The FAA is advising U.S. Part 135 operators that they soon will need an approved safety management system (SMS) program to fly throughout Europe under the Third Country Operators (TCO) regulation. Part 135 operators based outside of Europe will be required to obtain a TCO authorization from the European Aviation Safety Agency by November 26 to operate in Europe. TCO authorization includes a requirement that the operator has a state-recognized SMS program, such as those recognized by the FAA, the agency noted in its Summer 2016 SMS newsletter.

The SMS requirements are based on ICAO standards under Annex 19 and are in line with EASA’s risk-based considerations for TCO authorization, the agency noted. The FAA said it does not accept third-party sponsored SMS programs, but does recognize its own SMS voluntary program. The SMSVP is available to Part 135, 145, 141 and 142 organizations.

AMAC Aerospace hasinstalled a VIPinterior on an Airbus A320 that had been used as an airliner. The cabin was completely removed and refitted with custom furniture, decorative inlays, handmade carpet, a master bedroom with lavatory, two VIP lavatories and high-end technical support systems.

Ten new single VIP seats and four new divans convertible into beds were installed and the remaining economy class seats refurbished. All three lavatories include a foot washer developed and installed by AMAC. The project also included a new satcom system and a cabin management system with digital in-flight entertainment, including zoom and quad cameras. Various service bulletins were also completed, and two auxiliary fuel tanks were added.

The MRO also reports completing required maintenance and returning three VIP aircraft to service. A privately owned A319 was delivered after heavy base maintenance, including a C-check that entailed a partial removal of the VIP cabin, and two Gulfstream G450s underwent registration changes to a new owner.

AMAC provided Part 145 maintenance for the G450s, including balancing of flight controls, aircraft weighing, new cabin placards, new exterior paint livery and release to service. The MRO also signed new maintenance contracts on two Boeing 737s.

Duncan Aviation opened its new San Antonio, Texas avionics work-away location on Monday, the company announced. Located on the southeast side of the San Antonio International Airport, the satellite facility will provide Duncan Aviation technicians a base of operations to respond to customers’ avionics repair and installation needs.

Greg Ashpaugh, who began his career at Duncan Aviation as a crew lead at the Dallas satellite facility 13 years ago, will be based at the San Antonio site and travel to customers' aircraft for avionics repairs and installations.

“Numerous customers have asked us to establish a presence in San Antonio, and after assessing the city and the airport, we agree that it’s a great place for Duncan Aviation to establish service options,” said Duncan Aviation manager of satellite operations Matt Nelson. “San Antonio is one of the few airports in the country with an aircraft mix that matches our business model, and it’s especially attractive because the city has such a strong and diverse economic base.”

Nextant Aerospace and sister company Constant Aviation have joined forces to provide guaranteed per-flight-hour maintenance plans for the Beechjet 400A/XP and its remanufactured variant, the Nextant XTi. Constant Aviation has a network of U.S.MRO facilities that offer full-service maintenance, repair and overhaul for business aircraft.

Under the new program, 400A/XP/XTi operators will have the ability to independently choose airframe, avionics and engine coverage, or combine them for a whole-aircraft maintenance solution. The airframe component will provide coverage for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, along with replacement parts. The program will use the Constant Aviation MRO network and its AOG support infrastructure.

“Since Nextant began production of the 400XTi, Constant has played an integral role in the production process and post-delivery support side as a vendor for Nextant,” stated Constant Aviation CEO Stephen Maiden. “This new program further leverages the relationship with our sister company, capitalizing on Constant’s depth of experience in providing maintenance services for the Beechjet airframe. The relationship with Constant also creates additional distribution paths for the product enhancements that Nextant has brought to market through its remanufacturing effort.”

Jet East has opened a non-destructive test (NDT) division and added Sean Embler to oversee and manage the group’s NDT business operations. Embler served in the military for four years, starting his career in NDT in 2009, and is certified to NAS 410 Level II. In this space, Jet East will specialize in dye-penetrant, magnetic-particle and eddy-current testing, with ultrasound and radiography to soon be added to its NDT capabilities.

