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Cessna has stopped making the Citation Mustang that defined a once-booming market for entry-level light jets when the Textron Aviation subsidiary launched the programme 15 years ago.   Cessna Citation Mustang The last Mustang rolled off the assembly line and is set for delivery to a customer in the next several weeks, Cessna announced on 11 May. Production of the newer and more capable M2 light jet will continue, Cessna says. “We remain dedicated to developing new products and providing solutions that matter to our customers,” says Rob Scholl, senior vice-president of Sales and Marketing for Textron Aviation. Cessna launched the Mustang as the industry’s first entry-level light jet in 2002, offering the five-seater with a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW615F turbofan engines. It achieved first flight in 2005 and began delivering to customers a year later. The Mustang survived the dramatic market bust that erupted during the global financial crisis in 2008, outlasting the original version of the Eclipse 500 and several other concepts in the light-jet category. But demand for the smallest jet in Cessna’s portfolio dwindled over the least three years. Cessna delivered only 26 jets from 2013-2016, far below the peak of 125 deliveries set in 2009. In total, Cessna delivered 472 Mustangs from 2006 to 2016, more than any other single product line over that period. “The Mustang proved to be an incredible success for our company and our customers,” Scholl says, “and we’re thrilled to celebrate the ingenuity and pride that went in to creating the world’s most popular entry-level light jet.”   Source: FlightGlobal

G600 The third Gulfstream G600 test aircraft successfully completed its first flight earlier this week, joining the test fleet. Taking off from the OEM’s Savannah, GA headquarters at Savannah-Hilton Head International on May 5, the G600 aircraft flew for a total of 4 hours and 35 minutes. According to a Gulfstream statement, the G600 aircraft will undergo numerous system tests required for its anticipated 2018 certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including field performance testing to assess handling in multiple runway configurations. The tests provide vital statistics needed to generate takeoff and landing data for the flight manual’s environmental conditions and configurations.   Source: Fly-corporate.

On May 4, Embraer delivered its 1,100th business jet—a Phenom 300 that was handed over to fractional provider NetJets. (Photo: Embraer Executive Jets) Embraer delivered its 1,100th business jet on May 4, some 15 years after delivering the first Legacy (it did not use model number designations at that time, but it later would be known as the Legacy 600). The milestone aircraft—a Phenom 300—was handed over to fractional provider NetJets at Embraer Executive Jets’ customer delivery center in Melbourne, Florida. “Embraer scored the four-digit mark in business jet deliveries in an impressively short period of time,” said Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Amalfitano. “NetJets has been integral to our success story by co-creating a premium product to meet the tastes of their owners.” Notably, Embraer’s business aviation division has expanded at an average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19 percent since 2002. Last year, Embraer Executive Jets garnered 18 percent market share of business jet deliveries. Its Phenom 300 has also earned the distinction of being the best-selling light business jet for the past four consecutive years. To date, more than 670 customers are flying 1,100 Embraer business jets—ranging from the entry-level Phenom 100 to the Lineage 1000 bizliner—in more than 70 countries. Source: AINONLINE

G600 Gulfstream has added a third Gulfstream G600 to its flight test program. The aircraft flew for the first time from Savannah on May 5, with the flight lasting for 4 hours and 35 minutes. “The consistent execution of the G600 flight-test program is directly correlated to our investments in research and development and is a testament to the rigor and discipline of our processes,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “We take great pride in ensuring we deliver on our promises and look forward to our G600 entering service next year.” Gulfstream flew the prototype G600 for the first time on December 17 2016, with the second aircraft taking to the skies for the first time on February 24, 2017. The Savannah based airframer is aiming for certification of the G600 in 2018, with customer deliveries following shortly afterwards. Source: CORPORATEJETINVESTOR

