Following its long-anticipated FAA approval in March and EASA certification in May, Gulfstream’s flagship G700 has received endorsement from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The Savannah-based airframer expects to deliver its first UK-registered G700 in the coming months.

Since the UK departed from the EU (Brexit) in 2020, this was the first time Gulfstream had to seek approval for one of its aircraft from the CAA. According to the manufacturer, the CAA took advantage of other authorities' efforts to develop processes and requirements, easing the approval process.

“The UK CAA aircraft certification team was confident in the work conducted by the FAA and fully leveraged it,” a Gulfstream spokesperson told AIN, noting that the UK authority was well up to speed. “In fact, the UK team was able to support some of the FAA flight test activity in parallel and in full coordination with the FAA.”

“Earning the UK Civil Aviation Authority type certificate for the G700 is a significant accomplishment for Gulfstream as we continue to deliver this outstanding aircraft around the world. We are excited about our UK customers experiencing the maturity, amazing performance capabilities, and incredible cabin comfort the G700 provides,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.

With this latest approval, the ultra-long-range G700 now holds 11 certifications, including from the FAA and EASA, and the OEM has more in progress.

Wheels Up has reported progress in bolstering its balance sheet during the second quarter, further reducing losses as its new leadership team strives to reverse the private flight provider’s fortunes under a new business model. Releasing second-quarter results this morning, CEO George Mattson said his company has significantly improved operational performance while boosting flight transaction values and exploiting its close alliance with its main shareholder Delta Air Lines as it works to achieve profitability by year-end.

Second-quarter revenues decreased by 41%, to $196.3 million, compared with the same period in 2023. This was mainly due to its sale of the aircraft sales and management businesses to Airshare, which CFO Todd Smith said had generated more than $200 million in revenue gj but didn’t contribute to Wheels Up’s profitability. Overall revenues in the first half were $393.4 million, down 43% from the $686.9 million recorded in the same period last year.

The net loss at Wheels Up was reduced by 40% during the second quarter to $97 million, taking the net loss for the first half down by 26%, to $194.4 million, versus the same periods in 2023. The group’s adjusted EBITDA loss declined by 7%, to $37.4 million, for the second quarter and by 3% for the first six months to $86.6 million.

In its second-quarter financial report today, Embraer shared that its overall revenue, orders backlog, and deliveries were up. The company delivered 47 jets, of which 27 were business jets (20 Phenom light jets and seven Praetor midsize jets), 19 commercial jets, and one multi-mission C-390 Millennium in the defense sector.

While this was an increase over the 25 aircraft delivered in the first quarter, the 28 business jets were two fewer than in the second quarter of last year. Embraer handed over 45 business jets in the first half (31 Phenoms and 14 Praetors), up seven (six Phenoms and one Praetor) from the same period a year ago. It expects to ship 125 to 135 business jets in total by year end.

The company reported a firm order backlog of $21.1 billion, a seven-year high, up more than 20% annually. Embraer said the biggest increase in backlog came from its commercial aviation division (up $227 million), while the most significant decrease occurred in Defense & Security (down $251 million). Its business jet backlog stood at $4.6 billion at the end of June, an 8% increase year over year.

Revenues totaled $1.494 billion in the period, up 67% from the previous quarter.

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. 

Preowned business aircraft transactions increased by 14% in the second quarter year over year (YOY) and are ahead by 6% through the first half of the year, according to business aviation data analyst Amstat. However, this comes as the median value of aircraft on the market has dropped 18% over the past 12 months and 12% since the beginning of the year, Amstat reported, citing an increase in available inventory and softening demand.

Looking at preowned business jets, transactions were up 15% YOY in the second quarter and were 9% above the five-year average. For the first half, transactions increased by 7% and inventory rose by 23%, with 7% of the active fleet for sale.