Jet East will have on-site services, as well as the ability to perform NDT inspections on location across the U.S.“Our group is prepared to fly or drive to your location,” Embler said.

Established in 2006, Trenton, N.J.-based Jet East provides jet, turboprop, airframe and engine maintenance for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. The MRO employs 65 technical and administrative personnel.

Dallas Avionics has been named a distributor of Barfield’s DPS1000 and new 1811NG Digital Pitot Static Test sets. Both models are part of the Imperium line from Barfield, with the DPS1000 meeting RSVM accuracy requirements and the 1811NG suited for helicopters and light aircraft.

“Part of the appeal of these two pitot static test sets is the wireless interface, and we are thrilled about offering the products with that feature to our customers. That is one of the reasons we decided to provide a bonus tablet to our customers, so they can experience this feature without incurring additional expenses. Our special rate and free tablet are limited, however,” said Dallas Avionics vice president of sales Scott Davis.

As part of its new product offerings, Dallas Avionics is selling the 1811NG for a special price of $11,250. The DPS1000 is being offered at $15,250. For a limited time, Dallas Avionics will also provide a free tablet to work with the two models’ Wi-Fi technology.

Jet Aviation St. Louis has completed eight FANS upgrade installations on Bombardier Challenger 604s and has two more scheduled, making it the leader in such installations on this airframe, according to FANS training firm Kobev International. FANS 1/A includes automatic dependent surveillance-contract (ADS-C) and controller pilot datalink communication (CPDLC).

The St. Louis facility partnered with Rockwell Collins to develop the STC on the FANS solution, which reduces pilot workload and enhances the clarity and accuracy of pilot communications with air navigation service providers in oceanic and remote airspace worldwide. It also gives pilots access to preferred wind-efficient transatlantic routes, saving time and fuel.

Meanwhile, Jet Aviation St. Louis is working on its second FANS installation in a Gulfstream GV. The facility completed its first FANS installation in a Gulfstream—a C-20 (GIV)—late last month. Charlie Wittman, the Gulfstream/C-20 manager at the facility, said his team has been working closely with Gulfstream on the FANS installations.

NBAA has reached 11,000 members, a milestone achieved as the association nears its 70th anniversary. NBAA was established in 1947 by 19 charter members to protect the interests of the business aviation community at a time when government leaders began proposing restrictive air traffic rules to cope with the growth of the aviation industry.

The business aviation community since has grown into an industry that supports one million American jobs and generates $219 billion in U.S. economic activity. NBAA’s advocacy also has grown over the years, with the association representing interests of the business aviation operators on issues that include airport and airspace access, safety, environmental concerns, security restrictions, international requirements, new technologies, taxes and state mandates. The association’s annual Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition now typically draws about 27,000 attendees and has grown to the point that only a few cities in the U.S. can host it. The association also has partnered with international business aviation communities to expand the conventions to locations in Asia and Europe.

NBAA’s membership has more than doubled over the past 20 years, reaching 5,000 members in 1997 and then 6,000 in 1999. NBAA celebrated the 1,000-member milestone in 1974.

“The growth of an association’s membership is testimony to its value, so we are pleased to reach this important milestone,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “Clearly, NBAA’s work to advocate for business aviation and foster its growth in the U.S. and around the world is well understood by the entrepreneurs and companies across the U.S., which rely on business aircraft.”

Pre-owned business aircraft transactions gained steam in the first half of this year, up for both business jets and turboprops, but other market indicators are showing signs of sluggishness, with available inventory creeping up and asking prices down, according to JetNet’s latest industry report.

The number of pre-owned business jet transactions in the first half of the year increased by 1.9 percent versus a year ago, while average time on market was 12 days shorter, JetNet said. At the same time, average business jet asking prices have dropped 11.2 percent. “A double-digit decrease in business jet asking prices has not stimulated enough sales growth, and continues to be a major concern,” JetNet maintains, reporting that the percentage of business jets available for sale had increased to 11.7 percent last month. This is up from June 2015’s post-recession low-mark of 11.2 percent.

