Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
Melbourne, Florida:Eve Air Mobility secures $88m from BNDES to finance eVTOL manufacturingBrazil’s National Development Bank approves financing to support Eve’s manufacturing facility in São Paulo.Eve Air Mobility has secured an $88m loan agreement with Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) to fund the development of the company’s electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft production facility in Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.Under the BNDES Mais Inovação program, the financing reinforces BNDES’ commitment to supporting innovative projects and Eve’s advancements in fostering decarbonization and the urban air mobility (UAM) industry.
"We are profoundly grateful for the continued support and confidence that BNDES has shown in Eve as we advance in our mission to reimagine mobility through efficient and sustainable urban flight experiences," said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. This financing will be instrumental in setting up our eVTOL manufacturing facility, which will be not only the first of its kind in Brazil but also powered by clean, renewable energy, aligned with our commitment to sustainability."
Toronto:Skyservice breaks ground in Napa, CaliforniaConstruction commences on new gateway to Wine Country and the San Francisco Bay Area.Skyservice Business Aviation has broken ground on a 60,000-square-foot FBO and hangar complex at the Napa County Airport (APC)."We are thrilled to begin construction of our new private jet center in Napa," commented Skyservice President and CEO Benjamin Murray. "Napa is a truly remarkable region in the United States, celebrated for its exceptional wines, culinary mastery and luxurious accommodations. Now is the ideal moment to connect the local business aviation community with a private jet center that aligns with the esteemed reputation of this region."
The 15-acre land parcel will include a luxury FBO facility, roof-top restaurant available for casual dining, events and parties, office space, a 40,000-square-foot hangar and nine-acre ramp. The hangar is designed with 28-foot-high doors that can accommodate the latest Bombardier, Dassault, and Gulfstream jet models while also serving the needs of the general aviation community at the airport.
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In Week 41 (7th–13th October), there were 73,121 global bizjet departures, 3% more than the previous week, although 3% fewer than Week 41 in 2023, and compares to 76,524 bizjet sectors in the busiest week of the last 12 months, week 26 2024.According to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today, the four-week trend for business jet flights is also down 3% compared to last year, the year-to-date trend 2% below last year. Worldwide, Super Midsize and Ultra Long-Range fleets are the only aircraft segments flying more than last year. Bizliner activity has fallen the most compared to last year, departures down 12% year on year. North America In Week 41, there were 53,371 bizjet departures departing North American airports, 2% fewer than Week 41 in 2023. Despite hurricane Milton, US activity rebounded 5% compared to Week 40. In hurricane-affected Florida, the dip in bizjet activity was 18% compared to W41 last year. Most cities in Florida saw subdued activity in Week 41, although there were actually pockets of YOY growth in Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Myers. Elsewhere in the US, California activity remains in the doldrums; despite 3% growth compared to W41 last year, the four-week trend is 3% below last year. There is better news in Texas, activity in W41 5% ahead of last year, raising the 4-week trend to 1% growth compared to last year.
Fort Worth, Texas:Embraer's $70m investment in new Fort Worth commercial jet MRO will create 250 skilled aviation jobsEmbraer has announced the expansion and investment in the United States of its maintenance, repair and overhaul services network to support the growing fleet of E-Jets with the opening of a new Embraer owned service center at the Perot Field Alliance Airport, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Rendering of Embraer's MRO at Perot Field Alliance Airport, Fort Worth. In partnership with the City of Fort Worth, Denton County and the State of Texas, Embraer expects to begin operations in an existing hangar in the beginning of the second quarter of 2025, while building a second hangar that should be concluded by 2027. With the new facilities, Embraer’s capacity to serve the E-Jets customers will increase by 53% in the US. The investment will reach up to $70m and is expected to create approximately 250 new aviation jobs in Texas.
In the latest column from STACK.aero Catherine Buchanan, Director of Business Development, outlines the value of adopting evolving digital platforms to stay ahead in business aviation. I wrote this column last week on an iMac. When I started writing, it was a great machine: intuitive, responsive, with useful tools, effective cybersecurity, and rich in software that enabled me to create a hopefully thought-provoking article. It’s a platform I trust to deliver results, and I’ve been impressed by its performance since the first day I logged on. This week, thanks to updates, it’s even better. It has new features, promises greater productivity, more easily accessible functionality, and improved security.
When I purchased it a few years ago, it changed how I worked by immediately delivering what I needed with multiple applications easily accessed from a simple user interface. I also knew that there would modifications and new features added regularly.
