Author: neilw

Beechcraft presented the keys to the first King Air 350i to Wheels Up during a special delivery ceremony at NBAA 2013 in Las Vegas. Beechcraft announced its partnership with membership-based private aviation company Wheels Up in August and an order for up to 105 King Air 350i aircraft, representing the largest general aviation propeller driven aircraft order in history with a value of up to $1.4 billion including support agreements.

“Today’s delivery is the culmination of many months of collaborative work between the Beechcraft and Wheels Up teams to structure a program for mutual success,” said Shawn Vick, Beechcraft executive vice president, Sales and Marketing. “On behalf of the 5,400 Beechcraft employees around the world, we are pleased to present the first King Air 350i to Wheels Up.”

The first 35 Beechcraft King Airs will be delivered to Wheels Up between now and mid-2015, which includes an additional eight deliveries to be made in 2013. The deal includes options for 70 additional aircraft as Wheels Up expands nationally over the next two to three years.

“As I’ve said before, we are extremely excited about the Beechcraft partnership with Wheels Up and I’m happy to report the marketplace is expressing their excitement, too,” said Kenny Dichter, founder and chief executive officer of Wheels Up. “In our early days of selling and taking our program to the consumer, we’ve seen an overwhelming response and interest in the King Air 350i aircraft. We are looking at history in the making in the private aviation business with the launch of the Wheels Up membership model, which offers travelers a total flight solution.”

The Wheels Up King Air 350i aircraft includes several special enhancements for Wheels Up members including state-of-the-art interiors, Wi-Fi connectivity and a luxury lavatory vanity. The Wheels Up deal also includes a comprehensive maintenance program from Beechcraft valued at more than $600 million. This includes service for airframe, engines, avionics and propellers; scheduled and unscheduled maintenance; and labor, parts and consumables. From its Hawker Beechcraft Services Wilmington, Del., hub, which is strategically located for this program, the maintenance program will also include mobile AOG support.

With class-leading capabilities and efficiency, the next-generation King Air 350i is the responsible, sustainable alternative that private aviation has been waiting for. As its segment’s greenest aircraft, the King Air 350i can take more passengers farther on less fuel for consistent savings. State-of-the-art design and performance options represent new heights of power and durability. The King Air 350i’s interior is the most comfortable and capable cabin ever offered in its class. Whether traveling to major airports or unimproved airstrips, the versatility and comfort of the King Air 350i demonstrates why pilots, families, companies and governments in 105 countries have trusted more than 7,000 King Airs over the years – more than any other aircraft.

Embraer Executive Jets announced during its press conference at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2013, that the actor and philanthropist Jackie Chan is the launch customer of the Legacy 500 executive jet in China, with scheduled delivery for 2015.

“We are thrilled that Jackie Chan is our first Legacy 500 customer in China,” said Ernest Edwards, president, Embraer Executive Jets. “Jackie’s Legacy 650 has been supporting his demanding intercontinental travel schedule, and we are honored that he has chosen the Legacy 500 to serve him in the shorter range requirements of his business development, as well as his tireless charitable endeavors in China, Asia and around the world.”

The Legacy 500 is a midsize business aircraft with a range of 3,000 nautical miles with best-in-class six-foot flat-floor cabin, which is wider than some aircraft in the super midsize category. Eight club seats may be berthed into four beds, and the in-flight entertainment system consists of a high definition video system, surround sound, multiple audio and video input options, a cabin management system, and three options for voice communications and connectivity.

“My Legacy 650 is perfect for long trips, and it has everything I need on board,” said Jackie Chan. “The Legacy 500 is futuristic and I’m anxious to fly in the real aircraft.”

Jackie Chan became the first customer of the Legacy 650 large executive jet in China, as well as the Embraer Executive Jets Brand Ambassador. His aircraft features his iconic “Dragon” livery.

