Flightworks News

Becca’s Closet

admin — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:07:36 +0000

Do you remember your junior/senior prom? Short for promenade, prom is a social activity in which most juniors and seniors chose to participate. The night conjures up the images of beautiful gowns, tuxedos, music and pictures with friends. Unfortunately, not all students are in a financial and/or physical position to attend.

During the spring of her sophomore year, Rebecca Kirtman, who was lovingly referred to as “Becca”, single-handedly collected and donated over 250 formal dresses and helped hundreds of underprivileged girls across South Florida attend their High School proms in style. Becca tragically died in an automobile accident in August 2003. Becca’s Closet is an organization established in the memory of this passionate, fun-loving teenager. Over 85 chapters in 35 states exist today.

On March 23, Egleston Children’s Hospital hosted their second annual prom for young men and women who were unable to attend their school prom due to illnesses. Not only did the participants receive free formal wear and cosmetology services, but they were also given a themed gift basket full of whimsical items.

For the first quarter of 2013, FlightWorks selected Becca’s Closet for its community service project. Each FlightWorks department selected the type of basket they wanted to donate and collected the items needed. FlightWorks employees then assembled 31 themed gift baskets on March 15th and presented them to the organizers of the Egleston Children’s Hospital prom.

For more information on Becca’s Closet, visit here or see the news story on Fox.

SHARP Recognition

admin — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:54:26 +0000

Over the past five years FlightWorks has made great strides reducing reportable injuries and incidents. During the last four years we have had only one lost time incident and reported 0 recordable events for 2010 through 2012. We maintain an open reporting safety culture that allows an honest mistake, but we are aggressive when analyzing what went wrong and how we correct the problem in order to prevent a recurrence. This is part of our broader investment in safety and in our employees that pays dividends in productivity, safe operations and customer satisfaction.
Recently those investments in safety have paid off with external recognition as well. The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has accepted FlightWorks into their Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). This program exempts FlightWorks from worksite inspections from OSHA for 2 years.

FlightWorks is recognized as only one of the few operators in the country that can provide the highest level of service, safety and satisfaction to our Business Aviation Services customers. SHARP is a unique recognition that affirms to our customers and to each of us that FlightWorks is serious about safety and this achievement sets us apart from the competition. Foremost, it means that FlightWorks maintains the safest possible work environment and that each of our employees has taken part in making SHARP recognition possible because of their individual, uncompromised attitude toward safety.

FlightWorks: Supporting the Airplane, Part III: HEF

admin — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:42:08 +0000

FlightWorks’ executive hangar in Manassas, Virginia is 40 miles southwest of downtown Washington, DC. Located at the Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), our facility has private, gated parking to keep your car safe while you are away and an executive lounge area with a living room feel, fireplace and beautiful view of the Manassas Airport. It is a short walk from the gated parking lot into the Wi-Fi equipped executive lounge and out the door to your waiting aircraft – no TSA inspections and no crowds. If you are going for an international flight, you can clear both inbound and outbound customs at HEF.

If you have a lot of luggage, you can pull your car up to the airplane to make loading and unloading even easier. If you need some privacy while you wait, we have both a conference room and a private office available for your use. Hertz (703-330-5638) is located at the airport, just minutes from our facility. FlightWorks will be happy to assist you with your car or hotel reservations, just ask your Client Services Representative while you are booking your trip. No matter how you make your reservation, you may leave the car in the FlightWorks’ lot before boarding your flight; we will make sure that it is returned for you.

Our on-site maintenance staff perform much of the work that every airplane needs, check back soon for more details about the maintenance department.

Click here to see just how close you are to the Manassas Regional Airport!

FAA Sequester Impacts

admin — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:04:50 +0000

FlightWorks, along with the entire private aviation industry, has been following the sequestration events and how it will affect the aviation community. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), like every other federal agency, has been forced to reduce its annual non-defense discretionary budget by 8.2% or $1.35 billion. Much of the FAA’s budget is immune from these budget cuts, leaving FAA no choice but to cut some services that are currently provided. This includes primarily personnel (air traffic controllers, flight facility technicians, and forced furloughs on operations inspectors), and cuts to preventative maintenance and repair of FAA and airport facilities.

