Booming Bizjet Market Boosts Bombardier’s 2Q Sales

Bombardier marked one of its strongest three-month periods in years in the second quarter with a 1.8:1 book-to-bill, 50 percent jump in year-over-year revenues to $1.5 billion, and 45 percent increase in deliveries that included 11 Global 7500s. As a result, the Montreal-headquartered, pure-play business jet maker gave a rosier outlook for the year of an anticipated 120 deliveries and $5.8 billion in revenues versus the original projection of somewhere in the 110 to 120 aircraft range and $5.6 billion in revenues.

Announcing the second-quarter results this morning, Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel called the second quarter “exceptional on all fronts.” Bombardier delivered 29 aircraft from April through June of this year, up from 20 in the same period a year ago. In addition to the 11 Global 7500s, quarterly deliveries included six others in the Global family, nine Challengers, and three Learjets. A year earlier, nine Globals were handed over, along with nine Challengers and two Learjets.

While upping Bombardier’s delivery estimates to the top of the previously announced range and encouraged by the strong business jet market, Martel said the company was not yet ready to adjust its production plans. Speaking later to reporters, he acknowledged there have been challenges in the supply chain, but didn’t see any impact in its ability to meet the 120 projected deliveries this year.

WingX: July Bizav Flying Zooms Past Pre-pandemic Levels

The global resurgence in business aviation continued in July, with the month seeing 13 percent more flights by business jets and turboprops than in July 2019, according to data released today by WingX Advance. The Hamburg, Germany-based company noted that through the first seven months of 2021, aggregate business aircraft activity is once again comparable to 2019 levels, the last normal year before the global pandemic.

In North America, business aviation activity last month increased by 12 percent over July 2019 and was 46 percent more than a year earlier. U.S. business jet flights were up 25 percent compared to 2019 numbers, with light and super-midsize jet activity up 26 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Europe saw a significant bounce in business aviation activity last month, with a 14 percent boost in activity compared to July 2019.

“The jury is in regarding the likelihood of a repeat of last year´s strong rebound in leisure travel demand as restrictions ended: these have materialized in full, well above even pre-pandemic summertime highs in business jet demand,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “Barring the unlikely renewal of lockdown, the upswing should continue over the next six weeks, with the next question turning to the potential return of the corporate customers.”

Brazil Seizes Turkish Charter Jet in Cocaine Bust

The Brazilian federal police yesterday seized a chartered Turkish-registered Gulfstream IV that was found to be carrying 1,304 kilos of cocaine when attempting to clear customs in the northeastern coastal city of Fortaleza before continuing to Brussels. Police said the 24 suitcases carrying the drugs belonged to a Spanish passenger, who was arrested along with the Turkish captain.

In a police video, the captain repeatedly said “I don’t know” when asked about the luggage’s content. Another three crewmembers, also Turks, were being interrogated, police said, and the aircraft, cellphones, and documents were seized for analysis.

The GIV, registered as TC-GVA to charter operator ACM Airlines, picked up the passenger in Malaga, Spain, stopped in Fortaleza, continued to Riberão Preto in upstate São Paulo, and then returned, according to Turkish news site Gazete Duvar. The publication said that, under prior registration TC-ATA, the Gulfstream carried the prime minister; the current livery is unchanged except for the registration number and the removal of “Türkiye Cumhuriyeti” (“Republic of Turkey”) verbiage.

In a statement, ACM Airlines said “customers and their personal belongings have nothing to do with our company and our flight crew…responsibility for the control of passenger belongings is entirely under the airport authority…our flight crew and aircraft will arrive in Turkey as soon as possible following the completion of the legal process.”

CAE Acquires Global Jet To Expand Bizav Mx Training

CAE has acquired Global Jet Services in a move that will expand the business aircraft and helicopter platforms for which CAE provides maintenance training. Further, the Montreal-based training provider said the acquisition adds a highly experienced maintenance training team.

Combined with the acquisition, CAE will leverage its experience in pilot training to aid its growth in the maintenance training market. Based in Avon, Connecticut and founded in 1992, privately held Global Jet provides on-location maintenance training for a variety of business aircraft and helicopters from companies such as Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, Leonardo, Nextant, Pilatus, and Textron Aviation.

“This tuck-in acquisition is a great addition,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE group president of civil aviation training solutions. “Moving forward, CAE will be able to better serve global operators as they look for a one-stop-shop provider that can support their various aircraft fleet types.”

PrivateFly Aviator To Offer Aircraft Flexibility

Responding to what it describes as a new type of customer with more varied flying requirements born from the pandemic, charter broker PrivateFly has launched the Aviator membership. The new program addresses repeat customers seeking a combination of short hops in Europe in light jets and long-haul trips in large-cabin jets at fixed hourly rates—something the Directional Aviation company said it is seeing more of in the past 18 months.

