With sustainability becoming a crucial goal for aviation’s continued growth, much of the early focus has been on the development of sustainable fuels. But a new report released today by Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) in conjunction with consultancy firm Accenture highlights the advances in aircraft design, technology, and construction that also must be accomplished for the industry to meet decarbonization goals.
The number of air passengers worldwide is expected to double over the next two decades and, without action, aviation-related emissions are likely to increase by 40 percent in that span. Horizon 2050: A Flight Plan for the Future of Sustainable Aviationprovides an in-depth analysis of the technologies under development, their emission-reduction potential, and estimated entry into service, through a near-, mid-, and long-term lens.
According to the report, government support will be vital to foster the development of those technologies. Further, the report includes a roadmap to help shape industry standards to ensure their safe and swift incorporation.
“There is no silver bullet when it comes to achieving the industry’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said AIA v-p for civil aviation and report co-author David Silver. “Dramatic changes to airport operations and infrastructure, offsets and sustainable aviation fuels, and, crucially, cutting-edge aerospace technologies all have a role to play in making this goal a reality.”
Despite a first-quarter slide in deliveries, strong business jet sales are driving Embraer to increase its workforce in Melbourne, Florida. Embraer today reported that it shipped eight executive jets in the quarter—five Phenom 300s, a single Phenom 100, and two Praetor 600s. This was down from the 13 shipped a year ago, including nine Phenom 300s, one Phenom 100, and three Praetor 500/600s. The Brazilian manufacturer’s first-quarter commercial deliveries dipped from nine a year ago to six this year.
Even so, Embraer said sales of its executive jets continued to increase in the quarter. That helped to boost its backlog to $17.3 billion, up from $14.2 billion a year ago.
As it released first-quarter delivery results, Embraer also announced plans to hire for more than 150 positions open at its facility in Melbourne, Florida, where Embraer Executive Jets is headquartered and the Phenom 100EV and 300E light jets are assembled. Embraer’s 67-acre Melbourne campus further houses final assembly work for the Praetor 500/600, as well as a global customer center and engineering and technology center.
Embraer is looking to hire assembly technicians, A&P technicians, aircraft painters, quality inspectors, and manufacturing engineers at the Florida facility. In fact, the company is holding a recruiting event on Thursday in Rockledge, Florida.
Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered the first Gulfstream G600 to be outfitted at its Dallas facility. The company expanded completions operations to the Dallas location 10 months ago in response to growing demand for its large-cabin G600. It also completes super-midsize G280s at this center.
“We are seeing tremendous demand for our next-generation aircraft,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “Expanding G600 completions to Dallas is positioning us well for the future as we prepare for G700 entry into service, continued G500 and G600 in-service fleet growth, and the interest we are seeing in the recently announced G400 and G800.”
The G600 can be configured in four living areas for up to 19 passengers or three living areas with a crew compartment for up to 13 passengers. “Our interiors and the individuals who create and install them are the best in the business. In fact, we have received direct feedback from this newest G600 customer citing an ‘outstanding’ experience, and I’m excited for our customers to experience the unparalleled quality and excellence produced by the team at our Dallas facility,” Burns noted.
The addition of G600 completions to the Gulfstream Dallas facility is part of the company’s larger growth strategy, which includes a new service center at nearby Fort Worth Alliance Airport that is set to open later this year.
Textron has completed its €218 million ($235 million) acquisition of European electric aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel, giving the Rhode Island-based company a foothold in electric aviation. With the acquisition’s close, Pipistrel becomes part of Textron’s new eAviation division and its branch headquarters, research and development, and manufacturing will remain in Slovenia and Italy. Textron plans to make additional investments in the company to expand its manufacturing and product development.
“With Pipistrel, we have the opportunity to take an already great aircraft manufacturer and make it greater still,” said Textron eAviation CEO Rob Scholl. “We look forward to helping the business achieve its full potential.”
Pipistrel’s Velis Electro is the first electric aircraft to receive EASA type certification. Since its founding in 1989, the company has delivered more than 2,500 light aircraft with both electric and combustion engines. Pipistrel also has hybrid-electric and fully electric aircraft models under development.
Virtual Engine Training Sets FlightSafety Apart
FlightSafety, the aviation training leader has pivoted into the cyberworld, offering a new way to interact with components—through virtual engine training. Working with Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), FlightSafety has developed cutting-edge training technology to view the engine, interactively, and explore it down to the component level.
NBAA is concerned that the FAA’s web portal used to collect operator activity data and manage letters of authorization will soon become obsolete. The web-based Operation Safety System (WebOPSS) works only with Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), which already creates issues for users trying to access the system.
Users attempting to access the site via Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or other browsers are directed instead to use IE. However, Microsoft announced plans to sunset IE in June, NBAA explained. In addition, the FAA has indicated it will not have a replacement for WebOPSS until late 2024.
