Gulfstream Aerospace is expanding the capacity to manufacture wings for its large-cabin twinjets as the Savannah, Georgia-based company prepares to ramp up aircraft production in the coming years, according to Phebe Novakovic, the chairman and CEO of parent company General Dynamics. In 2019, the company opened a 290,000-sq-ft production facility dedicated to wing and empennage work at its Savannah headquarters, vertically integrating wing manufacturing for its large-cabin in-production G500, G600, and G650ER jets, as well as the forthcoming G400, G700, and G800.
Backlog at the company’s aerospace unit increased by $4.7 billion last year and Novakovic said the sales pipeline is “robust” and termed sales activity as “brisk.” Thus, the company is projecting a ramp-up to 170 jet deliveries in 2024, compared with 119 last year. This presents a “rich problem” for Gulfstream, namely if the supply chain can keep up with aircraft demand, she noted.
“We will increase production in 2022, but not to where it needs to be,” Novakovic said. “The long pole in the tent is manufacturing wings, which we do ourselves. We need to expand our new line wing facility and acquire another set of tools and fixtures. All of this is underway and will be in place to satisfy our needs for 2023 and beyond.”
UK business aviation services provider SaxonAir has increased its business aircraft fleet and established a second base at London Biggin Hill Airport to support growth. Meanwhile, the company also seeks to boost its sustainability credentials and achieve a net-zero carbon target by 2030.
Speaking today at a Biggin Hill event, SaxonAir CEO Alex Durand said the company has added four light jets to its fixed-wing fleet, joining a pair of Embraer Phenom 300s—with a third set to join the fleet midyear—and six turbine helicopters. “We are thrilled to be growing again after such a turbulent period brought on by the effects of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic,” Durand said. SaxonAir is now predicting a boom in business travel this year.
While SaxonAir’s business grows, the company remains focused on reducing its carbon footprint, with Durand noting that the environment remains front and center. Last year, it added electric car charging points and teamed with Gone West to plant trees in the UK for every business jet and helicopter flight operated.
Longer-term, he said, “Our aim is for our base in Norwich to be an operational hub for electric aircraft in the UK.” SaxonAir plans to generate power for electric charging points off-grid via solar panels positioned across its Norwich site, where it is also seeking to introduce sustainable aviation fuel.
EBAA has officially canceled its AIROPS22 conference, which had already been postponed once due to persistent Covid concerns. The annual event, which was originally scheduled for February 8 and 9 in Brussels, was first rescheduled in December to take place on April 7 and 8 due to the surging Omicron variant wave—in the hopes that the infection rates would decline to a point that would make travel possible.
“It with great regret that we have decided to cancel AIROPS in 2022,” EBAA COO Robert Baltus said today. “Even though we feel the Covid-19 situation is improving in Europe, we could not foresee a safe and successful show as early as April.” He added that the organization is planning to stage the show again next year on February 14 and 15.
According to EBAA, several exhibitors and sponsors have already committed their support and participation for next year's annual conference, which brings aviation support providers together with aircraft operators and flight planners. “The good news is that we remain determined in bringing AIROPS back in 2023 stronger than ever and the team is already hard at work into making that a reality,” said Baltus.
Phoenix, Arizona-based Cutter Aviation today announced its third FBO acquisition in as many months with the purchase of Legend Aviation, the lone service provider at Arizona’s Prescott Regional Airport-Ernest A. Love Field. This follows the earlier acquisition of both of the FBOs at Georgetown Municipal Airport in Texas.
The 12-acre Legend leasehold consists of a 6,684-sq-ft terminal with a passenger lobby, conference room, pilot lounge, flight-planning area, concierge, and crew car. It also offers more than 20,000 sq ft of maintenance hangar space that Cutter will continue to operate as a Part 145 repair station.
“Cutter is excited to make this investment in Prescott Regional Airport and to become part of its aviation community,” said Will Cutter, the president and CEO of Cutter Aviation. “We look forward to continuing providing the highest level of service to the tenants and transient clients of Prescott Regional Airport.”
The move brings the nearly 95-year-old family-owned business to six full-service FBOs—including three in its home state of Arizona—and burnishes its status as an aviation powerhouse in the U.S. Southwest. Cutter Aviation also offers maintenance and/or aircraft sales support at five locations in Arizona, Colorado, and Texas.
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Aloft AeroArchitects—the Georgetown, Delaware provider of auxiliary fuel systems, VIP completions, aircraft engineering, and other services—has selected Scott Meyer to succeed Robert Sundin as CEO. Sundin is retiring after more than 40 years in the aviation industry.
Meyer brings 30 years of aerospace and business aviation experience, beginning in engineering in technologies such as solid rocket motor design, launch vehicles advanced materials, and aerospace operation technologies. He later shifted into the business aviation sector, holding roles including CEO of the Comlux America MRO and completion center and COO for North American operations at Flying Colours.
