Navy awards contract for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft

Textron Aviation announced Thursday it has been awarded the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command.

The contract award is for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A. The initial Lot I award will procure 10 new Beechcraft King Air 260 commercial aircraft and associated support. Lot II and Lot III, if the options are exercised, would each procure up to 27 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are planned from 2024 to 2026.

The Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft acquired under the METS contract will replace the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft. The T-44C Pegasus aircraft is a variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 90. The T-44 has been in service since 1977.

“METS will modernize multi-engine aircraft training at CNATRA, providing an intermediate and advanced training platform for U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators into the P-8, EP-3, KC-130, E-6, E-2, CMV-22, CV-22, and MV-22 aircraft,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Missions Sales for Textron Aviation.

“The T-54A will include an updated avionics suite, automation qualities, and virtual reality and augmented reality devices to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet,” said Navy Capt. Holly Shoger, Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office.

The King Air 260 METS aircraft will be delivered in a fully compliant, METS mission-ready configuration from Textron Aviation’s King Air production line in Wichita, Kansas.

More than 7,700 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964.

The King Air 260 cockpit features the Innovative Solutions & Support ThrustSense Autothrottle system, which supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, landing, and go-around phases of flight. This enhancement reduces pilot workload and is designed to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp, and over-torque conditions.

The King Air 260 cockpit also features a digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the powerful Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

The aircraft includes the Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar, providing pilots with a fully automatic system that is optimized to detect short, mid, and long-range weather.

The King Air 260 was first introduced in December 2020.

King Air 360

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone in Huntsville, Ala., announced plans earlier this month they plan to award a sole source five-year contract to Textron Aviation for the initial purchase of two King Air 360 aircraft for the country of Peru.

The contract will include one 12-month base period and four 12-month ordering periods for the procurement of King Air Series B200 and B300 and Cessna C208B and C408 to support upcoming Foreign Military Sales cases.

NTSB releases preliminary report on plane crash in Rockingham County, Va.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Tuesday that provides details on a single-engine plane crash that killed a pilot after departing Winchester, Va., on Jan. 11.

The report says a Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga (registration N43156), was destroyed on Jan. 11 when it was involved in an accident near Dayton, Va. The pilot was fatally injured.

According to initial information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and witnesses, the pilot flew the plane with a passenger from Shelby County Airport in Alabama to Winchester Regional Airport in Virginia.

The flight arrived in Winchester around 3:44 p.m. EST, and the passenger was dropped off. The plane was refueled with 54 gallons of gas, and the pilot departed for a return flight to Shelby County Airport at about 5:39 p.m. The aircraft climbed to 6,500 feet after departure.

According to data obtained from the U.S. Naval Observatory, sunset occurred at 5:15 p.m. and the end of civil twilight occurred at 5:45 p.m.

At about 6:03 p.m., the pilot advised air traffic control that he was going to descend to 5,500 ft for a few minutes. The controller acknowledged and instructed him to “maintain visual flight rules,” which the pilot acknowledged. No further transmissions were received from the airplane.

Air traffic control lost radar contact with the plane at about 6:10 p.m. near Bridgewater, Va. Emergency services were then dispatched to search for the plane.

Emergency personnel found the plane at 3:30 a.m. at an approximate elevation of 4,000 ft in the Maple Spring area of the Shenandoah Mountains. The crash site was near Dundore Mountain in Rockingham County, Va.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had impacted trees while heading south and came to rest about 520 ft from the initial impact point.

The airplane was “highly fragmented” the NTSB said in their report.

Recorded weather at Bridgewater Air Park, located about 13 miles southeast of the accident site, showed visibility was seven statute miles, and cloud layers were broken at 3,800 ft.

According to FAA and pilot records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate. He did not possess an instrument rating. The plane is registered to Mangham Truck and Equipment Inc., according to FAA records.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Air India looks to buy 540 planes between Boeing and Airbus

Air India is looking to buy up to 290 planes from Boeing and 250 from Airbus to address South Asia's rapidly growing market for domestic and international air travel.

The airline announced Tuesday it has selected Boeing to expand its fleet with plans to buy 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliner, and 10 777X planes.

In addition, the carrier announced its commitment to order 250 Airbus aircraft. The order includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 arriving by late-2023.

