Business & General Aviation News

AirGuide Business, Jan 12, 2009

Jan 11, 2009

Most airlines are expected to report losses for the fourth quarter, prior to 2009's expected turnaround. "Airlines have cut less-traveled and unprofitable routes, but consumers continue to spend less on vacations and airfare amid the global recession," notes Dow Jones, which breaks down the prospects for five big carriers. Jan 9, 2009

Craig Fuller has taken the controls as president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association - only the fourth president in the association's nearly 70-year history. Fuller became president on 1 January following a three-month transition leading up to outgoing president Phil Boyer's retirement on 31 December 2008. Jan 8, 2009

The National Business Aviation Association has cancelled next month's Asian Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, due to the "continuing economic downturn". The Hong Kong-based event was scheduled for 11-12 February. The Washington-based trade association says the economic slump has also forced it to downsize its inaugural Light Business Airplane conference in March. The San Diego, California-based event has been changed from a three- to a two-day conference on 13 and 14 March and the size of the indoor exhibits has been reduced along with the pricing. "As the economy has constricted dramatically since LBA was conceived, the challenges confronting the entrepreneurs and pilots who own and operate light business airplanes have increased," says NBAA. Jan 8, 2009

Corporate jet makers say TSA proposals to dramatically increase security regulations in general aviation would be "extremely burdensome" to the industry. "The plan would have unintended and destructive consequences," says a spokesman for Cessna Aircraft. Manufacturers say the proposed weight threshold to apply the regs -- starting with 12,500-pound jets -- is too low, and that prohibiting some 80 items from private aircraft would in some cases undermine the very reasons for buying a private plane. Jan 8, 2009

The TSA's first public meeting on proposed new security rules for general aviation drew three to four times the 100 pilots that had been expected, according to AviationWeek.com. Among the most contentious issues at the White Plains, N.Y., meeting: on-demand carriage of federal air marshals, prohibitions on cargo such as tools and sporting goods, third-party security audits and the checking of all passengers against terrorist watch lists. The TSA says future meetings are scheduled for Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, and Burbank, Calif. Jan 7, 2009

Blue Line

French corporate charter and sublease provider Blue Line is set to launch its transatlantic operation. The move comes within weeks of it clinching from the US Federal Aviation Administration and the US Department of Transportation its foreign air carrier permit for its fleet of executive and VIP-configured Boeing MD-83s. "We are optimistic that operations can begin at the end of February," says Blue Line vice-president for sales Pierre-Emmanuel Allard. Jan 9, 2009

Embraer

Embraer has clinched US Federal Aviation Administration validation for the Lineage 1000 business jet two weeks after the super-large aircraft received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency and ANAC, Brazil's civil aviation agency. The FAA has also awarded supplemental type certification for the Lineage's customised cabin - designed, manufactured and installed by PATS Aircraft Completions - and for the aircraft's auxiliary fuel system. Jan 8, 2009

Gulfstream

For sale on the web is a previously owned Gulfstream 350 that the brokers promise will "earn the CFO's respect as well as the CEO's" as it provides the amenities of a G450, but at $10 million less in purchase price and only "slightly" shorter range. This particular 2005 G350, however, turned out to be the bane of its owner's top brass, and not because of cost. N5114 is one of seven Gulfstreams in the flight department of US automobile manufacturer General Motors and is a casualty of the battle the company has waged to gain a bridge loan from the US government to avoid bankruptcy and mass layoffs. Jan 9, 2009

Pilatus Aircraft

Pilatus Aircraft has appointed Pro-Star Aviation of Londonderry, New Hampshire as its new dealership for the north-eastern USA. The new dealership will be responsible for sales, marketing and service of the PC-12 NG single-engined turboprop in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Jan 8, 2009

Sikorsky Aircraft, Petroleum Helicopters

The US NTSB has dispatched four investigators to secure details of a Petroleum Helicopters Inc (PHI) Sikorsky S76C that crashed enroute to a Shell offshore oil rig from the company[sup.1]s Amelia, Louisiana base mid-afternoon on Sunday. Six of the seven passengers were killed, as were both of pilots. One passenger survived and was in critical condition as of Monday. NTSB records show PHI helicopters involved in no less than 10 incidents and accidents since 2004. The company has combined fleet of nearly 300 helicopters according to US FAA records, including aircraft on order, and is involved in a variety of applications including offshore oil transport and emergency medical services. Sunday[sup.1]s crash occurred 7min after the 12-passenger twin-engine helicopter departed the Amelia under visual flight conditions. No distress calls were issued. Jan 7, 2009