Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
Washington, DC:GAMA releases Q2 2024 Aircraft Shipment and Billing ReportThe General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has published the Second Quarter 2024 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report.The general aviation aircraft manufacturing industry’s results for the first six months of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023, show increased deliveries across the piston airplane, business jet and piston helicopter segments along with an increase in the overall value of aircraft shipments. “Through the first half of 2024, we continue to see robust demand for new aircraft, as indicated by the impressive backlogs and plans for facility expansion by many of our OEMs," said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO. "Our constraints continue to be ongoing supply chain and workforce recapitalization issues, which are routinely compounded by unacceptable turn times in terms of responsiveness and lack of decision making by the FAA specialists on such things as issue papers, certification plans and regular correspondence. "Our industry is the incubator of safety enhancing and aviation sustainability technology, which in-turn serves as a catalyst for economic growth and exemplary employment for millions around the globe. " It is vital that our regulators continue to improve effectiveness and efficiency of certification and validation processes, appropriately apply the safety continuum across the spectrum of general aviation products and respond to applicants in a timely manner."
Santa Cruz, California:Joby applies to become first certified electric air taxi operator in UAEJoby Aviation, Inc., developers of electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, has taken the first step towards becoming a certified air taxi operator in the United Arab Emirates.During the International Civil Aviation Organization’s inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Summit, taking place in Montreal, Canada this week, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, met with His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and presented Joby’s Letter of Intent to initiate Joby’s Air Operator Certificate application. In February 2024, Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the Emirate of Dubai, positioning the city as a world leader in the next generation of fast, clean and quiet air mobility. In April 2024, Joby expanded its partnership with the UAE through a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Municipalities and Transport - Abu Dhabi (DMT), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), paving the way for Joby to establish and scale air taxi services in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
India:Championing regional air mobility in IndiaIn a remarkable event held in New Delhi this week, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation, experts and key decision makers from the Indian aerospace industry came together to share a round-table discussion on how to best unlock the country’s immense regional aviation potential.With Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and other senior members of the Ministry of Civil Aviation in attendance, ATR’s SVP Commercial Alexis Vidal had the opportunity to highlight the essential role of regional aviation to meet the Indian communities’ travel needs and advocated for increased point-to-point links between secondary and tertiary cities, to support the Indian government’s UDAN initiative. Many Indian passengers are first-time travelers, who choose air transport over slower or less comfortable options such as trains or buses, which also makes them very price sensitive. In such a low-fare environment, with a pressing need to join secondary population centers, and a burgeoning middle-class asking for affordable connectivity, ATR aircraft provide an excellent business case, offering the lowest cost per trip and unmatched fuel efficiency compared to similar-size regional jets. As India stands as the world’s fastest growing aviation market, it is also ATR’s second largest market globally, boasting a fleet of 70 aircraft, operated by Indigo, Alliance Air and Fly91. |
In Week 36 (2nd–8th September), there were 67,336 business jet sectors flown globally, 7% below Week 36 in 2023, according to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today.Part 135 & 91K activity fell 8% compared to Week 36 last year, with 34,485 sectors flown globally. Year to date (1st January-8th September), global bizjet activity is 1% below last year, 30% ahead of 5 years ago.
Corporate Flight Departments, Bizjet city flows out of California, 1st–8th September 2024. Busiest global market the US, mirrors the global year on year trend, although departures are 27% ahead of 5 years ago. At the start of September (1st-8th), global bizjet activity has fallen 6% compared to last year.
Having recently acquired a new LET 410 NG, Aerocardal CEO, Ricardo Real, shares his vision on why this aircraft could be a game-changer for regional aviation due to its unique specifications. In this day and age of aviation, efficiency, versatility, and reliability play an instrumental role especially in regional operations.While this segment has well-established aircraft like the Cessna SkyCourier, Cessna Caravans, and King Air series, there is always room for boldness and cost-efficiency.
In comes the renovated Czech-made Aircraft Industries LET 410 NG, with much more than the modernization of a proven platform.
Sydney, Australia:STACK.AERO partners with Azzera to add carbon management tools to BOS digital platformSTACK.aero, developer of the digital workflow platform BOS, Business Operations System, is partnering with Azzera, a leader in aviation sustainability solutions, to enable advanced carbon emission management for BOS users and their customers.
STACK.aero BOS customers to have access to Azzera technology. The integration will facilitate direct access to the Azzera CELESTE B2B Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to calculate aircraft and journey greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; track, assess and manage sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) uplift, including book and claim options; and purchase carbon credits through the Azzera marketplace.
As Air Charter Service’s onboard courier offering enters its 10th year, the service (re-branded as ACS Time Critical in 2022) has arranged thousands of jobs.1. Urgent cancer treatment to link up with a cruise ship “A cancer sufferer was having trouble with the medication he had with him, whilst he was on a Caribbean cruise and needed replacement tablets urgently. It was decided the ship’s stopover in Cuba was the best place to hand the medication over, so we then faced a race against time, as the ship was on its own schedule. As US citizens weren’t allowed to travel to Cuba at that time, we had to locate a courier in the US able to do the job.
