Month: January 2013

Private Jets Land in Africa

As the U.S. and European economies sputter along, aircraft manufacturers have had to rely on other geographic markets to realize any growth. The BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) have received a lot of attention in the last few years, but now it seems that manufacturers’ attention has turned to Africa.

  • Cessna toured Africa in January 2013, showing its Cessna Citation Jet 3 and Cessna Sovereign.
  • Dassault Aviation took a business tour of Africa in November 2012.

This interest in African markets makes sense—the private jet market is growing in Africa! Oil-rich Nigeria is second only to China in rate of growth in the sector. Nigeria has spent $6.5 billion on private jets since 2007. In five years, the number of jets in that country has increased from 20 to 150.

However, a new roadblock has cropped up. Rumors are going around that the Nigerian government has halted importations of private jets as of Jan. 21. This should be a temporary hold while officials reformulate the country’s policy on private aircraft. Considering the fast, significant growth in the last five years, previous policies are now outdated or irrelevant.

But there is promise for aircraft manufacturers throughout Africa, not simply in Nigeria.

To promote the African private jet industries, the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) was introduced at EBACE in May 2012. Its mission: “AfBAA will promote the understanding and benefits that Business Aviation provides for the continent’s economic development and prosperity through its unwavering commitment to the organization’s Guiding Principles, thus offering assistance and support to enterprises, entrepreneurs, business leaders, governments and their respective Civil Aviation Authorities.”

Africa is a huge continent, with diverse geographies, politics, cultures, and resources. As a result, intra-Africa air travel is extremely low, and this fact affects economies all over the continent. For any type of emerging market to grow here, people need to be able to go between locations within Africa without having to fly to London. Because traveling by road is often either dangerous or impossible, air travel is frequently the only way to get to a destination. The growing private jet market will likely lead to improved commercial flights intra-Africa and consequently, better business.

Full Interior Services

Whether you’re ready to invest in leather upholstery or your aircraft is due for a full-blown interior makeover, Aero-Nasch Aviation, Inc. offers a complete repertoire of aircraft interior maintenance, restoration and custom-upgrade services.

In business since 1986, Aero-Nasch Aviation focuses on quality first in customer service and work, expecting work performed on any aircraft to meet and exceed high standards.

Aero-Nasch Aviation services for private jets include:

  • Interior Refurbishing — complete custom refurbishing and modification services including seating, carpeting, cabinetry, fixtures, air stairs, runners and other jet interior services.
  • Seat Upholstery — premium-quality handmade custom foam work and upholstery for seats, divans and throw pillows.
  • Carpeting — custom-designed carpets for all interior areas.
  • Cabinetry and Woodwork — high-quality modification, re-veneering, repairing and refinishing for all types of interior cabinetry and fixtures.
  • Interior Maintenance — complete periodic service and cleaning of window shades, seats, carpets, galley and interior fixtures.
  • Custom Thermoforming — specializing in short-run custom thermoform molding. Use your molds or we can make them for you.
  • Fabrication and Welding — in-house sheet metal fabrication and welding with sheet, tubing and bar stock materials.
  • Window Services — Factory Authorized MSA Service Center; complete repair, cleaning, color change and lens replacement services available.

Many of the services and maintenance areas in the aircraft are the cockpit, crew seats, jump seat, cabin, cabin seats, divan, vestibule, galley, lavatory, baggage and flooring. Custom interior services and maintenance are available for a wide variety of private jets including:

  • Airbus
  • Boeing
  • Bombardier
  • Cessna
  • Dassault Falcon
  • Embraer
  • Gulfstream
  • Hawker
  • IAI Westwind
  • Sabreliner

If you’re interested in one of the aircraft interior services mentioned above or have a custom jet interior job in mind, visit http://www.aeronasch.com/ or call (818) 786-5480.

Youth in Aviation

If the U.S. aviation sector wants to continue its path of innovation, it needs to attract young people to the field. Without fresh minds, the industry may find itself in a drought of talent in coming years. Many people are concerned that young people today are too removed from aviation – that they don’t have any direct access to planes or contact with pilots. Most young people’s only experience with flight is a commercial airline trip every once in a while.

But there are certainly places where adolescents gain exposure to the field of aviation. One shining example is at a high school in League City, Texas. Students at Clear Spring High School have been working together to build an airplane from the ground up. They have deciphered complex instructions to construct a shiny, super-light aircraft.

On the other side of the country, a teenager in New Jersey completed his first solo flight on the same day he received his learner’s permit to drive a car. While most students his age are worrying about denting Mom’s SUV, Josh Eichel understands what it takes to take off and land an airplane without any one else on board.

Down under, Ryan Campbell is gearing up for the flight of his life. The young Australian pilot is planning to leave in July 2013 to fly around the world. This 25-stop, 15-country tour will make 19-year-old Campbell the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world.

Perhaps you have a youngster in your life who you think would be excited to get involved in aviation. Throughout the U.S., the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has volunteer pilots that take kids on flights. The Young Eagle program was started in 1992, and it encourages young people to learn how to fly an airplane. AOPA research discovered that participants in the Young Eagles program are more likely to become pilots. Find a participating pilot in your area.