Likewise, the business available business aircraft turboprop fleet has inched up from 8 percent last June to 8.3 percentthis June. Average asking prices for turboprops fell 2.3 percent, but actual sales increased by 8.8 percent and took 15 fewer days.

The number of turbine helicopter sales fell 12.4 percent, despite a 2.6-percent decline in average asking prices. Piston helicopter prices strengthened by 5.2 percent, but actual sales plummeted 22.4 percent.

The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) has signed an agreement to participate in the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing Program (ASIAS), the group announced today. Administered by Mitre Corp., ASIAS is an FAA-funded, joint government-industry collaborative aviation safety information sharing program.

ASIAS provides a resource to discover common, systemic safety problems that span multiple operators, fleets and airspace regions.This data is then used across the aviation industry to drive improvements and support safety management systems.

“We are pleased to offer ACSF members the opportunity to join the ASIAS program at no cost through the ACSF aviation safety action program [ASAP],” said ACSF president Bryan Burns. “Charter operators and corporate flight departments can now participate in this industry-wide collaborative effort by contributing safety data anonymously and viewing the collective de-identified information that ASIAS produces.”

BBA Aviation, the parent company of Signature Flight Support, this week released its midyear financial results and gave an update as to the progress of its integration of the former Landmark Aviation locations. Overall, the company noted its business and general aviation operation, which accounts for more than 90 percent of its revenues, was largely flat, with U.S. departures up 0.2 percent year-over-year for the first half, while European movements were down 0.8 percent.

Yet Signature, which generates 93 percent of the company's operating profit, saw its adjusted organic revenue increase by 3.6 percent in the first half, while revenue from BBA's engine repair and overhaul and Ontic Legacy Support aftermarket services units declined by 14 percent in the same period.

As a result of its acquisition of Landmark, a deal that was concluded in February, Signature now numbers 200 FBOs worldwide, including 136 in North America, more than double the number of its closest rival. According to BBA, systems conversion has been completed in 30 of the recentlyacquired facilities, with customer service and safety training proceeding on schedule.

Flexjet Ltd., the UK subsidiary of U.S. based Flexjet, today announced the acquisition of aircraft charter management firm FlairJet from Marshall Aerospace to expand the fractional provider’s footprint into Europe, using a fleet of eight Nextant 400XTis, as well as Flairjet’s existing fleet of seven managed jets. Flexjet, which revealed plans to enter the region this fall at EBACE, will operate aircraft under Birmingham Airport-based FlairJet’s UKCAA air operator certificate (AOC) in Europe.

Ray Jones, Flexjet’s managing director for international, told AIN that the company is retaining all FlairJet employees and managed aircraft. “FlairJet will continue to provide aircraft charter and management services during and even after its transition to the Flexjet brand,” he said, adding that that FlairJet was selected for its “excellent culture fit.”

Flexjet’s European fleet will be made available to North American-based Flexjet owners in need of point-to-point private jet travel within the region or to the Middle East or Africa. The European fleet will also be available on a charter basis to Flexjet customers based in Europe with intra-EMEA travel needs.

“Our acquisition of FlairJet enables us to operate a Europe-based fleet of aircraft within our system and consistent with Flexjet’s service and quality standards,” said Flexjet chairman Kenn Ricci.

Business aviation veteran Jim Cannon is joining Argus to serve as the corporate flight department liaison. Cannon brings 40 years of industry experience to his new role, having held positions that included director of flight operations for Home Depot, chief pilot for several business aviation flight operations and president of Jet Professionals. He has served as the IS-BAO program director for the International Business Aviation Council. He holds type ratings in seven business aircraft, has amassed more than 14,000 flight hours and is an accredited Argus, IS-BAO, IS-BAH and BARS auditor.

“Jim brings a very broad range of experience to our organization that will continue to enrich our understanding of the unique challenges of corporate flight departments around the globe,” said Argus president Joe Moeggenberg. “Jim will aid Argus with fine-tuning our product offerings to the flight department side of the marketplace and facilitating meetings with flight department managers to ensure that the suite of Argus safety, data and technology products provides cost-effective and appropriate value today and well into the future.”

