Used business aircraft sales picked up sharply in June and July after the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact hit them hard in the two earlier months.
Worldwide turboprop utilization in July reached its highest levels so far in 2020, with 85,574 multi-engine flight hours and 61,510 single-engine flight hours, according to Aviation Week Intelligence Network flight tracking data.
During the first six months of 2020, business and general aviation avionics sales declined 23.6% from the same time a year ago due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing three consecutive years of growth, the Aircraft Electronics Association says.
Engineered Propulsion Systems (EPS) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Wisconsin, while Chinese and “other foreign interests” are poised to buy the company’s assets and intellectual property.
Honeywell and urban air mobility vehicle developer Vertical Aerospace have signed a letter of intent naming Honeywell as the avionics supplier for Vertical’s passenger-carrying demonstrator aircraft.
The National Air Transportation Association has launched General Aviation Advancing America, an initiative involving focus groups discussing how rural airports and general aviation businesses help a community with economic development, job recovery and emergency response, NATA said.
Bombardier recorded a 15% decline in business jet deliveries during the second quarter of 2020 and a 28% related revenue decline as the company manages through the COVID-19 pandemic.
FXAIR, described as a provider of “premium on-demand charter,” was formally launched in late July, several months earlier than planned, as its owner, Directional Aviation, restructures its global businesses to better respond to post-COVID-19 opportunities.
A coalition of industry groups is seeking changes to the eligibility criteria of a treasury loan program created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help general aviation and regional airlines, which face “significant challenges” accessing the program because of liquidity issues, it says.
Triumph Group has announced a significant step forward in shedding some aerostructures businesses, revealing a definitive agreement to sell its composites operations to private equity investor Arlington Capital Partners.
The board of directors from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM Bank) has approved a $97.2 million working capital guarantee to support about $211.4 million in export sales by Embraer Executive Aircraft’s Melbourne, Florida, facility.
Textron Aviation is seeing a pickup in orders for light turboprops and jets from private buyers, but demand from corporations for larger business jets has yet to show signs of recovery, parent company Textron told analysts on July 30.
Gulfstream Aerospace continued to struggle with travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of 2020, but managed to deliver 32 business jets compared to 31 a year ago.
The FAA will not extend a three-year partnership initiative with industry and state and local governments that helped launch the first commercial drone delivery operations in the U.S.
Among the few upsides of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increased interest in business aviation from people who have not previously flown privately. But this emerging new market has not gone unnoticed by criminals eager to exploit it.
Business aviation is poised to enjoy the best of times post-COVID-19, as the sector welcomes unprecedented numbers of new customers seeking the safety and convenience that private air travel offers, says Kenny Dichter, founder and CEO of Wheels Up.
NetJets has announced plans to recall all pilots and cabin crews furloughed in April from its NetJets Europe subsidiary, and has revised plans announced at the same time for the early retirement of a swathe of its European-based fleet.
Chris Moore is president of business aviation for Satcom Direct, based in Melbourne, Florida. Moore joined Satcom in 2012 as chief commercial officer and was promoted to his current position as president in March 2019.
Market conditions for the sale of pre-owned twin-engine helicopters deteriorated in the second quarter of 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a crude oil price slump, according to a report by Aero Asset, a Canadian helicopter brokerage firm.
Embraer delivered 13 business jets during the second quarter of 2020, down from 25 in the same quarter a year ago, a reduction largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the world, it said.