The potential effects on every-day users of the National Airspace System (NAS) are wide-reaching and may include:

Reduction in airport services and likely closure of some airport towers on April 1, 2013. FAA estimates that over 230 airports will close their control towers. This includes many airports frequented by our aircraft owners, including Cobb County-McCollum Airport (KRYY), Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), and Fulton County-Brown Field (KFTY), to name just a few. The full list can be viewed with this link: http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/Facilities_Could_Be_Closed.pdf. FlightWorks safely operates at airports without control towers on a daily basis under both FAR Parts 91 and 135, so the lack of a control tower in itself does not impede operations under most circumstances. The more likely impact to your flying is in potential delays when operating at airports without a tower, especially when operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) which requires clearances for instrument takeoffs and approaches. This may have little or no impact on your flights, but the potential for delays increases when operating at airports without control towers.

Reduction in capacity and a slowdown within the NAS is a very real possibility. Airports, airlines, and passengers will all be immediately and directly affected by sequestration cuts that reduce air traffic services. Simply stated, the FAA may not have the resources necessary to operate the nation’s airspace system as efficiently as we have come to expect. This may result in increased delays due to longer ground holds.

If you travel internationally, delays to gain access back into the U.S. are reported at some airports due to overtime hours being cut for employees; and when clearing customs, not all ports of entry are accepting after-hours arrivals.

If you travel commercially, you may want to take a few extra minutes for TSA security checkpoints. Wait times are reportedly increasing at many U.S. airports due to reduced staffing.

This message should net be interpreted as alarmist; my purpose is to insure that you, as a FlightWorks customer, have the latest factual information regarding sequestration and how it may affect the operations of private aircraft as well as the potential affects should you travel on a commercial airline.

Kind Regards,

Daniel Lucey

President and COO

FlightWorks: Supporting the Airplane, Part II: RYY

admin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:06:56 +0000

We’d like to present FlightWorks’ 31,000 square foot executive hangar in Kennesaw, Georgia. With direct interstate access from anywhere in Atlanta, this facility is located about 25 miles north of downtown and about 20 miles from the Buckhead area. Utilizing this hangar can easily reduce significant costs on your next charter trip – over $1,500 on average! Located at McCollum Field (KRYY), Entrance C, this facility has an access controlled gated parking lot to keep your car safe while you are away and an executive lounge area for you to wait while your group is assembling. A private conference room, Wi-Fi, shower facilities and full kitchen help enhance your travel experience, whether personal or business related. An easy walk from the parking lot through the executive lounge and out the door to your waiting aircraft streamlines your travel time – no TSA inspections and no crowds. Direct ramp access allows you to park planeside, making loading and unloading a breeze.

If you look to your right as you walk to the airplane, you will see where your aircraft is maintained. Our trained maintenance staff perform much of the work that every airplane needs in house, check back soon for more details about the maintenance department.

Click here to see just how close you are to McCollum Field!

FlightWorks: Supporting the Airplane, Part I

admin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:54:58 +0000

Welcome to a new series of blogs exploring FlightWorks! Over the course of these articles we will take you inside of FlightWorks to explore the different departments that all come together to make each trip a success.

Over the course of the next few months we will look at each of our airplane’s home bases and the maintenance department that keeps them safe and ready for trips. We will meet the client services group that books the trips and the operations department that verifies that each trip is performed safely. Finally we will meet the accounting department who completes our interaction with each individual trip.

We hope you will enjoy reading along to learn more about what makes FlightWorks the trusted leader in business aviation.

February in New Orleans for Mardi Gras

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:37:27 +0000

Who doesn’t love the revelry and excitement of Mardi Gras? The New Orleans Krewes have already started having parades on weekends and starting on February 6th will have several parades daily throughout the city until February 12th. The best time to visit New Orleans for Mardi Gras is the weekend before Fat Tuesday with a departure on Wednesday the 13th. During the weekend you can see two of the largest parades of the season, Bacchus and Endymion; and on February 12th you can see parades presented by several Krewes in a row.

