Gulfstream Aerospace has delivered the first two $75 million G700s to customers, the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer said yesterday afternoon. Both are now in service with undisclosed customers in the U.S. The company’s 7,750-nm flagship aircraft received FAA approval on March 29, followed by production certification and cabin interior approval on April 8.

“Beginning G700 customer deliveries less than one month after achieving FAA type certification marks an incredible milestone in Gulfstream’s history of raising the bar for the business aviation industry,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “We look forward to continuing these deliveries in the weeks ahead.”

Gulfstream had hoped for certification by the end of last year and anticipated delivering as many as 15 before 2023 ended, but the prolonged approval process has shifted those deliveries into this year. As a result, Gulfstream anticipates a 44 percent bump in deliveries this year to 160 jets, including 50 to 52 G700s and fewer G280s due to the conflict in Gaza (G280s are manufactured for Gulfstream by IAI in Tel Aviv).

Meanwhile, FlightSafety International has two level-D simulators and three flight training devices for the G700 online at its Savannah training center, with two more G700 sims under construction. EASA and UK CAA conducted their final evaluations of these devices two weeks ago. G700 pilot training started on March 21, according to FlightSafety.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has arrested and charged a second man in connection with an alleged aviation fuel pricing scheme to embezzle nearly $800,000 from a company led by actor John Travolta.

Jorden Coursey, a pilot who was employed by Travolta’s Constellation Production business, was arrested on March 29 and released on bond the next day. His arrest followed that of fellow pilot Jean-Paul Lacruz Romero, also formerly employed by Constellation, earlier last month.

They were each charged with grand theft of $100,000 or more, organized fraud of $50,000 or more, and money laundering of $100,000 or more—although the latter charge was dropped in the case of Lacruz Romero. Coursey's arraignment is set for later this month.

The two are co-defendants in a case surrounding an alleged defrauding of Constellation Productions out of about $785,050 from October 2021 to July 2023. A police report alleges that the pilots would pay for fuel and expenses for Constellation through Lux Fuels, a brokerage registered to Lacruz Romero’s wife.

An accounting review of the invoices from Lux and the FBOs revealed that the charges from the brokerage were inflated and that some of the funds in the Lux Fuels account were transferred to an account held by JPL Aviation, managed by Lacruz Romero, the police report says. Money was also alleged to have been transferred to Coursey. 

Gulfstream deliveries edged up slightly in the first quarter but did not nearly double from a year ago as planned, since FAA certification came too late to start handing over G700s before April, Phebe Novakovic, chair and CEO of parent company General Dynamics, said this morning during an investor call. The Savannah, Georgia aircraft manufacturer shipped 24 jets (21 large-cabins and three super-midsize G280s) in the quarter, up from 21 (17 large-cabins and four G280s) in the first three months of 2023.

According to Novakovic, Gulfstream had planned to deliver 15 to 17 G700s in the first quarter but will still meet its target of handing over 50 to 52 of the ultra-long-range jets by year-end. Gulfstream expects to deliver about 160 aircraft in total this year, up from 111 in 2023.

Meanwhile, General Dynamics’ aerospace division, which includes Gulfstream and Jet Aviation, reported revenues of $2.084 billion and operating earnings of $255 million in the quarter, both up by more than 10 percent from a year ago. Novakovic termed the sales pipeline at the division “robust,” with strong demand for new-production Gulfstreams and aircraft maintenance services. Book-to-bill was 1.2:1 in the first three months at the aerospace division, with backlog up slightly quarter-over-quarter, to $20.545 billion.

Supply-chain issues continue to weigh on Gulfstream—with parts shortages still occurring on the production lines—but are “getting better,” Novakovic said.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport-based JetSupport has partnered with business aircraft charter operator Jet View on a project to offer rapid dispatch of mechanics, parts, and tools to all major business aviation airports within Europe “at a moment’s notice.” Called “JetSupport: On the Fly,” the service tackles challenges associated with technician positioning to AOG locations and the response time to new resource requirements during AOG rectification.

Fielding a team of certified technicians for all major OEMs, JetSupport said the project addresses industry challenges including limited commercial airline connections, the logistical complexities of parts availability in OEM warehouses scattered throughout Europe, and the costs, time, and effort associated with parts supply to AOG locations.

Benefits include streamlining operations and minimizing downtime for aircraft maintenance logistics. JetSupport now avails the program to business and special-mission aircraft operators across Europe. Offering its support programs since its establishment in October 2001, JetSupport services include airframe, engine, and component technical support, complemented by hangarage, modifications, interior, cleaning, and onboard services.

JetSupport’s EASA, FAA, and TCCA Part 145 approved facilities operate near Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, and Nice, while line and base maintenance capabilities cover almost all “relevant” business jets in the world, including Bombardier Globals and Challenges; Cessna Citations; Dassault Falcons; and Embraer Phenoms.