London, UK:Luxaviation welcomes Global 6000 to UK fleetLuxaviation UK revealed its latest fleet addition - the Bombardier Global 6000 - at The ACA’s Air Charter Expo (ACE’24) event at London Biggin Hill Airport on Tuesday (10th September)Available for charter, the aircraft will be based in both London and Paris. The aircraft holds steep-approach certification, enabling it to operate out of challenging airports.
The Global 6000 is designed for maximum performance and luxury, accommodating up to 12 passengers. It boasts top speeds of close to 11,000 km/h and a nonstop range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 km), making it ideal for popular intercontinental routes such as Paris to Los Angeles, London to Cape Town and London to New Delhi.
We take being connected for granted. At home, in the office or in the air, the ability to connect our devices to the internet just happens. When it doesn’t, it restricts productivity, cuts off communication and valuable leisure time is lost. Michael Skou Christensen, CCO of Satcom Direct, explains how Satcom Direct works hard to support customers throughout the connectivity journey. We work hard at Satcom Direct to ensure that we can support our customers at every stage of flight.We call this supportability; it is what enables consistent, reliable and secure connectivity and is a multi-faceted collection of services that combine to provide customer support that wins awards, positions us at the top of industry surveys and most importantly, keeps our clients connected. We’ve built the service on what we consider the four pillars of supportability: training, support through our Network Operations Center (NOC), AOG response, and the SD ecosystem of reliable products.
Kinston, North Carolina:flyExclusive enters exclusive agreement to provide aircraft management services to Volato GroupAgreement enables Volato’s customers to benefit from flyExclusive’s vertically integrated operating platform.Private jet charter, Jet Club, and fractional ownership services provider, flyExclusive, Inc., has entered into an Aircraft Management Services Agreement (“AMS”) with Volato Group, Inc., the largest HondaJet operator in the United States.“As a fully integrated operator, flyExclusive is well-positioned to offer synergistic value to Volato’s clients and deliver enhanced value for our overall growing customer base,” said Jim Segrave, Founder and CEO of flyExclusive.
flyExclusive is curently one of the nation's five largest Citation operators. “Over the years, we’ve made strategic investments to remove industry bottlenecks and grow and maintain a leading, consistent customer experience. We’re proud to welcome Volato’s customers and look forward to offering them access to our growing fleet of light, midsize and super-midsize jets.” Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will manage flight operations, sales and expenses of Volato’s fleet, consisting of 13 fully fractionalized aircraft, 8 leased aircraft and 4 managed aircraft.
Payerne, Switzerland:JEKTA signs first lessor deal with Solyu for 30 PHA-ZE 100 aircraftJEKTA, the Switzerland-based developer of the PHA-ZE 100 aircraft, has signed an agreement with Solyu for 30 of its zero-emissions amphibious aircraft.
Solyu signs for 30 JEKTA PHA-ZE 100 amphibious aircraft. The deal, which represents JEKTA's first lessor agreement, brings advanced commitments for JEKTA’s amphibious aircraft to more than US$1bn in value. |
 Brussels, Belgium:European Business Aviation Manifesto puts Competitiveness, Innovation, and Net-Zero Technologies front and centreThe European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have published their manifesto for the 2024-2029 European legislative term, highlighting their commitment to driving a sustainable, competitive and safe aviation sector in partnership with the next European Commission and Members of the European Parliament.With Europe striving to boost its competitiveness while achieving its climate targets, the business aviation sector emerges as an indispensable transportation solution for thousands of European companies, providing access to time-efficient, flexible, safe, and reliable connections, no matter how remote their final destination may be in any corner of the continent. Within this context, the EBAA and GAMA policy manifesto calls on European policymakers to support business aviation in contributing to a more interconnected and prosperous Europe by advancing three main pillars:
Isle of Wight, UK:Britten-Norman announces unleaded fuel modification for piston engine IslandersBritten-Norman is taking the next step on its journey towards sustainable aviation with the introduction of the Unleaded Fuel Modification for its BN2B-26 piston engine (Lycoming O-540-E4C5) Islander aircraft.In addition to reducing their environmental impact, operators of Islander aircraft who switch to unleaded fuels can potentially enjoy several benefits. These include cost savings on refuelling, reduced maintenance expenses, access to a wider range of fuel options, extended servicing intervals, and enhanced safety through the use of unleaded fuels. The decision by the FAA to phase out leaded AVGAS has further underlined the importance of transitioning to unleaded fuels.
The certification of these new fuel types for the Britten-Norman Islander through the introduction of the Unleaded Fuel Modification opens the door to further possibilities for novel and environmentally friendly fuel types in the future. Mark Shipp, Technical Director and Head of Design at Britten-Norman, commented, “Britten-Norman is committed to delivering a sustainable future for aviation through our Green Futures initiative. This development is an important milestone for the hundreds of Islander operators who will be able to reduce their emissions through the introduction of unleaded fuels.” The three Lycoming-approved unleaded fuel specifications being included in this modification are ASTM D7547 (UL 91 & UL 94), DEF-STAN 91-090 (UL 91), and HJELMCO (91/96 UL).