Melbourne, Florida:Satcom Direct confirms first SD Plane Simple Ku-band terminal Gulfstream G600 production installationSatcom Direct's advanced technology Plane Simple Ku-band tail-mount terminal is now available through Gulfstream for Gulfstream G650, Gulfstream G650ER, Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 production aircraft.
The first G600 equipped with the advanced tail mount connectivity system has been delivered, and additional Gulfstream aircraft installations are already in progress. The milestone builds on the successful rollout in the aftermarket sector of the SD Plane Simple Ku-band terminal, which entered commercial service in February 2023 and is now flying on over 150 aircraft worldwide.
Worldwide:TAG Aviation adds nine aircraft to global fleetTAG Aviation has announced the expansion of its global fleet with the addition of nine exceptional aircraft, including a Dassault Falcon 6X, a Bombardier Challenger 650 and a Gulfstream G500 in Europe; and a Bombardier Global 6000, a Gulfstream G550 and four Bombardier Global 7500 aircraft in Asia.
The Falcon 6X and three of the Global 7500 aircraft are brand new aircraft with delivery scheduled in early 2025 and one pre-owned Global 7500 has already been delivered.
Bitlux President and Founder, Kyle Patel, shares his vision on how private aviation’s activity impacts job creation, innovation, technology and local economies.Recently, we’ve seen growing incidents of activists and pressure groups deliberately defacing articles in protest attempts.Last month, two women were charged with criminal damage after two private jets were sprayed with paint at London’s Stansted Airport. They were protesting on behalf of ‘Just Stop Oil’ and trying to confront the private aviation industry, but not in a vastly appropriate manner, and were accused of aggravated trespass and interfering with national infrastructure.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida:VIP Completions and ARRCC unveil uniquely refurbished Dassault Falcon 7XVIP Completions, providers of custom aircraft completions and refurbishment services, and ARRCC, a leading interior design and décor studio, have unveiled the spectacular interior of a completely refurbished Dassault Falcon 7X.
Acquisition of this aircraft was brokered by VIP Completions’ sister company SmartJets, a leading turnkey aircraft dealer-broker. This project is exceptional because it redefines the boundaries of aircraft interior design.
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 Bembridge, UK:Britten-Norman secures investment to boost Islander productionBritten-Norman, the UK’s leading manufacturer of utility aircraft, has successfully completed its second funding round, securing significant capital from Northern Ireland based Beechlands Enterprises. The investment will accelerate production of the iconic Islander aircraft and transform aftermarket business.
Britten-Norman will scale manufacturing operations in the UK up to eight aircraft a year in phase one. Manufacturing will be focussed primarily on the unleaded piston version of the Islander, with around 20% of aircraft being delivered as turboprops. As part of the company’s focus on manufacturing, it will invest in more advanced manufacturing tools and machinery, enhancing component production capabilities. These upgrades will help reduce lead times, increase output, and improve overall cost and efficiency.
Lebring, Austria:AXIS Flight Simulation and Propair Flight to set new industry benchmark with virtual and mixed reality pilot training solutionAdvancing the future of flight training, full-flight simulator manufacturer AXIS Flight Simulation is putting cutting-edge virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR) technologies at the forefront of pilot training, collaborating with software development studio Propair Flight.Seamlessly blending traditional and forward-thinking training methods to provide an unparalleled learning experience, the partnership will combine AXIS' industry-leading ISO 9001-2015 and EASA/FAA Level D certified simulators with Propair's advanced VR and MR integration to bring a new level of value to the training industry.
Christian Theuermann and Peter Kesmarki. “At AXIS, we are committed to pioneering the future of aviation training,” says Christian Theuermann, member of the executive board, AXIS Flight Simulation. “Our partnership with Propair marks a significant leap forward in creating immersive experiences, setting new industry standards by integrating VR and MR capabilities into our wider offering to provide the next generation of training solutions." Broadening its product portfolio by utilising technology from Propair - an independent company within the AXIS group - AXIS will leverage analytics-driven virtual environments to empower pilots and instructors with actionable analytics and personalised training.
Dublin:ACIA Aero Leasing signs contract with Pratt & Whitney Canada for 10 new PW127M enginesEngines will support ACIA’s fleet of leased ATR aircraft operating around the globe.ACIA Aero Leasing, a leading provider of regional aircraft leasing and lease management services, has signed a contract with Pratt & Whitney Canada for the purchase of 10 new PW127M engines.The programme will include the swap out of existing engines and will ensure that ACIA Aero Leasing can fully serve its existing and growing ATR customer base. Deliveries will commence in 2025. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.