The agreement between Boeing and Air India includes options for 50 additional 737 MAXs and 20 787-9s. When finalized, this will be the largest Boeing order in South Asia and a historic milestone in the aerospace company's nearly 90-year partnership with the carrier.

The additional planes will support Air India's growth strategy they are pursuing, according to Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India.

"These new airplanes will enable us to dramatically expand our network, both domestically and internationally, and will come with a completely new, world-class onboard product enabling passengers to travel in the highest levels of comfort and safety,” Wilson said in a Boeing press release. “With this order, we are delighted to take our long relationship with Boeing to a new level."

Air India has also contracted with Boeing Global Services for lifecycle support services, including digital solutions, spare parts, and landing gear exchange programs, pilot and maintenance technician training, aircraft modifications, and other services.

In detail, the airline will purchase 190 737 MAXs, including 737-8s and 737-10s, with options for 50 more jets. They also plan to expand international routes with 20 787-9 Dreamliners and options for 20 more jets, while becoming the newest 777X customer with a selection of 10 777-9s.

The 737 MAX will provide flexibility across Air India's network while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces.

• The 737-8, seating 162 to 210 passengers, depending on configuration, and with a range of 3,500 nautical miles, is the market's most versatile single-aisle airplane, capable of operating profitably on short- and medium-haul routes.

• The 737-10, the largest airplane in the 737 MAX family, offers the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle commercial jet, seating 188 to 230 passengers, depending on configuration with a range of 3,100 nautical miles.

Air India has benefited from the efficiency and flexibility of the 787 Dreamliner family with an existing fleet of 27 787-8s. The larger 787-9 will provide increased capacity, greater range, and 25% better fuel efficiency compared to earlier-generation jets.

The flagship 777-9 – the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jet -- will be the largest airplane in Air India's fleet, enabling it to fly passengers non-stop and in enhanced comfort to almost any long-haul destination.

Bally's CEO steps down following employee reduction announcement

Bally's Corp. announced Monday that Lee Fenton, CEO, will step down and Robeson Reeves, President - Interactive, will take over next month.

Fenton became CEO of Bally's on Oct. 1, 2021, following the acquisition of Gamesys Group PLC where he had been CEO since 2015. Fenton will also step down from Bally's Board of Directors.

Soo Kim, chairman of Bally's Board of Directors, said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Lee for his excellent leadership and valuable contributions to Bally's. Lee has led Bally's through the effective integration of Gamesys, leaving us well positioned for future growth.”

Kim continued, "Robeson has an extraordinary mind and the drive required to excel as he takes the helm."

Robeson Reeves, Bally's incoming Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are a unique company with a robust core and an extraordinary set of opportunities ahead of us. I look forward to working hard with my Executive Team and all our teams to take those opportunities and maximize our growth."

Reeves joined Gamesys in September 2005 and held several leadership positions. Prior to his current role with Bally Interactive, Reeves served as Chief Operating Officer of Gamesys since July 2015, and before that as Gamesys' Director of Gaming Operations.

Workforce reduction

Fenton's departure follows an announcement by the company last month that they will reduce their Bally's Interactive employees and contractor workforce by up to 15%, over the coming weeks.

“We always need to be acutely aware of the macro-economic conditions and adjust accordingly to come through what is a challenging environment in the best possible shape,” Fenton said in a letter to the company's Interactive division. The letter was part of the company's SEC filings last month.

Fenton continued, “Companies who take tough but decisive steps to effectively manage costs will be stronger and fitter for the future. I am committed to ensuring that Bally’s is one of those that is best placed to flourish in the long term.

“With this in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to reduce our Interactive employees and contractor workforce by up to 15%, over the coming weeks.

“We’ve reflected hard as a business to come to this conclusion. Everyone put in so much effort last year, and I am proud of what we achieved together. However, we didn’t manage to achieve everything we had hoped for.

“I now can see that we may have over-hired in some areas, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Fenton concluded his letter by saying, “Most of all, please lean on your leadership, including me, as we all work through this difficult time together.”

Fenton's last day at Bally's will be March 31.

With 10,500 employees, Bally's casino operations include approximately 15,000 slot machines, 600 table games, and 5,300 hotel rooms. Upon completing the construction of a temporary casino facility in Chicago, IL , and a land-based casino near the Nittany Mall in State College, Pa., Bally's will own and/or manage 17 casinos across 11 states.