FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2001
2001 - 0820.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION US helicopter fleets switch on to satellite communications AN INCREASING number of US helicopter fleets are being equipped with satellite communi cations (satcom) for position report ing, flight following and two-way messaging. The OuterLink low- cost datalink capability, to be avail able worldwide by year-end, is particularly useful in regions with limited or no radar coverage. Chevron has completed the installation of OuterLink satcom datalink units on its fleet of 29 heli copters operating in the Gulf of Mexico. As well as allowing auto matic flight tracking and two-way messaging, the systems include a "Mayday" button and an automat ic "missed-message alarm" indicat ing a loss of communication with the helicopter. A second, unidentified petrole um industry operator has ordered 23 CP-2 satellite modems from OuterLink to equip its entire fleet. The CP-2 L-band datalinkis also popular with air medical operators. Air Evac has begun installations on 30 helicopters operating dirough- out the mid-west USA. Lebanon, New Hampshire-based Dart- moudi-HitchcockMedical Center and Duludi, Minnesota-based Life Flight both use the CP-2. • PrivatAir expands globally with Ogden acquisitions KATE SARSFIELD/LONDON SWISS BUSINESS aircraft "airline" PrivatAir is expanding into die US market and strength ening its position in Europe after acquiring Ogden's Flight Services Group (FSG) in Connecticut and Transair at Paris Le Bourget airport. The deals also mark the Geneva- based company's entry into the fixed based operator, ground han dling and aircraft sales market. Dave Kinson, PrivatAir's techni cal director says: "We have been planning to widen die range of ser vices offered to our customers, whom we felt we lost control of once they stepped out of the aircraft." The company admits expanding its product range will spread die risk in the event of an economic downturn. Kinson says: "FSG is among die largest providers of corporate aircraft management, executive charter and aircraft sales and ac- PrivatAir heads to the USA, aiming to be a key business aviation company quisitions in die USA, while Transair has a 3 5 % share of air traf fic handling at Le Bourget." PrivatAir specialises in trans porting VIPs, including govern ment officials and heads of state, as well as providing tailored charter services such as promotional tours and product launches. The company plans to adapt its services to die US market from where it also plans to broaden its operating base through joint ven tures and furdier acquisitions. PrivatAir operates six aircraft in total - three Boeing Business Jets, a Boeing 737-300, a 757 and a Gulfstream IV-SP, which has been dispatched to Connecticut to sup port the US operation. The 737- 300 is expected to follow shordy. Kinson admits further aircraft acquisitions are unlikely in die short term as FSG manages a growing fleet of 46 aircraft, of which 20 aircraft are available for charter. He says: "Our immediate plan is to renovate tile Transair FBO. Work has begun on an FFr8 million [$1.1 million] facelift due to be finished in June." • Eagle hoping to land investors ISRAEL'S DM Aerosafe is seek ing investors for its Eagle vertical take-off and landing rescue plat form, while US group PAM is con tinuing development of Individual Lifting Vehicle (ILV) prototypes. The Eagle is being developed to rescue people beyond the reach of ladders in high-rise buildings, widi the platform designed to land on die building or hover by windows, rescuing up to 10 people at a time, says David Metreveli, DM Aerosafe general manager. Development would cost $1 million annually over two years, says Metreveli. The company has failed to secure backing from Israeli investors and die govern ment, however, forcing it to extend its search outside die country. The two-level design has four wide-chord ducted fans attached to structural beams and driven by pis ton engines. A mock-up has been built, with die next stage being a scaled-down remote-controlled demonstrator. Metreveli says "once funding is secured" a sub- scale electric-powered flying model could be operating within months. • Virginia-based PAM's prototype one-man, rotor-based ILV is fly ing. Although currendy powered by two two-cycle Hirth F-30 pis ton engines, a turbine engine is being considered for the PAM 100B. Applications include patrol duties, law enforcement and spe cial military operations. The com pany is refining the design to enlarge the flight envelope. • Jet credits offers 'alternative' ANEWBUSINESS aircraft and helicopter leasing programme has been set up in the UK offering "an affordable alternative" to frac tional ownership. Operated by sales and charter company Canford Aviation, Jet Credits is aimed at wealdiy individ uals and small to medium-size companies, which "are eidier new to business jet and helicopter trav el or need more flexibility than that offered by die scheme diey are in", says Canford Aviation chief execu tive Nick Davis. Aircraft from the European charter market are divided into four categories, based on cabin size - from an entry-level Cessna Citation Jet or Agusta Al 09 Power in group A to a widebody Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner, group D. Clients buy occupied flying time in die form of jet credits "along similar lines to pre-paid mobile phones". Credits are sold in blocks of 10 costing £30,000 ($44,000) paid directly into die customer's lawyer's account and then on to Canford. Davis adds: "We act as a broker for our customers, handling all dieir travel requirements. There are no capital oudays, no deposits, no binding contracts and no man agement or positioning fees." The programme is based on occupied time in the air - one £3,000 jet credit per occupied hour in group A to five Jet Credits per hour in group D. Discounts of 37.5% are available for overnight, multi stage and day return flights.Q 32 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 13 - 19 March 2001
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
