Grassroots representatives from NBAA, AOPA and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) have told U.S. lawmakers that user fees in any form would be “devastating” to the general aviation community. They were giving evidence at a hearing of the House Small Business Committee yesterday.
“The costs associated with user fees far outweigh any benefit to deficit reduction,” said NATA treasurer Marian Epps, whose family operates Epps Aviation in Atlanta.
While current private equity owners GTCR Golder Rauner and Platform Partners have yet to confirm reports that FBO chain Landmark Aviation is for sale, industry sources say that a deal for the services provider is close to being struck.
According to several insiders, the Carlyle Group investment fund manager–which owned the service provider (formerly known as Garrett/Piedmont-Hawthorne/Associated until its rebranding as Landmark) before its 2007 sale to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE)–will once again acquire the U.S.-based group.
Demand for charter flights dipped early this month, according to data from online charter portal Avinode. At 143.21, the company’s forward-looking demand index for the 30-day period from September 10 was 40 points down from where it was a month prior, seemingly showing the market cooling slightly at the end of the northern hemisphere summer season. However, the September 10 index was still almost 37 points higher than where it was 12 months earlier.
Signature Flight Support and NetJets broke ground today on a 10,000-sq-ft dedicated passenger terminal solely for NetJets customers at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. The $13 million facility, which will open in the second half of next year, is being developed under a partnership between the FBO chain and fractional provider. Attending the event were Signature and NetJets executives, local elected officials and a half dozen students enrolled in the aviation program at the nearby Boynton Beach Community High School.
The FAA’s NextGen air traffic control modernization program will require a consensus among all aviation segments to succeed, NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said yesterday at a House aviation subcommittee hearing on the progress of NextGen initiatives. Bolen was invited to appear before the subcommittee to represent RTCA, an organization charged with providing consensus-based recommendations to the FAA for NextGen. He is a former RTCA chair and currently serves as its vice chair.
Avantair, the fractional-share operator of a fleet of 56 Piaggio Avanti twin turboprops, has adjusted its payscales to better match the rate of growth of management fees, company CEO Steve Santo told AIN. Management fees generally grow at the rate of the consumer price index (CPI), but raises during certain years were climbing faster than the CPI, making it difficult for Avantair to keep expenses in check.
FlightSafety International’s Bombardier Global 5000/6000 simulator its Learning Center in Columbus, Ohio, received FAA and EASA level-D qualification, a company spokesman told AIN. While the sim was installed primarily to train pilots at FlightSafety sister company NetJets, Global training will be available to all customers. Meanwhile, FlightSafety’s Embraer Phenom 300 sim is scheduled to be completed and qualified by year-end at the Columbus facility, though it will be used only for NetJets pilot training in the light jet.
After a recent visit to Brazil and meeting with Brazilian Minister of Civilian Aviation Wagner Bittencourt, executives from Swissport International announced the intent to “reinforce the [company’s] commitment to the country.” Representatives from the Swiss aviation services provider included Swissport International president Per Utnegaard and executive v-p Juan José Andres Alvez, along with Swissport Brazil president Francisco Gonçalves.
NBAA will hold a business aviation regional forum next Thursday at Clay Lacy Aviation at Seattle Boeing Field. The agenda at the day-long forum includes a general session presented by NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, as well as sessions on upset recovery and stall prevention, paper to digital chart transitioning best practices, future air navigation systems and business aviation taxes. There will also be an exhibitor hall and aircraft static display area.
The Airports Council International-North America board of directors unanimously approved a resolution that calls upon the U.S. government to create “a national aviation policy that will provide the kind of long-term stability aviation needs to remain the nation’s gateway for economic growth and development.” The resolution calls for “flexible, adequate funding sources” for infrastructure improvements needed to ensure the safety and security of air travel.
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