Yearly Archives: 2017

Gulfstream G280 Gulfstream Aerospace has announced the creation of its Connectivity Service program, a comprehensive, bundled suite of in-flight internet, voice and entertainment offerings customized to meet the needs of each Gulfstream operator. “This new service will simplify and enhance the connectivity experience by seamlessly integrating all aspects of in-flight connectivity with the Gulfstream aircraft ownership experience,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “It will make connectivity more accessible and easier to understand. The integration provides customers everything they need to create and maintain the ultimate experience in nose-to-tail connectivity. Gulfstream will be their single source for equipment, service networks and technical support.” As part of the program, Satcom Direct will be the exclusive provider of cabin and cockpit connectivity service plans on both in-production and in-service aircraft. “Satcom Direct is proud to have been selected to support Gulfstream’s Connectivity Service program,” said Jim Jensen, founder and CEO of Satcom Direct. “Through this program, Gulfstream customers will be able to fly in confidence knowing they can maximize faster, richer data during all phases of flight around the globe.” Bundled cabin connectivity options will feature Inmarsat’s Jet ConneX, the fastest in-flight internet connection in business aviation, as well as other networks, such as Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband and ViaSat’s Ku-band service. Flight-deck options will include a datalink service that enables mandated safety systems, including Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A+.  Gulfstream Technical Operations, with on-site support from Satcom Direct, will be the single source for connectivity questions and troubleshooting. Gulfstream’s company-owned service centers worldwide will complete connectivity installations in Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia; Westfield, Massachusetts; Appleton, Wisconsin; Las Vegas, Nevada; Long Beach, California; Dallas, Texas; West Palm Beach, Florida; Luton, England; Sorocaba, Brazil; and Beijing,

The first half of 2017 has been “nothing but positive” for US flight activity, according to the latest data from Argus. Gulfstream-G650 Last year was a great year for the US business aviation, says the aviation service and technology firm, with total flights rising by 90,000+ across the country. And 2017 is shaping up to be even better. Flight activity is up 3.9% year-on-year (YoY) from 2016 and flight hours rose 6.0% from last year, according to Argus’ 2017 midyear business aviation report. Specifically, activity for part 135 (charter) operations has been very positive, rising an impressive 10.1% YoY for the first half of 2017. This is a substantial gain from the already positive 5.8% growth for the full year of 2016. Charter activity has risen every month so far this year compared to 2016. April saw the biggest YoY increase, rising 14.9%. Three of the first six months saw double-digit increases in activity.   Part 91 (private) operations saw a slight drop in activity, declining 0.5% YoY. This slight decline is the result of three months of increased activity and three months of less. May was the month with the biggest increase in activity, seeing a 2.1% rise in private flights. Argus expects the second half of the year to be more positive for Part 91 activity. The rise in overall flight activity for the whole of 2016 looks to be replicated in the second half, it says in its report. Fractional flight activity (where multiple owners share the costs of purchase, leasing and operating) increased every month YoY as with part 135. April had the biggest rise, with an 8.5% increase. More hours Large-cabin jets saw the biggest increase in flight hours from

Piper Aircraft has recorded a 30% increase in deliveries of its business and general aviation aircraft family for the second quarter of 2017, thanks to strong performance from the single-engined Archer and M600, and its recent decision to adopt a build-to-order strategy for its nine-strong line-up. For the three months ended 30 June, the Vero Beach, Florida-based manufacturer delivered 32 single- and twin-engined aircraft, compared with 19 units for the same period last year. Revenues climbed to $52.1 million – up $10.7 million from the second quarter of 2016. Piper aircraft   Piper Aircraft Demand for its two-seat Archer DX/TX from the global training market resulted in a delivery increase for the all-metal piston-single pair of more than 200%, says Piper. Demonstration tours of Europe and Africa in May and June resulted in “better-than-expected sales” of the top-of-the-range M600 single-engined turboprop, it says. "Our commitment to a commonsense, made-to-order approach, has been a key differentiator and is contributing to Piper's success in this 'new normal' market we are all talking about,” says Piper president Simon Caldecott. "As we look forward to the second half of the year, we anticipate continued strong performance across our product line with a strategic focus on both Europe and Latin America."   Source: FlightGlobal.

