March 2010

VistaJet and Flexjet Join Forces

By Chad Trautvetter

Executive charter group VistaJet is joining forces with fractional provider Bombardier Flexjet to provide seamless access to each company’s respective service area. VistaJet’s fleet of Bombardier Learjets, Challengers and Global Expresses operates largely in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Flexjet’s Learjets and Challengers will provide flights within North America, with customers of both more

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FAA Sets Record Straight on Ski Slot Allocation

By Chad Trautvetter

Data from the FAA debunks the myth that fractional operators grab most of the holiday slots at the Colorado mountain airports, namely Eagle, Aspen and Rifle Airports. For the most recent holiday season (December 19 to January 4), fractionals accounted for 455 of the 1,467 slots at Aspen, which equates to 31 percent; 409 of 1,121 at Eagle (36 percent); and 191 of 484 at Rifle (39 percent). The rest more

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Royal Jet Steps Up Private Flights to Iraq

By Chad Trautvetter

Abu Dhabi-based charter operator Royal Jet is taking increasing numbers of bookings for flights into Iraq. Since the 2003 invasion of the country by the U.S. and its allies, the operator has made more than 100 flights into Iraq, including private charters and emergency medical evacuations. Following the 2003 conflict, Royal Jet was the first commercial flight provider to enter the market. The oper more

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$20M Verdict Against XtraJet Overturned

By Chad Trautvetter

A judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles overturned an earlier $20 million judgment against defunct charter operator XtraJet, saying, “The amount awarded to the plaintiffs was so great that it shocks the conscience.” The claim against XtraJet and its former owner, Jeffrey Borer, stemmed from the secret taping of pop singer Michael Jackson and his attorneys on Nov. 20, 2003, more

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Avinode Upgrades Charter Search Engine

By Chad Trautvetter

Online charter portal Avinode upgraded its new aircraft charter search engine, making it easier for charter brokers and operators to put together the most cost-efficient routes by allowing them to search more effectively for real-time aircraft availability and pricing. It can also show complex sets of charter flight options, even for operators with multiple bases or a floating fleet. One improveme more

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Industry sees signs of slow recovery

By Kirby J. Harrison

There have been signs lately that the business aviation industry is experiencing a recovery. However, there have also been signs that a true recovery might fall more in the category of wishful thinking.

Early last month business aviation was buoyed by news that the Fiscal Year 2011 federal budget proposal did not include user fees that would have been a most unwelcome burden as the indu more

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Textron financials show Cessna, Bell hitting bottom

In its fourth-quarter and year-end report for 2008, Textron– parent company of Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter–forecast the economy would “continue to… result in lower volumes at Cessna.” On January 21 this year, the company announced its fourth-quarter 2009 and end-of-year numbers and it appears the earlier report took an optimistic view of the future.

In its 2008 report more

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Bombardier deliveries and orders down

By Kirby J. Harrison

Blaming “the global economic crisis that began in 2008,” Bombardier Aerospace released numbers for its fiscal year 2009/10 (ending January 31) showing a substantial drop in deliveries and negative net orders for business jets.
In FY2009/10, Bombardier delivered 176 business jets, compared with 235 in the previous fiscal year, in line with a projected 25-percent decrease. The company expec more

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Embraer Legacy 450 and 500 Programs Making Headway

By Chad Trautvetter

Embraer said production of the Legacy 500’s first parts has begun at suppliers’ facilities. The nose and main landing-gear forgings arrived at Heroux-Devtek in Canada and are now machined. Meggitt performed the first forgings for the wheels and brakes, while Sonaca began the first trials for stretching the rear fuselage panels at its facilities in Gosselies, Belgium. Meanwhile, Embraer held th more

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Kodiak Goes from Factory to Haiti

By Chad Trautvetter

Mission Aviation Fellowship, the Idaho-based charity that conducts flights in support of international missionary efforts, took delivery of its fourth Quest Kodiak turboprop single and after a brief ceremony loaded it and sent it on an 18-hour, 3,000-mile relief flight to earthquake-ravaged Haiti, marking the type’s first use in disaster relief. The aircraft’s ability to land on short unpaved more

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