Keep up the great work, kiddos!

Airbags: A Valuable Safety Upgrade

Unless you’re into old, classic cars, every car you own or buy has airbags. In fact, not only are they status quo on the modern vehicle, many people won’t ride in a car unless it has airbags.

But these same people might fly without them.

Considering the level of serious injuries crews and passengers might sustain in an aircraft incident, that doesn’t make much sense.

According to Dr. Guohua Li, director of research in the emergency medicine department at Johns Hopkins University, quoted in Business Jet Traveler (BJT), “The lap belt is insufficient in protecting passengers from decelerative injuries in aviation crashes.”

According to Li’s study, as reported by BJT, 42 percent of aircraft crash fatalities resulted from multiple injuries, 22 percent of deaths were caused by head injuries and 12 percent resulted from internal injuries of the thorax, abdomen or pelvis. Head injuries are the most common cause of death among children involved in an aircraft incident.

Phoenix-based AmSafe Aviation, quoting the Aircraft and Pilots Association (AOPA) 2004 Nall Report, says more than 50 percent of all general aviation accidents occur during taxi, takeoff or landing — and most are survivable. One primary factor in surviving an aircraft accident is avoiding a debilitating injury to the head or neck that prevents you from getting out of the aircraft.

Which makes installing airbags as the next upgrade to your business jet common sense — and highly plausible with AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint (AAIR), an airbag designed for aircraft.

“It fills the space in front of the passenger to control upper torso flail,” BJT reported Bill Hagan, AmSafe Aviation president, as saying. “The bag is also designed to leak at a specific rate, allowing it to collapse so the passenger articulates forward slowly. All this happens in the blink of an eye. When [this process has] completed, the entire bag has deflated and presents no egress issues. The condition of the deflated bag could be described as like having a pillowcase on your lap.”

To see a video of the AAIR system at work, visit this Popular Mechanics article page.

The AAIR, which went into service in 2001, is now installed in more than 20,000 airline seats worldwide, and AmSafe began receiving requests for the device from general aviation aircraft manufacturers about three years ago. It is now installed as standard equipment on 80 percent of all new aircraft delivered worldwide, Hagan tells BJT.

One of the main ways the AAIR saves lives is by preventing head injuries. If a person is rendered unconscious by a blow to the head, he might not escape from a survivable accident. AmSafe explains that the AAIR meets strict head injury criteria (HIC) and provides protection comparable to standard automobile airbags.

AmSafe is betting on the business jet industry getting in on the airbag action, by choice or through the Federal Aviation Administration, which may eventually require airbags. However, installing the AAIR System in private aircraft is somewhat complicated because seats are often not lined up one behind the other. They may face forward, backward and even sideways, making deploying airbags in front of the passengers impractical in some situations.

To solve these problems, AmSafe offers AAIR systems that can be mounted anywhere on the seatbelt, including multiple places in two- to five-point restraint systems. AmSafe also offers airbag systems for side-facing divans in private aircraft cabins.

Plan Private Jet Trip to Super Bowl XLVII Now!

After the games on Sunday, football fans all over the world will know who will be playing in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, La., on Feb. 3. Will it be the New England Patriots v. San Francisco 49ers? Or perhaps the Baltimore Ravens will take on the Atlanta Falcons in the big game.

For some football fans, it doesn’t matter who plays in the Super Bowl. Do you remember this commercial featuring the Never Miss a Super Bowl club? Today, the 46-year-old club claims only three members, so most Super Bowl attendees may wait to make plans to attend the game until they know their team made it all the way. (Or didn’t make it all the way, as the case may be!)

One company getting into the action is The Early Air Way, a private jet charter brokerage. Alex Early, CEO of The Early Air Way, says, “The moment we know who will be playing, the rush will begin.” Now is the time to make your transportation plans to the big game in the Big Easy.

New Orleans Lakefront Airport (KNEW)is the airport closest to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, and it recently added three new hangars to accommodate Super Bowl private jet traffic. In 2002, the airport had several hundred aircraft parked there for the Super Bowl, and they anticipate similar activity this year. If you’re planning on using its facilities for your trip, be sure to make reservations early as they are required!

For a complete list of other airports in the area, check out the neworleanssuperbowl.com website. It has all of the information you need, from restaurants and receptions to pilot requirements, for your business aviation trip to the Super Bowl. Have fun at the big game!

Streamline Aircraft Management with a Full-Service Provider

Taughannock Aviation Corporation(TAC) excels at providing aircraft management and air charter services to the Northeast. From its humble beginnings as a charter operator with a single Piper Seneca twin-engine aircraft, TAC has worked to become a true full-service provider. With sales offices and aircraft bases in Teterboro, Miami, and Ithaca, TAC has been in business more than 30 years. It has amassed more than 40 million air miles and 100,000 flight hours without an accident or injury.

TAC offers complete aircraft management services, including aircraft maintenance with their Part 145 repair station and pilot training at and above FAA standards. It also offers custom plans that allow you to tailor a management program to your aircraft usage and the level of involvement you would like to have. In addition, the company provides expert repairs and aircraft maintenance.