G600 Cockpit Gulfstream Aerospace announced that its fourth Gulfstream G600 aircraft completed its debut flight just over six weeks after the third aircraft. The G600 departed Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport at 6:50 p.m. During the 1-hour and 18-minute flight, the aircraft climbed to a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet/15,545 meters and reached a maximum airspeed of Mach .925. The aircraft landed back in Savannah at 8:08 p.m. local time. “To have four first flights and fly more than 570 hours in less than six months is a remarkable achievement,” said Dan Nale, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “The rapid maturity of this program is due to the work we did before the flying even started — the strategic planning, the research, the lab development — combined with the success we’ve had in the similar G500 program.” The fifth G600 test aircraft was recently delivered to the Savannah Completions center, where it will be transformed into a fully outfitted production aircraft. During flight test the aircraft will be used to validate interior elements and ensure the successful integration of aircraft systems with the passenger experience. To date, the G600 program’s four test aircraft have accumulated more than 130 flights.   Source: ULTIMATEJET

Embraer first entered the business aviation market with the executive version of its Embraer 135 commercial airliner called the Legacy 600. The Embraer 135 was a shortened version of the ERJ-145 that flew for the first time in 1999. The Legacy 600 flew first in 2001. Embraer’s decision to enter the business aviation market came at a time when revenues and backlogs at business aircraft makers were at an all time high. In the years following the delivery of the first Legacy 600 the market continued to expand, and Embraer took the decision to create two new business jets completely from scratch. The Phenom 100 and the Phenom 300 were both introduced at the same time in 2005. The smaller of the two, the Phenom 100 was pitched in the very light jet category that at the time was beginning to be talked about as the next big thing. The larger, the Phenom 300, is a light jet that seats six people comfortably. Embraer’s real advantage with both aircraft is that they were able to bring the lessons learnt from building commuter aircraft. Both the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 are both built to withstand multiple daily take offs and landings, which makes them ideal for use in charter operations. The Phenom 300 in particular found favour with all of the major fractional operators. NetJets operate a large fleet of the aircraft both in the US and Europe, and Flight Options also has a sizeable fleet. Despite the first aircraft being delivered in 2009, the Phenom 300 is still selling in large numbers, thanks in no small part to the incremental upgrades that have been introduced. For the last few years in the row, the

Dassault Falcon 900LX Dassault has delivered the 2,500th Falcon business jet. The aircraft was a Falcon 900LX that was delivered to a long time Falcon client based in the US. Dassault reached the 2,500th delivery two years after celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Falcon 20 delivery in 1965. Originally called the Dassault-Breguet Mystère 20, the aircraft was renamed for the US market as the Fan Jet Falcon, but eventually shortened to the just the Falcon 20. Dassault delivered 508 Falcon 20s until the end of production in 1988. Major customers included the US Coast Guard, and US express delivery firm FedEx, who used the aircraft from its Memphis hub to smaller cities that couldn’t support the larger aircraft its fleet. Six years after the First Falcon 20 delivery, Dassault introduced the smaller Falcon 10. Unlike the Falcon 20, the Falcon 10 had a non-circular fuselage, and could carry up to four passengers. A total of 226 Falcon 10s were delivered until production was completed a year after the Falcon 20 in 1989. Whilst both the Falcon 10 and Falcon 20 were twin jets, the first of Dassault’s now iconic tri-jets was introduced in 1976. Using the cross section of the Falcon 20 as the basis, the Falcon 50 could carry up to nine passengers. Between the Falcon 10 and Falcon 50 development Dassault also worked on the Falcon 30 and Falcon 40, which were to be small commercial aircraft. Dassault built the prototype Falcon 30 and displayed the aircraft at the 1973 Paris Air Show – the year infamous for the crash of the Tupolev TU-144. But despite the prototype flying for around 60 hours, and receiving orders, both projects were

Gulfstream has delivered its 550th G550, to an undisclosed customer, 14 years after the large-cabin business jet was introduced. Company president Mark Burns says the milestone “affirms the continued demand for the G550, as one of the most dependable and sought-after aircraft in the world today”. Citing the aircraft's 6,750nm (12,500km) range and 19-passenger payload, he says the twinjet “has earned a lasting reputation as a versatile aircraft for business aviation and [is] an ideal platform for special missions”. The G550 is positioned in Gulfstream’s six-strong product line between the super-midsize G280 and developmental, clean-sheet G500. G550 Despite analyst predictions that the G550 will bow out in 2019 when its larger-cabin stablemate, the G600, enters service, Gulfstream remains committed to the programme. Speaking during a first-quarter earnings call in April, Phebe Novakovic, chief executive of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, said that demand for the G550 remains strong and that the aircraft’s orderbook would “remain open for the foreseeable future”. Deliveries of the Rolls-Royce BR710 C4-11-powered G550 have taken a hit in recent years, however: Flight Fleets Analyzer records 49 shipments at its 2011 market peak, falling to 37 units in 2015 and 20 in 2016.   Source: FlightGlobal.

