Archive for the ‘Passenger Charter’ Category

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‘Embraer delivers 105 commercial, 99 executive jets in 2011′

Monday, January 16th, 2012

 

Embraer delivered 32 commercial and 50 business jets during the fourth quarter of 2011 (4Q11), thus closing out the year with 105 delivered to the airline market and 99 to executive aviation. Regarding new deliveries, one of the highlights in 2011 was the sale of 124 commercial jets from the E-Jets family, which represents an increase of 28% over the results of 2010. At the end of the year, the firm order backlog stood at USD 15.4 billion.

Over the last three months of 2011, Embraer signed for the sale of 45 E-Jets, 33 of which are E190s (15 to BOC Aviation, in Singapore; ten to CIT Group, in the U.S.A.; and six to GECAS, in the U.S.A. – leasing companies; and two jets to Hebei Airlines, in China) and 12 E195s (11 to Azul, in Brazil; and one to Jetscape, in the U.S.A.). Hebei Airlines became the newest E-Jets operator, when it received two E190s, in December.

In the business aviation segment, Embraer announced the sale of 13 large Legacy 650 executive jets to Minsheng Financial Leasing, in China, and the appointment of internationally acclaimed actor and philanthropist Jackie Chan as its brand ambassador. The Company’s newest product – the midsize Legacy 500 – was rolled out from the production line to begin ground testing. The special highlights for December were the opening of the new global customer center and the delivery of the first entry level Phenom 100 produced in the United States. The airplane was received by Executive AirShare, at the Melbourne plant, in the State of Florida.

 

 

origin CharterX News

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Beechcraft King Air 250 receives FAA certification

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

On the 9th June 2011 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) announced it has received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the latest derivative of its Beechcraft King Air line, the King Air 250. Developed from inputs received from more than 3,000 customers worldwide, the King Air 250 utilizes new composite technology, lighter weight construction, and engine induction modifications to produce enhanced performance and greater versatility.

“The King Air 250 is a prime example of Hawker Beechcraft’s product forward strategy of taking a market-leading aircraft and making it even better,” said Shawn Vick, HBC executive vice president. “The fact that we have been able to continually adapt this airplane’s roles and applications, and that it continues to be in high demand around the world, is a tribute to the quality of its design and unmatched service record.”

Most obvious among the King Air 250’s new features are its BLR Aerospace composite winglets which improve efficiency in all phases of flight. The aircraft also has composite propellers that provide new aerodynamic technology and lighter weight, as well as engine induction modifications contribute to its increased performance.

As a result of these features, the King Air 250 has its best takeoff performance ever. At max gross takeoff weight, the takeoff distance over a 50 foot obstacle is only 2,111 feet from sea level airports, 400 feet shorter than the B200GT. The new hot/high takeoff performance is even more exceptional. At max gross takeoff weight, from a 5,000 foot elevation airport at 25°C, the takeoff distance over a 50 foot obstacle is 3,094 feet, which is approximately 700 feet better than its predecessor. HBC designed the King Air 250 to achieve its enhanced field performance without any significant tradeoffs. In fact, the King Air 250 also offers slight increases in high speed cruise, climb performance and range over its predecessor. The shorter runway capability adds access to more than 1,100 airports previously unavailable to King Air 200 operators and provides additional safety margin and operational flexibility on longer fields.

 

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Grímsvötn volcanic ash updates from NATS

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

24 May 2011 – 1530 UK time

Latest information from the Met Office shows that following the recent eruption of Grímsvötn in Iceland, an area of volcanic ash is forecast to affect some parts of the UK between 1900 and 0100 UK time on Tuesday 24 May and Wednesday 25 May. Airports remain open, however some services may be affected from the following aerodromes including:

  • Barra
  • Glasgow
  • Edinburgh
  • Prestwick
  • Newcastle
  • Carlisle
  • Durham Tees Valley
  • Cumbernauld
  • Tiree

Please note – passengers should check with their airline before travelling to these airports.

A further update will be provided at approximately 2100 UK time today (24 May).

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CAA issues update on Volcanic Ash Arrangements

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

From 23rd May 2011

”The UK Civil Aviation Authority today said that new arrangements put in place since last year’s volcanic ash cloud would ensure high levels of public safety while helping to limit any disruption in the event that volcanic ash reaches UK airspace this week. But the CAA warned that disruption to aviation couldn’t be ruled out.

The current weather outlook suggests that there is the possibility of ash reaching Scottish airspace from Tuesday onwards, and affecting other parts of the UK and Ireland later in the week.

