centers in Geneva, Switzerland; Farnborough, UK; Paris Le Bourget; Lisbon, Portugal; and satellite operations in Luton, UK, and Moscow.

Rebranded as TAG Maintenance Services (TMS), the MRO network will operate as a wholly-owned Dassault Aviation affiliate, according to the French airframer. “The relationship between TAG and Dassault has been built into a close-knit and formidable bond over the decades,” TMS president Franck Madignier said. “We are delighted to enter into this new chapter with the strength of Dassault Aviation behind us and a bright future with an expanding customer base ahead of us.”

TMS will continue servicing the various aircraft types it has supported in the past—Falcon and others—and its customers will have access to the same personnel.

The acquisition is the latest by Dassault Aviation to increase its service network. This year alone, the manufacturer of Falcon business jets has announced a total of three MRO acquisitions, including TAG, that account for 19 additional facilities and nearly 1,000 more maintenance personnel.

AINsight: Just Let Go

Talk to me long enough on the telephone and you will hang up with an ear full of my sayings. One of my favorites is so perfect in almost every preowned business aircraft transaction I’m involved in: “Let go and see who else is hanging on, because I am not strong enough to hold a deal together all by myself!”

There are many moving parts and people in a transaction—the broker or consultant, lender, flight department or management company, aviation and tax attorney, maintenance facility for the pre-buy inspection, and programs administrators. Managing all of these players—much like an orchestra conductor—most often also falls in the broker’s or consultant’s court.

If the orchestra leader does not pay close attention to the musicians, the music does not sound as it should. That is the same outcome that can occur in the aircraft transaction if all of the players are not pulling their weight. So it is imperative that both sides of the transaction must be working in concert to get the deal done.

So back to my favorite saying: let go to see who is holding on. It only takes a short time to identify the slackers and pull them back in.

Pilot in Overrun: Citation Wouldn’t Rotate for Takeoff

The pilot at the controls of a 2003 Cessna Citation Excel that overran the runway at California's Oroville Municipal Airport (OVE) on August 21 following a rejected takeoff told investigators the jet failed to respond as he pulled back on the yoke. According to an NTSB preliminary report released today, the pilot flying (PF) reported “a weird sensation” as he attempted to rotate for takeoff after the pilot not flying (PNF) called out Vr. The PF then pulled back again on the yoke but told investigators he noticed no movement of the aircraft's nose. The PNF then called for the abort, with the PF deploying “full thrust reversers and maximum braking.”

Registered as N91GY and operating as a Delta Private Jets flight to Portland, Oregon, the twinjet overran the runway and came to rest approximately 1,990 feet from the departure end. Surveillance camera footage captured the takeoff roll and the initial overrun. The eight passengers and two crew onboard safely evacuated before the aircraft caught fire in the accident.

The PF told investigators he updated the aircraft's flight management system with changes to their departure clearance before taking the runway and completing the before-takeoff checklist. According to the preliminary report, investigators noted “tire transfer marks” extending from the Runway 2 hold short line to the wreckage site.

General Aviation Mobilizes To Help Bahamas

As Hurricane Dorian churns further north after making landfall this morning in North Carolina, many in the general aviation community are looking to support relief missions to parts of the Bahamas such as Grand Bahama Island and the Abacos that experienced “generational devastation” from the storm. At its worst, Grand Bahama was more than 60 percent submerged, leaving structures at its main airport in Freeport in shambles.

According to Opsgroup, information about the conditions at Freeport International (MYGF), as well as Leonard M. Thompson International (MYAM), Sandy Point (MYAS), and Treasure Cay Airports (MYAT)—all on the Abaco Islands—is still sketchy. Due to the crowded airspace and unusual conditions, the flight-planning company warned against lone wolf relief flights, advising all pilots to first receive approval to operate from the Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and/or the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority.

Several Florida airports are serving as collection and staging points for supplies, with many FBOs waiving landings fees and offering discount fuel for relief flights. Aviation emergency organization AERObridge noted that needed supplies include bottled water, canned food with flip-top lids, diapers (baby and adult), baby food/formula, toilet paper, feminine hygiene, tents, bedding, mosquito nets, flashlights, and batteries. The organization is accepting donations at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida, through Sunday.

NATA Creates Air Charter Broker Committee

The National Air Transportation Association has formed a new committee that will focus on establishing best practices and standards for air charter brokers. “NATA’s Air Charter Broker Committee is comprised of a group of charter brokers who are interested in advancing the industry and association’s goal of elevating the industry through transparency, ethical standards, safety, and continuous improvement,” said NATA v-p Ryan Waguespack.

