July 2, 2009

UBS: Used Bizjet Inventory Falls after 18-month Rise

By Chad Trautvetter

The pre-owned business jet market appears to have bottomed out last month, according to UBS Investment Research’s latest business jet update, released this morning. “Available business jet inventories stepped down 2 percent in June after sequential increases in each of the prior 18 months,” UBS aerospace and aviation analyst David Strauss noted in the report. The investment firm regards the used b more

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NetJets Averts Pilot Layoffs and Furloughs

By Chad Trautvetter

A voluntary furlough-mitigation program collaboratively formed in April by NetJets and its pilot union, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), has averted layoffs and furloughs. “Through innovative and purely voluntary measures, NetJets has been able to align our pilot and o more

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FAA Issues New Advisory on In-cabin Lithium Fires

By Curt Epstein

The FAA yesterday issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) regarding procedures for fighting fires caused by lithium batteries in portable electronic devices. Both the disposable and the rechargeable type batteries are capable of ignition and subsequent ex more

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Synthetic Fuels Move Toward Acceptance

By Curt Epstein

The possibility of commercially available synthetic jet fuels took a step closer to reality last week when ASTM International’s aviation fuels subcommittee passed a new specification for alternative jet fuel. The new specification details the properties and criteria required to control the production and quality of synthetic fuels for aviation use. With the subcommittee’s approval, the standard ha more

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Royal Family Relying More on Aircraft Chartering

By Charles Alcock

Britain’s Royal Household and Ministry of Defence are evaluating options for providing flights for Queen Elizabeth II and her family beginning April 1 next year after existing military and private charter arrangements expire. Revival of an earlier plan to purchase a new head-of-state aircraft seems unlikely in view of the continuing recession in the UK. However, the Queen will be taking delivery o more

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CitationShares Reduces Staff to Match Flight Activity

By Matt Thurber

On Tuesday, fractional-share operator CitationShares laid off 41 office staff and furloughed 52 pilots, according to CEO Steve O’Neill, “to match both the flight activity with staffing levels as well as operating revenue with expenses. We had too much capacity both inside and outside the office for current and projected levels of business.” He further told AIN that the decline in more

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