Business aviation services group Mac Air is set to launch a new niche fractional ownership program called QJet Shares later this month. The Maine-based company is offering shares in six Hawker 1000s with an initial focus on providing flights between the northeastern U.S. and south Florida.

Six shares, priced at $800,000, will be offered for each of the pre-owned aircraft, which were produced in the mid-1990s. Monthly management fees for a five-year agreement have been set at $13,500, with an occupied flight hour rate of $2,850, which Mac Air says will equate to an all-inclusive hourly rate of $6,283 on the assumption that owners fly approximately 100 hours per year.

“A similar aircraft [in terms of size and range] in one of the larger fractional ownership programs would have an hourly rate of around $10,709,” said Pat Reed, who recently joined Mac Air to run QJet Shares. Owners will also be offered the chance to share in revenues raised when the aircraft are made available to third-party customers for charter. They can also opt to share trips with other owners to reduce their hourly costs.

The Hawker 1000s have been refurbished by Flying Colours of Canada with cabins that seat up to nine passengers. “You wouldn’t know if these are 10 years old or 10 days old; they have all the amenities, including Wi-Fi,” Reed told AIN.

QJet owners will be asked to give 24 hours' notice for trips, except during peak periods when at least seven days' notice will be required. They will have the option to pay more to interchange with other larger aircraft operated for charter by Mac Air, such as the Bombardier Challenger 850.

The first Hawker 1000 is due to join the fleet by mid-August, and this is being offered at preferential rates. The aircraft will be based at Mac Air’s headquarters in Portland, Maine, with the second aircraft likely to be positioned at an airport in south Florida. The jets will also be available for flights elsewhere in the continental U.S., with some repositioning fees and overnight charges applying.

Customers will have the following three financing options: putting $200,000 down as a deposit and paying the remainder on closing; paying all costs up front; or taking advantage of a liquidity program offered by the UBS bank, through which clients borrow against the value of fine art works at low interest rates.

The QJet Shares program might subsequently be expanded to offer other pre-owned aircraft, according to Reed, who was formerly with Magellan Jets and PlaneSense. In addition to aircraft management, charter and leasing, Mac Air Group operates an FBO and provides maintenance, parts support and avionics modifications.

The Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association (CJP) appointed Andrew Broom executive director. Broom brings a background of association work, as well as industry communications and marketing experience, to his new role. Most recently he led marketing and communications for Honda Aircraft Co., where he helped in the introduction of the company’s first business jet, the HondaJet. Before that, he was v-p of communications and outreach at AOPA, holding responsibilities for advocacy programs, the AOPA annual summit and the effort to boost the pilot population. Broom also has served with Hawker Beechcraft, Eclipse Aviation, GAMA and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The CJP board approved the appointment last week during EAA AirVenture 2016 in Oshkosh, Wis. “Andrew is an accomplished aviation leader with executive experience at both aircraft manufacturers and associations, and we are thrilled that he will be helping us strengthen the world’s premier Citation owner-pilot organization,” said CJP chairman David Miller.

AviationManuals has launched customized packages for private aircraft operators to comply with Part-NCC, the new European regulations for “non-commercial operations with complex motor-powered aircraft” that take effect on August 25. According to EBAA, the rules apply to privately operated aircraft that are “registered in an EASA state or [are] registered in a non-EASA state but where the operator is established or residing in an EASA state.”

CEO Mark Baier said his company is focusing its Part-NCC marketing efforts on central European countries that have a large base of private turbine-powered aircraft. Targeted European areas include Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, northern Italy, Scandinavia and Switzerland, he said.

“AviationManuals has supported hundreds of European operators on various registries during the past 20 years with straightforward solutions,” said Baier. “In fact, we have already provided tailored Part-NCC manuals to a number of operators.”

Prices for Part-NCC manuals rangs from $5,000 to $10,000, depending on number of aircraft and optional extras such as an international procedures manual that would satisfy another EASA regulation (Part-SPA).

“These new safety regulations will be implemented soon, and we are ready with customized solutions for private aircraft operators based in Europe or that regularly fly there,” said Baier. “We provide a simple and convenient way to develop the manuals needed to comply with Part-NCC so that operators can worry about flying aircraft instead of developing documentation.”

