Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
Miami, Florida:US family offices focus more on using their business aircraft for philanthropic causesThe vast majority of U.S. family offices expect their business aircraft to be used more to support good causes over the next three years.A survey commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) of US-based family offices who own or lease business aircraft reveals that 87% are open to using them for charitable and humanitarian purposes.In terms of how they do this, 77% say they support local or national charities by providing them with some access to their aircraft, and 44% say they support the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), a US-based 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps cancer patients access the best treatment by arranging free travel on corporate aircraft. Some also provide access to their aircraft during a crisis situation such as humanitarian relief or emergency evacuations. For those US-based family offices interviewed that don’t currently make their aircraft available for good causes, half said it was because they have not appointed anyone to manage this, and 30% say it is because they don’t have enough spare capacity to start using their aircraft for this purpose. However, of those interviewed who don’t currently make their aircraft available for charitable and humanitarian causes, 39% say they hope to start doing this within the next two years, and 54% say they hope to do so in the next two to three years.
Wichita, Kansas:Textron Aviation reconsiders NBAA-BACE participationReversing its decision announced a week ago, Textron Aviation will now participate at NBAA-BACE 2024 in Las Vegas, showcasing its aircraft on the static display.In a statement, the company said: "In response to customer feedback, Textron Aviation will return to the 2024 National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) with a static display of industry-leading Citation aircraft. "The company’s presence will be focused on showcasing new product investments to the iconic Citation lineup." The company will feature four Cessna Citation aircraft and two mockups at Henderson Executive Airport, including the Citation Longitude; the mid-size Citation Latitude; Citation CJ4 Gen2; Citation M2 Gen2; Citation Ascend mockup and the Citation CJ3 Gen2 mockup. Textron Aviation does not plan to have a presence on the convention floor.
Montreal, Canada:INGENIO Aerospace announces new STCs for Bombardier aircraftCertification to greenlight integration of Cockpit Tablet EFB on Bombardier Globals and Challenger 600s.INGENIO Aerospace, a leader in innovative product design and manufacturing for business, commercial and military aviation, has earned Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) supplemental type certificates (STCs) for the integration of its Cockpit Tablet electronic flight bag (EFB) on Bombardier Global series and Challenger 600 series aircraft.Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) familiarizations are also expected to be issued before the end of the calendar year. The Cockpit Tablet EFB enhances operational safety by improving ergonomics that facilitate pilot access to electronic tablets (ex: Apple and Android devices) during all phases of flight, including take-off and landing. Certification opens a significant market for INGENIO as there are approximately 1,150 Globals and 2,040 Challenger 600s in service worldwide today. It also applies to new aircraft built by Bombardier going forward. |
In Week 40 (30th September–6th October), there were 70,878 global business jet departures, 3% fewer than Week 39, and 4% fewer than Week 40 in 2023, according to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today.The global 4-week business jet trend is 4% down on last year, significantly worse than the year-to-date 2% decline. By operator types, Management Fleets have the most activity, holding stead YOY; whilst Corporate and Charter operations are stalling, Fractional fleet activity still soaring ahead, 18% of all sectors flown, and 10% up on last year. North America In Week 40, there were 50,827 bizjet departures departing North American airports, 2% below W40 in 2023. Two weeks ago saw a double-digit drop in flight activity in Florida, buffeted by Hurricane Helene. In the most recent week, flights jumped back up by 25% on a sequential basis, though still 3% behind the same week last year. The impact of incoming Hurricane Milton will inevitably subdue that recovery in Week 41.
Mojave, California:Boom Supersonic XB-1 achieves mach 0.69 on fifth flight testXB-1 took to the skies for its fifth flight from the Mojave Air & Space Port on October 7th, climbing to 17,800 feet in the R-2515 Airspace.
Flown by Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg, XB-1’s fifth successful flight marks the halfway point of the 10 planned subsonic test flights before breaking the sound barrier. This is the fastest, highest, and longest flight so far as XB-1 progresses through the flight test program on the way to supersonic flight later this year.
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. Private aviation may seem like a luxury and elitist to most mere mortals, but it also plays a critical role in driving economic growth.
