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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1194.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION DERATIONS KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON BAC calls for harmonisation Df fractional ownership rules •ade association umbrella organisation presses ICAO to authorise independent study ie International Business Aircraft auncil (IBAC) has forwarded a orking paper to the president of ie International Civil Aviation rganisation calling for an objec- /e study into worldwide harmon- ation of fractional ownership reg- ations. The Montreal-based mncil, an umbrella organisation ir 11 business aviation trade asso- ations, is pushing for the paper to : presented to the ICAO Assembly i September. The move comes as the European ivil Aviation Conference (ECAC) sk force sets a deadline of the first alf of next year to develop a com- lon position on the regulation of actional ownership in Europe light International, 10-16JuIy). IBAC president Don Spruston says the association's objective is to seek a solution to this controversial issue as soon as possible. "The prob lem is the different interpretation by countries of what constitutes a commercial air transport opera tion," he says. In the USA, for example, frac tional ownership operations are regarded as private and governed under FAR Part 91 and its newly created Subpart K. But in Europe, fractionals are deemed commercial and they are regulated under JAR Ops 1 regulations as public trans port, and subject to more restrictive operating practices. Spruston says the fractional own ership issue has become con tentious: "There are too many per sonal feelings involved, which are not based on fact or objective analysis". He adds: "It's time we stepped back and let an indepen dent body look at the issues and develop a uniform position." But the concern is that the ECAC working party - which includes the US National Business Aviation Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Associa tion, fractional operators Netjets and Bombardier Flexjet, and Jet Aviation and TAG Aviation - will develop a policy at odds with ICAO. "There is strong feeling throughout the business aviation community that the ECAC position is treated as an interim measure and should be incorporated into the ICAO study," says Spruston. ELIVERY 1319 for VIPs he Royal Thai Air Force has iken delivery of an Airbus A319 orporate Jetliner. The 24-seat, FM International CFM56- Dwered aircraft is due to enter srvice this month and will be sed for VIP transport. The urchase coincided with Thai irways' order last August for ght Airbus A340-500/600s. MERGER Occitania 'fuses' with Euralair French charter operator Occitania has merged with rival Euralair International after both were taken over by aviation investor Angel Gate Aviation. Occitania, which filed for bankruptcy protection in March, was last month acquired by Angel Gate, which took over Euralair's business aviation division in January. The new company is called Euralair- Occitania and the two companies' operations at Paris Le Bourget airport have been "fused", says general director Maurice Bernard. Angel Gate plans to drop the Occitania brand by the end of the year. Euralair International's busi ness aircraft fleet, consisting of two Cessna Citation lis, has been merged with Occitania's fleet of one Citation I and three Dassault Falcon 50s. Lee says the company plans to acquire a Falcon 900 and more Falcon 50s as the European ad hoc charter business revives. "The Falcon 50s are perfect for our cus tomers because many of them require access to London City airport," he says. Before declaring bankruptcy, Occitania's previous owner, air craft sales specialist Regourd Aviation, disposed of much of its fleet of airliners and cargo aircraft to focus on business aviation. PPROVAL Bocata pushes EASA to pass C2 ADS Socata is stepping up pres- lre on the European Aviation ifety Agency (EASA) to approve le high-gross-weight version of its BM 700 single-engine turboprop, died the C2. A one-month comment period to famine the arguments for Euro- ean recognition of US Federal Avia- on Administration of Amendment 1 to FAR Part 23 certification ended st month. Amendment 44 allows lanufacturers to bypass the 61kt 12km/h) stall speed rule if the air craft has crashworthy seats rein forced to withstand 26g for pilots and 2lg for passengers, says Socata. The $2.6 million C2 has been approved in the USA, Canada and Australia at a maximum take-off weight of 3,360kg (7,4001b) and a slightly higher stall speed. The $2.5 million CI, certificated in Europe, is structurally identical to its stable- mate, but has a maximum take-off weight of 2,950kg. Socata says approval of the C2 in Europe will help boost sales. The French manufacturer, which last month rolled out the 300th TBM700, has sold 10 Cls and 50 C2s and says most CI customers are likely to buy the C2 upgrade kit if EASA approval is granted. Meanwhile, Socata is continuing to evaluate new products to strengthen its position in the GA market. These include another turboprop, a diesel or a jet-powered aircraft, "ranging from a four-pas senger, $1 million type to an eight- passenger $8 million aircraft". CHINA JET A five-seat business jet jointly developed by China's Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Nanjing Light- type Aircraft Stock has made its maiden flight, according to the China-based newspaper, People's Daily. It says the flight lasted about 20min and the air craft reached an altitude of 2,000ft (600m). Development of the aircraft, known as "air sedan", was launched six years ago and three prototypes have been built. ww.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 13-19 JULY 2004 31
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