Travel Restrictions Thwart 1Q20 Gulfstream Deliveries

First-quarter deliveries at Gulfstream Aerospace were 33 percent lower than expected as Covid-19 travel restrictions hamstrung customer handovers, while pandemic-related supply chain issues will curtail production by about 15 percent this year, parent company General Dynamics said today. Still, business jet demand remained strong in the quarter and the backlog “has held up nicely,” according to General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic. However, Gulfstream logged four customer cancellations in the quarter.

Gulfstream manufactured 34 aircraft in the first quarter but could deliver only 23—20 large-cabin and three midsize jets—due to international travel restrictions, compared with 34 deliveries (27 large cabins and seven midsize) in the same period a year ago. Novakovic said the remaining 11 aircraft will be shipped to customers when travel restrictions are lifted. “Customers definitely still want them, and they will be delivered as soon as we can,” she noted.

Backlog has remained flat year-over-year and book-to-bill was 1.1:1 in the quarter, according to Novakovic. Though she stressed that demand is still strong, sales are currently difficult to consummate because demo flights, in-person sales calls, and in-person contract negotiations are on hold during the Covid-19 crisis. Novakovic does expect sales to spike post-crisis, however.

Meanwhile, supply chain issues stemming from the pandemic have prompted Gulfstream to cut its projected deliveries this year from 150 aircraft to between 125 and 130.

Maintenance Trainer Adopts Online Learning

Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM), which operates 12 airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic schools in the U.S., is expanding access to online training to its entire student body. Fulcrum Labs developed the online training system using its artificial intelligence-based Adaptive 3.0 learning platform.

Fulcrum had worked earlier with AIM on a capstone course to help prepare students for their FAA exams for the mechanic certificate with A&P ratings. Students accessed the online training for final preparation for exams. Now, students at all levels can go online to conduct distance learning for their A&P coursework. According to AIM, “By expanding access to all AIM students as a distance-learning component of their A&P coursework, AIM will offer students a rich remote-learning experience that keeps them engaged, on track, and fully prepared to pass their FAA certification exams.”

“Within the context of the pandemic,” said Joel English, AIM executive v-p, “the online course has allowed us to spread exam preparation throughout the program for students and allowed them to continue in their program uninterrupted through distance education. What was originally envisioned as a supplement for exam preparation has been adapted to provide full online education for our students.”

During the capstone program, the number of AIM program graduates grew 40 percent, FAA exam participation rates jumped 25 percent, and significant improvements were seen in FAA exam results.

Bombardier To Fully Resume Production by May 11

Bombardier is beginning to recall nearly 11,000 workers in Canada who were furloughed following government mandates aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19, the airframer announced yesterday. Its manufacturing and service activities that were suspended in Canada will slowly resume by May 11.

“As we resume operations across many of our sites, the health and safety of our employees, our customers, and the general population will continue to be our top priority,” said Bombardier president and CEO Eric Martel.

Employees in Bombardier’s aviation and train units, as well as the corporate office, will see return-to-work schedules vary by site and be subject to new procedures to ensure their health and safety. Some recalled employees who can perform their duties off site will be asked to continue working from home, Bombardier added.

Bombardier has applied to tap into the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program, which will be available to its eligible employees in Canada. “Our industries are among the most affected by the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic,” Martel explained. “And I want to thank the federal government for putting this bold initiative in place to support Canadian workers and companies. I also want to thank the union leaders for their collaboration and support during these difficult times.”

On March 24, Bombardier announced it was temporarily suspending production in its Quebec and Ontario provinces through April 26.

Eagle Creek MROs Complete 20 Phenom 10-Year Inspections

Two Embraer-authorized service centers operating under the Indiana-based Eagle Creek family have completed 120-month inspections on 20 Phenom 100s and 300s, including landing-gear overhauls due at the same interval. Eagle Creek Aviation at Eagle Creek Airpark (EYE) near Indianapolis and Naples Jet Center at Florida’s Naples Airport (APF) performed the inspections and overhauls.

Those inspections include 120-month airframe inspection items and stacked inspections, as well as 24-month pitot-static and transponder tests, required engine inspections, and repair and return of landing gear. The landing gear overhaul calls for complete disassembly, cleaning, inspection, non-destructive testing, reassembly, functional testing, and painting.

Along with the Phenom inspections, Eagle Creek’s shops installed five Garmin G1000 NXi flight decks. Designed for Phenom 100s equipped with Garmin’s Prodigy Flight Deck, the G1000 NXi upgrade offers wireless flight plan and database updates, SurfaceWatch runway monitoring, and visual approach guidance. Eagle Creek Aviation is also a Garmin service center.

