First delivery of Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprop aircraft

Textron Aviation proudly celebrated the entry into service and first delivery of its Beechcraft King Air 360 turboprop aircraft on Thursday. The event was commemorated in a special delivery to its launch customer – Stamoules Produce Company, Inc. The California-based business selected the King Air 360 as its first-ever aircraft purchase, Textron said in a company press release.

Stamoules Produce Company is a family-owned business based in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, often referred to as the cantaloupe center of the world. Specializing in growing and harvesting fruits, vegetables and nuts on its 17,000 acre farm, Stamoules Produce Company has steadily expanded its business since it began in 1927.

“When selecting our first aircraft, we looked for a product that would not only give us the performance and flexibility we need to grow our business, but also by a company with a trusted name and expertise in the industry – and we found that in the King Air 360 and Textron Aviation,” said Katie Stefanopoulos, a family member, who will also serve as corporate pilot for the new aircraft.

The King Air 360 cockpit features the addition of the Innovative Solutions & Support ThrustSense Autothrottle. The autothrottle 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, and go-around phases of flight. Another key update in the cockpit is the new digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort.

Other upgrades include a lower cabin altitude at the aircraft’s certified ceiling of 35,000 feet – more than 10% lower when compared to the King Air 350i. The improved cabin altitude level provides greater comfort for passengers, especially during longer flights.

CBL Properties, one of the largest shopping mall owners, files bankruptcy

CBL Properties announced Monday they have filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in order to implement a plan to recapitalize the company, including restructuring portions of its debt. “Through this process, all day-to-day operations and business of the company’s wholly owned, joint venture and third-party managed shopping centers will continue as normal,” CBL officials said in a company press release. “CBL’s customers, tenants and partners can expect business as usual at all of CBL’s owned and managed properties.”

Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., CBL Properties owns and manages a national portfolio of shopping malls. CBL’s portfolio is comprised of 107 properties across 26 states, including 65 high-quality enclosed, outlet and open-air retail centers and eight properties managed for third parties.

“After months of discussions and consideration of a number of alternatives, CBL’s management and the Board of Directors firmly believe that implementing the comprehensive restructuring through a Chapter 11 voluntary bankruptcy filing will provide CBL with the best plan to emerge as a stronger and more stable company,” said Stephen Lebovitz, chief executive officer of CBL. “With an aggregate of approximately $1.5 billion in unsecured debt and preferred obligations eliminated and a significant increase to net cash flow, upon emergence, CBL will be in a better position to execute on our strategies and move forward as a stable and profitable business.”

As of Sept. 30, CBL had approximately $258.3 million in unrestricted cash on hand and available-for-sale securities. The company’s cash position, combined with the positive cash flow generated by ongoing operations, is expected to be sufficient to meet CBL’s operational and restructuring needs.

The company has filed various customary motions with the court seeking several types of relief to allow CBL to meet necessary obligations and fulfill its duties during the restructuring process, including authority to continue payment of employee wages and benefits, honor certain customer and vendor commitments and otherwise manage its day-to-day operations as usual.

CBL stock closed Monday at $0.09 per share, down -40.4% for the day.

Air Canada Rouge returns to the skies

The departure of Air Canada flight AC1810 from Toronto to Cancun on Monday marked the return of Air Canada Rouge to the skies.

"Air Canada Rouge remains an important part of our overall strategy in rebuilding Air Canada's global network," said Mark Galardo, vice president, Network Planning and Alliances at Air Canada. "As leisure traffic resumes, we will progressively add Air Canada Rouge to select North American leisure markets from Eastern Canada."

Air Canada Rouge flights are operated with narrow-body Airbus aircraft featuring a choice of Premium Rouge and Economy services.

Air Canada has been at the forefront of the airline industry in responding to COVID-19, including being among the first carriers globally to require customer face coverings onboard and the first airline in the Americas to take customers' temperatures prior to boarding.

Atlantic Aviation hangar lease for DEA aircraft

The U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, intends to award a sole source purchase order to Atlantic Aviation for housing aircraft, according to contract documents released on Thursday.