Working with aircraft ranging from Gulfstream business jets to Cessna trainers, TAC technicians employ a wealth of experience in the latest technology. Their maintenance capabilities are extensive, from routine inspections to major repairs and alterations. The company ensures that each avionics repair or installation goes smoothly, on budget, and on schedule.

TAC offers a full range of aircraft management, charter, and aircraft maintenance services to a broad spectrum of aviation users. Plus, as the sole fixed-base operator (FBO) at the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (KITH), TAC provides hangar accommodations, fuel services, parking, concierge services, and other amenities.

Incredibly, even as the company has grown to become one of the Northeast’s largest and most competitive aircraft management and air charter companies, TAC still maintains the highest levels of safety, integrity, and personalized service for each client.

Steady Growth in BizAv Market

Industry analysts appear to be upbeat about the business aviation market, both new and used business jets. Here’s a breakdown of the factors supporting this position:

  • Lower used business jet inventory and 5.7% growth in pre-owned jet transactions from November 2011 to November 2012
  • Record corporate profits
  • Higher aircraft use
  • Extension of U.S. 50% bonus depreciation on business aircraft. This incentive can apply to aircraft under contract by Dec. 31, 2013, but not put into service until 2014.
  • Regional airports seeing large increases in general aviation flights (example: Long Island MacArthur Airport reports 33% increase in private plane flights in 2012 compared to 2011)
  • Especially strong December 2012 for Bombardier (11 contracts for Learjet 75 and Global 6000)

Things are looking up for the private jet market, which is a good thing. Aviation is a significant part of the U.S. economy; it’s not simply a luxury market. The business aviation sector has far-reaching, significant effects:

  • Employs 1.2 million skilled, high wage jobs
  • Inserts $150 billion in U.S. economy every year

2013 promises to bring increased improvement in business aviation. It’s about time!

Dream Jet: Make a Plan to Make It Yours

Now is a good time to review next year’s strategic plan. Is an aircraft part of that vision? Companies don’t purchase jets every day; this transaction takes time and planning. Make sure you have a plan in place to get the process rolling.

A good starting place is the development of a “mission profile.” This helps you determine and define how your company will use an aircraft, which in turn will help you invest in the right aircraft for your needs. You and your buying team should clearly and objectively answer several specific questions:

  • How will your company use the aircraft?
  • Who will fly?
  • How many passengers per trip?
  • What range do you need?
  • How often will the aircraft be used?

You can then use your answers to create your company’s aircraft mission profile.

With this profile in hand, and with the help of an experienced aircraft professional, you can begin to assess the features of the different aircraft on the market. Narrow your shopping list of potential aircraft by matching manufacturer offerings with the performance characteristics outlined in your mission profile. Then, you can focus on the available makes and models that meet your business needs. Honing in on the best aircraft for your company dovetails into budgeting.

To build a realistic budget, you need to factor in considerations such as acquisition, operational, and residual values. When budgeting for an aircraft purchase, we recommend at least a five-year projection. As your budget develops, keep in mind the tax consequences and financing of your purchase.

Aircraft acquisition can be a complex process. The best way to ensure your company makes the right purchase is to have a clear mission profile and to build a good team that knows your needs and budget. Before you buy, consult your tax and financing people, as well as a knowledgeable and experienced aircraft professional. This way, your transaction will be smooth and successful, and your company will be hitting the skies in no time!

Will We Ever Be Allowed to Use Mobile Devices During Take-Off?

2005 called. It wants its on-board cellphone rules back.

It’s hard to believe that already a year has passed since flight attendants so famously kicked Alec Baldwin off a plane for playing “Words With Friends.” Technically, you’re still not allowed to conduct business or shop skymall.com or even play solitaire while waiting for your airplane to take off or land.

Safety regulators cite something about how radio signals might interfere with critical airplane communications. But they’re not sure which devices emit these mixed messages or if they’re strong enough to do damage.

So why the mystery? It seems like a pretty straightforward issue to address.

For starters, nobody wants to pay for the testing. It’s easier to be on the safe side and just ask passengers to shut off their devices. Boeing, however, found at least one cheaper way to test signals and ensure they don’t interfere with critical aircraft electrical systems: use potatoes instead of people. Potatoes behave similarly to humans as far as electrical currents are concerned, and the tubers require much less pay and don’t complain about sitting for hours upon hours of testing.

But there is good news for members of the flying public who use mobile devices. (In other words, everyone!) We can see signs of life in the issue. In August of 2012, the FAA decided it was time to form a committee to study the effects of portable electronic devices on the safety of cockpit equipment. This is supposed to be a six-month study, so hopefully we’ll hear the results soon. Then in December, the FCC advised the FAA to “enable greater use of tablets, e-readers, and other portable devices” on airplanes. Additionally, the FAA passed new requirements making it easier for airlines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers.

Aviation has always been a shining example of innovation and technological advances. It’s about time we get this pesky mobile device problem solved!