While London-area airports prepare for 2012 Olympics traffic, Cambridge Airport (Stand 780)–one of five regional facilities with 24/7 slot allocation for the event–is also looking well beyond, announcing here at the EBACE show a major expansion plan based on its proximity to the UK capital, access to Cambridge’s “Silicon Fen” and its room to grow (both space wise and in terms of having no cap on aircraft movements).
Airports, Heliports and FBOs
New developments at airports and heliports, including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers of FBOs; AIN’s Annual FBO Survey Reports; and news, issues and concerns regarding fuel cards, fuel prices and alternative fuels.
May 15, 2012 - 5:00pm
Lyon Bron Airport (Stand 1164), which serves France’s second most populous urban area, is back in traffic-growth mode. After reporting a 6.1-percent drop in traffic last year, to around 6,300 movements, it has recorded 2 percent more aircraft movements for the January to April 2012 period.
May 15, 2012 - 3:45pm
Swedish start-up Cloudbase (Stand 2205) is here at the EBACE show launching its new flight scheduling software. The Cloudbase software targets small-to-midsize business aircraft operators. Easier work sharing and better pilot involvement in the planning process are its main claimed benefits, making for greater simplicity and efficiency in operations. Cloudbase is being offered for a monthly fee, without any installation or update charges.
May 15, 2012 - 3:30pm
Action Aviation has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with AirGlide, a UK company, which claims that its new Aviation Shield nano-technology coating can result in aircraft fuel-burn savings of around 4 percent through drag reduction of up to 40 percent. Nano particles fill all the microscopic gaps and crevices in the aircraft skin surface.
May 15, 2012 - 1:20pm
Aurora Aviation yesterday at EBACE signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership agreement to run the first full-service FBO at Fujairah International Airport in the UAE. “We are looking to make Fujairah our hub,” Aurora CEO Ammar Kutait told AIN. With slots easily available and holding time less, Aurora will promote the airport for technical stops. While Aurora is not interested in another FBO in the region, Kutait did hint at plans for the company to get into the fuel supply business at another undisclosed airport.
May 15, 2012 - 1:00pm
Lyon Bron Airport, which serves France’s second most populous urban area, is planning to expand its business aviation terminal and build new hangars as well as extend its runways. The runway extension, which will increase the length to 6,030 feet from 4,980 feet, is scheduled to be completed in March next year. By 2014, two new hangars are to be built–one for aircraft storage and the other for maintenance. Afterward, Lyon Bron will expand its business aviation terminal to include new conference rooms and an improved crew area.
May 14, 2012 - 10:30pm
Aurora Aviation has signed a memorandum of understanding for a partnership agreement to run the first full-service FBO at Fujairah International Airport (FIA) in the United Arab Emirates. “We are looking to make Fujairah our hub,” Aurora CEO Ammar Kutait told AIN.
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman on the country's east coast instead of on the Persian Gulf. A new highway connects it with Dubai.
May 14, 2012 - 9:10pm
UK-based business aviation services group Ocean Sky Jet Centre (Stand 1669) has announced the purchase of Menorca’s Mahon FBO, becoming the sole private jet handling provider on the island. The purchase will enhance Ocean Sky’s ability to provide aircraft supervision in Menorca and increase its movement on the island to some 1,000 per year, according to the company.
Previous owner Karen Green will remain at the facility as manager of Ocean Sky Jet Centre FBOs in Spain at Menorca and Ibiza. Ocean Sky also operates FBOs at London Luton, Manchester, and Scotland Prestwick.
May 14, 2012 - 8:00pm
Following a year of planning, the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) marked its official launch here at EBACE, with the goal of “establishing business aviation as an asset that is recognized, valued and supported by governments, their respective civil aviation authorities and enterprises throughout Africa,” said Tarek Ragheb, chairman of the new organization.
May 14, 2012 - 6:50pm
The Advanced Air Support FBO at Paris Le Bourget has purchased equipment to handle widebody business jets such as Boeing 777s and Airbus A340s. The equipment consists of two air-starter units, a container dolly, a goods lift, de-icing equipment and a medical lift for wheelchair access. In addition, a new hangar dedicated to this size of aircraft is being built and will open by the end of the year. Advanced Air Support is hosted under the Jet Services group umbrella (Stand 148) here at EBACE.
