Your weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
 Montreal:NetJets is fleet launch customer for Bombardier’s Global 8000Firm $312m order for four aircraft plus conversion of eight existing orders. Bombardier announced this week that NetJets will become the fleet launch customer for the Global 8000 aircraft. Adding to its already massive global fleet of more than 850 aircraft (and still growing), NetJets has placed a new firm order for four Global 8000 aircraft, valued at $312m and converted eight existing orders for Bombardier products. This transaction adds to Global 7500 aircraft already on order and in service. NetJets will build a 24-strong fleet of the performance leading Global 8000 aircraft, as they will also be working with Bombardier to upgrade the entire in-service Global 7500 fleet to Global 8000 jets when they begin taking delivery of its new flagship aircraft.
NetJets could subsequently grow its fleet - the world’s largest, most diverse fleet in private aircraft - through a series of options that could be exercised progressively over the coming years. Introduced earlier this year at EBACE in Geneva, Bombardier’s flagship for a new era features an industry-leading range of 8,000 nautical miles and an unbeaten top speed of Mach 0.94.
Southeast Asia:Aircraft charters booming in Southeast Asia as region leaves the pandemic firmly in its wakeWorld-leading aircraft charter specialist, Air Charter Service, says that it has experienced a huge increase in demand for charters across Southeast Asia, especially when compared to pre-pandemic levels, as it currently stands at more than double that of 2019.Stephen Fernandez, Director for ACS in the region, commented: “Across Southeast Asia, travel has been made significantly easier over the course of this year as the last few countries that had some form of Covid restrictions are allowing people to now travel more freely. This has meant an influx of enquiries for our offices in the region, and the booking figures for Southeast Asia are far higher than we have ever seen. Stephen Fernandez. “For the year so far we have seen a 166% increase in enquiries and bookings on the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 for our passenger charter divisions. Part of our enhanced growth can be attributed to our Singapore office, which only opened its doors just prior to Covid, but we have also seen huge increases across the region, in particular in Philippines, Cambodia and Malaysia. “This increase is significantly higher than the market average, with WingX’s latest figures confirming a 58% increase between January and September across the region. To put things into perspective a little, the US’s growth compared to pre-pandemic, over the same period, is just 11%; although the private aviation market in Southeast Asia is smaller than some of the rest of the world.”
Boston:Aircraft resale organization partners with 4AIR to focus on sustainabilityIADA member clients get free carbon assessment, program discounts. The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) and 4AIR have partnered to assist the resale industry in being stewards of the planet’s climate. Reducing the carbon footprint of business aviation is in the interests of aircraft operators to protect the global environment and economy. 4AIR, which offers aircraft owners comprehensive full-service sustainability programs, now provides the clients of IADA’s members a free carbon assessment and exclusive discounts on voluntary programs and regulatory monitoring and compliance services. These clients will be able to use a web-based calculator for assessing their carbon footprints, which will give purchasers an idea of what the carbon impact would be when buying a specific aircraft. “IADA is joining the fight against climate change in a responsible and sensible way. The partnership with 4AIR is a statement that the leaders in the business aviation resale industry place importance on sustainability,” said David Monacell, IADA Chair Emeritus, and Partner in CFS Jets.
Washington, DC:GAMA: GA shipments up 6.7% in nine months of 2022The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has published the Third Quarter 2022 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report. The aircraft manufacturing industry’s results for the first nine months of 2022, when compared to the same period in 2021, point to increasing aircraft deliveries across all segments along with an increase in the overall value of the aircraft shipments. “Demand for general aviation aircraft remains hardy as our industry continues to strategically navigate ongoing challenges, which include issues with supply chain and workforce shortages within our industry and within global regulatory authorities," said GAMA President and CEO, Pete Bunce. "Deliveries are converging on, and in some cases surpassing, the levels we were experiencing prior to the pandemic, which is a testament to the strength of our industry and the importance and utility of general and business aviation. “As we look to the future, we must focus attention on the need for training of the regulator workforce and leveraging of bi-lateral safety agreements between regulatory bodies to improve both certification and validation processes. |
So far this month (1st - 27th November 2022), there have been just under 400,000 business jet and turboprop flights globally, 1% below the same 27 days in November 2021, 10% ahead of 2019. Scheduled airlines are flying 12% more than last year, although still 23% below three years ago. Focussing on the busiest global airlines (American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Ryanair), flight activity so far this month is 10% ahead of 2021, 1% below 2019. Dedicated cargo air-freighters are flying 3% more than three years ago, sectors dipping 5% below last year.
North America As November winds up, business jet activity in North America is trending 3% below November 2021, 14% up on November three years ago. In Week 47, ending 27th November, activity dropped 16% compared to the previous week, on par with week 47 in 2021.
London:Bombardier inaugurates expanded London Biggin Hill Service CentreThe largest business jet MRO facility in the UK. Bombardier has announced the inauguration of its expanded London Biggin Hill Service Centre, the latest addition to the company’s extensive and growing worldwide customer service network. Located at the bustling London Biggin Hill Airport, the newly enhanced London Biggin Hill Service Centre has grown to nearly 250,000 square feet (approximately 23,225 square metres), adding a suite of new maintenance and modification capabilities and full-service interior finishing capacity for its family of Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
The new hangar has transformed from 8 to 22 service bays. With its new, sought-after service capabilities and additional hangar space, Bombardier’s gleaming service centre - the largest business jet MRO facility in the UK - is the perfect oasis for customers of the OEM’s growing fleet of business jets. Bombardier’s London Biggin Hill Service Centre is the largest tenant at the London Biggin Hill Airport, providing customers with complete heavy maintenance capabilities, wheel and battery shops, a component paint shop and much more.