Marine Eugène, European managing director of PrivateFly and sister company Flexjet, explained that repeat customers are seeking consistency and a premium experience, which is offered through programs such as Flexjet Shared Ownership and the PrivateFly Jet Card that was launched last year. “However, in addition, we saw a growing number of repeat clients who want aspects of this elevated service, but with the ability to access a variety of different-sized aircraft types from the market or more varied routes—including outside of Europe or the U.S.,” Eugène said.

Other benefits of the new membership include free cancellation up to 120 hours before takeoff and value-added services such as inclusive catering and deicing, benefits from its luxury hotel partners in Europe, and a London helicopter transfer.

Aviator comes as overall year-to-date flight bookings at PrivateFly are ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, 86 percent of bookings in July were from existing clients versus a pre-pandemic average of 64 percent.

St. Louis Hangar Complex Hits the Auction Block

On August 20, an 11-acre private hangar complex owned by Bayer at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) will be auctioned off by Oklahoma-based Williams & Williams Real Estate Auctions in conjunction with CBRE. The airport is located 17 miles from downtown St. Louis.

Formerly the home of a corporate flight department, the 80,104-sq-ft facility in Chesterfield, Missouri, includes the original structure built in 1998. It has a 28,944-sq-ft hangar with a door height just over 27 feet and sprinkler fire system, along with an adjoining high-end office area of nearly 25,000 sq ft. The two-story structure features conference rooms, executive offices, pilot quarters, shower facilities, and kitchens, and has 100 parking spaces.

A second 26,500-sq-ft hangar, added in 2016, has a foam fire suppression system and can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets, with its 115-foot-wide and 28-foot-high door.

All parties wishing to participate in the auction, which will be held on-site at the hangar complex with simultaneous bidding available, must be pre-approved and return the qualified bidder package to Williams & Williams no later than 5 p.m. central time on August 17 to provide ample time for airport authority review.

ASTM Proposes Easing Small Aircraft Component Tests

ASTM International is proposing a new standard that would establish the requirements for small aircraft components to be considered as “low-stress structures” and able to bypass certain durability testing. The standards-setting agency’s general aviation aircraft committee, F44, is developing the proposed standard, which carries the designation of WK61232.

With the proposed standard, manufacturers, working with aircraft design regulatory agencies, would be able to designate applicable small aircraft components as low-stress structures. Such designated components would not have to undergo the structural durability assessments that are required as part of the ASTM standard specification covering small aircraft.

“In particular, a user would not be required to perform a cyclic test of the component [that is] designated as low stress, saving cost and schedule during a new product development and certification effort,” said Terry Ercolani, ASTM International member and Textron Aviation senior specialist/engineer.

While the F44 committee continues work on this and other general aviation standards, Ercolani noted that the committee is continually seeking new participants, especially those with aircraft structural durability expertise in both metallic and composite construction, and said interested participants should reach out to ASTM.

Canada Updates Aircraft Operator Covid Guidance

Transport Canada and Canada’s Public Health Agency have published Civil Aviation Safety Alerts (CASA) Issue No. 2 for private and commercial air operators regarding Covid-19. This document provides updated health guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of Covid-19 on board aircraft, during flight and ground operations, layovers, or through day-to-day operational requirements.

Since March 2020, Canadian health agencies, the aviation industry, and international state partners have been responding to and assessing the outbreak of Covid-19. Issue No. 2 serves as an update to the guidance issued in March 2020 to represent the changes in domestic and international guidance. The alert's foremost recommendation is that operators should encourage crewmembers to get a Covid-19 vaccine, as well as provide crewmembers with the opportunity (time off) to access the vaccine.

In addition, operators are advised to remain in contact with crewmembers to ensure they continue to monitor their health, avoid risk factors, and report any symptoms to their employer before being assigned to duty. Operator responsibilities include arranging private transportation between airport and hotel during layovers. The document also contains links to current domestic and international advisories, policies, and regulations.

Cessna SkyCourier Makes Debut at AirVenture

Cessna's SkyCourier made its first public appearance last week at EAA AirVenture, with the turboprop twin dominating the entrance ramp to Boeing Plaza while curious onlookers gathered around for a gander at the next-generation cargo and passenger hauler. Powered by two 1,100-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65SC turboprop engines, this SkyCourier is S/N 1 and it took a brief time-off from flight testing to participate in the AirVenture Innovation Showcase. The design’s 87-by 69-inch rear cargo door and fuselage are designed to accommodate three standard LD3-size containers, giving the SkyCourier twice the capacity of a Caravan. Certification and first delivery are expected later this year.