Tuesday, September 8, 2009
New Ornge PC-12 NGs Ready for Service
Ornge’s new medically-equipped airplanes have begun providing medical transport services out of Thunder Bay. Ornge officials say they've been doing some test runs of their new Pilatus PC-12 NGs, and the first aircraft are now ready for patients needing advanced and critical care transport.
Skytech Appoints New Director of Service
Skytech announced Tuesday the appointment of Michael Myers as Director of Service for the company's Baltimore area maintenance location. The company said the move represents a continued effort to provide the best possible service for aircraft owners and operators.
Myers comes to Skytech with more than 30 years of experience in the aviation maintenance field, most recently serving 15 years as Director of Maintenance for Landmark Aviation in Leesburg, VA. In addition, Myers has held positions with the former Beech Aerospace Service, Inc., as well as with various Cessna, Piper and Mitsubishi dealerships.
"We are extremely pleased to bring someone to Skytech with the level of experience, attention to detail and industry relationships that Michael has," said John K. Foster, President of Skytech Inc. "Michael's expertise not only enhances our capabilities but will provide an enormous benefit to our customers."
Myers holds an Airframe and Powerplant license with an Inspector Authorization, and in addition is a licensed Private Pilot.
Myers comes to Skytech with more than 30 years of experience in the aviation maintenance field, most recently serving 15 years as Director of Maintenance for Landmark Aviation in Leesburg, VA. In addition, Myers has held positions with the former Beech Aerospace Service, Inc., as well as with various Cessna, Piper and Mitsubishi dealerships.
"We are extremely pleased to bring someone to Skytech with the level of experience, attention to detail and industry relationships that Michael has," said John K. Foster, President of Skytech Inc. "Michael's expertise not only enhances our capabilities but will provide an enormous benefit to our customers."
Myers holds an Airframe and Powerplant license with an Inspector Authorization, and in addition is a licensed Private Pilot.
Greenwich Aerogroup Names Daniel Lafrance as VP Sales and Marketing
Jim Ziegler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenwich AeroGroup announced the appointment of Daniel Lafrance as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the company.
Prior to joining Greenwich AeroGroup, Mr. Lafrance was an aerospace executive consultant providing consulting services to domestic and international business aviation companies. Before then, Mr. Lafrance spent 21 years with Canadair and Bombardier in various customer support and service roles including Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Bombardier Aircraft Services where he was responsible for worldwide sales and marketing activities for the service center network during the last 10 years of his tenure.
Prior to joining Greenwich AeroGroup, Mr. Lafrance was an aerospace executive consultant providing consulting services to domestic and international business aviation companies. Before then, Mr. Lafrance spent 21 years with Canadair and Bombardier in various customer support and service roles including Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Bombardier Aircraft Services where he was responsible for worldwide sales and marketing activities for the service center network during the last 10 years of his tenure.
A Mission of Mercy
The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) is nonprofit organization with bases in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State. For more than 43 years AMS has been providing air ambulance services to various communities, with a special focus on rural areas.
During this time the AMS flying doctor service has been transporting medical specialists to remote areas of KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape. The AMS works closely with the provincial departments of health.
Every day the nine-seat Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft sets off at 7am and flies to KZN's outlying areas. Pilot Mark Hansen has the responsibility of getting the doctors safely to their destination. He has been flying them since last year. "It's amazing to know that you are flying people who offer scarce and much needed services to some of the poorest communities," he says. AMS volunteer flying doctors service coordinator Ronel Badenhorst is responsible for the smooth running of the program.
"I make all the necessary arrangements for every trip so that the doctors and pilot can focus on the work they are supposed to do," she says. Scarce medical care offered by the program include optometry, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, ophthalmology and psychology. The specialists carry out routine visits to hospitals in Pongola, Kokstad, Matatiele, Nongoma and Hlabisa and other remote settings. A total of 49 hospitals are serviced through this program.
During this time the AMS flying doctor service has been transporting medical specialists to remote areas of KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape. The AMS works closely with the provincial departments of health.
Every day the nine-seat Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft sets off at 7am and flies to KZN's outlying areas. Pilot Mark Hansen has the responsibility of getting the doctors safely to their destination. He has been flying them since last year. "It's amazing to know that you are flying people who offer scarce and much needed services to some of the poorest communities," he says. AMS volunteer flying doctors service coordinator Ronel Badenhorst is responsible for the smooth running of the program.
"I make all the necessary arrangements for every trip so that the doctors and pilot can focus on the work they are supposed to do," she says. Scarce medical care offered by the program include optometry, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, ophthalmology and psychology. The specialists carry out routine visits to hospitals in Pongola, Kokstad, Matatiele, Nongoma and Hlabisa and other remote settings. A total of 49 hospitals are serviced through this program.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Business Aviation Celebrated At Oshkosh
“Business Aviation Day” at AirVenture took place on AeroShell Square with about eight business aircraft parked around the Airbus A380. This opportunity to highlighted several business aircraft operators and the important impact business aviation has on the economies of their communities and how they use these business tools to create jobs. The day culminated at on the square with a press conference.
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt set the tone for the speakers who followed him to the podium. "I can't understate the value of General Aviation," he said. "The manufacturing is critical to the economy. So many high-tech jobs are associated with aviation."