PW127M engine. “We have made this substantial investment decision to ensure we can offer our customers the most attractive pre-owned ATR solutions in the market,” said Neil Du Preez, Senior Vice-President, Technical & Asset Management of ACIA Aero Leasing. “This purchase gives us and our customers access to critical PW100 engine inventory as the industry continues to experience supply chain issues.”
United Kingdom:BBGA: Fourteen UK airfields now trail blazing electric aviationThe British Business General Aviation Association (BBGA) is championing innovation stemming from general aviation.Did you know? we now have 14 airfields around the UK with resident electric-powered aircraft.Fairoaks Airport in Chobham, Surrey, has just become the latest to receive a Pipistrel Velis Electro, the only electric aircraft to date certificated for passenger flight by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The leased aircraft has joined Synergy Flight Training from UK Distributor NEBOair. It is operating in collaboration with sustainability solutions pioneer 4AIR, a Flexjet sister company and BBGA member.
Glen Heavens, CEO, Synergy Flight Training and Adam Twidell, Furure of Flight and Pipistrel Velis Electro pilot, Flexjet UK, at Fairoaks Airport. Synergy Flight Training and 4AIR are partnering to bring a new era of decarbonised flying, enabling future pilots to be trained on fully electric aircraft in the South of England, mirroring operations at SaxonAir Aviation Training at Norwich Airport. Fairoaks and Norwich Airports join Duxford Airport, home of the British clean-tech innovator Faradair; Great Oakley Airfield; Humberside Airport, home of Eastern Airways; Old Buckenham Airfield, Popham Aerodrome, RAF Cranwell, Redhill Aerodrome, Rochester Airport, Sibson Aerodrome, Shipmeadow and Wickenby Aerodrome, in having resident Pipistrel Velis Electro aircraft, with charging supported by NEBOair.
RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, UK:Award Winning Partnership32 (The Royal) Squadron and Centreline, a Pula Aviation Services company, were honoured with the prestigious 1 Group Whole Force Award at the 1 Group Industry Awards held at RAF Waddington.The award highlights the unique partnership between 32 (The Royal) Squadron and Centreline, who jointly operate the Envoy aircraft for Fixed Wing Command Support Air Transport. This innovative model allows military and civilian pilots to collaborate under Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations, ensuring rapid and flexible support for senior government and military leaders.
The relationship has been hugely successful, with Centreline leaning in to support well beyond its contractual obligations. As a result, 32(The Royal) Sqn has been able to respond to extremely short notice requests (as short as 3 hours between notification and wheels up). While occasionally subject to CAA inflexibility, Centreline have worked hard to push the envelope, managing to get permission to carry armed military protection teams, greatly expanding the operational capability of the aircraft. The most telling demonstration of the increasing flexibility of the model was a mission into Libya in October 2023; a sortie that would have been unthinkable on Envoy’s introduction to Service just a year earlier. |
NBAA-BACE welcomes McLaren supercar lineup
The National Business Aviation Association has announced that world-renowned automotive company McLaren will showcase its fleet of powerful, innovative supercars on the NBAA-BACE static display at Henderson Executive Airport.
“Having these incredible cars alongside the world’s most advanced business aircraft will offer NBAA-BACE attendees a captivating look at what’s possible in engineering, technology and design, both on the ground and in the air,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are pleased to feature this new, exclusive lineup that provides an exciting look at the future of high-performance travel.”
The New GTS.
Supercars planned for display adjacent to the aircraft at NBAA-BACE include The 750S Coup; The Artura Spider - New Hybrid Convertible Supercar; The New GTS; The 750S Spider - Convertible Supercar and The Artura - High-Performance Hybrid.
“We are thrilled to display McLaren at the most esteemed aircraft show in the world, NBAA-BACE,” said Tom O’Gara, owner, McLaren Las Vegas. “Aircraft and supercars share so many characteristics both in materials and design characteristics. McLaren is having a tremendous year in Formula 1 racing, and our line-up of vehicles continues to delight our most discerning customers. We look forward to showcasing the model line-up among the aircraft at NBAA-BACE.”
The aircraft display at 2024 NBAA-BACE will highlight the diversity of business aviation, from piston-engine airplanes, to long-range, large-cabin business jets, to helicopters. NBAA-BACE is taking place October 22nd-24th at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport.
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