Missing Bizjet Wreckage Found in Lake Champlain

The wreckage of an Aero Commander 1121A—registered as N400CP—that went missing shortly after takeoff from Burlington, Vermont, on Jan. 27, 1971, has been found by a team led by underwater sonar expert Garry Kozak. N400CP disappeared from Burlington Tower radar over Lake Champlain, and initial search efforts stopped when the lake froze over.

The NTSB accident report cites the jet's “missing location” and lists “undetermined” as the probable cause. The two pilots and three passengers onboard were presumed dead, and the wreckage was “believed to be in Lake Champlain, New York,” the inconclusive NTSB report states.

Kozak first learned about the missing jet mystery in the 1980s and said he “was convinced the plane was within the searched areas, but that it had been overlooked by all the previous searchers.”

On May 25, a new search with a remotely operated vehicle found the wreckage. According to Kozak, "The video and pictures left zero doubt that N400CP had finally been located and a 53-year-old mystery solved. Only video and pictures were recorded and the wreck site was not disturbed since it is a grave site of five people.”

According to a CBS News story about the find, “The relatives of the victims plan to hold a memorial now that they know where the plane is located.”

IRS Audits 'Something Industry Hasn't Seen Before'

The IRS has begun a half-dozen audits of what will be an initial tranche of 50 into the use of business jets. Based on the first few, “it's going to be very intense and it's going to be something that the industry hasn't seen on this level,” David Shannon, a partner with and chair of the business aviation practice for Lewis Brisbois, warned yesterday at the NBAA Regional Forum in White Plains, New York.

In February, the agency revealed plans to launch “dozens” of audits on business aircraft use to ensure that large corporations, partnerships, and high-income taxpayers are properly allocating between personal and business use for tax purposes. Additional funding received from the Inflation Reduction Act enabled the IRS to increase staff so it could “closely examine this area, which has not been closely scrutinized during the past decade,” the agency said.

“The [IRS Information Document Request (IDR)] we received…is twice as long as some IDRs are and the things they’re asking for are extremely thorough,” Shannon said. “We’re at the stage where we need to treat this with the level of seriousness that the situation requires.”

He urged attendees to prepare now and go through a mock audit.

VAI Lauds End of West 30th Street Heliport Closure Effort

Legislative efforts in New York State that would have led to the closure of the West 30th Street Heliport in Manhattan have ended. Language that would have prohibited “any facility for motorized aircraft, including a heliport” has been removed from the legislation, thanks to a grassroots campaign led by Vertical Aviation International (VAI) that responded vigorously to a request to contact state legislators and express concern over the closure plans.

VAI members and others from industry partners such as NBAA sent more than 96,000 emails to every member of both state houses, according to Josh Rousseau, VAI northeast U.S. regional representative. “They felt the heat,” he said.

The new bill, with the heliport provisions stripped out, does include language beneficial to the West 30th Street Heliport, requiring the creation of an advisory task force comprising city appointees, as well as industry and business representatives. The task force appointments are pending the legislation becoming law, which doesn’t happen until all assembly and senate negotiations over the bill are complete and they send it to the governor’s office for final approval or veto.

“The grassroots effort was incredibly effective,” Rousseau said. “There is so much more work to do, but we’re in a much better place than we were two and a half weeks ago.”

Odyssey Aviation Debuts New Exuma FBO

Odyssey Aviation has officially opened its new, multi-million-dollar FBO at the Bahamas' Exuma International Airport (MYEF). The facility—open daily from sunrise to sunset, with after-hours callout available—includes a 4,800-sq-ft terminal with a spacious passenger lounge and refreshment bar, conference room, pilot lounge with flight planning area, and in-house Bahamian customs and immigration service.

Additionally, the complex includes a fuel farm with a capacity of 55,000 gallons of jet-A and 20,000 gallons of avgas. It is served by a trio of 5,000-gallon jet refuelers and a 1,000-gallon avgas tanker.

The company has a large footprint in the Bahamas with an FBO at Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN) in Nassau and handling services at Eleuthera Governor’s Harbour International Airport (MYEM) and Rock Sound International Airport (MYER), also on Eleuthera. A member of the Paragon Aviation network, it also has facilities in Kissimmee, Florida (KISM); St. Simons Island, Georgia (KSSI); and Ypsilanti, Michigan (KYIP).

“We are excited to open our new terminal building at Odyssey Aviation Exuma, which represents our commitment to providing world-class service and facilities for our customers,” said company CEO Steven Kelly. “The new terminal will enhance the overall travel experience for visiting passengers and crewmembers, and we look forward to welcoming them to our facility.”

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PHI MRO Services Recognized as Leonardo Service Center

PHI MRO Services has been tapped as a Leonardo-certified service center for AW139-series helicopters, marking another milestone in the expansion of the Lafayette, Louisiana-based maintenance provider. The alignment between PHI MRO Services and Leonardo gives PHI further capacity to thoroughly support its customers in the U.S., according to the MRO.

