Archive

Tag Archives: Business Jet

Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion Avionics for Bombardier’s Latest Business Jet

April 10, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Business Jet Connectivity ProvidersBombardier’s latest addition to the family is the Learjet 85, a beautiful single-aisle business jet with a capacity for up to 8 passengers. The aircraft will include Rockwell Collins’ award-winning Pro-Line Fusion avionics and the horizontal stabiliser trim system (HSTS) for superior flight deck connectivity.

The HSTS helps to control the pitch of the horizontal stabilizer, which can reduce drag and trim the aircraft to improve efficiency for the entire flight. With two placement point in the aircraft frame, safety is optimised, as the Learjet features thinner cabin walls to maximise space inside, improving passenger experience and comfort.

Pro Line Fusion is the latest award-winning offering from Rockwell Collins, featuring the largest LCD displays in the industry at 15.1 inch and a suite of capabilities including, but not limited to:

• Dual Flight Management System
• Localised Performance with Vertical Guidance
• Integrated Flight Information System,
• Synthetic vision
• Intuitive electronic checklists
• Electronic Circuit Breaker display and control

Bombardier’s Learjet 85 took its first flight this week in Wichita, Kansas and will be ready for the first deliveries in early 2015.

Boeing Business Jet Launch – BBJ MAX 8

April 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Boeing BBJ Max Business JetBoeing have kickstarted the launch of their latest business jet in the MAX family with an order for the BBJ MAX 8. The undisclosed client is an existing BBJ customer.

The latest jet is based upon the 737 MAX 8, with CFM International LEAP-1B engines and boasts a 14% improvement on fuel economy, which will give better long-range performance over its range of 6,325 nautical miles and Advanced Technology Winglets.

Capt. Steve Taylor, president of Boeing Business Jets said, “The BBJ MAX provides more room, longer range and emits fewer emissions than its nearest competition, making it an ideal choice for today’s BBJ customers.”

The BBJ MAX 8 will have the same size cabin as the BBJ2, at 19 ft longer and with three times the cargo capacity of today’s BBJ, while maintaining the reliability, lower cabin altitude and global support that current clients have grown accustomed to.

“We expect a large demand for the BBJ MAX, particularly for those BBJ owners who want to fly farther and more efficiently and still maintain the exceptional comfort of a BBJ,” Taylor said.

The first flight will be scheduled for 2016 and subsequent deliveries to the first commercial airline clients during 2017. The 737 MAX family has so far received over 1,900 orders from 37 global customers. The first BBJ MAX is to be delivered without an interior, to allow a completely personalised finish for the VIP interior at a centre of the customer’s choice.

Plans are in the pipeline for a BBJ MAX 7 and will also include a BBJ MAX 9, which will offer a 6,255 nautical mile range with the addition of a larger cabin.

Policy Framework Sought by Indian Private Air Operators to Encourage Growth

April 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Indian Air Operators Seek PolicyThe Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) have lodged their displeasure at the lack of policy framework for private operators and non-scheduled operators, blaming in part a shortage of qualified staffing for the DGCA’s downgrade by the FAA. They claim that the surprise checks and subsequent public observations ‘misrepresent the proven safety consciousness prevailing among NSOPs and private aircraft operators’.

BAOA secretary, Capt R K Bali said, ‘It is not fair to make Indian NSOP operators a scapegoat to showcase DGCA’s authority by subjective reporting of the observations during these inspections.’

The BAOA wrote to the Civil Aviation Ministry days after the DCGA grounded a business jet belonging to the Ambani Group, finding fault with several aircraft owned and operated by other corporate houses and charter companies.

The BAOA remain concerned that general aviation has and will continue to suffer due to the ‘complete lack of infrastructure, high taxes and specific policy framework’, adding that the ICAO had requested that India prepare a ‘roadmap for general aviation til 2036’, back in 2012.

“It is not understood why no follow-up action has been taken on this even after two years, while general aviation continues to suffer due to complete neglect of its infrastructural requirements,” Bali said.

A spokesperson for the DCGA has said that the private charter and business aircraft operators will be called for a meeting over the coming weeks to discuss their grievances and issues.

Higher Taxes for Business Aviation Passengers in the UK

April 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Business Jet Fares May Rise in UKLast month the UK government announced revisions to the air passenger duty of more than 50%, which could affect business aircraft passengers as the cost is passed on. From 1st April 2015, aircraft weighing more than 20 metric tons with fewer than 19 seats on flights of more than 2,000 miles will race a higher rate of £426. The rate will be £78 for shorter flights, but broader changes mean that flights longer than 6,000 miles will see lower charges.

The APD changes have come as a ‘complete surprise’ to the British Business and General Aviation Association, who have requested a meeting with UK tax officials to attempt to secure amendments to the changes before they come into force next year, warning of ‘unintended consequences’. It is feared that the potential rise in fares for business passengers could damage the business aviation sector and ultimately, the ‘inward investment it brings to the UK’.

ARINC Flight Support Services Integrated into Rockwell Collins New Division

March 14, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

ARINC Direct Business Flight Support ServicesAs Rockwell Collins see the business aviation industry growing, it makes sense that after its acquisition of ARINC Inc was finalised late last year, that the business aviation division, ARINC Direct brands and Rockwell Collins applications would gel perfectly in the business flight support services sector.

Rockwell Collins formed the Information Management Services division in January, placing Jeff Sanderski in the senior vice president role. It is a worldwide operation with offices in London and Singapore in addition to the HQ in Annapolis and a further US office in Houston with a total of 2,200 employees.

Around 22% of the business for this division lies in business aviation – a figure that Mr Sanderski sees growing as more private jet aircraft continue to be fitted with Rockwell Collins/ARINC Direct applications, including air-ground voice and data, ground-ground networks and business flight support services.

