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DHS Security Rules Coming To Business Aviation
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A security program designed by the Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with industry groups is intended specifically
for implementation in the business aviation community and might become a published proposed rule by the end of the quarter, according to NBAA. The final rule is likely to draw its line in the sand by
weight and include requirements for criminal background checks and fingerprinting, but probably won't affect piston aircraft or light turboprops. The exact weight limits have not yet been determined,
and a final rule isn't expected to clear the regulatory process much within two years. Highlighting measures already in place, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen responded to an article published in the
Portland Press Herald about the pending rules, saying that security has always been a top priority for general aviation and that his organization would continue to work with DHS in seeking a
balance between security concerns and convenient business travel. More regulation is in the pipeline involving on-demand air charter up to 94,600 pounds maximum takeoff weight.
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Cessna Goes Large In Paris
CAA Rule Change Could Reveal Operators
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Cessna will next week display a full-scale mockup of its newest large-cabin, long-range business jet concept, dubbed the LCC, at the
47th International Paris Air Show. Since last year at NBAA, when the concept was announced and the LCC mockup was unveiled, Cessna has gauged market demand and formulated a preliminary design that
"would set a new standard for performance, cabin comfort, passenger amenities and environmental friendliness," according to Cessna. The mockup outsizes Cessna's Sovereign and Citation X models with a
nine-pass enger layout with a "large galley and toilet." Many details, including any decision on specific suppliers of avionics and engines, have not yet been defined, but the mockup going to Paris
will display a "representative flight deck." The company says it has received "extremely positive reaction" to the performance parameters and cabin design of the LCC, but that "a final decision on
whether to launch the aircraft is still a ways off." Cessna President, Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton said orders from outside the U.S. for Cessna aircraft are strong, noting, "I think the resurgence of
the business jet display at Le Bourget is the logical response to the dramatic growth of the worldwide market for business aircraft in the last few years." Cessna's Paris Air Show display will include
the Citation CJ2+, Encore+, XLS, and Sovereign business jets, as well as a Grand Caravan, 206 Stationair, and 172 Skyhawk.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is concerned that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will compromise the safety and
security of some business aviation owners and operators by publishing contact information for Air Operators Certificate (AOC) holders. A CAA communication, which EBAA Chief Executive Brian Humphries
calls a new interpretation of existing regulations, could mean that as early as June 29 full contact information for all AOC holders will be published, excepting those whose petitions for exemption
are accepted. (The CAA reserves the right to reject any argument.) EBAA says the move contradicts a clause of Section 23 of the Civil Aviation Act that prohibits the CAA from "publishing information
relating to a particular individual or company." But the CAA points to another clause that says it may publish information subject to "offering the person an opportunity to make representations,"
which, as previously mentioned, it claims the right to reject. The business and corporate aviation segment maintained by the UK defines the largest in all of Europe, so any potential change to the
rules governing that segment is far reaching. The new rules target operators. It appears that clients (who are not holders of an AOC but merely employ charter aircraft services) would be spared.
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Eclipse VLJ Production, Improvements And Training Update
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Eclipse Aircraft says its Avio NG avionics package for the Eclipse 500 very light jet is progressing through testing at a pace that
is slightly behind schedule, but the system has been flown on one jet. A second Avio NG-equipped 500 will fly later this month. The company believes it has identified and resolved a pitot/AOA system
icing problem discovered in testing that resulted in loss of pitot pressure in both the left and right primary flight displays. A new system design has been submitted to the FAA for certification this
month. Affected customers can seek retrofits in July. A new design intended to address fatigue cracks found in the outer layer of the windshield and side window has led to increased inspection and
replacement intervals (inspection every 300 flights and replacement at 1,500 and 600 flights for windshield and side windows, respectively). The certification for the new window designs begins this
month. Physical modifications to the aircraft for enhanced performance continue and certification for those is expected "soon." The first aircraft to incorporate all enhanced performance packages (S/N
39) is still in the production phase. Retrofits of previously completed aircraft will be scheduled beginning in July. Following an announcement at EBACE of a European order for 180 aircraft (120 firm
and 60 options), Eclipse Aviation now says its single certified flight training device will soon be installed at Albuquerque, N.M. Training sessions are expected to begin this July, when the company's
new training facility at Albuquerque Double Eagle II airport is slated to open. The company aims to wipe out the training backlog "by the end of summer."