TAV Airports has included Qassim and Hail airports in Saudi Arabia to its portfolio following Madinah and Yanbu. TAV, with its partner Al Rajhi Group, will develop the two airports and operate them for 30 years. Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has disclosed that they have selected TAV Airports, in partnership with Al Rajhi Holding Group, for operating Qassim and Hail International Airports for 30 years. Upon the closing of the selection process, the number of airports operated by TAV worldwide will reach 17 and the company will be operating four airports in Saudi Arabia. TAV Airports President & CEO Sani Şener said: “TAV has become one of the world's highly-preferred brands thanks to the know-how acquired in airport construction and operation business. TAV's success in the Madinah Airport project, which was the first airport privatization project in Saudi Arabia, opened new doors in this country. In the last two months, TAV has been selected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Saudi Arabia for the development and operation of three more airports. With the addition of Qassim and Hail to our portfolio, the number of passengers in Saudi Arabia will increase to 10.5 million per annum; while the number of passengers at all airports abroad will reach 25 million. TAV has its signature in the capital city airports of six countries in the Gulf Region, which is the most challenging market of the world. We sustain our growth in the region by working in harmony with our local partners. Furthermore, we continue seizing the opportunities at various regions worldwide." Providing service to approximately 2.5 million passengers last year, Qassim and Hail airports will reach approximately 6.5 million passenger capacity per year thanks to

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced global passenger traffic results for March 2017 showing that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 6.8%, compared to the same month a year ago. Middle East carriers' traffic growth slowed to 4.9% in March compared to a year ago, which was a considerable slowing from January and February year-over-year demand growth. Capacity grew 6.1% and load factor climbed by half a percentage point to 80.4%, which was a record for the month. March demand growth represented a moderate slowdown relative to performance in February after adjusting for the distortion in the year-to-year comparisons owing to the extra day in February 2016. The imposition of the ban on large electronics in the cabin on certain routes to the US and UK occurred too late in March to have an effect on traffic figures. “Strong traffic demand continued throughout the first quarter, supported by a combination of lower fares and a broad-based upturn in global economic conditions. The price of air travel has fallen by around 10% in real terms over the past year and that has contributed to record load factors. We will have to wait another month to see the impact of the laptop ban on demand,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO. March international passenger demand rose 6.4% compared to March 2016, which was a slight deceleration compared to February, after adjusting for the leap year distortion in February. Airlines in all regions recorded growth. Total capacity climbed 6.1%, and load factor improved 0.2% percentage points to 78.8%. Middle East Carriers This is related more to developments seen last year, while any impacts from the laptop ban will be visible

Legacy 500 We took a night flight on the Legacy 500 to test the EFVS (Enhanced Flight Vision System). The EFVS is the name given to the incorporation of an EVS (Enhanced Vision System) image on an HUD (Head Up Display). The system frequently found on higher-end aircraft is a new feature in one more ways than one. It was designed and developed by Rockwell Collins. Our system is in part composed of the HGS3500, a HUD system used in the Legacy family and one of the most compact systems on the market. It directly displays the most important flight information in the pilot’s visual field and unlike traditional systems is not made up of a projector and a display system but rather is an all-in-one information display system. The reduced complexity, weight and volume allows it to be integrated in the “mid” and mid-light” aircraft, which is a first for these segments. The device also includes the EVS-3000 system composed of 3 cameras that provide clear images of the visual field at the front of the aircraft on the HUD and on the engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS) screen. The system functions regardless of the conditions, whether in rain storms or low visibility (fog). This new EVS has increased detection capacities of runway lighting systems using short-wave infrared and visible frequencies, as well as, technically challenging, LED lighting and sources of incandescent and halogen lighting (which in the context may cause glare for the pilot). The component uses electronic processing to represent an image surpassing the human eye. Moreover the system is the most light-weight and compact on the market. Since 2004, the FAA has allowed certain operators using the system to begin an approach regardless of the minimum RVR (Runway Visual Range) in line with the published approach minima. Pilots could continue their approach until 100 ft if the