First Eclipse 550 Private Jet Aircraft Delivered

March 13, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

New Eclipse 550 Business AircraftDescribed by its CEO, Mason Holland, as a ‘game-changer’, the Eclipse Aerospace delivered the first of its new Eclipse 550 to Albuquerque, New Mexico this week to the delight of the company’s European dealer, non-executive chairman of Aeris Aviation, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden fame.

Mr Dickinson, who believes strongly in the Eclipse 550 as the ‘only VLJ’ on the market, said, “In essence it is a two-hour aeroplane. You can stick pretty much anything you want in it and go for two hours. The same is not true for other alleged VLJ’s that weigh a lot more and cost a lot more to operate.” A accomplished private jet pilot and joint-CEO of Cardiff Aviation, Mr Dickinson joined Aeris Aviation to promote sales of the Eclipse in October last year and underwent his type-training while piloting himself to Iron Maiden concert venues in an Eclipse.

Certification has just been achieved from the FAA for the Eclipse 550, a beautiful aircraft that began its production journey in June 2012, and has been described as ideal for those wishing to upgrade from turboprop or pistol aircraft.

Mr Holland said it was an exciting day for Eclipse Aerospace and for general aviation, “With the Eclipse 550, we’ve built a high-performance light jet that includes advanced technology and safety features that have traditionally been found only on much larger cabin-class business jets and commercial aircraft.”

March Demonstration Tour in Latin America for New Learjet 75

March 6, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Business Aviation Communications ProvidersBombardier’s brand new Learjet 75 will be revealed in the planned demonstration tour this month for the first time in Latin America. The beautiful new aircraft has an interior cabin design and technology based upon the Learjet 85 and is designed to carry eight passengers on a full fuel load. The maximum range of the aircraft is more than 2,000 nautical miles and with the addition of its modern design, it is hoped to help to grow the market in this region.

With its long-range capability, the Learjet 75 can fly passengers non-stop from Sao Paulo to Santiago and ensure comfort and accessibility for the duration. The business passenger has high expectations of communications in an aircraft and needs a high degree of connectivity for the ability to undertake business as effectively in the air as they do on the ground. Cabin services on the new Learjet 75 include a cabin management system with individual touchscreen monitors, full audio and video control.

The planned tour will begin with a static display in Toluca, Mexico at the Aero Expo and will also be shown at FIDAE in Santiago, Chile at the end of the month, showcasing at other events along the way in Mexico, Columbia, Panama, Brazil, Guatemala and Chile.

The new regional vice president of sales for Latin America Bombardier Business Aircraft, Stephane Leroy, said, “We are very proud to bring our new Learjet 75 to the region for the first time. This aircraft, with its fusion of modern design, Learjet heritage and top performance, was developed with the needs of our customers in mind. We are convinced that this new Learjet will not only maintain, but grow our market share in the region.”

New African HQ for Flight Support Services UAS

March 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Flight Support Services Providers for Business AviationDubai-based United Aviation Services (UAS) has opened a new facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, to be managed by the group’s new director of business development for Africa, Wynand Meyers. Meyers has a career history with Jeppesen, the subsidiary of Boeing that manages flight planning.

UAS’s plans will involve the opening of more offices across Africa, to provide flight planning and flight support services to the growing business aviation sector. Mr Meyers’ experience includes overseeing the ground-handling network for India, the Middle East and Africa with Jeppesen.

UAS will also be getting involved in the training and preparation of local employees and have set up a scholarship to encourage participation developing countries in addition to running the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) ground handling management course. Business aviation is taking off in Africa and essential flight support services providers are wise to be setting the scene for future operations.

Super-rich Nigerians Travel in Style

March 4, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

_73413406_jet-blurred_ (1)The BBC recently reported that super-rich Nigerians have spend approximately $6.5bn on executive jets to avoid travelling on commercial airlines.

With commercial flights in Nigeria becoming increasingly unreliable, the business aviation sector is literally taking off to record heights. When time is money, ground delays and rerouting is not an option and control is being taken back by the Nigerian elite. Not only are Nigerian businesspeople controlling their flight schedules, but they are also travelling in comfort.

The most popular aircraft appears to be the long-range Bombardier Global Express XRS, closely followed by the Falcon 900 from Dassault and the Gulfstream 550. With custom interiors and price tags ranging from $38 million to almost $60 million, it is not difficult to see where the $6.5bn has been spent.

Many of Nigeria’s super-rich prefer to remain anonymous and often register the aircraft under foreign registries, making it ‘difficult to estimate the exact number of private aircraft in Nigeria’, according to the African Business Aviation Association. It is thought, however, that the majority of these aircraft belong to individuals, unlike Europe and the U.S. where corporate ownership is more common.

Solaeris Aviation Grows Texas Fleet with a Beechjet 400A

March 2, 2014
Business Aviation News
Leave a comment

Beechjet 400A for Solaeris AviationSolaeris Aviation today announced the addition of a Beechjet 400A to its Houston-based fleet in Texas.

Citing the aircraft as the ‘perfect addition’ to their charter fleet, Mr Richard Ziskind, vice president of privately-held Solaeris Aviation, established in 2006 said, “We have taken this step in response to growing customer demand for our exclusive aviation product offering. We are set apart in two ways; first, we tailor our services for each customer and secondly, our aircraft services operate under the strictest safety standards with our flight programme, BARS (Basic Aviation Risk Standard). The BARS meets or exceeds our ARG/US and Wyvern ratings.”

The Beechjet 400A is an old favourite corporate aircraft, having been on the open business aviation marketplace since 1989, and is as strong an entry-level jet today as it has always been. Capable of 45,000 feet and a carrying capacity of up to eight passengers, the luxurious Beechjet 400A shows no signs of slowing as a leading contender in its class.