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Hawker Beechcraft Sales Soar in Q1
Virgin Charter Launches Online Marketplace
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As the Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Company moves toward ownership of the forthcoming Hawker Beechcraft, the company
has reported net first quarter sales of $667.8 million -- up 32.3 percent over the same period last year. Along with that, the company reported an increase to $28.4 million from $10.1 million in
first-quarter operating income, an increase it attributes to deliveries and "a favorable product mix." Cash used in investing activities increased from $8.7 million in Q1 2006 to $27.3 million this
year. "Expenditures relate to capital expenditures consisting of company-manufactured tooling, expansion of manufacturing facilities and modernizing equipment and software additions," the company
said. Commenting on the company's health in transition, Chairman and CEO Jim Schuster added, "Our performance in the first quarter was strong and positions us well as we transition to new ownership as
Hawker Beechcraft."
Sir Richard Branson on Tuesday announced the launch of Virgin Charter, a new online marketplace catering to "buyers and sellers of private
aviation services." The "full-service marketplace" allows sellers to offer their inventory to a larger customer base without necessitating a change in the way they normally do business. Virgin Charter
does not own or operate any aircraft or serve as a broker. Sellers make their inventory available on the service and buyers use the service to manage their entire trip online from finding available
aircraft, to negotiating pricing and purchasing private air travel. The team behind Virgin Charter is led by founder and CEO Scott Duffy and includes technology and aviation executives "from Google,
Expedia, eBay and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory." The company has already released a private invitation-only (you know who you are) beta version and plans to make its public launch later this year.
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CAE SimuFlite Northeast Announces Expansion
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The CAE SimuFlite Northeast Training Center, located near the Morristown Airport in New Jersey, last week opened its doors as the company's
newest business aviation training center, while CAE simultaneously announced plans to expand that center from six to 12 simulator bays to meet demand. The company is aligning itself for profitable
positioning with regard to an expected increase in business jet deliveries of approximately 40 percent over the next few years. The current six-bay center will serve entitlement training for the
Dassault Falcon 7X, Falcon 900EX EASy, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Gulfstream IV and Sikorsky S-76. Expansion will include a "fully-convertible Gulfstream 450/550 full-flight simulator." The company's 7X
simulator is the first ever created for the 19 passenger (max) fly-by-wire business trijet. Of the 24 civil training centers currently operated by CAE, four are dedicated to business av iation
training. Its newest business-specific facilities are at Morristown, N.J., and Burgess Hill, UK. The company's flagship SimuFlite facility is located in Dallas and stands as "the world's largest
business aviation training facility," according to CAE, offering 36 simulators.
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JetDirect Acquires Sunset Aviation
Jet Source To Go Fractional With Spectrum Jets
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JetDirect Aviation Holdings, through acquisition of Sunset Aviation in northern California, will add a ninth regional base of
operations and increase its combined fleet to more than 130 managed aircraft. JetDirect says its retail charter business and Sentient Jet Membership Program tripled in size over the past two years and
that it already claims its place as "the largest FAA Part 135 managed fleet." Key members of Sunset's management team will continue to oversee operations in northern California and support other
JetDirect businesses. "This acquisition is an example of our continued drive to increase the value we provide our customers," said Steven Hankin, JetDirect's president and chief operating officer.
Sunset President and CEO Dan Drohan added, "We are well positioned for aggressive growth in this market and I think that our value proposition for aircraft owners is very strong."
Launching a new brand identity this September and a new 35,000-sq-ft facility in Henderson, Nev., 10-year-old Jet Source of
Carlsbad, Calif., has announced plans to offer fractional jet ownership (including Spectrum twinjets) through three unique offerings targeting business travel, personal travel and licensed pilot
travel. The company, which shares its Carlsbad home with Spectrum Aeronautical says the two have forged a business alliance that will ultimately bring the Spectrum Independence (Model 33) and Spectrum
Freedom (Model 40) all-composite jets to the fractional market. The eight-place Independence is scheduled for certification and initial deliveries in 2009, and the nine-place Freedom is expected to
follow in 2010. "Spectrum’s aircraft provide incredibl e fuel efficiency with the style and pizzazz our clients crave," says Jet Source, which plans to appeal to its target markets through a
fractional-ownership program , an owner-pilot club and travel cards. The fractional offering will be available through one-eighth shares, representing 100 flight hours annually. Each flight will
include a professionally trained crew with complete operational support. The owner's club incorporates transition pilot training and a "members only" flying club, again with one-eighth ownership
options. The travel card offering allows clients a prepaid program starting at 25 hours for use up to six times per year using a future Spectrum fleet of aircraft flown by professional crews. Options
will exist to upgrade to larger or longer range aircraft available within the Jet Source fleet, according to the company.
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Meet the AVwebBiz TeamAVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
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