The new committee comes as the association continues to focus on combating illegal charter, in part through the education of consumers, operators, and brokers. “The association, through its Illegal Charter Task Force, is actively providing resources to charter brokers and other members of the air charter community to assist them in avoiding illegal charter,” Waguespack said. “We are looking forward to working with these dedicated individuals to enhance and expand the resources available to brokers and their clients.”

In addition to serving as a platform for those education efforts, the committee will address other issues affecting the broker community, the association said.

EHang Makes First Passenger-carrying Autonomous Flight

EHang has conducted its first passenger-carrying flight demonstration with its 216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV), it reported yesterday. According to the Chinese company, the eVTOL flew the aircraft autonomously with passengers during the 2019 Northeast Asia Expo, held in Changchun in China’s Jilin province from August 23 to 27.

The company has previously completed several other public demonstration flights, without passengers, in its home city of Guangzhou, as well as in Lianyungang, Luzhi, Taizhou, Yantai, and Shenyang. Since unveiling its first AAV prototype at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2016, EHang has also conducted demonstration flights without passengers in Austria, the Netherlands, and Qatar.

The EHang 216 can carry a payload of 485 pounds on flights of up to 22 miles and at speeds of up to 81 mph. Its single-seat sister aircraft, the 116, has the same range and speed limits.

EHang has not yet published dates for anticipated type certification of its first two AAV models. However, it does claim to have already received orders for more than 1,000 eVTOLs and said that it has delivered early examples of the aircraft to undisclosed partner companies in several countries for demonstration purposes.

New Book Documents Wichita’s Aviation Contributions

Branding agency Greteman Group has produced a new book, “Wichita: Where Aviation Took Wing,” that documents the Midwestern city’s history and contributions to aviation. The firm’s namesake and president, Sonia Greteman, told AIN the idea for the book arose from the agency’s four years of research developing displays at Wichita Eisenhower National Airport highlighting the city’s aviation history.

At its peak, the 173-page book notes, Wichita had 16 aircraft manufacturers, six aircraft engine factories, 11 airports, and a dozen flying schools. Today, the city is home to Textron Aviation (Beechcraft and Cessna), Bombardier Learjet, commercial aircraft supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and Airbus North America Engineering.

Sonia Greteman, whose father was chief photographer for Boeing Wichita, explained it was a confluence of people, geography and good fortune that spurred the development of Wichita and its moniker, the “Air Capital of the World.” 

“You could land anywhere, the southerly wind gusts helped achieve lift, we were in the center of the United States so…it was a good refueling stop, we had the farm guys who could fix anything, and we had the oil money,” Greteman said. “So it was just like this perfect storm.”

Round-the-world Gyrocopter Flight Nears Completion

Adventurer James Ketchell is nearing the end of his round-the-world gyrocopter flight that began March 31. If he succeeds, Ketchell will be the first to fly the distance in a gyrocopter solo. This morning, Ketchell was off the east coast of Greenland in his Magni Gyrocopter heading for Iceland. He has already flown 20,000 nm. Ketchell, who plans to conclude his journey within the next few days in the UK, is using the flight to raise money for charities, including Over the Wall and Kindled Spirits, the latter of which support victims of child trafficking.

The Magni flies at speeds up to 82 knots and has a maximum endurance of four hours. Ketchell's gyrocopter is equipped with a suite of Trig Avionics, including a TY91 radio and a TT21 transponder linked to a TN72 GPS position source that provides mode-S and ADS-B Out capability. These avionics allow Ketchell to operate in some of the world’s most congested airspace, including New York City. There, Ketchell was cleared for a flyby of the Statue of Liberty.

Ketchell began his worldwide adventures in 2010 after recovering from a severe motorcycle accident. His previous accomplishments include rowing solo across the Atlantic, climbing Mt. Everest, and completing an 18,000-mile international cycling trip, three feats he labeled a “global triathlon.”

FREE WEBINAR: Selecting and Installing the Right Connectivity Solution

Fast, reliable onboard connectivity goes a long way toward ensuring passengers stay happy during the flight. That’s why it’s so critical to have the right system installed in the first place. For help in finding the right solution for you, AIN is hosting a free webinar on October 8 at 1:30 p.m. ET, with editor-in-chief Matt Thurber moderating a discussion on what you need to know about choosing and installing the best in-flight Wi-Fi system for your business jet. Panelists include Viasat business development manager Marcus Oates and StandardAero avionics program management and business development director Jerry Sanders. Sponsored by Viasat.