Gulfstream has officially begun the flight test program for its G400, successfully completing its first flight earlier today. The large-cabin twinjet departed Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) at 9:04 a.m. and returned just under three hours later having reached a top speed of Mach 0.85 and an altitude of 41,000 feet. The flight was conducted using the manufacturer’s supply of blended sustainable aviation fuel.

The G400 was announced in 2021, along with the ultra-long-range G800, in a move that expanded the airframer’s product lineup to six models. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA engines, the G400 will be able to fly 4,200 nm at Mach 0.85. It features the advanced high-speed wing and winglet design as used by its G500 and G600 siblings, along with the Symmetry flight deck and predictive landing performance system.

Prospective customers can view full-scale cabin mockups of the airplane—which can seat up to 12 passengers—by visiting the OEM’s showroom at its Savannah headquarters or the company's sales and design center in Los Angeles.

“The completion of the first flight marks a significant milestone for the G400,” said Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns. “It demonstrates, yet again, the maturity of Gulfstream’s new aircraft programs and the advantages created by the intentionally designed commonalities shared across our next-generation fleet."

Berkshire Hathaway’s aviation services businesses, which includes NetJets and FlightSafety International, saw revenues rise 10.4% year over year (YOY) in the second quarter and 9.5% in the first six months, but still resulted in an earnings dip.

In its 10-Q report for the second quarter, Berkshire Hathaway cited several factors for the aviation services' revenue gains, including increases in aircraft in the fractional programs and flight hours across NetJets’ programs and training hours at FlightSafety. In addition, Berkshire Hathaway credited higher average rates across those programs for helping boost revenues. 

At the same time though, the investment giant reported that earnings from aviation services dropped by 8% YOY in the second quarter and 9.1% in the first six months. For these results, Berkshire Hathaway pointed to increased maintenance, personnel, fuel, and depreciation expenses.

NetJets and FlightSafety are the largest businesses in Berkshire Hathaway’s broader services group, which also includes companies such as Dairy Queen, Cort, and the electronics distributor TTI, among others. The aviation services business revenues helped lead to a $30 million increase in the second quarter for the larger group and buffered the overall decline in the first half, which amounted to $138 million, Berkshire Hathaway reported.

NetJets' activity continues to strengthen, with departures up 13% YOY last month and 44% above 2019 levels, according to Jefferies and WingX data.

Global business aviation activity last month climbed by 29% versus the same period in pre-pandemic 2019, according to Jefferies Equity Research. The aircraft management segment saw the largest increase in activity, up 38% from 2019, followed by private flight departments, which saw a 36% boost.

Citing WingX data, the investment firm noted that fractional and charter segment use rose by 31% since July 2019. Flexjet and flyExclusive in particular have gained substantial market share, with their activity increasing by 158% and 154%, respectively, compared with July 2019. NetJets usage rose by 44% in that span, while Wheels Up recorded a 20% decline.

Though the Asia-Pacific region accounted for just 5% of global business aviation departures over the past year, it experienced an 83% rise from 2019 levels. North America, which claims the lion’s share of global activity, saw the next highest percentage increase—a 29% surge from the pre-Covid period.

Among the OEMs, Embraer aircraft registered the largest increase, with departures of its Phenom, Legacy, and Praetor twinjets up more than 50% since 2019, followed by Gulfstream (27%), Textron Aviation (26%), and Bombardier (25%). Jefferies analysts noted that overall flight hours have increased by 33% over 2019 totals, with the average flight time up by 3% to a per-flight average of 1.6 hours.

FlightSafety International, the go-to name in pilot training, offers extensive programs for maintenance technicians. Programs developed closely with aircraft and engine manufacturers foster a better training environment.  These strategic partnerships stretch back years, bringing valuable and informed OEM data and insights to the development and upkeep of each technician program. 

The rumblings over the possible closure of Los Angeles-area Whiteman Airport (KWHP) continue to increase after Los Angeles County District 3 supervisor Lindsey Horvath confirmed she ordered the County Department of Public Works to no longer accept FAA airport improvement project (AIP) funding grants for the airport, which would add 20 years to the city’s obligation to operate the airport from the date of acceptance. In 1999, KWHP was awarded $1,220,000 in AIP funding grants, with some of it earmarked for land purchase for approaches. It also received nearly $150,000 in 2020.

Speaking at a local neighborhood council meeting earlier this month, Horvath noted that the order was “not a final judgment” on the airport, which is facing attacks from some local elected officials citing adverse noise and health effects. A bill to ban the sale of leaded aviation gasoline at California airports by 2031 is currently under consideration by the state’s legislature.

KWHP—a dedicated GA airport located just 19 miles north of Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX)—features a 4,120-foot main runway and sees more than 80,000 operations a year.

In April, the county of Los Angeles board of supervisors directed its CEO to develop a study on the potential land use of the 184-acre airport property as well as an economic analysis of impacts to the county and local community should it be closed.

Aviation insurance group USAIG is seeking to boost participation in the Operational Risk and Resilience Accreditation (ORRA) initiative run by Vertical Aviation International (VAI) by making it available to eligible policyholders through its Performance Vector program. Under an offer announced today, each eligible policyholder will be able to choose one of the ORRA programs as an annual benefit.

The ORRA program is intended to help helicopter operators take a new approach to managing risk with improvements to their operational processes. It replaced VAI’s earlier Accreditation Program of Safety and is jointly run with VLinc Corp.

Aircraft operators participating in ORRA are encouraged to adopt its standards and recommended practices to better manage operational risk and be more resilient. They are supported in this effort by a VLinc coach who helps participants progress through a four-tier path to attain the Gold Level, at which point the operation is assessed as “effective” following an onsite validation.

USAIG, which offers the Performance Vector program to most policyholders operating turbine-powered aircraft, has agreed to cover up to $2,500 of the cost of participating in ORRA. “It’s undeniably tough to add fortifying operational policies and driving positive cultural change to the long list of challenges that confront helicopters, but ORRA’s coach-assisted model provides a clear path to achieve those aims,” said USAIG president and CEO John Brogan.

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