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New African HQ for Flight Support Services UAS

March 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Flight Support Services Providers for Business AviationDubai-based United Aviation Services (UAS) has opened a new facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, to be managed by the group’s new director of business development for Africa, Wynand Meyers. Meyers has a career history with Jeppesen, the subsidiary of Boeing that manages flight planning.

UAS’s plans will involve the opening of more offices across Africa, to provide flight planning and flight support services to the growing business aviation sector. Mr Meyers’ experience includes overseeing the ground-handling network for India, the Middle East and Africa with Jeppesen.

UAS will also be getting involved in the training and preparation of local employees and have set up a scholarship to encourage participation developing countries in addition to running the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) ground handling management course. Business aviation is taking off in Africa and essential flight support services providers are wise to be setting the scene for future operations.

Super-rich Nigerians Travel in Style

March 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
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_73413406_jet-blurred_ (1)The BBC recently reported that super-rich Nigerians have spend approximately $6.5bn on executive jets to avoid travelling on commercial airlines.

With commercial flights in Nigeria becoming increasingly unreliable, the business aviation sector is literally taking off to record heights. When time is money, ground delays and rerouting is not an option and control is being taken back by the Nigerian elite. Not only are Nigerian businesspeople controlling their flight schedules, but they are also travelling in comfort.

The most popular aircraft appears to be the long-range Bombardier Global Express XRS, closely followed by the Falcon 900 from Dassault and the Gulfstream 550. With custom interiors and price tags ranging from $38 million to almost $60 million, it is not difficult to see where the $6.5bn has been spent.

Many of Nigeria’s super-rich prefer to remain anonymous and often register the aircraft under foreign registries, making it ‘difficult to estimate the exact number of private aircraft in Nigeria’, according to the African Business Aviation Association. It is thought, however, that the majority of these aircraft belong to individuals, unlike Europe and the U.S. where corporate ownership is more common.

Passur Aerospace & Raytheon Unite to Improve Airport Safety

March 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Airport Operations Solutions ProvidersRaytheon, global defence contractors and Passur Aerospace, specialising in predictive analytics and business intelligence have formed an alliance to bring an enhanced perspective to airport safety and efficiency, it has been announced. The partnership will integrate Passur’s predictive analytics decision support software with Raytheon’s air traffic management systems and will work in unison with the FAA’s NextGen Terminal Flight Data Manager programme.

It is hoped that the collaboration will produce and process enhanced flight data and transmit it to air traffic positions and tower control. The information will allow airport operators and airlines to function efficiently within a seamless air traffic system, thus streamlining operations. The system will roll out with a demonstration this month at the Communications for Safety conference.

Jim McCoy, VP of Raytheon ATS said, “We are using analytics to create useful information and get it to the air traffic managers and operators who make crucial decisions regarding air traffic flow at all stages of flight. Rapid access to better information enhances safety, efficiency, and the curb-to-curb travel experience.”

“Passengers and operators are rightfully demanding a more predictable air travel experience,” said Jim Barry, PASSUR president and CEO. “Through the Raytheon/PASSUR collaboration, we achieve this objective and bring enhanced reliability to everyone involved.”

Solaeris Aviation Grows Texas Fleet with a Beechjet 400A

March 2, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Beechjet 400A for Solaeris AviationSolaeris Aviation today announced the addition of a Beechjet 400A to its Houston-based fleet in Texas.

Citing the aircraft as the ‘perfect addition’ to their charter fleet, Mr Richard Ziskind, vice president of privately-held Solaeris Aviation, established in 2006 said, “We have taken this step in response to growing customer demand for our exclusive aviation product offering. We are set apart in two ways; first, we tailor our services for each customer and secondly, our aircraft services operate under the strictest safety standards with our flight programme, BARS (Basic Aviation Risk Standard). The BARS meets or exceeds our ARG/US and Wyvern ratings.”

The Beechjet 400A is an old favourite corporate aircraft, having been on the open business aviation marketplace since 1989, and is as strong an entry-level jet today as it has always been. Capable of 45,000 feet and a carrying capacity of up to eight passengers, the luxurious Beechjet 400A shows no signs of slowing as a leading contender in its class.

Virgin Atlantic Introduce Google Glass to the Aviation Industry for Passenger Services

February 13, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Innovative Solutions for Passenger ServicesGoogle Glass will appear at Heathrow Airport as Virgin Atlantic trial the technology for six weeks to assess improvements in passenger services, check-in and processing.

It is hoped that a touch of glamour will also appeal to the industry with the simultaneous trial of the Sony SmartWatch 2, with both technologies expected to benefit the provision of enhanced customer service.