The CAA is actively monitoring the situation and is in close touch with the Met Office, Department for Transport, airlines and airports and NATS, the UK air traffic services provider. The impact of volcanic ash on aviation would depend on weather patterns, and the nature and density of ash present in the airspace.

Since last year’s volcanic ash crisis, measures have been put in place to ensure preparedness for a similar event. In the event that UK airspace is affected, the following arrangements will apply:
• Areas of high, medium and low density ash will be identified using information provided by the Met Office’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. This is based on data provided from the source of the volcano, satellite, and weather balloons, as well as ground based instrumentation such as radar
• Information on the high and medium density zones will be communicated to the aviation industry by means of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
• Any UK airline wishing to operate in areas of medium or high density ash, will need to have a safety case accepted by the CAA. Many airlines already have such safety cases in place and agreed for medium density. None has so far submitted a safety case to operate in high density ash.
• A safety case sets out the measures airlines will put in place to mitigate the risk of flying through ash. They also include input from aircraft and engine manufacturers. Safety cases have been used by airlines for many years to set out how they will safely deal with other unusual or challenging issues.

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of the CAA, said:
“Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of people both onboard aircraft and on the ground. We can’t rule out disruption, but the new arrangements that have been put in place since last year’s ash cloud mean the aviation sector is better prepared and will help to reduce any disruption in the event that volcanic ash affects UK airspace.”

More information is available at the volcanic ash section of the CAA website at www.caa.co.uk/news
For further media information contact the CAA Press Office, tel. 0207 453 6030. Out of hours 07789 745636.
You can follow us on twitter at UK_CAA
Notes to Editors:

• The CAA is the UK’s specialist aviation regulator. Its activities include: making sure that the aviation industry meets the highest technical and operational safety standards; preventing holidaymakers from being stranded abroad or losing money because of tour operator insolvency; planning and regulating all UK airspace; and regulating airports, air traffic services and airlines and providing advice on aviation policy from an economic standpoint.

• The three levels of ash density are defined as: Area of Low Contamination: An airspace of defined dimensions where volcanic ash may be encountered at concentrations equal to or less than 2×10-3 g/m3, but greater than 2×10-4 g/m3.
Area of Medium Contamination: An airspace of defined dimensions where volcanic ash may be encountered at concentrations greater than 2×10-3 g/m3, but less than 4×10-3 g/m3.
Area of High Contamination: An airspace of defined dimensions where volcanic ash may be encountered at concentrations equal to or greater than 4×10-3 g/m3, or areas of contaminated airspace where no ash concentration guidance is available.”

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TAG Farnborough gets the go-ahead from UK Government …

Friday, February 11th, 2011

TAG Farnborough has won its protracted and acrimonious battle with the local community to double the number of aircraft movements at the UK’s only dedicated business aviation airport following the UK government’s decision to approve the plans.

TAG has fought for more than a year to overturn Rushmoor Borough Council’s decision to reject the airport’s application for an annual movement hike from 28,000 to 50,000 movements by 2019. The council says it reached this verdict based on a possible increase in noise levels and safety concerns from residents. 

The government’s decision to uphold TAG’s appeal “means that Farnborough can meet more of the growing demand for business aviation which facilitates overseas trade, inward investment and generates local jobs,” says the airport. “We are taking an industry leading stance on noise mitigation and climate change and will continue to engage with the local community to tackle important environmental issues,” it continues.

Swiss-owned TAG Farnborough has seen business aircraft movements at Farnborough soar from 16,100 in 2003 – its first full year of operation at the site – to more than 25,500 in 2008. TAG Aviation has invested around £100 million ($148 million) upgrading the airport since it became leaseholder of the site – home to the biennial Farnborough air show – in 2001.

 

 

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Gulfstream makes business aviation history with first flight to use electrically powered flight control system

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Gulfstream test pilots & flight-test engineers recently made business-aviation history when they flew the Gulfstream G650 flight-test aircraft for the first time using only an electrically powered, fly-by-wire back-up flight control actuation system.

 

Gulfstream’s Serial Number (S/N) 6001 flew for a total of 3hrs & 33 minutes on 21st December 2010. Test pilots Jake Howard and Gary Freeman along with flight-test engineers Bill Osborne & Nathaniel Rutland evaluated the fly-by-wire system in electric back-up actuation mode for 2hrs & 20 minutes of the flight, performing five landings with the backup system engaged.

“The system performed flawlessly” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering & test, Gulfstream. “There was no difference in handling qualities between the electrically and hydraulically powered modes”

“It flew so well that unless pilots were told they were in the back-up actuation mode I don’t think they would notice” said test pilot Freeman.

