Some industry numbers from Cessna

I've just been listening to a short presentation from a Cessna Senior VP. He came up with some interesting numbers that I thought I'd share.

In the USA, GA is thought to:
- employ, directly or indirectly, 1,250,000 people
- contribute $155 billion to the economy
- have a payroll of $55 billion, so some big salaries in there if that's true!

Cessna, in particular, has over the years built 192,000 aeroplanes, some of which have been used to train about half of the world's pilots.

SATSair becomes latest victim

...and the economy takes its toll on another aviation company. SATSair is (or was) a South Carolina based on demand charter company. SATSair was a little different though - instead of the usual mix of King Airs or Ciatations SATSair exclusively used Cirrus SR22s. The company originally ordered 50 aircraft with options on another 50, although in the last few weeks only eight airframes were being operated, with others with time expired engines and others sold on.

Both the on demand and fractional markets have been heavily hit by both the economy and the PR disaster that was the big three auto companies climbing out of their bizjets in Washington with begging bowls in hand. NetJets, the world's biggest and best-known fractional operator has seen a significant drop in flight hours while DayJet, a Florida based on demand air taxi operator using Eclipse 500 aircraft went out of business last year.

Old friend

I needed to go flying today. The C182 still has no interior, and although there was a slim chance of it being ready by the end of today (yes, Justin works on Sundays sometimes!) it wasn't looking likely.

The solution presented itself in the guise of this little AA-5. It's been a few years since I flew an AA-5, in fact I'm pretty sure that it would have been in 1994 or perhaps 1995 when I did a cross-Channel checkout in one, but it's a basic enough aeroplane that handles remarkably well for what many would consider a 'spam can'.

I can't remember any vices, and certainly didn't discover any today on a flight that took us down to the South Coast and for a look at the Cerne Abbas Giant.

Cumulus in administration

Apparently the current downturn has resulted in the loss of 30,000 jobs from Wichita (pretty much the home of US General Aviation manufacturing).

UK failures and losses have so far been small by comparison, but Cumulus was added to that list on Friday when the company went into administration (owing me about £1,000).

The company operated a number of Cirrus aircraft that were based at various UK locations; pilots paid a deposit and a fixed monthly amount to fly a predetermined number of hours a year. The numbers always looked a little on the marginal side, and I guess that with harder times they went from just the right side of the line to somewhere way below the line.

As with Air Touring, it'll be interesting to see the list of casualties. Cumulus was a relatively small company, so hopefully their failure won't directly lead to others.

Just in case you need the details, the administrators are:

Portland Business & Financial Solutions
1640 Parkway, Solent Business Park
Whiteley, Fareham
Hampshire
PO15 7AH
stewart.goldsmith@portbfs.co.uk

Good news, bad news

I popped in to Henstridge today to see how Justin is getting on with the aeroplane.

Good news...
- New, fixed, 406MHz ELT is now in and working
- GNS530 is now a GNS530W and is in and working
- Justin has found the leak that's responsible for keeping the carpet in the luggage area wet.

Bad news...
- I saw the part for an AD (or was it SB?) that needed doing. Something to do with a resistor or something near the starter solenoid. It's a small, thin wire that looks like it would cost about 5p to produce. I'm assured that the part costs more!
- The interior is out again. I'm sure you can only take them in and out a limited number of times before they turn to dust!

Still, at least it'll be in the hangar for less time than the Miles Gemini that's there too... it's quite hard to type with your fingers crossed.

A little TLC for the 182

For the last week, the C182 has been at Henstridge for some maintenance. Nothing too drastic (I hope) but a little TLC and a few bits and pieces. A VG or three need replacing, both front seats need some attention, and I'm planning on getting the 530 taken out so that I can return it to Garmin for a small repair - the screen brightness control (that is normally automatic) has reverted to only being very dim. It is possible to change it by going to the right part of the menu, but it is a pain having to do that with every engine start.

I'm planning to head for Henstridge early on Tuesday to see how things are going, so fingers crossed...

Who stole my week?

It's been a busy week (it's press week) with all sorts of aviation activity and writing going on. Time's still short and the deadline is rushing towards us, so I thought I'd go for the short, succinct blog review of the week so far...

Katana - Safe, strong and a bit expensive
Egyro - Expensive, small and hard to use
iPhone software - Get AeroWeather
Dick Rutan 'Decision Making' DVD - Good, but very cheesy in places
Log Ten Pro - Amazing customer support

Now for QSY...