The G150 is one of the fastest and most cost-effective midsize business aircraft that is capable of flying non-stop between most coastal cities in the U.S. Assuming an ideal NBAA profile, it can fly four passengers 2,988 nm at long-range cruise. It offers slightly better range performance compared to the cramped G100 from which it is derived, but its cabin is 12-in. wider and its wide-oval cross section makes available more usable head and shoulder room than some larger midsize jets having circular fuselages.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that it delivered its first super-midsized G280 aircraft Nov. 14. The fully outfitted business jet went to a U.S.-based manufacturer with a presence in 190 countries. The aircraft earned type certificates from the U.S. FAA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel on Aug. 30.
Dassault Falcon received EASA and FAA approval to upgrade the ACSS TCAS 2000 installed on F900EX EASy, F900DX, F2000EX EASy and F2000DX to comply with the EASA mandate to upgrade all TCAS II systems for Change 7.1, be required by all airplanes operating within European airspace by the end of 2015. Change 7.1 simplifies advisories from “Adjust Vertical Speed, Adjust” to “Level off, Level off”; corrects missed and late TCAS reversals and descend advisory is changed to “Monitor Vertical Speed” at 1000 ft. AGL.
Jet Aviation St. Louis will induct its first BBJ in April 2013 for scheduled maintenance and interior upgrades. The project includes the first installation of Boeing's enhanced vision system service bulletins for a private aircraft. The BBJ 700 will undergo its 12-year inspection and gear overhaul. Jet Aviation St. Louis prepared to accommodate narrow body aircraft by expanding its facility and sending technicians to Boeing and to Jet Aviation's Basil, Switzerland facility for training.
Blackhawk Modifications, which designs, develops and installs performance improvement systems for single- and twin-engine turboprop aircraft, has completed its 400th performance upgrade installation. Blackhawk's milestone customer is EagleMed LLC, of Wichita, Kan., a provider of air medical transfer services in the Midwest. Expansion led EagleMed to add two Blackhawk XP61-powered Beechcraft King Air B200s.
In its 21st annual Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell forecasts a market for 10,000 new business jets through 2022. In terms of overall delivery numbers, the outlook remains little changed from the predictions Honeywell made in 2011. But the fleet composition is changing, with a greater number of large-cabin, long-range aircraft pushing up billings estimates by 9% over 2011 levels. Large-cabin jets now account for more than 40% of new purchase plans, says Honeywell, which surveys more than 1,500 business jet operators worldwide for its annual outlook.
The future of Hawker business jet lines, and the brand, is grim after Hawker Beechcraft decided to end negotiations with would-be Chinese buyer Superior Air Beijing and move forward as a standalone company. On Oct. 18, the Wichita-based company announced that the $1.79 billion sale was off to buyer Superior Air Beijing, after the two parties could not agree on terms. Instead, the company will emerge from bankruptcy as Beechcraft Corp.
Pratt & Whitney Engine Services (PWES) is moving its Long Beach, Calif. Regional service center to new, larger facilities to meet customer demand. PWES is part of the P&WC customer service network. The center opened Nov. 1 at its new location: 11190 Valley View Street, Cypress, CA 90630. The new 23,000-sq.-ft. building offers an additional 4,500 sq. ft. of usable space. The increased space allows for a new machine/clean line room.
The Sikorsky S-76D helicopter won FAA certification. The company said the S-76D has a current backlog approaching a half-billion dollars and deliveries are expected to begin shortly. Standard features include all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales integrated avionics system and autopilot; health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), active vibration control; and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines. A rotor ice protection system is an option.
Gulfstream Aerospace, completing its strongest quarter of the year in terms of new orders, expects sales to grow further in the fourth quarter and is increasing its delivery estimates for 2012 to as many as 124 aircraft. Gulfstream continues to shine in the General Dynamics (GD) portfolio, leading the Aerospace group to a 30% increase in third-quarter revenues and a 20.3% increase in operating earnings. The GD Aerospace group includes Gulfstream and Jet Aviation.
In the past few years, communications and electronics technologies have made tremendous advances. As soon as a new system hits the market, its replacement is already in the works. For business aviation, we have been at the forefront of incorporating new systems at an equally aggressive pace. We are way ahead of the airlines and even the military in many respects. Our customers are very demanding and expect the latest technology to be available as soon as they see it on the Internet.