g500 Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s G500 flight-test program continues to make significant progress toward the aircraft’s anticipated 2017 certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The five G500 test aircraft, including a fully outfitted production aircraft, have surpassed 2,600 flying hours and accumulated more than 600 flights. “Development testing is complete; company testing is well under way, and FAA certification has started, putting us right on track for certification and customer deliveries later this year,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. Gulfstream designed the G500 interior after extensive customer feedback, and that collaboration continues. Recently, members of Gulfstream’s Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team (ATCAT) spent an hour flying in the fully outfitted production aircraft, which serves as the test bed for the cabin. “The feedback during and after these flights was extremely positive,” Burns said. “Our customers tell us that the added flexibility of the cabin, the comfort of our newly designed seats and the enhanced satellite communications will ensure that the G500 customer experience is second to none.” The flight was an unforgettable one for ATCAT member Peter Zeeb, the director of maintenance for Oregon-based Ochoco Administrative Services, which operates three Gulfstream aircraft. “Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to be part of the ATCAT program for the last six years,” Zeeb said. “I truly believe the G500 will be a game-changer for business aviation. The flight was a ‘career’ moment for me. I will never forget it!” Source: ULTIMATEJET  

  The G500 recently marked its longest flight on a mission from Savannah, Ga., out past San Francisco over the Pacific Ocean and back to Savannah. (Photo: Gulfstream Aerospace) Gulfstream continues to check off milestones for its G500 and G600 programs with a G500 recently logging its longest test flight and a third G600 set to fly today for the first time. The G500 has remained on track for service entry this year, with five flight-test aircraft amassing 2,750 hours and more the 640 flights by mid-April. The program earlier this month logged its longest endurance flight when a G500 flew 10 hours, six minutes across the U.S. The flight, which was used to test the onboard satellite communications system, took off from Savannah, Georgia, flew 300 miles west of San Francisco over the Pacific Ocean and headed back to Savannah. The route covered 4,808 nm. Gulfstream flew the fifth of five test G500s—a production aircraft being used for cabin evaluation—on the mission. Phebe Novakovic, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, told analysts during the company’s first-quarter earnings call today that Gulfstream expects to wrap up certification flight tests for the G500 in October, with certification and initial deliveries still anticipated by year-end. The G500 is designed to fly 5,000 nm at Mach 0.85 or 3,800 nm at Mach 0.90. Once the aircraft is certified, Novakovic expects the ramp-up of the G500 to happen more quickly than that of the G650, saying the aircraft will be more mature by the time it reaches market. As for the longer-range G600, Novakovic said the third aircraft is expected to join the flight-test program today. The certification timeline for the G600 is expected to follow about

The visit of the Gulfstream flagship G650ER to Dubai World Central allowed Scott Neal, Gulfstream's senior vice-president of worldwide sales, the chance to show Dave Calderwood around the aircraft and explain why it is so vital to the Middle East. Gulfstream Walk up the airstairs to the entrance of Gulfstream’s flagship G650ER and you enter a world of calm, comfort and amazing space. There are four living areas, galley, bathroom, baggage area and, of course, the high-tech cockpit up front. And, remember, this $70 million aircraft is also the fastest, longest-range, biggest-cabin business jet available. “The G650 has been extremely well received,” said Scott Neal, Gulfstream’s senior vice-president of worldwide sales. “There are more than 200 G650s and ERs in service, and 25 of those are based here in the Middle East. It is a very popular aircraft in the region. “The G650 has helped grow Gulfstream. It’s one of the most successful programmes we’ve ever had. The next available aircraft we can deliver to a customer is in the middle of 2018, so we have a strong backlog and a strong customer commitment. “The Middle East is an extremely important market for Gulfstream and has been for 40 years. We have 120 aircraft based in the region.” Gulfstream and parent company, General Dynamics, have invested in Jet Aviation’s (also a GD company) maintenance facility at Dubai International Airport and also $22 million in a parts centre at Dubai South. “We want to make sure that we position support where our customers are based,” said Neal. “We want to be available and capable of supporting aircraft at their home base.” Two all-new aircraft are on the way from Gulfstream, the G500 and G600.