American WACO Club Fly-In, Creve Coeur Airport, MO

Show Me Air Expo Showcases Business Aviation Products and Services in St. Louis, Part 2

By Carmelo Turdo

The Show Me Expo is now in progress (June 11-12) at the Midwest Aviation Center at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, MO. The event was designed to augment the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention by providing an opportunity to showcase business aviation aircraft, financing and airport operations at the local level. Spirit of St. Louis Airport is an ideal location, since it combines all the best qualities of a business aviation center in the Midwestern U.S. Experts from aircraft manufacturers, dealers, financing entities and airport management are on hand to encourage the resurgence of business aviation, and they are already making a good impression on the participants.

The Cessna Grand Caravan turboprop is one of the larger aircraft featured at the Expo, and one of the most versatile as well. Erik Swanberg, a Grand Caravan pilot with over 8,000 flying hours (3000 in Caravans), described the Grand Caravan as a go anywhere, do anything utility aircraft. It can fly in the Arctic, the tropics, and anywhere in between. A single pilot can economically fly the aircraft to accomplish varied missions, such as 9-10 seat air taxi, skydiving launch, cargo transport, and aide relief to remote areas with the same aircraft, with only about 20 minutes needed to reconfigure the interior between each new mission. It can takeoff and land in short distances using unimproved runways, and can be reliably maintained in the field. The smaller Caravan can even be configured with floats, with little reduction in speed.

Another Cessna product, the Citation Mustang, is also available for viewing. Pilot Brandy Hearting is visibly proud of her aircraft. The aircraft provides efficient single-pilot, four passenger executive-style travel without sacrificing comfort. Savings on fuel and servicing for the Citation Mustang are significant, considering many of the larger business jets are still used to carry 2-5 people on flights within 500nm. Service for the aircraft is readily available, whether from the Cessna Wichita, KS or Milwaukee, WI service centers, or from the nearest Authorized Service Station is located just across the river in Alton, Illinois, at St. Louis Regional Airport (KALN). The Citation Mustang provides turboprop efficiency with jet performance, taking away any excuses for waiting to upgrade.

Business aircraft manufacturers, including Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, Hawker Beechcraft, Pilatus, Piper, Liberty, Daher-Socata, Aviat, Gobosh, Jabiru USA and KCAC were represented. Crews and salespersons are available to discuss how their aircraft serve the needs of business aviation customers. They are all professionals – courteous to all attendees and candid about the capabilities of their aircraft. Anyone interested in learning more about business aviation from real experts in their fields is highly encouraged to attend the Show Me Air Expo.

Show Me Air Expo Showcases Business Aviation Products and Services in St. Louis, Part 1

By Carmelo Turdo

The Show Me Expo is now in progress (June 11-12) at the Midwest Aviation Center at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, MO. The event was designed to augment the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention by providing an opportunity to showcase business aviation aircraft, financing and airport operations at the local level. Spirit of St. Louis Airport is an ideal location, since it combines all the best qualities of a business aviation center in the Midwestern U.S. Experts from aircraft manufacturers, dealers, financing entities and airport management are on hand to encourage the resurgence of business aviation, and they are already making a good impression on the participants.

Angelo Fiataruolo, General Manager of Kansas City Aviation Center (KCAC), which has full-service aircraft support facilities in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, put the state of business aviation into perspective. “Business aviation is helpful to business and the economy. The Expo is an effort to kick start the industry,” he said. Fiataruolo, who has worked in various executive positions within the business aviation industry and as CEO of Pilatus, is cautiously optimistic about the future. He expects the core business aircraft to lift the softer market segments, such as training and other general aviation. Also, upgrades are also a key to sustaining business aviation. For example, an avionics upgrade may bring a current fleet aircraft to “better than new” standards. Government should also do its part by preventing further regulatory encroachment by refraining from applying impractical commercial carrier practices on business aviation.

Before business aviation assets can be purchased and operated, financing must be secured. Joe Krolak, Regional Sales Manager for National Aircraft Finance Company, also sees hints of a recovery within business aviation. He believes that we may have reached the bottom of the bank stress environment, and the exit of financing companies that have less experience in the business aviation market. Most aircraft are still purchased by companies and individuals who depend on air travel for business purposes, and financing opportunities for solid credit customers will continue to fuel a recovery.

Business aircraft manufacturers, including Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, Hawker Beechcraft, Pilatus and Piper, Liberty, Daher-Socata, Aviat, Gobosh, Jabiru USA and KCAC were represented. Crews and salespersons are available to discuss how their aircraft serve the needs of business aviation customers. They are all professionals – courteous to all attendees and candid about the capabilities of their aircraft. Anyone interested in learning more about business aviation from real experts in their fields is highly encouraged to attend the Show Me Air Expo.

In Part 2, I will feature profiles of specific aircraft and their crews.