“Leonardo values our longstanding partnership with PHI and is excited to expand our support network,” said Maurizio D’Angelo, the manufacturer’s v-p of customer support and services. “Our customers will benefit from the advanced service capabilities and technical expertise provided by PHI, ensuring their fleet remains mission-ready and operationally efficient.”

An FAA-certified repair station, PHI carries DAR/DER authorization and service center certification from major OEMs. Operating a full-service MRO facility and a network of resources positioned worldwide allows PHI to meet the requirements of multiple international regulators to support customer operations globally.

“PHI is honored to be appointed as a Leonardo service center,” said PHI Group CEO Scott McCarty. “This agreement reinforces our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the MRO and aviation industry.”

Farnborough Inks New Sponsor Partnership

UK business aviation hub Farnborough Airport (EGLF) has partnered with noted jeweler Lugano, which celebrated its recent arrival in Britain with the opening of a gallery in London’s Mayfair district.

The deal with the luxury U.S. brand included the brief closure and renovation of the FBO terminal main lounge, transforming it into the Lugano Lounge, with a customized interior designed by Lugano’s COO and co-founder Idit Ferder featuring high-end flooring, fabrics, and furniture. Looking to make a splash across the pond, the company also sponsored this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Royal Charity Polo Day in honor of its arrival.

At London-area EGLF, the brand also mounted a 3,600-sq-ft banner on the airport control tower, making it the largest airside advertisement at any UK airport.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Lugano as they make their grand entrance into the UK market, adding to our already renowned and unrivaled customer service,” said Farnborough Airport CEO Simon Geere. “The partnership with Lugano will further enhance Farnborough Airport’s tranquil and seamless experience, catering to those wishing to enjoy the benefits of premium travel connectivity.”

Flyvbird Moves Ahead on Partnership with Moove

Germany-based air service provider Flyvbird has formed a partnership with travel planning company Moove. Under the agreement, Flyvbird will integrate Moove’s technology to showcase its options for what it calls “faster, more sustainable, direct air travel solutions.”

The first 50 travelers who register on the Moove app will receive a voucher for a free flight on any future Flyvbird route, usable within one year after the launch of operations. The launch is anticipated in the first quarter of 2025.

“We are excited to partner with Moove. Utilizing its intuitive visualization tool will help us attract a brand-new segment of the market as travelers quickly see the benefits. It will play an important role in the early phase of our operation,” said Flyvbird CEO and co-founder Anton Lutz.

“We are delighted Flyvbird is adopting our tool to help make its air travel product become more tangible. We strive to lower the entry barriers to on-demand aviation, creating a market for exciting new airline ventures like Flyvbird. It’s an attractive partnership as we create a bridge between private and commercial aviation,” said Moove CEO and co-founder Arthur Ingles.

Moove announced its launch at EBACE two years ago.

Trailblazing Bizjet Dealer Marisa Maretti Flies West

Marisa Maretti, known during her extensive career as “the first lady of business aviation,” passed away May 18 at age 79. Maretti was a pioneering force in the aviation industry and was the first European woman to establish a business jet dealership. She was born in Cremona, Italy, in 1945 and spent the last 32 years of her life in Monaco. Over her four-decade career, she facilitated the sale of nearly 200 business jets.

Maretti’s aviation career began when she joined Alico, a dealer and authorized service station for Cessna pistons. Her passion and acumen for the industry led her to found her own company, Business Aviation Marketing, in the 1970s, with an office based in Milan, Italy. Cessna Citations became a staple of her business, with more than 150 new and used Citations sold under her guidance.

Eventually, Maretti was appointed as the Cessna Citation-authorized sales representative for Italy, Monaco, and the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. This continued for more than 35 years, during which time she facilitated the sale of a wide variety of aircraft and became a respected figure in the aviation community.

SUSTAINABILITY QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is a factor that can influence the formation of contrails?

A. Altitude at which the contrails are formed.
B. Color of the aircraft producing the contrails.
C. The speed the aircraft is traveling.
D. Brand of the engine powering the aircraft.

Take The Quiz

CALS East Applications, Last Chance

AIN’s senior-level Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) East, set for July 15 to 17 in Jersey City, New Jersey, will address the latest hot topics, strategies, and solutions in business aviation. The summit is attendee-centric and serves as an educational and professional networking platform, connecting corporate aviation leaders with peers, industry experts, and solution providers in a relaxed, informal environment. We invite U.S.-based flight department leaders to apply to attend this all-expenses-paid event as our guests. Seats are limited, so don’t wait to apply.

UPCOMING EVENTS

CBAA CONVENTION 2024
MONTREAL, CANADA
June 18 - 20, 2024

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LONDON, UK
June 18 - 19, 2024

FLIGHTSIMEXPO 2024
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
June 21 - 23, 2024

2024 NATA AIR CHARTER SUMMIT
OKLAHOMA CITY
June 25, 2024

CORPORATE AVIATION LEADERSHIP SUMMIT (CALS), EAST
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
July 15 - 17, 2024

FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW
FARNBOROUGH, UK
July 22 - 26, 2024

EAA AIRVENTURE
OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN
July 22 - 28, 2024

LABACE
SAO PAOLO, BRAZIL
August 6 - 8, 2024

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