It is a festive time in New Orleans! During the day, listen to jazz musicians as you shop the French Quarter, the Riverwalk and the Brewery, or see the Aquarium (check out NewOrleansCoupons.com for discount coupons for riverboat cruises, New Orleans attractions and restaurants). Before you know it, it’s time for a night parade!

It is not too late to book your hotel rooms for February 6-13th and what better way to arrive into the city than in a private jet? Call the client services group at 800-255-1971 to book your trip today.

For more information about New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration and tips to make your stay more enjoyable, go to mardigrasneworleans.com.

In-Flight Catering Tips

admin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:05:21 +0000

If you’re a frequent charter flier, chances are you’ve ordered in-flight catering for your group, but are you making the most of the wealth of dining options available today? We’ve collaborated with the experts at global in-flight caterer Air Culinaire Worldwide to bring you some tips to help you make your next in-flight dining experience the best it can be.

Consider the region and purpose of your trip

Time of day, length of flight and purpose of trip will often impact in-flight catering requests. On short flights to business meetings, you may want to avoid heavy dishes such as pastas as they can impact passenger energy levels. The current trend is toward healthier, lighter food options such as salads and vegetable-laden appetizer trays to keep passengers alert and energized when they arrive to their final destinations.

Choose foods that will stay fresh during your trip

On shorter midday flights, ‘sampler platters’ are a wise option – perhaps fruit, cheese, grilled vegetables and shrimp. Sushi also stays fresh for hours when properly cooled, steamed dumplings can reheat well and fresh berries are always a good choice for breakfast as they stay fresh for hours and provide high energy without causing fatigue.

Have fun with food trends

One of the benefits of flying private is customizing your meal to fit your preferences. Unlike on commercial airlines, private charter fliers have the opportunity to experiment with food trends and make special requests. Trends like organic, locally-grown or vegan dishes are popular this year, and most in-flight caterers can accommodate those requests.

Work with your in-flight catering company to customize your catering

There are more catering options today than ever before, and passengers are looking for healthy choices and new food experiences. Ask your in-flight caterer for recommendations and the freshest local ingredient options. When possible, get to know your regular in-flight caterers on a personal level, especially if you plan to fly to a particular region on a regular basis or have food allergies or special dietary needs.

With these tips in mind, you should be ready to place your order! Visit the Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. Operational Insight blog for more insightful articles on in-flight catering dos and don’ts from Air Culinaire Worldwide.

Giving Back is a MUST for FlightWorks, Inc.

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:32:06 +0000

Atlanta – November 28, 2012 – As part of its social responsibility program FlightWorks Inc., the Southeast’s largest on-demand private air charter and aircraft management company, is supporting MUST Ministries, a volunteer-driven organization that addresses the basic needs of individuals, families and children primarily in Cobb and Cherokee counties. MUST Ministries services provide items such as food, clothing and housing to families in need.

On Oct. 16 FlightWorks delivered more than 250 lbs. of clothing collected during its month-long clothing drive. All employees were encouraged to participate, and many raided their closets for items to give to those in need. In November, the company also partnered with MUST Ministries to collect food items and assemble Thanksgiving food baskets that will feed holiday meals to over 1,000 families in the Atlanta area.

“This is the second year our associates have supported MUST Ministries during Thanksgiving as part of our Give Back Program” said Dan Lucey, president – FlightWorks, Inc. “Giving back to our community is part of our corporate values, and we are passionate about continuing our support of such a strong community organization. We’re thankful to have such great associates who get behind projects like these.”