Transactions of heavy-jet models jumped by 27% in the quarter, but values were down by 15% and inventories up 21%. In the super-midsize segment, values fell 1% and inventory climbed by 40% YOY. For the first half, super-midsize transactions showed strong gains of 24%. In the midsize-jet segment, median values were down 20%, inventory up 16%, and transactions increased 10% in the quarter.

Light jets have seen a 21% drop in values, as well as an increase in inventory. Similar to the midsize-jet segment, light-jet transactions were up 10% in the second quarter. As for turboprops, transactions have increased by 11%, inventory swelled by 28%, and values slid by 12%.

Aircraft operators flying into the European Union (EU) will have to contend with the new EU-LISA agency’s passenger screening process starting on October 6. The new portal for verifying the visa status of travelers entering the EU places more of the administrative burden for screening responsibilities and manually checking passports on operators. Flight support group Universal Weather and Aviation is urging aircraft operators to register an account now for EU-LISA.

According to Universal, the EU notice issued on Feb. 17, 2022, was not widely circulated. In advice issued this week, the company expressed concern that many business aircraft operators may not be aware of the requirements and their specific obligations. “We strongly advise you not to wait until the last minute to comply with this regulation,” the company said. “EU-LISA will be bombarded with submissions as we approach the deadline.”

While the process might appear to apply mainly to Part 135 flights, Universal expects it eventually will be required for Part 91 operations as well. It is recommending that Part 91 operators register for EU-LISA in anticipation of possible trips to the EU. Operators are required both to register for the platform and submit passenger data.

“Moving to Catarina [Executive Airport] was a hard decision,” José Eduardo Brandão—CEO of Synerjet, the Pilatus Aircraft distributor for South America—told AIN this week at LABACE 2024. “There had been several attempts at airports that ended in nothing.”

Hangar 5 at Catarina is Synerjet’s—“the first one you see when you enter the airport. They wanted us to build where it would be visible from the highway,” Brandão said. “Everyone thought it was too big. And then we needed more space, and took Hangar 4, too. Now we have 8,500 square meters [91,500 square feet].”

He said Hangar 5 is all Pilatus, while Hangar 4 is devoted to other activities such as Gulfstream maintenance and a bonded warehouse. Brandão opted for a large bonded warehouse used by several business aircraft manufacturers at Catarina and said this business is tripling every year.

Synerjet is the Pilatus distributor for all of South America and works with partners in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. Besides the flagship Catarina hangars, Synerjet has its own centers at Liberty Airport in Medellín and will be opening one in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Looking beyond Brazil, he said, “There are 23 countries in Latin America.” Brandão argued against discounting smaller countries in the region: “Guatemala surprised us; we sold several PC-24s. It’s not an economic potency, but there are small but effervescent economies in Latin America.”

Two Cessna Caravans on display this week at LABACE 2024 illustrate Textron Aviation’s long relationship with Brazil and how varied the business aviation market is.

Caravan serial number 50—displayed by Azul Conecta, a feeder for Azul Airlines—is one of at least 26 of the utility turboprop singles that make Azul the country’s largest Caravan operator. With 35,000 flight hours and a new digital cockpit, this airplane is in an executive configuration with only six seats.

Meanwhile, at the stand of TAM Aviação Executiva, Textron Aviation’s Brazilian distributor, a modern Grand Caravan EX is being shown in an executive configuration, but with a far greater level of luxury.

Marcelo Moreira, who leads Textron Aviation’s sales for Latin America and the U.S. West Coast, said many airlines around the world fly Caravans besides Azul, including Suzy Air in Indonesia, CTA in Brazil, Sansa, Costa Rica Green Airways, and Maya Island Air in Belize.

According to Moreira, Textron Aviation maintains a full-time presence in São Paulo “inside TAM, but a separate office.” He said the turboprops and Citations “have done well in Brazil for more than 50 years.”

Looking to the future, he foresees a strong market for the company’s Beechcraft Denali, a pressurized turboprop single expected to be certified next year. It will complement the King Air, he said. Moreira made another prediction for the future: Textron Aviation will continue for many years at LABACE.

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