Stepping into his new role, Meyer outlined plans to expand Aloft AeroArchitects’ reach throughout aviation. “The business, commercial, and defense aviation sectors are rapidly evolving and generating new opportunities as we begin to emerge from the global pandemic coupled with the rapidly changing geopolitical environment,” Meyer said. “We see growth potential in leveraging Aloft’s nearly 40 years of progressive capabilities and services to create innovative solutions for a broader aviation community.”
He further noted that Aloft’s base in Delaware provides ready access in the New York-Washington corridor for government, military, corporate, and high-net-worth customers. Sundin said Meyer will propel the company's expansion into new and evolving markets and called him “a solid addition to our team.”
Garmin has added several new upgrades to its G5000 integrated flight deck for the Beechjet 400A/Hawker 400XP that includes FAA data comm functionality, ADS-B In traffic and weather, new cockpit connectivity options, Garmin’s TCAS Change 7.1-compliant traffic system, and digital radar altimeter.
The upgrades announced today by the Olathe, Kansas-based avionics manufacturer also feature three high-resolution 12-inch flight displays alongside dual touchscreen display controllers serving as a primary crew interface to the system, which Garmin said simplifies operation and ease of control of the flight deck. The wide landscape-format flight displays offer a multi-pane mode that enables multiple pages to be viewed side-by-side, providing added flexibility and redundancy. The multi-pane function allows pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklist, TAWS, TCAS, flight plans, and weather without clutter or compromise to the system’s visual layout, Garmin added.
This upgrade is available from select Garmin authorized dealers.
Bombardier has realigned its international sales leadership team with the departure of Christophe Degoumois, who is leaving to pursue personal opportunities. Degoumois had held a number of sales roles within Bombardier over the nearly past two decades, most recently as v-p of international sales.
“We are grateful for Christophe’s 17 years of dedicated service at Bombardier, as well as the team he has built, now ready to take on broader responsibilities,” said Peter Likoray, senior v-p of sales for new aircraft. “Christophe played an important role in creating a positive experience for our customers and instilling a sales culture where customers’ needs are central to what we do.”
As part of the transition, Bombardier named Emmanuel Bornand as v-p of sales for Europe, Russia, CIS, the Middle East, and Africa. Bornand has served with Bombardier since 2008 and previously had been a regional v-p for Europe.
Stéphane Leroy, meanwhile, is adding sales in Asia-Pacific and China to his role of v-p of sales for specialized aircraft. Leroy has a 20-year background with Bombardier and has spent eight years in Asia.
Bombardier also named Michael Anckner v-p of sales for U.S. corporate fleets, specialized aircraft, and Latin America. Most recently v-p of worldwide Learjet sales, corporate fleets, and specialized aircraft, Anckner has served with Bombardier for 11 years, including as a director for Latin America.
German MRO FAI Technik has sold its Project Pearl Bombardier Global Express refurbishment to an unnamed U.S. buyer, the unit of FAI Aviation Group announced yesterday. Previously flying as D-AFAL, the 12-passenger twinjet has been re-registered as N822VP and will be managed by Part 135 operator Planet Nine, which is based in Van Nuys, California.
In 2019, the aircraft underwent a refurbishment led by designer Tim Callies that included a new cabin interior with two-tone gray leather seating, three-seat sofas upholstered in anthracite Armani fabric, and gray-white stone flooring in the galley and lavatories. The project also included the addition of Collins Aerospace’s Venue cabin management and entertainment system, as well as a Honeywell Ka-band satcom system.
In late 2020, the aircraft entered service with FAI and accumulated 800 hours of charter flights around the world. FAI’s Project Pearl was also honored in the innovation in engineering category at the 2021 Middle East Aviation Awards. The sale was overseen by Aircraft Trading, a pre-owned Bombardier aircraft specialist headed by Nicholas McHaffey. Financing and administration were handled by The Air Law Firm in London.
People in Aviation
Ronnie Ries joined GPMS as v-p of marketing. Ries brings nearly two decades of rotorcraft experience to GPMS, including as chair of the Transportation Research Board Civil Helicopter Subcommittee and as senior manager for Bell’s commercial marketing and customer experience organization.
The Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners elected Kerry Dustin as chair and Rick Ruppert vice-chair for 2022. Dustin, who was appointed to the board in 2017 and served as vice-chair in 2020, is the founder and chairman of Falls River Group. Ruppert, who was appointed to the board in 2020, has more than 40 years of executive experience, including with Jet Aviation, The Walt Disney Co., and Ulta Beauty.
Global Aerospace named Rachel Priester director of claims for the U.S. Priester has more than 12 years of insurance industry experience and previously has served as a managing claim counsel with CNA Insurance and management assistant general counsel for The Hartford.
The NGPA has selected its new board of directors, naming Alaska Airlines pilot Jason Isreal and Envoy Air pilot Scott Lebovitz to two-year terms as directors. The board reelected Scott Konzem, Ryan Lynch, Alan Miles, and Martin Rottler to three-year terms and Steve Tustin to a two-year term. Tustin is serving as chair and Konzem vice-chair.
Evans Composites (ECI) appointed Nick McDonald as general manager. McDonald joined ECI in 2015 as a sales manager and has more than 27 years of customer relations, sales, and management experience.
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