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. For example, custom dynamic LED accent lights are seamlessly integrated into the headliner; cabin bulkheads have been covered in a sand-blasted bronze mirror finish that creates a mood of modern opulent comfort; and paneling has been trimmed with solid white oak fluting custom-made to match the finest home furnishings.
Europe:Air bp celebrates one million ‘safe2go’ overwing refuellingsAir bp has achieved one million overwing fuellings using its safe2go app (previously known as Airfield Automation).The milestone took place in Portugal in August when an Air bp customer completed an overwing refuelling using safe2go’s cloud-based platform.
The safe2go fuel data platform was developed by Air bp with its expertise and understanding of the needs of fuel operators and their customers at its heart. By systematically leading the operator through completing an ‘enhanced three-way fuel grade cross check’, safe2go reduces the safety risk of misfuelling (fuelling an aircraft with the incorrect type of fuel) and so improves operational efficiency and data accuracy.
Raleigh, North Carolina:HondaJet Elite II named "Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina"The HondaJet Elite II, the newest model of Honda Aircraft Company's award-winning and innovative very light jet, was named the "Coolest Thing Made in NC," following a contest held by the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
The fifth annual "Coolest Thing Made in NC" contest took place over eight weeks, during which time visitors to the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce website had the opportunity to select from among 145 candidate products manufactured within the state.
Basel, Switzerland:Jet Aviation redelivers two BBJ 737-8s in record ten-month downtimeJet Aviation has redelivered a pair of identical Boeing Business Jets 737-8s to an undisclosed customer. The interiors were completed in less than ten months, the shortest downtime the completion center has achieved for two simultaneous aircraft.
"Less than ten months from arrival to certification and redelivery is an incredible achievement, especially for two cabins of this complexity,” says Christoph Fondalinski, vice president Completions. “Our in-house teams worked hand-in-hand with the customer to understand their specialized requirements and craft interiors that met these through a combination of state-of-the-art engineering and innovative production techniques. The result was our shortest downtime for two simultaneous aircraft to date and is further testament to our ongoing pursuit of industry-leading efficiency, service, and quality.”
Milwaukee, Wisconsin:Jet Aviation acquires Jet IN FBO operations in MilwaukeeJet Aviation has acquired Jet IN’s FBO and ground handling operations at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE).Opened in 2023, the FBO features a 10,000-square-foot passenger terminal, 40,000-square feet of aircraft hangarage, a 10,000-square-foot maintenance shop, and more than three acres of dedicated ramp space.
With the acquisition, Jet Aviation acquires all assets of the FBO operation. Milwaukee joins Jet Aviation’s network of some 30 FBOs worldwide, with 10 in the US. |
 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.
Mumbai, India:OPUL Jets partners with SpaceX to bring Starlink Internet to its fleetEnhances connectivity in the Middle East and beyond.Private jet charter provider OPUL Jets has made a significant upgrade to its fleet through a new partnership with SpaceX's Starlink Aviation.OPUL Jets operates from a strategically located base at Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai. This strategic move will equip OPUL Jets' Dubai-based fleet with the latest in satellite internet technology, providing unparalleled connectivity to passengers. Starlink Aviation, the aerospace division of SpaceX, is at the forefront of satellite internet solutions and is renowned for revolutionising in-flight connectivity. OPUL Jets boasts a fleet comprising Bombardier mid-size, super mid-size, and ultra-long-range jets. They operate from strategically located bases in Dubai, London, Mumbai, and the Isle of Man. OPUL Jets has already installed the Starlink system onto its Bombardier Global Express XRS, catering to intercontinental journeys with a 6500 nm range. The 16-passenger configuration offers a comfortable working and leisure environment with onboard catering facilities.
Toyota City, Japan and Santa Cruz, California:Toyota to invest $500m in Joby AviationToyota Motor Corporation and Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, have announced that Toyota will invest an additional $500m to support the certification and commercial production of Joby's electric air taxi, with the aim of realizing the two companies' shared vision of air mobility.The investment, which will be made in two equal tranches, is subject to standard regulatory approvals and certain other conditions, finalization of collaborative and commercial agreements and, with respect to the second tranche, the finalization of terms related to a strategic alliance focused on commercial manufacturing and certain other conditions. The investment, which will bring Toyota Motor Corporation's total investment in Joby to $894m, will be made in the form of cash for common stock, with the first tranche targeted to close later this year and the second in 2025.