Wichita, Kansas:Bombardier begins modification of Global 6000 for German militaryWork lays important foundation for PEGASUS’ upcoming systems integration work package at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg. Bombardier Defense celebrated the arrival of a Global 6000 aircraft in Wichita, Kansas as part of the next phase of the company’s contract to support Lufthansa Technik’s participation in the HENSOLDT-led PEGASUS program of the German armed forces.
The Global 6000 arrives at Wichita. Bombardier Defense will utilize its expertise to perform major structural modifications to accommodate the "Kalætron Integral" signal intelligence (SIGINT) system developed by HENSOLDT, which collects and analyzes military signals from radar and radio systems. The integration of this system will subsequently be performed at Lufthansa Technik’s special mission aircraft competence centre in Hamburg, Germany. Bombardier has previously delivered three Global 6000 jets to Lufthansa Technik since the aircraft was selected for the program in 2020.
Peterborough, Ontario:Flying Colours Corp. completes glittering 240-month Global Express heavy inspectionFlying Colours Corp., the North American maintenance, repair, overhaul, and completions business, has completed another 240-month heavy inspection for a Bombardier Global Express aircraft. In addition, a landing gear overhaul and several scheduled restoration tasks were undertaken to complete the mandatory 15/30/60/120/240-month inspection package.
In parallel, the fuselage received a stunning new look with the application of mica-infused paint to achieve an overall sparkling effect. On completion, the airframe donned a Starlight Silver Pearl base, accented by Phantom Gray Pearl applied to the top of the fuselage, stripes, doorframe and wingtips.
Lithuania:New FAA-approved repair station in Europe - FL Technics receives aircraft engines shop certificationFL Technics Engine Services has been approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide aircraft engine repair and maintenance services in Kaunas, Lithuania, becoming the first organization in the country and one of the few in a region with such capacity.
This is an important milestone not only for the company but for the whole industry as markets are facing disruptions in the supply chain and excessive demand for aircraft engines to meet the needs of surging operations of airlines across the globe, already reaching the pre-COVID levels.
United Kingdom:Air bp scores a hat trick with third female Sterling Pilot Scholar completing her Private Pilot’s LicenceWith the global pilot shortage an ongoing concern for the aviation industry, Air bp, the international aviation fuel products and service supplier, is delighted to confirm that its seventh Sterling Pilot Scholar has been awarded her Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) Eighteen-year-old Elise Hammond, from Reading successfully completed her PPL at the end of September and is Air bp’s third female scholar.
Elise completed her PPL at Blackbushe Aviation, Blackbushe Airport, just prior to heading off to Swansea University to study Aerospace Engineering. This follows her completion of an Extended Diploma in Engineering at UTC Reading with three distinction stars.
MEBAA 2022:Make like a Qatar Superstar this MEBAA!GearUp.TV and BlueSky are collaborating to create an exclusive sponsored video show report that will reach BlueSky’s 50,000+ professional business aviation subscribers, and run on GearUp and BlueSky social media feeds.
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Washington, DC:Let it Snow: Airports across US receive FAA funding to tackle winter weatherAs winter approaches, 85 airports in 28 states will be better prepared to keep airport operations running safely and smoothly.
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $76.2m in Fiscal Year 2022 for snowplows, de-icing equipment, and new or upgraded buildings to store this equipment.  |
United Kingdom:Rolls-Royce and easyJet set new aviation milestone with world’s first run of a modern aero engine on hydrogenThe ground test was conducted on an early concept demonstrator using green hydrogen created by wind and tidal power. It marks a major step towards proving that hydrogen could be a zero carbon aviation fuel of the future and is a key proof point in the decarbonisation strategies of both Rolls-Royce and easyJet. Both companies have set out to prove that hydrogen can safely and efficiently deliver power for civil aero engines and are already planning a second set of tests, with a longer-term ambition to carry out flight tests.
The test took place at an outdoor test facility at MoD Boscombe Down, UK, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A regional aircraft engine. Green hydrogen for the tests was supplied by EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre), generated using renewable energy at their hydrogen production and tidal test facility on Eday in the Orkney Islands, UK. Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Grant Shapps, said: “The UK is leading the global shift to guilt-free flying, and today’s test by Rolls-Royce and easyJet is an exciting demonstration of how business innovation can transform the way we live our lives." |
Air Partner and Antonov complete complex cargo operation from Miami to Azores
Air Partner, the world leading aviation services group, provided an urgent AOG cargo charter solution to move an oversized aircraft engine and critical tooling to a remote island in the Azores.
This ambitious undertaking utilised an Antonov AN-124 and a Boeing 747 Freighter to transport a replacement aircraft engine, empty stand, tooling, lifting beam, including a 48-ton mobile crane to load and offload the high value and oversized aircraft engine into and out of the AN-124 cargo cabin.
The complicated logistical challenge took weeks to plan, four days to execute, and required close cooperation between Air Partner’s UK and US offices. These charter flights between airports in Miami, Luxembourg, the Azores, and London also included the deployment of Air Partner personnel to oversee all aspects of the load and offload procedure on-site, at each location.
The Antonov AN-124 aircraft was selected to better facilitate the oversized load and, as a self-loading aircraft, circumvent the smaller loading capabilities of the remote destination.
A B747-F was used to transport the serviceable engine from Miami to Luxembourg. The cargo was then loaded onto an AN-124 for transport to the Azores. A 48-ton mobile crane was sourced and also loaded on the AN-124, along with a driver and rigger, due to unconfirmed availability of suitable mobile lifting equipment on the island. This was a value-added solution to provide capability for loading and offloading of the aircraft, as well as assisting with lifting and installation of various engine components onto the AOG aircraft.
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