The SmartWatch and Google Glass will be connected to Virgin’s passenger services system and to a concierge dispatch app, which will send passenger data to the glasses at the beginning of the check-in process.

The app technology will also collect and transmit passenger data, which is hoped will benefit the passenger in terms of enhanced experience. If the trial is successful, Virgin hopes to deploy the technology across their network.

Bombardier Opens New Service Centre at Seletar Airport

February 12, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Bombardier Opens New FacilityBombardier were pleased to announce the opening of their first service centre of business jets in the Asia-Pacific. The new factory-owned centre is located at Seletar airport in Singapore and boasts 92,000 square feet.

The 41-strong, locally recruited staff team have been trained at the Bombardier service centre in Hartford, Conn, including 25 engineers. There are already maintenance approvals on the table for the centre for business aviation customers from Singapore, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Australia, Europe, the Philippines, Malaysia and the Isle of Man and will be seeking certification for Part 145 now that the US have lifted former restrictions on foreign repair and maintenance centres.

Cessna 30 Million Hours Milestone Reached

February 12, 2014
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Cessna 30 Million Hour MilestoneCessna have proudly announced that the 30 million hours milestone has been reached and surpassed by its Citation business jet – a figure unmatched in the business aviation industry.

The first Cessna Citation jet was launched over 42 years ago and since then more than 6,600 jets have been delivered, making them the best-selling family of business jets the world over. Eight models of Citations are currently designed and manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Co, each one focussing upon comfort, utility and performance.

Brad Thress, senior vice president of Cessna Business Jets, said, “More Cessna Citations have been sold than any other family of business jet, and more customers around the world choose Cessna’s Citation jets to save time and meet their business and transportation needs. When it comes to the business of aviation, we believe that Cessna is looked upon as the aviation authority and the Citation name is synonymous with performance, dependability, and sustained value. It’s a role we embrace, and a reputation Cessnans are proud of. We look forward to living up to this standard for the next 30 million flight hours.”

Honeywell & Inmarsat Finalize Avionics for GX Aviation

February 9, 2014
Business Aviation News
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GX Avionics & Inmarsat Satellite Communications SolutionsIt has recently been announced that the Critical Design Review (CDR) has been completed by Honeywell and Inmarsat for the avionics of GX Aviation.

The launch of GX Aviation, scheduled for 2015, will bring in-flight connection speeds equivalent to those on the ground, as promised by both Honeywell and ARINC, who signed an agreement in October. The agreement is expected to provide Inmarsat’s GX Aviation to the business aviation sector.

Currently, GX Aviation uses Ka-band satellites, which offers the high-speed connections. After the agreement was signed in October, Inmarsat and Honeywell announced three new satellites planned for the Global Xpress network, the first of which was launched in December last year.

Miranda Mills, Inmarsat Aviation president is confident that the GX Aviation program and the Honeywell avionics will be ready for the service launch in 2015, she said ‘A comprehensive team from both Inmarsat and Honeywell has completed its analysis of every aspect of Honeywell’s satcom system to ensure it meets all our design criteria.’

Embraer Executive Jets at Singapore Airshow

February 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
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Embraer-Lineage-1000E-Singapore-1Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, plan to bring four of its executive jets to the Singapore Airshow this year.

For the first time in Asia, the beautiful new version of the Lineage 1000, the Lineage 1000E, will be showcased and is looked forward to by the industry since the announcement was made in October last year.

Other business jets on show will be their Legacy 650 and the Phenom’s 300 and 100.

Sao Paulo based Embraer still compete with Bombardier for the title of the largest aircraft manufacturer after Boeing and Airbus. The company have offices worldwide, including offices in Beijing, Paris and Washington DC. Embraer runs more than 300 aircraft through the Asia Pacific regions.

During the Singapore Show, to be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre later this month, there will be breathtaking air displays in addition to the Trade Exhibition which is the largest of its kind in the region.

Dassault Approved by EASA to Launch ‘Dassault Training Academy’

February 4, 2014
Business Aviation News, Business Aviation News Introduction
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Dassault Training ProgramFollowing EASA regulatory approval, France’s Dassault Aviation have gained an industry first with the launch of their training academy, which will offer Part 147 practical training.

The training program will illustrate the necessity of allowing trainee aviation technicians to gain practical experience, which will then permit them to obtain the EASA rating certificate.

Dassault aim to stay ahead, in light of new regulations and new technologies coming into play within the business aviation industry. They constantly strive to develop training programs that will continue to meet future needs of their operators.

The new training centre running the Practical Training Program is located in Bordeaux, France and makes Dassault the first OEM to offer this level of training and support.