Neal Verfuerth, President and CEO of Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, WI, said his Pilatus PC-12 is his "secret weapon", which has allowed him to grow his business from $4 million to $80 million since it's founding in 1996.
Companies operating other business jets and turboprops echoed similar themes. Many of the executives spoke of their business airplanes as "Time Machines", which allow them to travel to remote operations and installations and back in the same day, while allowing the travel time to be productive, and not just as a perk of being a top executive.
The news conference, and Business Aviation Day, served to remind many that business aviation is not well understood by the public, nor many in public office. You can expect to hear a lot more from this segment of the industry, as they stress the importance of business aviation to the overall health of the economy.
FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt set the tone for the speakers who followed him to the podium. "I can't understate the value of General Aviation," he said. "The manufacturing is critical to the economy. So many high-tech jobs are associated with aviation."
Neal Verfuerth, President and CEO of Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, WI, said his Pilatus PC-12 is his "secret weapon", which has allowed him to grow his business from $4 million to $80 million since it's founding in 1996.
Companies operating other business jets and turboprops echoed similar themes. Many of the executives spoke of their business airplanes as "Time Machines", which allow them to travel to remote operations and installations and back in the same day, while allowing the travel time to be productive, and not just as a perk of being a top executive.
The news conference, and Business Aviation Day, served to remind many that business aviation is not well understood by the public, nor many in public office. You can expect to hear a lot more from this segment of the industry, as they stress the importance of business aviation to the overall health of the economy.
Phoenix Police Department Selects Pilatus PC-12 Spectre
Pilatus announced that the Phoenix Police Department has selected the PC-12 Spectre for use by the Department’s Air Support Unit over the City of Phoenix, Arizona.
Commander Dave Harvey, Commander of the Phoenix Police Department Tactical Support Bureau, said, “After careful consideration, the PC-12 Spectre was selected in part because it is an economical, single-engine, pressurized aircraft with sufficient cabin space to help accomplish a multi-mission role. It is a proven surveillance platform that will also
assist us in crime suppression, transport of Department Detectives for investigative purposes, and assist with out-of-state extraditions.”
Leonard Luke, Vice President of Homeland Security and Government Business at Pilatus added, “It is a real honor for Pilatus to contribute to the protection and service to the City of Phoenix. The PC-12 Spectre is a force multiplier and will be a powerful tool for the Phoenix Police Department’s high demand operations. The aircraft’s proven durability is backed by the best product support in the industry, which means it will be consistently ready to dispatch on a wide variety of missions.”
The PC-12 Spectre is scheduled to be delivered to the Phoenix Police Department in September and their goal is to have the aircraft operational in 2010. The aircraft will join their fleet of eight helicopters and replace several smaller fixed-wing aircraft that had been operated for decades. The Phoenix Police Air Support Unit provides service to 1.57 million Phoenix residents encompassing an area of more than 500 square miles.
The PC-12 Spectre provides a true multi-mission surveillance aircraft available to meet today’s operational realities and tightening budgets. Featuring a retractable surveillance platform, Primus Apex avionics suite, and a pressurized reconfigurable cabin, the PC-12 Spectre has set a new standard for multi-mission aircraft capability. Strong performance, fuel efficiency, and a rugged airframe suitable for military missions make it the ideal special mission platform for today’s government and law enforcement agencies.
Commander Dave Harvey, Commander of the Phoenix Police Department Tactical Support Bureau, said, “After careful consideration, the PC-12 Spectre was selected in part because it is an economical, single-engine, pressurized aircraft with sufficient cabin space to help accomplish a multi-mission role. It is a proven surveillance platform that will also
assist us in crime suppression, transport of Department Detectives for investigative purposes, and assist with out-of-state extraditions.”
Leonard Luke, Vice President of Homeland Security and Government Business at Pilatus added, “It is a real honor for Pilatus to contribute to the protection and service to the City of Phoenix. The PC-12 Spectre is a force multiplier and will be a powerful tool for the Phoenix Police Department’s high demand operations. The aircraft’s proven durability is backed by the best product support in the industry, which means it will be consistently ready to dispatch on a wide variety of missions.”
The PC-12 Spectre is scheduled to be delivered to the Phoenix Police Department in September and their goal is to have the aircraft operational in 2010. The aircraft will join their fleet of eight helicopters and replace several smaller fixed-wing aircraft that had been operated for decades. The Phoenix Police Air Support Unit provides service to 1.57 million Phoenix residents encompassing an area of more than 500 square miles.
The PC-12 Spectre provides a true multi-mission surveillance aircraft available to meet today’s operational realities and tightening budgets. Featuring a retractable surveillance platform, Primus Apex avionics suite, and a pressurized reconfigurable cabin, the PC-12 Spectre has set a new standard for multi-mission aircraft capability. Strong performance, fuel efficiency, and a rugged airframe suitable for military missions make it the ideal special mission platform for today’s government and law enforcement agencies.
Western Opens New Interior Shop
Western Aircraft, located on Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, has added a 10,000-sq-ft interior shop that focuses on major interior refurbishments for large business jets and turboprops. “We do interior design and sales for everything from cabinetry to soft goods,” said Ken Hawk, vice president of FBO services. The company is an authorized service center, certified aircraft repair station and distributor of parts and avionics for Dassault Falcon, Pilatus, Hawker Beechcraft, Honeywell and Collins.
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