Global 7000 interior Bombardier Business Aircraft has announced that its Global 7000 aircraft flight test programme is progressing as planned and has surpassed the 500-hour milestone. With three flight test vehicles (FTVs) in flight testing and two remaining FTVs to join shortly, the Global 7000 aircraft programme is on track to meet the aircraft's targeted entry-into-service in the second half of 2018. Bombardier also confirmed that the first several customer aircraft are progressing smoothly through production, with four Global 7000 business jets currently in final assembly at the Bombardier facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. "The three flight test vehicles have been meeting all performance and reliability expectations for this stage in the flight test programme, and the pace of testing will continue to accelerate with the two remaining FTVs progressing well towards their respective first flights. The aircraft's high degree of maturity is very encouraging as we continue to push the limits of every aspect of this game-changing aircraft's performance," said Michel Ouellette, senior vice president, Global 7000 and Global 8000 Programme. "With more than 500 flight test hours already logged, the program's development and certification schedule is on track. Our confidence level is high as we accumulate more flight hours and push towards entry-into-service in the second half of 2018." In November 2016, Bombardier began flight testing its state-of-the-art Global 7000 business jet with the maiden flight of first flight test vehicle 1 (FTV1). FTV1 came close to surpassing the speed of sound, reaching M 0.995 during a test flight in March 2017 - the largest business jet to operate so close to the sound barrier. The second flight test vehicle (FTV2) and third flight test vehicle (FTV3) joined the programme in March and May 2017, respectively. The comprehensive testing conducted using

RAF Phenom 100 Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 100 business jet to Affinity Flight Training Services. The aircraft has been selected to provide Multi-Engine Pilot Training to UK Armed Forces as part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence´s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme. The contract with Affinity comprises a firm order for five Phenom 100s and services support, as well as an option for additional follow on aircraft. “The departure of the first Embraer Phenom 100 from Brazil, en route to the UK, marks a significant milestone in preparation for delivering the MFTS Fixed Wing programme.” Iain Chalmers, managing director of Affinity said: “The departure of the first Embraer Phenom 100 from Brazil, en route to the UK, marks a significant milestone in preparation for delivering the MFTS Fixed Wing programme. Affinity is delighted this has been achieved ahead of the original programme schedule, and look forward to seeing the aircraft at RIAT 2017.” “We are very happy with our partnership with Affinity and for the opportunity to take part in the UKMFTS programme.” said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security. “The Phenom 100 delivers a sound combination of top performance, reliability, low operating costs and high availability. There is no doubt that the advanced technology of the Phenom 100 makes it the right solution for the Multi Engine Pilot Training of the UK Armed Forces, and will reduce costs whilst ensuring the proficiency of flight crews.” Source: CorporateJetInvestor

First, a disclaimer (and it’s one we use every time): “A paper aircraft can always beat a real aircraft when you compare them,” says the head of one aircraft manufacturer. “Until an aircraft is flying, it is unfair to compare it with an aircraft that is still being designed.” Comparing the G500 and the Falcon 5X with the 11 year old Global 5000 seems a bit unfair.   Maximum range Source: Manufacturers/Corporate Jet Investor Maximum range on a long-range aircraft might be a moot point for most of the year when the aircraft’s normal mission profile will be trips around two hours or less, but an extra 200 nm on those occasions where the aircraft is used to its full capabilities will sure be appreciated by those in the back. While 200 nm might not seem like a great deal, on a transatlantic flight to Paris, it might mean the difference between having to stop over in London for fuel, or flying directly to the destination (although wind could change that). Saying that, the G500 can fly further than 650 nautical miles further than the extremely popular G450 (Gulfstream has sold more than 350) so it is an upgrade for existing G450 owners. Cabin Aircraft Width(m) Length(m) Height(m) Volume(cu-ft) Falcon 5X 2.58 11.79 1.98 1,766 Gulfstream G500 2.41 12.65 1.93 1,715 Global 5000 2.41 12.41 1.88 2,002 Source: Manufacturers/Corporate Jet Investor The cabin can be one of the most important factors in choosing a business jet and there is very little difference here – just 9cm. All three of them are roomy and comfortable. Indeed one buyer told us they prefer the smaller G450 cabin where they do not need to raise their voice to speak. Whilst the