Rockwell Collins and Duncan Aviation announced a Pro Line Fusion cockpit upgrade at NBAA 2015 for the Citation CJ3, and on Tuesday the first CJ3 with the touchscreen display-equipped flight deck took to the skies at Duncan’s Lincoln, Neb. headquarters. 

The cockpit upgrade replaces Pro Line 21 portrait-oriented displays with three larger 14.1-inch touchscreen displays in landscape format. Included in the upgrade are ADS-B OUT, WAASLPV and synthetic vision, and the touchscreens eliminate the need for traditional FMS control display units mounted in the pedestal. The synthetic vision includes Rockwell Collins’s airport dome, which highlights the destination airport and extended runway centerlines with mile markers. This upgrade also adds a USB port on the displays for database updates. Additionally, buyers can opt for Rockwell Collins Aircraft Information Manager wireless data loading.

“The system performed flawlessly on our one-hour, 10-minute flight in the CJ3,” said Scott Simpson, principal flight test pilot for Rockwell Collins. “[Tuesday's] flight included three approaches with synthetic vision displayed for both pilots, graphically entered flight plan updates and other avionics checkout procedures. In addition to ensuring ADS-B compliance, owners who upgrade will find it an absolute joy to fly.”

STC certification of the CJ3 Pro Line Fusion upgrade is expected by year-end. Installations will be available from Duncan Aviation and Textron Aviation service centers. Last year, Rockwell Collins estimated the fly-away cost for the upgrade in the $315,000 to $325,000 range.

Ross Aviation appointed John (Cy) Farmer COO, Steve GamppCFO and Steve Lee director of business development. Farmer, who has 40 years of FBO experience, previously served with Hawker Beechcraft, Signature Flight Support and most recently Landmark Aviation as v-p of European operations and special projects. Gampp brings 36 years of finance experience to his new role, having previously served with Jones International, Nu-West Industries, Quinoco Petroleum, Home Petroleum and Davis Oil, along with the Ross Aviation chain. Lee, who has consulted with several private equity firms in the aviation industry, has held a number of management positions with Signature Flight Support, including president.

Kathryn Purwin was named CEO of Helinet Aviation Services. Purwin, a jet and helicopter pilot, takes over the helm of the company that her late husband, Alan Purwin, founded in 1987 and built into a diversified aviation transportation services and technology firm with 16 helicopters.

Embraer appointed John Slattery president and CEO of its Commercial Aviation business. Slattery joined the airframer in 2011 as v-p of customer finance and asset management and most recently was chief commercial officer for Commercial Aviation.

HeliTrak appointed Chris Nehls president. Nehls has 25 years of aviation industry experience, having spent the last seven years as v-p of engineering and chief engineer at MD Helicopters and before that 18 years with Honeywell Aerospace.

Erickson hired David Lancelot to serve as CFO. Lancelot has held a number of senior management and financial roles, including CEO of Outdoor Reservation Management Group, president of Enerjet and senior v-p and CFO for Spirit Airlines, along with positions with AirTran Airways and Atlas Air.

Russ Piggott joined Guardian Jet as v-p West Coast. Piggot, a former fighter pilot with the U.S. Air Force and current pilot with the California Air National Guard, most recently was a v-p for Boston Jet Search and also has been a business process consultant for Afterburner.

Field Aviation appointed Robert Baseggio v-p business development. Baseggio previously spent 17 years with Boeing Commercial Aircraft, where he held both sales and contract roles.

Vortek Aviation named Mike Neder v-p sales and marketing. Neder brings a long aviation background to his new role, having specialized in avionics sales and aircraft modifications with companies including DAC International and ASIG.

Global Jet Capital appointed Jolie Howard v-p Asia sales. Howard previously led CIT’s business aircraft finance practice in Asia and also spent seven years as director of business development at TAG Aviation Asia.

Asian Sky Group named Mark Thibault v-p Southeast Asia. Thibault has 35 years of industry experience, including stints as COO of Metrojet, COO of Hongkong Jet and CEO of Mjets.

