Recent NBAA updates and notes in your Intelligence section have passed on a request by FAA that cockpit crews heed mention of runway construction activity on the ATIS. I remember a time when the ATIS was a fantastic aid to crews approaching a busy terminal area because it usually contained ONLY info that had probably changed since the crew's preflight briefing (weather, approach in use and any notams issued in the last 24 hr.) and typically lasted about 15 seconds.
Once again, one of your Washington Watch columns (“Battling Back,” November 2011, page 71) was on target. There is seldom a month that goes by that I don't rail at the TV or computer screen in regard to the Obama administration's attempts to further saddle the taxpayer with more taxes and compromise our economy. The $100-per-flight user fee is simply unconscionable. Aviation is again being used as a piggy bank for congressional shortcomings.
Sales of pre-owned business jets increased through the first nine months of 2011, but asking prices have generally trended downward, according to reports by Jetnet and Amstat. “Pre-owned business jet asking prices are more in line than they were 18 months ago, but the current reversal in average asking price is a big concern for the seller,” Jetnet said. According to Amstat, “Simple projections of the first nine months of transaction activity continue to suggest that this year will be better than 2010 for resale retail transactions.”
Piper Aircraft is bucking the GA industry decline in piston and turboprop deliveries and sales. In contrast to the dismal GAMA delivery report (above), during third quarter 2011, Piper outpaced its own aircraft deliveries and already profitable revenue performance during the same period a year ago. Year-to-date revenue from new aircraft sales was $92.5 million, compared with $77.6 million during the same period in 2010, an increase of more than 19%. During the third quarter, Piper delivered 34 aircraft and received $35.3 million in revenue.
General aviation manufacturers are facing a near double-digit decline in deliveries this year, extrapolating data for the first nine months. But GAMA's third-quarter unit shipment report did show a slight upturn for turbine aircraft over the past three months. In the most recent quarter, business jet shipments improved from 136 in third quarter 2010 to 166 this year. Turboprop shipments ticked up from 75 in third quarter 2010 to 80 this year. Third-quarter piston aircraft deliveries, however, are still down from 209 last year to 190 this year.
Bell Helicopter has received type certification of the Model 429 from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. “This is an important milestone as Bell Helicopter continues to grow its presence within the Asia Pacific region,” says Larry D. Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter's Commercial business. The Bell 429 — used in VIP, aeromedical, law enforcement, utility and oil support operations — has been certificated in more than 40 countries.
Increasing demand for pilot training at FlightSafety International (FSI) and slight improvements in rates and revenue hours flown at NetJets are helping drive stronger performance of the services business for parent company Berkshire Hathaway. Both FSI and NetJets contributed to improved revenues in the third quarter, Berkshire Hathaway reports. For NetJets, the revenues reflect an effort to pass aircraft operating cost increases on to customers, along with the slight increases in rates and revenue hours flown.
Hawker Beechcraft deliveries fell across the board. Issues with Hawker 4000, King Air and piston deliveries contributed to a nearly 23% drop in third-quarter deliveries, the company reports. Deliveries fell from 49 in third quarter 2010 to 38 in the most recent quarter. As a result, revenues for the company's Business and General Aviation segment dropped 15.9% for the quarter. Hawker Beechcraft reports that it has now “substantially resolved” the disruption surrounding the Hawker 4000, and deliveries have resumed.
Flexjet has submitted a letter of intent to the FAA to use the iPad 2 as an electronic flight bag (EFB). Full approval, expected by mid-2012, would cover iPad 2 use for viewing navigational charts, aircraft publications and other flight documents. Flexjet is hoping to obtain interim authorization early next year.
We were standing back in steerage, awaiting those in front to grab their carry-ons and deplane, so we could do the same. Two women behind me struck up a conversation about laborsaving appliances. The younger woman said, “I don't know what I'd do without my garbage compactor. I use it all the time.” The other woman said, “That's fine, but I couldn't live without my dishwasher.”
The Rugby World Cup was the busiest time ever for corporate jet movements into Auckland and the rest of New Zealand. I don't think I will see that many airplanes here again for a long time. Our traffic has continued to grow steadily, so the BCA story (“Business Aviation in New Zealand,” January 2011, page 34) and exposure helped in this. Chief Executive Air Center One
300 U.S Hawker Beechcraft employees were issued 60-day layoff notices Nov. 11. Kansas.com reported that many were escorted off company property that day, but the company stated they would receive pay for the two-month notice period. HBC employs about 6,000 workers in Wichita and Salina, Kan. Hawker Beechcraft has been closing plants, outsourcing work and shifting other work to Mexico.
Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace plans to deliver 240 business and commercial aircraft this year. While that figure represents a notable decline from the 400 it produced just a few years ago, current output, together with its maintenance and training services, will deliver revenues approaching $9 billion. And as of July 31, its backlog was $23 billion, a 20% increase from six months earlier. Guy Hachey, president and COO, says business aviation is his group's largest business, and it's growing.
Dassault Falcon has launched Falcon Dispatch Plus, a new package of Service Bulletins and applicable parts for all Falcon 900 and 2000 models. Based on a fleet analysis of more than 900 Falcon jets. Dassault determined which modifications and improvements were most effective in reducing costs and downtime and says that implementing the improvements as a package “is significantly less costly than performing the same Service Bulletins individually.”
Lower-than-expected deliveries of executive aircraft are forcing Embraer to moderate its earnings guidance, although the situation is cushioned by strong regional jet and defense activities. The move, coupled with the release of third-quarter results, means the full-year guidance is for revenue to come in at $5.6 billion to $5.8 billion, after the Brazilian aircraft maker upped the guidance to $5.8 billion at the half-year mark.
As aircraft become even more complex, the need for precise and accurate maintenance instructions increases. Back in the early days of aviation, a good mechanic could tell what was wrong with an aircraft engine by putting a long-handled screwdriver up to the cylinder and listening. Today, even the most-advanced diagnostic tools sometimes fall short. Having correct maintenance and troubleshooting guidance is essential for maintaining a safe aircraft and keeping it operational.
Freestream Aircraft Ltd., an international used aircraft broker, has opened offices in Hong Kong and Beijing to better serve the growing market for business jets in Asia. “Business jet use is accelerating as the Asian economies continue to grow and realize their vast potential,” says Alireza Ittihadieh, CEO of Freestream. “Doing business in person is preferred in this region. Our offices here will enable business jet buyers and sellers to work directly, face to face.”
Garmin International has received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the installation of its Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP) and Iridium data link in G1000-equipped King Air 200 and B200 aircraft.
Universal Avionics has helped upgrade a low-time, privately owned DC-9 to make the VIP airliner's cockpit NextGen-compliant. The Universal flight deck package includes four EFI-890R flat-panel integrated, high-definition flight displays; two UNS-1Fw flight management systems with 5-in., flat-panel control display units; two radio control units; and two application server units. Universal Avionics officials say the STCed upgrade gives DC-9 operators “a new option for advanced flight deck upgrades for the aircraft.”
Clint Bowyer, a Kansas native and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, has signed an order for upgrades to his Beechcraft Premier IA. Bowyer is the launch customer for a synthetic vision system (SVS) upgrade to his Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 displays, addition of new aftermarket winglets by Winglet Technology and installation of an Aircell ATG 5000 system, which provides high-speed wireless Internet service in flight.
The prolonged recovery of the used business jet market has faltered in recent months, taking a “frustrating” step backward, according to market research firm Amstat. Historically high inventories of previously owned aircraft have been considered a major stumbling block to the industry's overall recovery. However, Amstat stresses that those inventories have been coming down, albeit slowly. “Over the long haul, conditions are getting better more often than they're getting worse,” said Amstat Executive Vice President Tom Benson.
From 1995 to 2005 the Hawker 800XP was the best selling Hawker model of all time, with 475 units produced. These aircraft sold new for as much as $13.5 million, but now many are available in the low $3 million to $4 million range, according to Jay Messinger Corporate Jet Sales. This classic midsize jet can fly nine passengers more than 2,400 nm and land with NBAA IFR reserves. The “XP” indeed signifies “extra performance,” at least when compared with the Model 800 that it replaced.
Sierra Industries, the Uvalde, Texas-based company that specializes in upgrading legacy Cessna Citations, has received an STC for its Citation I glass cockpit retrofit. Developed in cooperation with Garmin International, the G501SP modification features three Garmin GDU 1040 10.4-in. LCD primary flight displays, one each for the pilot and copilot, along with a centrally mounted 10.4-in. LCD multifunction display. Sierra officials say the standard package is available at an installed price of $284,000. Typical installation time is five weeks.
Blackhawk, the Waco, Texas, provider of turboprop engine upgrades, has received a Brazilian STC for its Cessna 208B Caravan XP42A performance package, which enables Blackhawk to install the XP42A upgrade into Cessna Caravans licensed to operate in the South American country. Blackhawk officials say Brazil has one of the largest fleets of Caravans flying in commercial, civil, military and law enforcement roles. The Brazilian approval follows certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency in September and approval from the FAA in June.
Jettech, the aviation systems design firm that specializes in developing Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) aftermarket solutions, has been awarded an STC for installation of a glass cockpit in Piper Cheyenne III, IIIA and 400LS aircraft. The package includes dual Garmin G600 RVSM primary instrumentation with RVSM-capable air data computers. Garmin GTN 650 and 750 instruments are available as an additional installation.