NBAA Domestic Operations Committee members continue to monitor the situation and have been exploring potential workarounds. “WebOPSS was a huge improvement over its predecessor, but uses old coding,” said Mike McCullough, chair of the committee’s Part 135 subcommittee. But the limited options “put the industry in a bind, since any new computer is likely to be Windows 11 and won’t support compatibility with WebOPSS,” added committee member Eric Canup.
Operators may need to keep an old computer with Windows 10 to continue to use WebOPSS, the committee leaders noted. Microsoft Edge has an IE tab that is a workable option for users operating on Windows 10. Additionally, a Chrome extension, IE Tab, also appears to work on both Microsoft and Mac systems, NBAA said.
Directional Aviation is increasing its reach into the aircraft brokerage market with the formation of FXSolutions, which will build on and fold in Sojourn Aviation. Directional, which founded Sojourn Aviation in 2011 to provide aircraft sales services, is bringing in executives from its various units to expand on the business. FXSolutions will help clients navigate through “a complex and opaque market” that has experienced a 52 percent reduction in young used aircraft inventory and increasing prices, it said.
Matthew Doyle, who has a 20-year aircraft sales background with Flexjet and Flight Options fractional operators, will serve as managing partner. Sojourn executive Ed McDonald is a partner in the new entity, as is Clay Wilcox, who was with Flexjet.
The brokerage has developed a proprietary aircraft comparison tool that Directional said creates one of the largest aircraft inventory databases. This will help bring a hands-on approach to the process, according to the company.
“It was never a simple process to find the best aircraft to meet your needs and negotiate the best price, and the market has changed in a way that makes using a professional brokerage team the best way to navigate the process,” said Doyle.
In addition to identifying aircraft and assistance with the buying process, FXSolutions can help “find a home for your aircraft, a crew to operate it, and the resources to maintain it.”
The National Air Transportation Association advised that, for now, aviation businesses may rescind Covid mask policies. That comes as a federal judge in Florida struck down the transportation mask mandate yesterday. The ruling followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decision to extend the mandate until May 3.
While the White House and federal agencies are still weighing their options in light of the decision, the CDC immediately responded with a notification that “[its] Jan. 29, 2021 order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the order.” The CDC, however, is still encouraging people to continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.
In addition, the Transportation Security Administration said it would no longer enforce its security directives and the emergency amendment, which required the use of masks at public transportation hubs or on public transportation conveyances.
The court ruling determined that “the mandate exceeded the CDC’s statutory authority, improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions.”
Amber Aviation received its first batch of Gulfstream G450s through its partnership with NetJets, enabling the Shenzen, China company to offer private aviation services through its new sub-brand, AmberNet. Services under AmberNet will include a fractional lease program, which will be the first of its kind in China; jet-card program; and membership program that will allow users to book complimentary ferry flights on the company’s jets.
"Since our announcement in November, the Amber Aviation team has been working tirelessly with NetJets colleagues to ensure that these new products are successfully brought to market,” said Amber Aviation founder and president Chang Qiusheng. “As we continue to receive aircraft from NetJets, we are also working towards fulfilling our service commitments to our customers.”
AmberNet’s fractional lease program will start with 50 hours a year of guaranteed availability and a minimum notice period of 24 hours. Its jet card program will start at 25 hours with guaranteed availability within 48 hours' notice. Both fractional lease and jet card clients also will have access to NetJets’ fleet and events.
Additional aircraft will be delivered in the coming months, with 20 aircraft expected in AmberNet’s fleet by next year. In addition to Shenzen, the aircraft will be deployed to other cities in China and Asia, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
People in Aviation
West Star Aviation promoted Mark Goodman and Scott Haeberle to team lead technicians at its East Alton, Illinois facility. Goodman, who is in the Challenger department, joined West Star in 2011 after serving with Midcoast. Haeberle, who is in the Bombardier department, has served with West Star since 2017 and before that was a lead interior technician for Jet Aviation.
Southern Cross Aircraft promoted Andres Castillo to v-p for Latin America. Castillo joined the aircraft brokerage 10 years ago, has since relocated to the U.S., and has increased responsibilities and territories. Southern Cross also named Diego Garcia director of its newly created Surjet Management boutique aircraft management firm. Garcia has leadership experience with JetKore and Volans Aircraft Management. He also served with Banyan Air Service.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) added Joan Serra as regulatory affairs manager for Europe and Megan Brien as manager of meetings and member engagement. Serra previously served as manager of regulatory affairs for Evelop Airlines and also has spent time as a graduate trainee with EASA and an economic regulatory framework intern with ICAO. Brien previously managed programs, events, and communications for the Association of Government Accountants and also has been a customer service manager for a manufacturing facility.
King Aerospace appointed Greg Watson as COO. Watson brings more than two decades of aviation experience to King Aerospace, previously holding management roles with Limco Airepair, Collins Aerospace, Goodrich Landing Gear, and Safran.
Atlantic Aviation named Dawud Crooms to the newly created executive team position of general counsel. Previously associate general counsel for 7-Eleven, Crooms has nearly a 15-year legal background in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial contracting, and international corporate law.
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