Cessna says it is adding industry-leading products and support services to the company’s already extensive portfolio of customer maintenance solutions. Innovation efforts focus on technological advances leading to efficiencies and time-savings for maintenance, in addition to mobile capabilities and after-market solutions. Cessna announced the programs at NBAA 2013 .

“Cessna has a long heritage of taking care of customers after the sale,” Joe Hepburn, senior vice president of Customer Service, says. “Citation Service is the largest service network in the aviation industry, and continues to rank at the top of customer service surveys for a reason. We take great pride in our aircraft, and we are also very proud of the way we serve our customers throughout their ownership experience. We are always looking for innovative service concepts to present to the customer, and we are enthusiastic about our new and existing offerings.”

New Citation models are being equipped with the Cessna–designed CDMS (Cessna Diagnostic Maintenance System) approach to diagnostic maintenance. This system integrates event-driven and full-time data recording to provide a full-featured, industry leading diagnostic solution.

The CDMS is capable of providing maintenance needs on the pilot’s multi-function display and pushing that data to the aircraft’s service center.

“The integrated diagnostic system is capable of alerting the customer, the pilot, and the Citation Service Center of maintenance need, enabling remote support within minutes of notification, whether the aircraft is on the ground or in the air,” says Hepburn. “The integrated diagnostics provide high confidence that applied corrective action will resolve the issue at the first occurrence, resulting in quicker return-to-service for the customer, and improved operational availability for the aircraft.”

Citation Service will offer the Aircraft Recording System II (AReS II) for Citation customers. AReS II is capable of recording thousands of flight parameters each second, downloading this flight data wirelessly to Cessna’s internal network for analysis by service technicians. This process reduces or eliminates the need for troubleshooting test flights, often enabling the reproduction of an event on the ground using information transmitted from the aircraft. “The data we receive from the AReS II systems allow technicians in many cases to diagnose an issue without having to rely on recreating a set of conditions in the maintenance bay,” Hepburn says. “This system saves customers time and money and allows technicians to get right to the source of the issue, meaning we can get the Citation jet back to the owner much more quickly.”

Cessna also announced an expansion of the company’s mobile service capabilities with two key additions to the company’s mobile platforms. A new service vehicle has been based in Chicago, Ill., as of October 1. This modified truck is more capable of supporting scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and on-site technical expertise. The company will also base an additional full-time mechanic in Houston, Texas to fill the Citation service needs in the region. “There are nearly 6,500 Citation jets in the world. No one knows better how to service these high performance jets than Cessna employees. On-site maintenance is far more convenient for the customer, and we will continue to set the bar high delivering what our customers have come to expect from Citation service,” says Hepburn.

Cessna will offer an upgrade program for legacy Citation X aircraft. The aircraft appearance upgrades include a new paint scheme on the exterior, and a new interior designed by Cessna’s Interior Design team. The flight deck receives upgraded avionics with the Honeywell Primus Elite system. The upgraded Citation X will be compliant with Next-Gen technology requirements with ADS-B Out capability. Phone and Internet capabilities will be increased, and the entire cabin management system will be replaced with updated electronics and more familiar capabilities.

Citation Service Centers will begin offering winglets for legacy Sovereign owners. The prototype legacy Sovereign with winglets made its maiden flight last week. “The winglets are a great addition to the aircraft, and bring both aesthetic and performance benefits,” says Hepburn. “Customers have responded well to the winglets on the new Sovereign. Through a supplemental type certificate, legacy Sovereigns, owners can realize the same climb and performance boost with the winglet addition.” The winglets for legacy Sovereigns are anticipated to be available in 2014.

Cessna Service will also offer aftermarket winglets for several models in the CJ family of business jets through an exclusive agreement with Tamarack Aerospace Group. In certain flight profiles, the winglets can provide an aircraft with greater range, increased useful loads and improved high and hot performance while simultaneously improving fuel economy. Plans call for winglets from Tamarack to be available for installation on several models in the CJ family of aircraft at Citation Service Centers in 2015.