Toyota Motor COO Tetsuo “Ted” Ogawa and Joby Aviation's "Today's investment builds on nearly seven years of collaboration between our companies," said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation. "The knowledge and support shared by Toyota have been instrumental in Joby's success and we look forward to deepening our relationship as we deliver on our shared vision for the future of air travel." Joby continues to make important progress towards commercialization, recently rolling its third aircraft off its pilot production line in Marina, California, and breaking ground on an expanded facility in California that will more than double the Company's manufacturing footprint. In August 2024, it confirmed that the fourth of five stages of the type certification process is now more than one-third complete on the Joby side. Savannah, Georgia:More than one hundred G700 customer pilots earn type ratingGulfstream has announced that more than one hundred customer pilots have earned type rating for the Gulfstream G700 from the Savannah-based FlightSafety International training center since the aircraft earned FAA type certification on March 29th.In addition to the 100 customer pilots who have earned the G700 type rating, 80 Gulfstream corporate pilots and more than 20 FlightSafety International G700 instructors have earned their G700 type rating. “Pilots are coming to Savannah from around the world to earn their G700 type rating as aircraft deliveries increase,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Thanks to the innovative and intuitive Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck and the maturity of the G700 program, the ease with which customers are taking delivery is impressive.”
The G700 features Gulfstream’s award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck with active control sidesticks and the industry’s most extensive use of touch-screen technology paired with Phase-of-Flight intelligence to reduce pilot workload and flight start-up time. The flight deck also includes Gulfstream’s new Combined Vision System (CVS) and the award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System. CVS integrates Gulfstream’s Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and Synthetic Vision System (SVS) into a single on-screen image shown on both the primary flight display and dual head-up display (HUD), further enhancing situational awareness for pilots and increasing access to more airports worldwide. In addition to FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certifications, the G700 has earned type certificate validations in nine nations, most recently from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.
Aurora, Oregon:Life Flight and Spectrum Aeromed elevate patient care with installation of liquid oxygen in Pilatus PC-12Life Flight Network, the leading air medical transport service in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West, has collaborated with Spectrum Aeromed to install liquid oxygen (LOX) in a brand new Life Flight Network Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.The completion of this project marks the first of its kind for this oxygen configuration to receive FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval, where an applicant must receive FAA approval to modify an original aeronautical design.
Thanks to Spectrum Aeromed’s superior engineering and navigation of this aircraft modification approval process, Life Flight Network’s first LOX capable Pilatus PC-12 was delivered on September 27th. "This collaboration with Spectrum Aeromed exemplifies our unwavering dedication to continuously improving the level of care we provide to our patients,” said Casey Seckel, chief clinical officer at Life Flight Network. “The addition of liquid oxygen capabilities in our Pilatus PC-12 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our mission to serve communities across the region, allowing for extended duration of use, and greater portability and accessibility. "The addition of this resource more than triples the carrying capacity for oxygen, a vital resource for our critically ill and injured patients.” |
TARMAC Aerosave inaugurates the world's largest metal-textile hangar
Built in the record time of nine months, TARMAC Aerosave's seventh maintenance hangar - the fourth at its Teruel site in Spain - was inaugurated on October 8th.
At 95 meters long, 85 meters wide, and reaching nearly 34 meters in height, this metalo-textile structure is the largest of its kind in the world. Designed to accommodate the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, as well as up to four A320s, it covers over 8,000 square meters, with more than 7,700 square meters dedicated solely to aircraft maintenance. Additional space is reserved for offices and facilities for our growing workforce.
With the addition of this EUR15m hangar, TARMAC Aerosave's aircraft maintenance offering now comprises four hangars in Teruel, two in Tarbes and one in Toulouse.
Designed by Spantech, specialists in modular aeronautical structures, the hangar is a true engineering achievement. Its innovative design - built with a steel and aluminum frame, and insulated using advanced rock wool panels - makes it fully dismantlable and reusable. The fire-resistant PVC roof adds another layer of safety and durability, while the structure is specially reinforced to withstand the local weather conditions, including heavy winds and snow. High brightness and temperature control provide optimal working conditions.
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