About FlightWorks

FlightWorks operates private executive facilities and business jets in major markets across the United States, where it offers on-demand private air charter, aircraft management, government services and aviation consulting under Federal Aviation Regulation parts 91, 125 and 135. The company has private executive terminals in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as well as additional operations throughout the United States. FlightWorks boasts a fleet of aircraft ranging from turboprops to light, mid-sized, super-mid-sized and large cabin jets capable of carrying 14 passengers. FlightWorks is the only air carrier that holds all of the following certifications: Aviation Research Group US (ARG/US) “Platinum” rating, Wyvern-recommended status, IS-BAO Stage II and a Department of Defense CARB Approved Air Carrier. To learn more, visit www.flightworks.com, and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flightworks and Twitter at www.twitter.com/flightworksinc.

CONTACT: Caitlin Crowley, communications 21, ccrowley@c21pr.com, 404.814.1330.

FlightWorks Goes Paperless in the Cockpit

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:54:10 +0000

Atlanta – November 8, 2012 – FlightWorks, Inc., the Southeast’s largest provider of on-demand private air charter and aircraft management services, is taking aviation services to new heights as it introduces Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) to its portfolio of technological enhancements for the cockpit. FlightWorks is one of the first private air charter companies to incorporate iPads as EFBs.

Working with AirWatch, a proven mobile device management platform, FlightWorks is introducing EFBs in the form of iPads, eliminating the need for cumbersome printed flight materials. The EFBs will provide electronic Jeppesen Navigation Charts, company manuals, company forms, flight plans, and other FAA-required manuals for pilots – all at the touch of a button.

“Our pilots had been asking for a tablet solution, and we made the decision to explore the concept,” said Johan Segring, vice president of business and information systems – FlightWorks, Inc. “We needed a mechanism to distribute both critical and proprietary manuals required to be on-board the aircraft but with enhanced security features given the nature of the data. Not only that, we wanted to move to a more sustainable process by eliminating printed materials.”

On-board materials used to add weight and bulk to each aircraft; the tablet solution makes the process more efficient and ultimately more accurate. FlightWorks’ iPads will be equipped with an AirWatch-exclusive content management system called the Secure Content Locker™ (SCL), a data repository where sensitive information can be housed in a secure environment for mobile access anywhere in the world.

“The Secure Content Locker enables our Flight Operations management team to distribute FAA manuals and revisions with a few clicks and monitor compliance, regardless of where in the world the aircraft happens to be,” Segring said. “We demonstrated the SCL system and process to our FAA Principal Operations Inspector, who was extremely impressed and encouraged us to move forward with the plan to incorporate the AirWatch system.”

The adoption of tablets in the cockpit simplifies pilots’ jobs and ultimately improves their efficiency in the aircraft, according to FlightWorks assistant chief pilot Chad Noblit, who uses the tablets daily for his flights.

“It’s a tremendous step forward to have these devices in the cockpit. The tablets save space by eliminating printed charts and manuals, which gives us more flexibility regarding weight – we’ve been able to shed about 60 pounds per aircraft. Utilizing the iPads, the crews also electronically submit flight data and expenses directly to the appropriate company offices for review and approval, making the process very quick and efficient. The ease-of-access to the vast amount of information and the availability at a glance – you can’t put a price on that,” Noblit said.

About FlightWorks

FlightWorks operates private executive facilities and business jets in major markets across the United States, where it offers on-demand private air charter, aircraft management, government services and aviation consulting under Federal Aviation Regulation parts 91, 125 and 135. The company has private executive terminals in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as well as additional charter operations throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Central and Western United States and select international locations. FlightWorks boasts a fleet ranging from light and heavy turboprops to light, mid-sized, super-mid-sized and large cabin jets capable of carrying 14 passengers. FlightWorks is the only air carrier that holds all of the following certifications: Aviation Research Group US (ARG/US) “Platinum” rating, Wyvern-recommended status, IS-BAO Stage II and a Department of Defense CARB Approved Air Carrier. To learn more, visit www.flightworks.com, and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flightworks and Twitter at www.twitter.com/flightworksinc.

CONTACT: Caitlin Crowley, communications 21, ccrowley@c21pr.com, 404.814.1330.