Hawker Pacific appointed Mathew Hardy general manager of helicopter sales and support across Asia-Pacific. Hardy has 10 years of helicopter industry experience, spending the past three as a rotary sales manager. Hawker Pacific also recently named Chris Barry to lead its aircraft sales activities throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific. Barry has 20 years of various industry experience, including serving as national sales and marketing manager for Flightline Aviation.

Duncan Aviation promoted Ed Reeve to manager of its St. Louis satellite avionics facility at Chesterfield Airport in Missouri. Reeve takes over that role from Jeff Aman, who remains manager of the Duncan Aviation satellite shop in Kansas City. Reeve, a second-generation avionics tech, joined Duncan in 2011 after serving with Executive Beechcraft/Signature TechnicAir and Midcoast Aviation.

Wipaire named Steve Fuchs senior director of aircraft services. Fuchs is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he flew the F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Super Hornet, T-45 Goshawk and C-130 Hercules.

 Gulfstream Aerospace named two executives to new roles in its sales team. Mike West was appointed sales director metro New York, and Jeff Cole sales director Northeast U.S. and Eastern Canada. West, who joined Gulfstream in 1999, has served as a fleet account sales manager and a product support regional sales manager. Cole, who joined Gulfstream in 1998, has served as sales director pre-owned aircraft sales; v-p pre-owned aircraft sales; and sales director new business Southeast.

Shelly Simi was named director of corporate communications and public affairs for Aurora Flight Sciences. Simi has 27 years of industry experience, having previously held media, communications and public relations roles for Boeing/Jeppesen, Adam Aircraft and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

Carey Miller was promoted to director corporate programs and business development for Universal Avionics. Miller joined Universal Avionics in 2009 as the U.S. Western regional sales manager and was promoted to manager of business development in 2011.

The Giles Group named Michael Anderson director of business development. Anderson has 30 years of aviation management experience with Boeing, Lockheed Aircraft, Haeco Americas and Mobile Aerospace Engineering.

Gogo named Dave PerryUK sales manager. Perry brings 20 years of satellite network service international sales and business development experience to his new role.

Constant Aviation appointed Jeremy Snider Gulfstream fleet sales manager. Snider has 25 years of aviation industry experience, having most recently served as a regional sales manager for Gulfstream Aerospace.

Columbia Aircraft Sales appointed Clay Hammond Piper program manager. Hammond, who has logged time in 80 makes and models of aircraft, has held roles with Piper and Cub Crafters.

GlobalGround Transport, a ground transportation company serving aviation clients, named Wade Beyer director of sales. Beyer has 17 years of aviation industry sales and marketing experience, most recently as a senior regional sales manager for Rockwell Collins.

Western Aircraft added Vincent Jimenez and Larry Holifield to its sales organization. Jimenez, who is Hawker/Challenger sales manager, was previously a regional sales manager for Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Ga. Holifield, who joined Western Aircraft as Falcon MRO regional sales manager, was previously a completions sales executive for Gulfstream Aerospace.

Jet Quest appointed Steve Gerlinger sales representative for the western U.S. Gerlinger brings 20 years of aircraft sales experience to his new role, having previously held positions with Charlie Bravo Aviation, Century Acquisitions, Cannon Aviation Group and Gantt Aviation.

Executive AirShare added two executives and named a third to a new role. Mark Whitman was named senior sales director for Texas. Whitman has 30 years of aviation sales experience, most recently as director of sales for Nextant Aerospace. Jim Witkosky joined Executive AirShare as director of safety and quality assurance. Formerly Witkosky was the director of base maintenance for Republic Airways Holdings’ Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh facilities. Scot Logan moved from a pilot position to sales director. Logan had flown Executive AirShare’s Learjet 45XRs, Embraer Phenom 300s and 100s from the company’s base in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) has named Rocky Zhang and Greg Martin as head of Mainland China Committee and lead of Thailand, respectively. Zhang, v-p government affairs at Textron China, steps in for Ty Dubay, who is returning to the U.S. as senior v-p charter sales and customer experience at NetJets. Martin is CEO of Siam Land Flying in Bangkok. o

 Final Flights

Mary Feik, the first woman to receive the FAA Taylor Master Mechanic Award and a 1994 Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame inductee, died June 10. She was 92. Born in 1924, Feik overhauled her first auto engine at the age of 13 and became a maintenance instructor for the U.S. Army Air Corps. She was the first woman engineer in research and development for the Air Technical Service Command and flew more than 5,000 hours as a B-29 flight engineer, engineering observer and pilot in fighter, attack, bomber, cargo and training aircraft.