Typically, fly-by-wire uses a third hyraulic system to provide redundancy in the event of a dual hydraulic system failure. However, Gulfstream’s fly-by-wire architecture uses electric back-up hydraulic actuators (EBHA): electronically controlled actuators that are primarily hydraulically powered but offer electric power as a back-up.

The G650 has an EBHA at every primary control surface (elevator, rudder & aileron) as well as the outboard spoiler. These Provide enhanced safety & aircraft availability because of the two different power sources. The self contained actuators also offer an advantage following extremely rare failure scenarios, such as a rotor bust.

The 21st December G650 flight began with evaluating the electric back-up mode handling qualities in one axis and then progressed to full evaluations in all axes (pitch, roll & yaw). The test conditions consisted of all flap settings at 10,000 feet for speeds ranging from.13 reference stall speed (VSR) to maximum flap extended speed (VFE). Cruise configurations were evaluated at FL280, FL350 & FL450 and the full speed spectrum. The pilots also initiated an emergency decent profile from FL450 to FL250. Additionally, they evaluated handling qualities in the landing configuration by making multiple offset approaches at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, GA.

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EBAA confronting illegal charter flights head on

Monday, January 17th, 2011

The European Business Aviation Association has launched a campaign for operators, brokers and passengers to curtail illegal charter flight activity within Europe.

The operation of illegal charters has been a top agenda item for EBAA over the past year, and the Association is taking this forward into positive action in 2011. Operating without a valid Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and failing to comply with traffic rights are key concerns for many within the business aviation community. To help eliminate such practices, EBAA has published “Is My Flight Legal. Ensure the Safety and Legality of the Business Aircraft you Charter”, which provides guidance to operators and brokers on the subject.

“It is in the reputational and commercial interest of all in business aviation to ensure that the flights advertised and arranged are legally permissible and in compliance with the regulatory safety standards demanded of AOC holders,” stresses Brian Humphries, EBAA President and CEO. “EBAA has therefore compiled a document that clearly stipulates what activities fall within the realm of permissible flight activity within Europe, which do not. This electronic document is addressed to operators and brokers, and has been distributed to all EBAA Members. Furthermore, we encourage operators and brokers to forward copies of it to as many colleagues as they can to ensure the widest reach possible for this important campaign.”

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New US operator receives approval for PET transportation to UK

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

A new US operator has been approved by DEFRA for the carriage of dogs and cats from the United States and Canada to Biggin Hill, UK.

The Pet Travel Scheme has enabled dogs and cats from the U.S. and Canada to enter the UK since December 11, 2002. Only certain carriers are approved and this is one of the few private jet companies that have an agreement with the ‘PET’s Program to do this.

The process requires several detailed steps without any stress for owner and beloved pets. With the proper paperwork in hand, and a final treatment required shortly before travel, client’s pets can enter the U.K. together without a quarantine requirement!

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US airports consider electricity inside runways to melt snow

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

US airports are considering a new way of clearing snow — heating pavement. – Could this be the way for UK airports in the furture?

Workers have traditionally relied on chemicals, plows and sweepers to clear snow on runways and taxiways. But some in the industry are pitching the Federal Aviation Administration to make the new methods — passing electric current under the pavement or circulating warm liquids through pipes or tubes — eligible for the federal funding that airports receive for capital-improvement projects.

In a report that outlines the specifications needed for its grants, the FAA says the heating systems could enhance safety for equipment operators, minimize disruptions caused by heavy snow, provide a greener option or reduce snow-removal time.

Disadvantages include high initial costs and complex installation procedures, the FAA says.

The FAA also advised that heated-pavement systems be limited to locations at the airport where manual and chemical treatments are difficult and operational safety is a factor.

It’s being tested on a limited basis at a few airports, says Chris Oswald of Airports Council International-North America. But airports are generally reluctant to install the systems because they’re concerned about ongoing energy costs, he says. “There isn’t a compelling need for these systems in the industry,” Oswald says. “We don’t believe the case has been demonstrated for the need, and that’s what we want to see.”

The council says the FAA has to be more discriminating on selecting new technology eligible for federal subsidies, given the limited pool of money.

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US Charter Operator adds a second Phenom 100 to rapidly growing fleet

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

 

A US private air charter operator located in Santa Barbara, California has added another brand new Phenom 100 to its air charter fleet. This new aircraft addition is based in the Santa Ana/San Diego area, complimenting the operator’s existing fleet of light jets based in California.

This new aircraft has a range of 1,000 nautical miles, four leather seats, 120V power outlets, and a fully enclosed lavatory. The fuel efficiency gives the aircraft a very attractive charter rate.

The Embraer Phenom 100 is a great charter airplane, and by adding a second Phenom 100 down in Southern California this will expand the service area.

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