U.S. business jet flights are starting off a little slower in 2012, according to Avinode Business Intelligence. Avinode’s Magnus Henriksson posted a first look at U.S. business jet activity at the beginning of 2012, comparing U.S. business jet flights during the first 22 days of this year with the same period of the three previous years (2009-2011).
Bombardier Business Aircraft’s strong order intake provides another positive indicator of a recovering business aircraft market. Bombardier reports that it took in 191 net orders during its fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2011, which is a near doubling of the 107 taken in the previous fiscal year.
Five months since its formal launch and with growth slightly ahead of plan, Clive Jackson, founder and CEO of the business jet-sharing service Victor, is finalizing the startup’s financing and growth plans.
TAREK RAGHEB was named senior advisor for Gulfstream Aerospace’s international sales team for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA). Ragheb, who helped develop and headed the EMA sales team for the past 18 years, will provide strategic guidance and counsel to the team. Before joining Gulfstream in 1994, he was vice president General Electric Aerospace for the Middle East and Africa and then president of Martin Marietta International, Middle East.
GE CF34-10E series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0599; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-19-AD; Amendment 39-16922; AD 2012-01-10] – requires removing from service all CVD support assemblies and any fan drive shaft on the affected engines if wear is found on either the CVD support ring or the fan drive shaft. This AD was prompted by a report of heavy wear found on the seating surface of the center vent duct (CVD) (commonly referred to as center vent tube) support ring and on the inside diameter of the fan drive shaft at the mating location.
Hawker Beechcraft is stepping up its fight over the U.S. Air Force’s Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft, saying the decision to give the $355 million program to Sierra Nevada Corp. and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer directly conflicts with President Barack Obama’s goal of protecting American manufacturing jobs.
The gradually strengthening markets for midsized and light business jets and for commercial helicopters is positioning Textron’s Cessna Aircraft and Bell units for double-digit growth this year, Textron executives say. During the year-end call with analysts last week, Textron executives estimated that Cessna is poised for a 14% increase in sales, driven by a slowly improving market for the jet aircraft, along with strong aftermarket returns.
BOMBARDIER Model CL–600–2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA–2012–0034; Directorate Identifier 2011–NM–153–AD] – proposes to require replacing and changing the routing of the flexible oxygen hose of the third crew person oxygen line and modifying the entrance compartment assembly. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a fire that started in the vicinity of an electrical panel that was fed by oxygen escaping from a damaged third crew person oxygen line that occurred while the airplane was on the ground.
The European Union has set aside up to €12 million ($15.2 million) in research and technology funding in the latest call for proposals under the Clean Sky research program. The allocation is part of a maximum of €36.5 million the research organization has set aside in its 11th round of Clean Sky funding. The largest number of proposals is likely in the Eco-Design for Airframe funding category and Systems for Green Operations — each with 14 different areas.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0923; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-20-AD; Amendment 39-16794; AD 2011-18-12] – supersedes an existing AD and requires inspections of the vertical fin support for cracks and corrective actions. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency that states that some cracks have been discovered in the spar of the upper fin on Model AS355N helicopters.
AGUSTA A109S and AW109SP helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1454; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-054-AD; Amendment 39-16910; AD 2011-27-08] – requires, as an interim measure pending the development of a terminating action, repetitive inspections of the elevator upper skin in the area of the fourth rib, and if a crack is found, replacing the cracked elevator assembly with a serviceable unit or contacting Agusta for an approved repair.
JOE TULOWITZKI has joined Duncan Aviation’s turbine engine service sales team. Tulowitzki will develop business relationships on the East Coast, focusing on Honeywell TFE731 and Pratt & Whitney engine services. He formerly spent nearly 12 years with Dallas Airmotive, and also has served with MCI Flight Ops, Garrett Aviation and the U.S. Air Force.
Bombardier’s commitment to make its Flexjet unit more efficient and independent has helped the fractional ownership provider weather the recent downturn and position it for an eventual upturn, says Flexjet President Fred Reid. “It has always been the goal of Bombardier to have Flexjet stand alone as a viable entity on its own,” says Reid, who joined Flexjet in August 2008 – 17 days before Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection and the economy began to crash. “My honeymoon was pretty darn short,” he says.
