Fair Recovery

The 64th annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 2011 annual meeting and convention held from October 10 to 12 at Las Vegas witnessed increased participation of visitors. The industry also seemed upbeat about the future of business aviation. After four years of decline, business aviation is poised for moderate recovery beginning in 2012, stated Honeywell Aerospace’s annual Business Aviation Outlook, released at the NBAA 2011. The Honeywell forecast was based on surveys of more than 1,500 flight departments around the world.

At the Show

A cabin mock-up of the new Citation Latitude was on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Cessna introduced the new Citation Latitude mid-size business jet at the start of the convention. The company launched the Citation M2 light business jet on September 26.

With space for a crew of two plus up to eight passengers, the Citation Latitude features Garmin G5000 avionics and a clean-sheet, 84-inch fuselage for a six-feet high, flat floor passenger cabin.

Preliminary specifications project the aircraft will operate at airports with runways as short as 3,900 feet (1,189 metres), will have a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet (13,716 metres) and will climb direct to 43,000 feet (13,106 metres) in 23 minutes. First flight of the Citation Latitude prototype is expected to be midyear 2014, with FAA certification (Part 25) and entry into service expected in 2015.

Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) announced that it has completed certification of a three-display Pro Line 4 to Pro Line 21 upgrade for the Hawker/Beechjet 400. The new system replaces the existing Pro Line 4 displays and upgrades the flight management system to FMS 6100. With this significant functional enhancement, operators now have access to electronic charts, XM weather/data, WAAS/LPV, ADS-B out, VHF datalink and an upgrade path for future airspace requirements. A two-year Corporate Aircraft Service Programme (CASP) warranty on new and existing Rockwell Collins equipment is included with the upgrade. The certification aircraft is on display at Hawker Beechcraft Corporation’s static display at Henderson Field during the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Las Vegas.

Hawker also announced that it has broken ground on a new 48,000 square foot, company-owned factory service centre at the General Mariano Escobedo International Airport in Monterrey, Mexico. The facility, which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012, will include a 13,400 square foot paint hangar in addition to a 24,000 square foot maintenance hangar and 10,700 square feet of office and customer hospitality space. This new facility will join the previously announced Hawker Beechcraft Services facility in Wilmington, Delaware. Together these two facilities will increase GCS’ company-owned service centre support hangar space to over 600,000 square feet.

Embraer participated with a display of the complete range of business jets available in the industry. In the static display at Henderson Executive Airport (HSH), Embraer showcased the entry level Phenom 100, light Phenom 300, large Legacy 650, the newest mockup of the midsize Legacy 500, and the ultra-large Lineage 1000 business jets. There will also be a Legacy 500 fly-by-wire demonstration kiosk and a customer support area.

At NBAA, Bombardier Aerospace announced that it has strengthened its business aircraft sales team in China and Asia-Pacific to increase its focus on the growing activity and volume in the region. The territory is now overseen by a Vice-President and two Regional Vice-Presidents.

Bombardier and CAE announced that they are continuing to expand worldwide training support for business aircraft customers with the addition of a the newly added CAE-built simulator will be located at Bombardier’s training centre in Montreal, Canada, and will be deployed in the second half of 2012. This deployment will significantly boost OEM-backed Challenger 300 aircraft pilot training, currently offered at Bombardier’s training centre in Dallas, Texas, where the company operates an existing FFS for Challenger 300 aircraft.

GE Aviation and Bombardier Aerospace announced two new engine service agreements that will boost services support and provide additional peace of mind for Bombardier business aircraft customers. GE’s OnPointSM solutions engine maintenance coverage is being offered on Challenger aircraft equipped with GE CF34 engines and Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft. Bombardier’s five wholly-owned business aircraft service centres in the United States are named GE Authorised Service Centres for CF34 engines for business aircraft. GE’s OnPoint solutions will offer customers the option to purchase a flexible and cost-effective engine service package tailored to their specific needs. Comprehensive OnPoint solutions are being offered on both the passport propulsion system that will power the ultra long-range, large cabin Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft and the CF34 engine which powers Challenger 600 series and Challenger 800 series aircraft.

Dassault Falcon revealed plans to open a Satellite Service Station at West Palm Beach Airport (KPBI) in Florida. The facility is expected to start in January 2012. Once operational, it will be capable of line service up through 4A+ checks on the Falcon 50/50EX, Falcon 2000 family, Falcon 900 family and Falcon 7X aircraft. A Falcon AOG ‘GoTeam’ will also be located at the facility. It provides rapid mobile response directly to an aircraft location with the parts, tooling and personnel necessary to get an operator’s Falcon flying with minimal delay. The facility will have about $5,00,000 (2.25 crore) in tooling, equipment and Falcon spares in addition to a hangar, shop and offices for employees and customers.

SuperJet International, the joint venture between Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica Company, and Sukhoi Holding, has announced purchase agreement for two Sukhoi Business Jet (SBJ) aircraft plus two additional options, with Comlux. With this order, Comlux becomes the launching customer of SuperJet International for this new type of VIP aircraft. Comlux represents one of the most innovative business aviation groups worldwide, able to always offer to its VIP passengers new products for their travel needs. The deliveries of the two SBJ aircraft are planned for 2014. The order has an estimated value of $200 million (900 crore), including options. Before the entry into service, the VIP cabin interior of the aircraft will be designed and outfitted by Comlux America, the completion centre of the Comlux Group, based in Indianapolis USA. Comlux America is appointed as the first approved Sukhoi business jet completion centre.

Nextant Aerospace, the maker of 400XT, the world’s first completely remanufactured business jet, displayed the 400XT at the NBAA annual meet.

IDAIR, the joint venture between Lufthansa Technik AG and Panasonic Avionics Corporation, brought its global communications solution to the VIP and business jet market. And the first installations on VIP aircraft have commenced, which are due for customer redelivery in 2012. The system provides customers with connectivity, global television channels, VPN – corporate e-mail and data access, mobile telephone and data services and in-seat telephone via VIP services, utilising infrastructure powered by Panasonic Avionics Corporation.

OnAir and Eclipse announced at NBAA that Eclipse has been appointed as a reseller of OnAir’s new light-weight airborne connectivity solution. Industry leader OnAir selected Eclipse as a partner because of Eclipse’s extensive provisioning of satellite hardware and services to the aviation market for the past 15 years.