“The proposed purchase order is for a service for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate only with Atlantic Aviation,” DEA officials said in a Special Notice contract document.

The Special Notice does not identify where the hangar lease purchase will take place. Atlantic Aviation has hangar space available at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Northeast Philadelphia Airport and Corpus Christi International Airport, according to the company's website. The contracting office handling the lease is located at 8701 Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Va. 22152, according to contract documents.

The DEA Aviation Division’s mission is to provide aviation support to operational and intelligence elements within DEA and the law enforcement community to detect, locate, identify, and assess illicit narcotics-related trafficking activities.

The Aviation Division's command and control functions are conducted from the Aviation Operations Center located at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. The division has Special Agents/Pilots and aircraft strategically located throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

Navy orders six more CH-53K King Stallion helicopters

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, will build six additional production CH-53K King Stallion helicopters under a new contract for the U.S. Navy. The aircraft will further support the U.S. Marine Corps in its mission to conduct expeditionary heavy-lift assault transport of armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations.

The six helicopters are part of a 200-aircraft program for the Marine Corps, and their addition makes a total of 24 CH-53K production aircraft now under contract. Sikorsky will begin deliveries of the six aircraft in January 2024.

The CH-53K program has five aircraft on the line at Sikorsky facilities in Connecticut and over two dozen in various stages of production. The program will deliver the first low-rate initial production aircraft in September 2021.

Sikorsky and its suppliers have made significant investments in facilities, machinery, tooling, and workforce training to ramp up the production required for the CH-53K program. For example, for the first time, newly installed 10-ton cranes lifted a 12,000-pound gearbox into a CH-53K production aircraft.

The CH-53K is also nearing the conclusion of the developmental flight test events in preparation for Initial Operational Test & Evaluation, having flown more than 2,000 flight hours validating the aircraft's performance on a ship and in both hot and cold environments.

US military outlines approach to Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The Department of Defense is hosting a virtual industry open house on Friday to outline its approach to Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS). The event is open to all vendors interested in C-sUAS and will cover key aspects including strategy, training, current capabilities and operational capability requirements.

The one-day online event will inform vendors on upcoming efforts to align C-sUAS systems into an enduring and integrated enterprise approach. The meeting will be hosted by the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System Office (JCO) and the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The open house will provide information regarding emerging requirements, address the multitude of C-sUAS challenges, and encourage competition and efficiencies in future technology development and procurement activities.

The Department of Defense designated the Army as the Executive Agent for C-sUAS. The Secretary of the Army established the Joint C-sUAS Office (JCO) to lead and direct efforts to identify and prioritize joint improvement opportunities and C-sUAS solutions.

The RCCTO's mission is to rapidly and efficiently research, develop, prototype, test, evaluate, procure, transition, and/or field critical enabling technologies and capabilities that address near-term and mid-term threats. The RCCTO serves as the materiel and acquisition lead in support of the JCO.

Ethiopian Airlines takes delivery of 30th Dash 8-400 aircraft

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited delivered another two Dash 8-400 aircraft to Ethiopian Airlines. The 30th aircraft – MSN 4617 – is preparing to depart for Ethiopian's hub in Addis Ababa, along with aircraft MSN 4615. Ethiopian first welcomed the Dash 8-400 aircraft into its fleet in March 2010.

"Ethiopian has taken tremendous positive steps to strengthen their capabilities with the acquisition of the first Dash 8-400 simulator for Africa and by recently adding a second simulator; achieving recognition as an Authorized Service Facility; and proving the value of a business class configuration on regional aircraft in Africa,” said Sameer Adam, Regional Vice President, Sales – Europe and Russia, Middle East, Africa, and South America/Caribbean. “We certainly look forward to more examples of Ethiopian's continuing leadership and the success of their ongoing strategic partnerships with ASKY Airlines, Malawi Airlines, Ethiopian Moçambique Airlines and Tchadia Airlines in the operation of Dash 8-400 aircraft across Africa.”

The fleet of over 155 Dash 8 Series aircraft in Africa includes more than 90 Dash 8-400 aircraft. Worldwide, more than 155 airlines, leasing companies and other organizations have ordered almost 1,300 Dash 8 aircraft.