Gogo Business Aviation is making significant progress with two key initiatives set to hit the market in 2024: Gogo Galileo and Gogo 5G. Testing is underway for both systems. Gogo Galileo, the company’s new global broadband service, reached a major milestone in late March completing an end-to-end connection using its small HDX antenna. Gogo also announced in March that it had initiated testing of its 5G software using a virtual flight simulator that it created.

The business aviation industry’s Climbing Fast campaign continues to expand with the Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity becoming the 12th organization to join the advocacy initiative.

Business aviation leaders unveiled Climbing Fast during NBAA-BACE this past October as an industry-wide campaign designed to highlight the progress and promise it has made toward the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The campaign is used to educate public opinion leaders and decision-makers on business aviation’s contributions to the local and global economies and communities, as well as its commitment to—and leadership role in—sustainability.

Having Alpha Eta Rho aboard draws in students from colleges and universities across the country. The fraternity announced the partnership at the conclusion of its annual National Conference in Washington, D.C. In fact, the conference was held under the Climbing Fast banner and, for the first time, facilitated Capitol Hill visits for students with the fraternity. Those participating were able to discuss the industry’s sustainability leadership with their congressional representatives.

“We are inspired to see these future leaders stepping forward on such an important initiative, and representing its mission before policymakers and opinion leaders in Washington,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.

Dassault Falcon-authorized service center (ASC) Aero-Dienst has signed a contract to extend its ASC status for another three years. The Nuremberg MRO provider was tapped as a Dassault ASC 17 years ago and offers scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repairs under warranty and in the FalconCare program for business aviation and air ambulance operators.

Aero-Dienst’s Vienna line maintenance facility became a Dassault ASC in 2017. The company also offers engine services as a Pratt & Whitney Canada-designated maintenance facility and Honeywell major mobile channel partner. Worldwide on-call AOG services are also available 24/7, as is a mobile repair team. Other Aero-Dienst locations include Klagenfurt, Austria, and Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany; it also operates a component shop in Landsberg am Lech.

In other news, the company promoted former maintenance manager Florian Heinzelmann to head of maintenance, taking over from André Ebach, the CEO of Aero-Dienst. Heinzelmann joined Aero-Dienst in 2022 as a trainee mechanic and in 2011 he became responsible for the Falcon team.

“His leadership skills and commitment to the highest quality standards make him the ideal candidate for this important post,” said Ebach. “Florian’s career with Aero-Dienst highlights the value of our long-standing employees for our company.”

While much of the attention in the aviation fuel sector is focused on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), attendees at the inaugural EU Aviation Fuel Stakeholders Forum last week in Cologne, Germany, examined other non-CO2 emissions mitigations that could be derived from changes in jet-A composition.

At the EASA-sponsored event, which hosted 60 industry stakeholders, Maria Rueda—the agency’s strategy and safety management director—acknowledged that even with the increasing use of SAF, fossil-based jet-A will still account for a considerable share of aviation fuel in the coming decades. As a result, the forum considered other methods that could lessen aviation’s impact on the environment.

“Research has shown that fuel composition has a direct impact on the amount of non-CO2 emissions produced,” said Rueda. “These non-CO2 emissions and their impact on climate and local air quality are linked to the amount of aromatics and sulfur present in the fuels.”

EASA was tasked by the EU Parliament to set up a pilot program on jet fuel standards and safety certification with the goals of proposing options for feasible and effective aromatics/sulfur requirements to minimize non-CO2 climate impacts by year-end. It was also charged to foster long-term innovative solutions to significantly improve fuel quality through amendments to fuel specifications by the end of 2025.

The next forum is planned for the fourth quarter.

The FAA has issued an approved model list supplemental type certificate (STC) for Recoil Aerospace’s T1000-E firefighting tank for the Airbus Helicopters Super Puma series. Other STCs are in development for the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, S-92, and S-76; Bell 205; and Leonardo AW189. Recoil expects to receive bilateral certification from Transport Canada and EASA.

Carrying 1,000 gallons, the T1000-E is made of carbon fiber and mounts externally. The tank can be filled in 35 to 40 seconds, and fast drops are five seconds, thanks to pneumatic drop valves and computer-controlled operation. The system includes a hailing siren for ground crew safety, LED pulse lights, flood lights, infrared lights, and a head-up display for pilots. An additional 35-gallon foam tank is incorporated into the T1000-E.

Deliveries of the T1000-E begin in May. Launch customers for the Super Puma STC are Heli-Austria; Coldstream Helicopters in Canada; Oregon-based helicopter operator and maintenance provider Precision; and Korean 119 Rescue Services.

“We are confident that the T1000-E will set a new standard in aerial firefighting,” said Joseph Rice, president of Recoil Aerospace. “With its innovative features and enhanced capabilities, the T1000-E provides firefighters with a powerful tool to combat wildfires and protect communities."