Slower-than-expected business jet sales in the third quarter that hampered both deliveries and revenues are leading executives from Cessna parent Textron to prepare for another flat year in 2013. At the same time, though, the commercial sales of Textron's Bell Helicopter unit continue to pick up steam and helped buoy Textron's overall third-quarter results. Cessna's profit declined $3 million to $30 million in the third quarter. Business jet deliveries dropped to 41, compared with 47 in third quarter 2011, and backlog slid $196 million to $1.3 billion.
Net orders are slowly picking up for Dassault's Falcon line, reaching 37 through the first nine months of the year. Dassault values the new orders at €1.598 ($2.08 billion). This compares with net orders (orders after cancellations) of 30 Falcon jets valued at €1.391 billion ($1.81 billion) through the first three quarters of 2011. At the same time, Dassault's Falcon deliveries increased from 35 in the first three quarters of 2011 to 43 this year. The improved Falcon deliveries helped drive a 22% growth in Dassault Aviation's net sales of €2.521 billion.
In your analysis of the King Air A100 accident (Cause & Circumstance, October 2012, page 56) you quite rightly focused on aircraft performance, and it reminded me why my preferred aircraft type was turbine Twin Commanders, which at MTOW climb at 1,000 fpm on one donkey, no sweat.
Used business aircraft sales slowed slightly, particularly in the light jet segment, and inventory began to creep back up in the third quarter. But used market indicators overall were a “mixed bag ” as pricing strengthened for both business jets and turboprops, according to industry analyst Amstat. The number of business jets available for sale, inched up from 13.3% of the fleet at the end of the second quarter to 13.4% at the end of the third. But this is still improved from 14% of the fleet that was for sale at the end of the third quarter in 2011.
This aircraft can grow up: Recently unveiled, the Mooney Master is the new low-price contender for the FBO flight training market with an added dividend — for $1,600 the owner can convert the standard fixed gear to retractable, and end up with basically the same airplane as the successful Mark 21.
HBC has delivered the 7,000th Beechcraft King Air since the legendary line of twin-engine turboprops began production in 1964. The milestone aircraft is a Beechcraft King Air 350i delivered to Herman & Kittle Properties, Inc., based in Indianapolis. The King Air fleet has amassed in excess of 45 million flight hours. The King Air is currently operated in 127 countries, and all branches of the U.S. military.
Rockwell Collins' Ascend Aircraft Information Manager (AIM) secure data transfer and maintenance management system for Pro Line 4, Pro Line 21 and Pro Line Fusion-equipped aircraft, has been recently certified for Cessna CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ4 and Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200 Series aircraft. AIM uploads flight critical database updates, and downloads maintenance information post-flight using Wi-Fi or cellular links to and from the Ascend Data Center.
The Office of Naval Research has awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to develop technology to locate and classify an adversary's attempts to interfere with GPS signals and disrupt military operations that will likely have collateral benefits to civil users. The three-year contract for the Modernized Integrated Spoofer Tracking (MIST) program calls for Rockwell Collins to develop technology and prototype system concepts to detect and locate the sources of transmitted signals that are intended to disrupt users' ability to navigate and communicate.
Dassault Falcon received EASA and FAA approval to install SmartStem Tire Pressure Systems on Falcon 50 series aircraft. The existing tire inflation valve stem is replaced with a special valve stem containing integral sensors that communicates tire pressure, temperature, and other stored information wirelessly to a handheld reader without the use of an internal battery in the stem. The reader stores up to 10,000 readings and can be downloaded to a PC.
I enjoyed “Oceanic ATC” (November 2012, page 40); however, I am not sure I agree with the following: (1) Page 40, 2nd paragraph: If reading back an oceanic clearance on a designated North Atlantic Track (NAT) and the Track Message Identifier (TMI) is included, there is no requirement to read back each waypoint. (2) Page 40, 3rd column, 2nd paragraph: I am familiar with the 3-min., but not the 5-min., requirement. (3) Page 45, 2nd column, 3rd paragraph: I thought the air-to-air frequency was 123.45.
BLR Aerospace delivered its 500th winglet system to its largest winglet customer, the FAA. The agency has purchased 18 Winglet Systems with LED lights for installation on its King Air 300 fleet. The FAA is in the process of installing its third set of Winglets as part of a larger fleet upgrade effort, and the first modified aircraft is flying. BLR Winglet Systems are in operation in 40 countries.