Feik later became a professional restorer of antique and classic aircraft, working at the National Air and Space Museum Paul E. Garber Restoration Facility. In addition, she has been an ambassador for the Civil Air Patrol.

“I’ve known Mary for 35 years and was always impressed with her love of aviation and her level of expertise on the aircraft she helped restore,” said WAI president Peggy Chabrian. “Her work and involvement with youth through the Civil Air Patrol and her work in aviation education touched the lives of many.”

Charles Spence, a long-time aviation journalist and former senior v-p of public relations for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, died June 23. He was 94. Spence became involved in newspapers as a teenager, beginning with the Louisville Courier-Journal and Times and then the Cincinnati Enquirer. He served in the U.S. Marines during World War II and later worked at a number of Hearst publications, including the New York Mirror, then the nation’s second largest newspaper.

 A pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings, Spence began his aviation journalism career with Flying magazine. He ultimately moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the Utility Airplane Council, the forerunner of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and joined AOPA in 1968. He served with the association until 1983 and subsequently continued as an aviation journalist. Spence retired at the end of 2014. At the time he was covering aviation for General Aviation News.

He is the father of Craig Spence, the secretary general of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations and advisor to AOPA on security issues.

“Charlie was a vocal advocate for pilots and AOPA members, and a true believer in the value and importance of general aviation,” said AOPA president Mark Baker. “Never afraid to do battle for what he believed, Charlie had a way of getting straight to the point and distilling complex issues to their essence.”

Helicopter pilot Charles Aaron, 35, died in a motorcycle accident near Malibu, Calif., on June 13. Aaron was the son of retired Red Bull helicopter airshow pilot Chuck Aaron and worked with his father on the airshow circuit for years before joining him recently at FX Helicopters in Camarillo, Calif. Aaron also was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. HAI president Matt Zuccaro called Aaron a “consummate professional in the exercise of his duties and activities as a helicopter pilot,” and “a true gentleman and wonderful person who always offered his assistance to those in need.”

Global contract jet fuel, flight-support and fuel-management services company AEG Fuels, which has largely focused on airline and military customers since it started in the early 1980s, now sees business aviation as a growth area. The Miami-based company has had only a “small focus on business aviation,” providing contract fuel, but brought business aviation veteran Greg Cox on board last week to expand its presence in this segment.

Cox, who holds the newly created position of executive vice president of business aviation at AEG, is aiming for the company to be a one-stop shop for business aviation trip-support services, aircraft handling, contract fuel, credit and other related services. He said the company already provides trip-support services, including obtaining overflight permits and contract fuel to business aviation clients.

His first initiative is to roll out AEG’s credit card to the business aviation segment, and Cox is now working on getting the card integrated with FBO platforms so it can be accepted at facilities. The card is already compatible with the TotalFBO software, he said, and AEG is in talks with the FBO chains to get it working with their systems. “We are going after the market that needs credit or more personalized planning services,” Cox told AIN.

AEG also plans to develop a global network of aircraft handling agents and, eventually, some kind of customer loyalty program. The company also currently provides unbranded fuel to FBOs, but is considering offering branded fuel at some point, Cox said.

Despite being in the middle of what is typically the quietest quarter for aircraft sales, brokers are finding plenty of reasons for enthusiasm. 

The U.S. stock market has experienced relatively wild gyrations this year, but it never hurts sales to have major indexes perched at record highs, or interest rates at historic lows. These two factors, coupled with rampant price destruction, have created a great entry point for buyers. Noticeable are some first-time buyers, while others are considering rolling out of their current fractional lift in favor of whole aircraft ownership or merely upgrading.