MICHAEL HARKINS joined Dallas Airmotive as regional engine manager for the Mid-Atlantic states. Harkins will be responsible for selling repair and overhaul services on Honeywell TFE731, 36 series APU and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305 engines. He previously was director of maintenance for Aero Taxi in New Castle, Del. and was the president of the First Stat Chapter of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association. He also served in the U.S. Air Force.
Relief is the prevailing sentiment in business aviation circles after President Obama’s State of the Union address, as industry advocates point out that corporate jet owners were not a specific target of the speech. And, while many industry leaders embrace his call for supporting manufacturing, they quickly note that other policy goals will hamper general aviation manufacturing.
40 Years Ago Jan. 10, 1972 – General aviation industry returns to upswing with 7,471 aircraft delivered. 30 Years Ago Jan. 4, 1982 – U.S. Navy opposition to joint use of some military airfields as reliever airports surprise general aviation advocates. 20 Years Ago Jan. 20, 1992 – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association calls for luxury tax repeal.
Hawker Beechcraft received type certification for the Hawker 900XP midsize business jet from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) Aviation Registry in Russia. Russia joins more than 50 countries that have granted such approval for the aircraft.
Gama Aviation has opened a new fixed-base operation (FBO) at Sharjah International Airport near Dubai. Gama plans to provide round-the-clock business aviation services in a move that expands its business relationship with the airport and strengthens its services in the Middle East and North Africa region. Gama has been operating at Sharjah since 2004. Jeremy Mitchell, who joins Gama after having been manager, operations for Sharjah Aviation Services, will manage the new FBO.
Jeppesen President and CEO Mark Van Tine recently was honored as the “Aviation Industry Leader of the Year” by the Living Legends of Aviation. Van Tine was recognized for his professional dedication and motivational leadership qualities throughout his 30-year career with Jeppesen. Van Tine has been credited with accelerating the transformation of paper to digital flight information – including the recent development of iPad and tablet options. He also serves as a committee chair for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Eurocopter expects helicopter deliveries to enter a new growth phase in 2012, with order intake anticipated to rise for a second year. “Our assumption is very strong growth in the next years,” CEO Lutz Bertling says. Deliveries are expected to return to their pre-crisis level, or about 600, up from 503 units last year, 527 in 2010 and 558 in 2009. Order intake this year should surpass 500 units, Bertling believes.
Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) have introduced a “Pilot’s Bill of Rights,” similar to the legislation introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last summer. The bill, referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is designed to improve the flow of information during FAA enforcement actions, including access to flight service briefings and other sources that currently may require a subpoena. The bill also calls for improving the notice to airmen system and reviewing medical forms to ensure they are clear.
Jet Aviation’s completions business is undergoing another restructuring following $189 million in charges taken in the fourth quarter that “blemished” an otherwise strong year for General Dynamics’ (GD) Aerospace Group, GD Chairman and CEO Jay Johnson says. GD marked its best cash quarter ever in the fourth quarter, largely thanks to the delivery of 12 green Gulfstream G650 aircraft. Fourth-quarter sales and the operating earnings at GD’s Gulfstream unit were the strongest of the year in the fourth quarter.
The EADS board of directors has approved a planned management reshuffle after naming former European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet to the board in a bid to appease the French government. The leadership transition will now unfold as initially planned, with Airbus CEO Tom Enders replacing retiring EADS CEO Louis Gallois this summer, and Fabrice Bregier moving into the top job at Airbus. Arnaud Lagardere takes over as EADS board chairman from Bodo Uebber.
Flexjet President Fred Reid notes that business jet bashing is bound to surface during an election year, but says he would argue that “the most precious manufacturing jobs are aviation and aerospace,” and that business aviation provides a $150 billion contribution to the U.S. economy. “Why exactly would you want to trash that business?” he asks. But he also is not as concerned about the impact such rhetoric may have on his customers. “The owners of Flexjet fractional shares are disproportionately strong drivers of economic good,” he says.