Cessna owns and operates a worldwide network of 15 Citation Service Centers, 39 authorized Citation Service Facilities and 22 Mobile Service Units. For more information on the Citation Service Center network, different service options or to locate a facility or to see a list of programs and upgrades, go to Cessna.com/citation-service

Emmerson Daily’s Beechcraft King Air F90 helped carry him through a highly successful career supporting material-handling operations in the southern U.S. As he begins to fully enjoy the fruits of that success, Daily has turned to Blackhawk Modifications to sustain his pleasures aloft.

The executive, who over 28 years built Jackson-Miss.-headquartered Daily Equipment Company into one of the U.S.’ largest and most well-known dealers of lift trucks, recently purchased Blackhawk’s XP135A upgrade. That upgrade will increase his King Air F90’s true airspeed and maximum range, decrease time to climb and reduce operating and maintenance costs. The decision to upgrade also spares Daily the cost and uncertainty of a pending hot-section inspection on his old engines.

“Aviation is my passion,” Daily said. “The added performance of the XP135A upgrade will allow me to enjoy that passion more, while increasing the efficiency and value of my aircraft. I look forward to putting the Blackhawk upgrade through its paces.”

Since Daily acquired the King Air F90 nine years ago, it has aided him in visiting and managing Daily Equipment’s six Mississippi and Louisiana locations, flying to those sites twice a week or more from its base at Jackson’s Hawkins Field. Having sold his company in 2012, Daily now expects to fly the King Air every week or two for personal transportation and for his other business activities, including his directorships on boards of a defense contractor, a bank and an insurance firm.

The Blackhawk XP135A replaces the King Air F90’s PT6A-135s with factory-new versions of that engine that carry new warranties from Pratt & Whitney Canada. No airframe modifications are required for upgrade, which is exclusively endorsed by Beechcraft and certified by the FAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency and Brazil’s ANAC. In addition to the improvements in costs, true airspeed, range and time to climb, the upgrade increases the F90’s single-engine service ceiling and resale value.

In addition to the new engines, the upgrade includes STC paperwork, a flight manual supplement, instructions for continued airworthiness, a P&WC engine logbook, a Blackhawk logbook case, a cycle book and aircraft decals, and a prepaid enrollment in CAMP Systems’ aircraft maintenance tracking program and The Trend Group Turbine Trend Analysis program. Customers also have an option to include new Blackhawk Hawkeye DigiLog gauges.

Gulfstream Aerospace announced at NBAA it has bolstered its support of U.S.-based Gulfstream aircraft operators with the addition of three specially outfitted Field and Airborne Support Team (FAST) vehicles and two field service representatives (FSRs), Kevin Volland and Tony Tommasino.

The new rapid-response Gulfstream FAST vehicles were deployed to Houston and the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. Each custom-designed vehicle, which typically has a team of two or three technicians, is particularly effective in supporting operators in aircraft-on- ground situations because of its quick response time and the tooling it transports.

The new FSRs will support operators based in or traveling through the Pacific Northwest, Arizona and Nevada.

Gulfstream Product Support also added people, facilities and capabilities to its worldwide network. These additions have come during the busiest time in the organization’s history.

“There is an unprecedented level of activity in our organization,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support, in Las Vegas at NBAA. “We’re enhancing our Field and Airborne Support Teams; we’re working closely with the program teams to provide a smooth entry into service for the Gulfstream G650 and G280; and we’ve upgraded our airborne support aircraft. Plus, we’ve added resources for customers in the U.S., Europe, Asia and South America. All of this reinforces our commitment to provide even better service for our customers.”

That reinforced commitment in 2013 includes adding more than 150 employees across Product Support, the largest organization of its kind in business aviation with approximately 3,850 professionals.

Additionally, Gulfstream announced it has redesigned the website for its maintenance tracking system, Computerized Maintenance Program (CMP). The upgrade includes a name change. In early November, the program name will change from CMP.net to MyCMP.

