Dallas Airmotive is anticipating that 2012 will be its busiest year ever in terms of field service support events in North America. The engine service provider, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, had 2,600 service calls last year ranging from engine borescope inspections to full engine changes and is on track to exceed 3,000 such events this year.
NBAA Convention News » October 30, 2012
October 29, 2012 - 3:20pm
When then 23-year-old Armando Leighton, Jr. launched CRS Jet Spares in 1982, Ronald Reagan was president, the Falklands War was raging and the compact disc was new. Today the Falklands conflict is history, Reagan has passed on and the CD is dying, but CRS Jet Spares is going strong. One of the world’s largest aftermarket aircraft parts suppliers, the company is celebrating its 30th anniversary here at the show, where it is giving away a Harley Davidson motorcycle at its booth (No. 3916), just as it does every year at the NBAA convention.
October 29, 2012 - 3:20pm
Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Centre General Manager Carey Matthews is upbeat about business aviation trends in mainland China. In a press briefing at NBAA’12 he reported that year over year growth is 13 percent for business aviation movements at both Hongqaio (SHA) and Pudong (PVG) airports in Shanghai, China. “We expect total movements to be around 4,000 at the end of 2012,” said Matthews.
October 29, 2012 - 3:10pm
Continuum Applied Technology and Constant Aviation have agreed to implement Continuum’s Corridor Aviation Service software in Constant’s network of U.S. maintenance facilities, beginning at its facilities in Cleveland, Ohio; Birmingham, Ala.; and Las Vegas.
October 29, 2012 - 3:00pm
Airbus Corporate Jets vice president Francois Chazelle said yesterday that the company had not decided if it would offer neo (new engine option) engines for the ACJ318 but would for the company’s other single-aisle offerings, beginning in 2018. ACJ customers will be able to choose between the CFM Leap-X and the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power 1100G engines. The first single-aisle Airbus commercial jet is scheduled to begin flying with neo in 2015 and Airbus has committed to investing $350 million annually in renewing its single aisle aircraft.
October 29, 2012 - 3:00pm
In an effort to raise the bar on customer service, the Air Elite FBO network has joined forces with training providers Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center and ServiceElements. Formed last year from the remnants of the former ExxonMobil Avitat network, the fledgling Air Elite brand comprises 25 FBOs, including nearly all of the former U.S. Avitat locations, which decided to remain together after the oil company pulled the plug on its support of the brand.
October 29, 2012 - 3:00pm
Airbus is announcing significant cabin enhancements to its ACJ318 corporate jet, including LED lighting, resculpted and restyled passenger seats, a media lounge, HD entertainment system and an optional shower in the aft lavatory. Wing sharklets will also be available on the aircraft, increasing its range to 4,350 nm from 4,200 nm.
Among the modular layouts available on the aircraft are an aft stateroom with either a divan convertible bed or a permanent double bed, a third lavatory for installation in the mid-cabin and a forward VIP/crew-rest lounge.
October 29, 2012 - 2:50pm
SureFlight Aircraft Completions (Booth No. 3192) recently completed the exterior paint on a Sikorsky S-76B owned by business mogul Donald Trump.
The project was the second S-76 exterior paint job for Trump, but a departure from the usual all-black theme with red striping. According to SureFlight CEO Dan Watkins, the latest helicopter will be based in southern climes, where the weather is much hotter, so the upper half of the aircraft is painted white, with the prominent Trump logo emblazoned in red-on-white on both sides of the tail boom.
October 29, 2012 - 2:45pm
TrueNorth Avionics is featuring its new Stylus cord-and-reel handset at this year’s NBAA show (Booth No. 1375) and has already begun shipping the first units to partner Flying Colours. The Canadian outfitter is installing the Stylus handsets as part of its range of CRJ200 ExecLiner makeovers and green Challenger 850 completions.
October 29, 2012 - 2:45pm
For a market that company president and CEO Scott Ernest describes as remaining soft, Cessna is continuing its product development schedule. During the company’s press conference here yesterday he announced that the Wichita airframer has launched a new version of its midsize Citation Sovereign, and invited show attendees to visit the new aircraft, which has been under development for the past year-and-a-half, at the static display. Three of the upgraded Sovereigns are currently flying and have thus far accumulated approximately 800 flight-test hours.