“During this time of uncertainty, we realize many of our customers may not be flying their aircraft as often as normal, but we also understand that mandated inspections still need to be completed to maintain airworthiness,” said Eagle Creek Aviation CEO Matt Hagans. “We are working even closer with our customers to schedule required inspections, while being flexible with timing, offering pickup and drop-off service, along with providing a thorough disinfection process before delivery.”

Once Busy, Many Bizav Airport Towers To See Hours Cut

Air traffic control towers at a number of typically busy general aviation airports, including Van Nuys in California, Westchester County in New York, and Meacham International in Texas, are among 93 where the FAA plans to curb operating hours in response to the declines in traffic caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The FAA is planning to implement the new, shortened hours beginning May 4, NBAA advised, adding that this is a temporary measure as part of the agency’s “staffing to traffic” initiative.

Air traffic in the U.S has declined about 65 percent on average since the pandemic took root. The agency evaluated each tower to assess its resource needs during the pandemic and has reached out to the affected airports, industry associations, and lawmakers in drafting the list.

“Making these adjustments allows for continued safe operations throughout the national airspace system while minimizing health risks to our workforce,” the FAA had said in announcing its plans.

NBAA expressed appreciation that the FAA worked with stakeholders to ensure the reduction in hours would have minimal impact on flight operations, said Heidi Williams, director of air traffic services and infrastructure for the association.

Airbus Helicopters Grows Revenues, Profits in 1Q20

Airbus Helicopters made a largely positive contribution to the European aerospace group’s balance sheet in the first quarter, according to results released today by parent company Airbus. In a call with financial analysts this morning, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury indicated that progress had been achieved in the rotorcraft sector mainly due to a relatively healthy military market and despite the worsening difficulties in the troubled oil-and-gas business.

Revenues from the helicopter division increased 19.4 percent for the first three months of this year to reach just over €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion). Airbus Helicopters now accounts for more than 10 percent of the Airbus group revenues, which reported a 15 percent decline in overall revenues to €10.6 billion ($11.5 billion) in the quarter.

During the first quarter, Airbus delivered 47 helicopters, which was one more than it delivered in the same period in 2019. The improved value of these deliveries and growth in associated services contributed to adjusted operating profits more than doubling to €53 million ($58 million). However, the division’s overall orders backlog fell 4.7 percent, to 702 units. It logged 54 net orders for helicopters in the quarter, which was 18 percent less than the same period last year. New sales included 21 H145 light twins, 15 UH-72s for the U.S. Army, and two Super Pumas.

Web Manuals Hopes Freebie Supports Industry Recovery

Digital documentation services developer Web Manuals will offer free licenses to new customers until August 31 to support the aviation industry through the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sweden-based company announced this week. The “freemium” package includes free initial online training, access for five readers or reviewers, one editor, and a free choice of one compliance library with no system limitations.

“The aviation industry has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and is under a number of financial pressures,” Web Manuals founder and CEO Martin Lidgard said. “Ensuring compliance and safety during this time through up-to-date digital manuals should not be another cost to worry about. This is why Web Manuals will be offering this package for free for the next four months, with no contract obligations.”

Web Manuals also will unlimited, free licenses until August 31 for airline and wet lease and aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) operators that want to digitize their manuals. “Arguably, some of the worst affected segments of the aviation industry since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak have been airline, wet lease/ACMI operators,” Lidgard added. “Providing free licenses will support these organizations as they begin to navigate the tricky recovery period.”

New Garmin Portable Adds Approach Overlays

The proliferation of powerful tablet electronic flight bags (EFBs) hasn’t killed the market for portable GPS navigators, and Garmin today introduced the aera 760 portable GPS navigator with some EFB- and avionics-like features. Shipping begins next month, and the new unit retails for $1,599.

The aera 760’s seven-inch touchscreen display allows pilots to load instrument approach, arrival, and departure procedures in a flight plan. Approach procedures can also be overlaid on the moving-map. The GPS receiver works on both the U.S. GPS and Russian Glonass networks.

With a user interface mirroring typical Garmin avionics conventions, as well as those of the Garmin Pilot EFB app, the aera 760 was designed by Garmin’s TeamX, a group of pilots and aircraft builders. The aera 760 stores IFR en route charts, VFR sectionals, and Garmin FliteCharts, and it can also display optional Jeppesen charts for access to instrument approaches worldwide. Flight planning can include victor airways and user-defined holds over an existing navigation fix.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are built into the aera 760, which allows for downloading software updates and databases wirelessly. The portable can also connect to Garmin’s GTX 345 ADS-B transponder or GDL 52 ADS-B receiver for display of free ADS-B In traffic and weather. SiriusXM weather is also an option when paired with the appropriate receiver.