Gulfstream recently enrolled its 2,000th customer in the program.

“This upgrade is largely the result of input we received from members of our CMP customer advisory team,” said Bill Colleran, director, Technical Information Services, Gulfstream. “They wanted a customizable, portlet-based home page and simplified access to commonly used reports and functions. MyCMP will make it easier for operators to access their aircraft’s maintenance data and scheduled maintenance requirements, resulting in less time required for maintenance planning.”

Lufthansa Technik finalizing its cabin installation work on two VIP completion projects from undisclosed customers in its Hamburg hangars. The first one, a BBJ 2, will be delivered back to the customer in December 2013. The second one, a Boeing 767 400FSER, is planned to be handed over to its owner at the beginning of 2014.

The ultra-modern cabin design for the BBJ 2 was created by a renowned international design bureau in London. The interior contains several innovation highlights, like a steam shower, an open cooking opportunity, an air humidification system and lower cabin altitude. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with Lufthansa Technik’s state-of-the-art nice inflight entertainment & cabin management system, including GSM connectivity and live-TV. The nice system can be completely controlled via personal devices like the iPad or iPhone. To achieve a real cinema feeling, the BBJ 2 is the first B737 equipped with a 65 inch HD monitor on board.

The second project, which is expected to be finalized soon is a very rare type of the B767, the B767-400FSER. The completion of this type of aircraft is a new and special experience also for the skilled VIP specialists of Lufthansa Technik. The cabin design for this aircraft was created by Lufthansa Technik’s own VIP interior design department.

Cabin highlights of this project are the full VIP interior, a separate VVIP private area plus a full size lounge area and a dedicated entourage area. The aircraft is provided with finest surface materials and seat covers. It is also equipped with highly customized VIP galleys.

The B767 has a state-of the-art full audio-video-on-demand (AVOD) IFE system with Live-TV and iPad integration on board. The communication system includes Satcom, high-speed Internet and WLAN.

Additionally, Lufthansa Technik installed a therapeutic oxygen system and a high-end water system. Currently, Lufthansa Technik is also working on two B747-8 in Hamburg.

Harrison Ford may be best known for his iconic portrayals of movie heroes such Han Solo and Indiana Jones, but it was his invaluable and often unsung work as a general aviation advocate and humanitarian pilot that were in the spotlight at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2013) as Ford accepted NBAA’s 2013 Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership.

“I am humbled – and not just a little embarrassed – by this award and this attention,” said Ford, with obvious emotion, in a ceremony that capped the Opening General Session at NBAA2013. “I have done what I’ve been able to do, and upon receipt of this high honor I promise to redouble my efforts… to try to make myself available for more of the good missions that can provide service to people in need.”

Ford regularly operates a variety of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft in support of humanitarian efforts such as the Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift and Corporate Angel Network flights, as well as aerial search-and-rescue operations. In 2010, he joined with hundreds of other general aviation pilots participating in relief missions for victims of a devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, flying doctors and equipment to remote communities in his Cessna Caravan turboprop single.

In accepting NBAA’s Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership, Ford noted the importance of calling attention to similar efforts by thousands of other general aviation pilots, including business aviation pilots. “The attention that could be paid to the good works… can only help to improve the understanding of the value of general aviation,” he said.

Created in 2006, the Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership is named for the late Albert L. Ueltschi, in recognition for his lifetime of dedication to philanthropic causes, most notably in the development of international non-profit organization ORBIS dedicated to preventing blindness and saving sight.

Past recipients of this award include FedEx Express and its founder, Frederick W. Smith (2012); former U.S. Senate majority leader, surgeon and humanitarian pilot Bill Frist (2011); the donors and volunteers in the business aviation community who responded to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti (2010); the Civil Air Patrol (2009); Corporate Angel Network (2008); Veterans Airlift Command (2007); and Cessna Aircraft Company, in recognition of the Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift (2006).