French aviation company Dassault  is targeting the emerging Indian markets for its long range business jets, in particular the Falcon 7X. The aircraft, described as a “stunning advancement in business aviation” has become the company best selling business jet. It is also the first fully “fly-by-wire” business jet.

Falcon 7x Business Jet

“Fly-by-wire” technology was developed in the ’70s, offering additional safety measures. Computers give out automatic signals that allow the plane to perform functions such as aircraft stabilization with no input from the pilot.The system is lighter than other mechanical systems, giving more freedom to designers in reducing the aircraft’s weight and size for more manoeuvrability and lower operating costs.

Last year two near miss accidents temporarily grounded the entire fly-by-wire fleet (about 112 of them) for several weeks. The Falcon 7X encountered a problem with the “horizontal stabilizer trim circuitry” (with the incident described by Dassault officials as a runaway pitch problem) that required software and hardware modifications. All the corrections have been made on the aircraft and the Falcon 7X is now fully certified with several orders lined up. Eurocopter Phils., together with Dassault of France, is planning to bring to Manila the shorter range Falcon 2000X around mid-April this year for showing and will conduct test flights for potential buyers in the Philippines.

Aircraft company Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) has carried out research on the European jet industry, with findings showing that the aging business jets in circulation will soon need replacing.

Despite the harsh economic conditions this will likely lead to an uplift in sales. In Europe the average age of business jets are 13.2 years old, and a staggering 17% of the fleet are over 30 years old. Figures for the UK specifically show an even older (although the second largest) fleet.

HBC’s Europe, Middle East and Africa president Sean McGeough said: “This analysis highlights just how old many business aircraft in Europe are, with one in six at least 30 years old. Many of these aircraft will be less economically and environmentally viable than new aircraft so we anticipate seeing a significant number of aircraft retirements over the next few years.

“The industry has made a huge investment into delivering greater fuel efficiency for business aircraft. Newer aircraft not only have more efficient engines but are more aerodynamic and lighter.”

It was reported this month that preliminary designs for a quiet supersonic business jet have been launched by a Russian aeronautical research agency.

The jet, which could fly over populated areas, should generate the same noise level as future subsonic aircraft for the civil market.

A conceptual image of the aircraft shows it with a long, pointed nose and up to four engines on the aft fuselage.

The goal of the project by TsAGI (The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute ) is to establish Russia as a technology leader in business aviation.

The FAA is planning to look again at the use of gadgets during take-off and landings in flights.

We heard this week that despite these devices being deemed safe for pilots, airlines are unwilling to invest in the testing required to be sure that each device is safe for passengers to use during these critical times.

With the necessary investment so high it is much more economical for airlines to simply ask passengers to turn off equipment, and as the airlines unlikely to take the initiative the FAA will start looking at the issue.

Results may take years and one way to speed up the process, and to make it more financially viable, would be for airlines to pool their resources.

The regulator has already paved the way for in-flight mobile telephones, creating a technical framework within which in-flight calling is safe and leaving it to the airlines to decide if it’s worth offering the service.

Last week we saw the end of a record breaking Singapore Airshow, Asia’s largest aerospace & defense exhibitions and in the top three globally.

Over 145,000 private and trade visitor attended the event

The trade days attracted 45,000 visitors from 128 countries.

“Singapore Airshow 2012 has been a success for everyone. We have set a new record for the value of deals announced, as well as the number of visitors on both trade and public days. As a testament to the show’s achievements, over 70% of exhibitors have already reaffirmed their commitment to take up exhibition space in 2014. The response from the record crowd that visited the event over the two public days was also overwhelmingly positive. We are looking forward to the next show and hope to deliver a more enhanced experience for all our visitors in 2014,” said Jimmy Lau, Managing Director of Experia Events, organiser of Singapore Airshow.