While some models are still getting crushed, many appear on a course toward more palatable price depreciation, and that alone can spur sales; combined with the other factors mentioned, we could see strong buying ahead. Of course, as we have all witnessed in past years, these spurts can be upended by any number of global events.

The UK vote to exit from the European Economic Union was one such recent event. In the days immediately following the vote you would have thought the financial world was nearing an end, but as of this writing the markets had reversed course, with the Dow establishing a new high last month. Any negative effect on used inventory and aircraft sales remains to be seen. Right now, Europe’s percentage of inventory sits a bit higher than any other continent’s at 13.5 percent of its fleet of 2,534 aircraft for sale. That’s followed by South America at 12.9, Asia at 12.2 and the U.S. at 11.5.

Those numbers are slightly higher than the 10 percent we often use to define an average supply, but to get a clearer picture, consider the mix. Now, as the aircraft boneyard lays witness, aircraft do reach an ultimate end and are either parted out or chopped up for recycling. Consider that some of the aircraft still in operation in the U.S., if they were human, would be getting their AARP membership invite. Nine of them that show that they are in operation, according to JetNet, were built between 1961 and 1965, and there are many more in operation built in the 1970s and ’80s. The supply of 2000 and newer jets gives the U.S. a much healthier outlook, with inventory dropping to 8.2 percent for sale; inventory in the other continents, with their younger fleets, are reduced from the above figures by only half a percent. The U.S. fleet of 14,243 aircraft in operation drops to about 7,500 when pre-2000 aircraft are shed from the mix. No doubt the pre-2000 aircraft are still viable to a certain segment of the market, but for the purposes of an apples-to-apples comparison the U.S. market is in decent shape.

Options for Buyers

Right now there is great value across all segments and manufacturer lines, and that’s not news to buyers zeroing in on these discounted models. Just one of several examples of late is the Falcon 900 series.

Consider that the supply of Falcon 900EXs on the market has dropped 50 percent, to 11 aircraft from 22 in June last year, or 9.4 percent of the fleet. Five are in the U.S and Canada, the remainder in Europe. Asking prices range from $13.95 million to $24.5 million and the average is $19.4 million, down 9.6 percent from the beginning of the year. The average time on the market has climbed to almost 600 days as buyers presumably picked over the most desirable offerings, leaving others to languish.   

As far as transactions go, five Falcon 900EXs have traded so far this year, matching last year’s pace. Sales prices have ranged from $13.95 million to $26 million and the average 900EX sold for $20.9 million after 364 days on the market. The low was for a one-owner 2004 model with 5,200 hours and the peak was for a 2013 model with 1,200 hours. Values might stabilize over the next few quarters if the supply continues to decline further or global growth picks up.

Inventory of the predecessor model has also slimmed, with 11 Falcon 900EX Classics for sale, or 9.3 percent of the fleet, down from 17 listed in March. Since the beginning of the year, average asking prices have declined 8 percent, to $9.8 million from $10.6 million, as the stronger dollar has allowed overseas owners to pare prices to stimulate demand. Year-to-date, four 900EXs have sold, compared with five in the same period last year. Sales prices are grouped in a narrow range between $9.1 million and $9.75 million. Buyers have focused on the lower-time models with 5,000 to 7,000 hours total time, engine program coverage and recent C inspections.

Buyers are also keeping a close eye on the Citation X, which for the past three months has held inventory levels below 10 percent, a trend not seen in well over two years. This decline was driven by six pre-owned transactions, all of which had less than 5,000 hours total time. Half of the Citation Xs now for sale have logged 7,000 hours or more. The bottom end of the X market is around $2 million for an aircraft with 10,000 hours or more and engine coverage programs.  The top end of the market is more of a mystery, as there has yet to be a pre-owned transaction this year on a 2005 or newer Citation X. A large driver for this lack of activity may be the sheer number of substitutes, such as the Challenger 300, Falcon 2000 and G200.   

With the amount of activity occurring this summer, it would not be surprising to see more model types shore up their used ranks, setting up for what might be an interesting September to December, traditionally one of the most active sales periods.