Dubai, UAE:UAS launches Air Charter AppGlobal, award-winning trip support solutions provider UAS International Trip Support (UAS) has partnered with technology company Moove to launch the UAS Charter App.Available on the Apps Store and Google Play, as well as being accessible through uas.aero, the UAS Charter App empowers clients to plan their charter experience quickly and easily. By allowing users to search the UAS fleet, they have full visibility on aircraft availability and can compare aircraft to find what best suits their needs. It seamlessly plans itineraries, compares pricing, and simulates the cost and door-to-door time of each trip, while evaluating the advantages over commercial aviation, train or car with its real-time calculator.
The app also boasts an empty leg feature which allows users to browse a live map and register their route preferences and subscribe for instant notifications. The launch of the UAS Charter App follows the recent addition of the Bombardier Global Express to the UAS Charter fleet. The premier large-cabin, long-range business jet is renowned for its exceptional performance and luxurious accommodations and is now available to UAS’ global clients from its base in the UAE. The central location provides strategic access to key destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it an ideal hub for business executives and VIP travelers.
United Kingdom:Harrods Aviation earns UK's first IS-BAH Stage 3 accreditationHarrods Aviation has announced its recent success in achieving Stage 3 accreditation with the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) - the first in the UK.As the highest level of approval within the programme. IS-BAH is globally recognised as the benchmark for best practices in the industry. Dan Holian, Director of Operations, remarked on the significance of this milestone: "We started our IS-BAH journey in 2016 and have found the implementation process to be profoundly beneficial in enhancing our Safety Management System (SMS).
"The framework provided by IS-BAH allowed us to build our safety landscape in a smart, manageable and measurable way. We highly recommend its adoption to other FBOs looking to elevate their SMS compliance, especially with new Ground Handling regulations on the horizon." IS-BAH Programme Director, Terry Yeomans added "Congratulations to the whole team at Harrods Aviation Luton and Stansted in on showing their continual commitment to the voluntary implementation of the IS-BAH. As one of the early participants in the programme, Harrods have has progressively built on their achievements at Stage 1 to Stage 2 and have been able to evidence a positive safety culture in meeting Stage 3 registration criteria."
Dubai, United Arab Emirates:Aviation Services Management expands operations with new office in Saudi ArabiaAviation Services Management (ASM) has announced the opening of its new office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This strategic expansion marks a milestone in the company’s 26-year history and strengthens its operational footprint in the Middle East.Vito Gomes, founder and CEO of ASM, notes that this expansion aligns with the company’s mission to cater to the growing demand for aviation services in the region.
Vito Gomes. “The Middle Eastern aviation market is changing incredibly fast; Saudi Arabia is at the heart of this growth. With the country’s doors continuing to open to more operators - particularly in general aviation, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a presence in key markets such as Saudi Arabia. Opening an office here will enable us to respond better to our clients and the growing demand for our services.” ASM offers an expansive portfolio of services, including aviation fueling, flight planning, ground handling, private jet charter, and air ambulance services. With an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the UAE GCAA, it also provides aircraft management, CAMO, and other business aviation services. ASM operates its own pair of Learjet 60XR jets and is in the process of adding a third aircraft, a Challenger 605, in the coming months. |
Top Aces integrates cutting-edge IRST on F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter
New infrared search and track capability elevates training for USAF 5th generation pilots.
Top Aces Corp., the world’s only commercial operator of the F-16 aircraft for advanced adversary air (ADAIR) training, has announced the integration of an infrared search and track (IRST) capability on its F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter (AAF) platform.
This sophisticated IRST technology, used in military and aerospace applications to detect, track, and identify targets by measuring their infrared (IR) radiation, will significantly enhance the training experience for US Air Force 5th generation fighter pilots.
“We’re delighted to add this advanced IRST capability to our ADAIR training portfolio,” says Russ Quinn, President of Top Aces Corp., a USAF veteran and former Aggressor pilot. “Fitted with Top Aces’ open architecture ‘Advanced Aggressor Mission System’ (AAMS), our F-16 AAF will continue to rapidly integrate a range of high-tech sensors to meet evolving customer requirements.”
Top Aces’ F-16 AAF aircraft, already equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a helmet mounted cueing system, and Link-16 capabilities, have now been further upgraded with Northrop Grumman’s cutting-edge OpenPod. Featuring Leonardo’s state-of-the-art SkyWard scanning IRST, a passive long-wave infrared sensor, the system offers a wide scan volume for early target detection and engagement beyond visual range. This latest addition allows the Top Aces pilot to select and slave one advanced sensor to another, optimizing their ability to challenge 5th Generation tactics across various phases of air-to-air combat training engagements.
Top Aces collaborated with Leonardo, Northrop Grumman, Coherent Technical Services Inc. (CTSi), and Seger Aviation LLC to field the IRST on its F-16 AAF - a first of its kind in the ADAIR industry. “The Air Force needs a highly capable adversary to train against. We firmly believe our F-16 AAF platform, combined with our highly experienced personnel, offer the most realistic and cost-effective solution to prepare the next generation of combat leaders,” concluded Quinn. |
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