With preowned aircraft inventories hovering at historic lows of 1.3 percent, asking prices continue to increase, rising 11 percent year-over-year, according to market analyst Jefferies Aerospace & Defense Electronics. Some brands are seeing prices skyrocket, led by Gulfstream, which is up 41 percent based on the strength of sales involving the G450 and G150, according to Jefferies.
Using Amstat data, Jefferies has introduced monthly research that tracks pricing fundamental for business jets. It noted that the estimated valuation of the preowned inventory is up 4 percent from February 2021. The aircraft valuation is based on average selling price adjusted for typical premiums and/or discounts, age of aircraft, upgrades, engine plans, and usage, providing an estimate for what the sales price of an aircraft should be. With regard to valuations, Gulfstream is leading the increase with the G280 and G650, each up 26 percent, while the G550 rose 29 percent.
Asking prices, however, are currently mismatched, up 13 percent over the average fleet valuation. This dynamic crosses most of the fleets with the exception of Dassault. “Embraer and Gulfstream ask prices in the used sales market appear to have the largest disconnect relative to estimated valuation with prices 28 percent and 27 percent higher,” the analyst reported. “Bombardier and Cessna average used market prices are 7 percent and 6 percent above estimated valuation...Dassault is relatively in line.”
Twelve months after the launch of Sentient Jet’s sustainability initiative, the jet card unit of Directional Aviation recorded a 300 percent carbon and emissions offset across 30,000 legs flown, which the Boston-based company said was the equivalent to 541,089 metric tonnes of emissions. Sentient’s carbon- and emissions-neutral program comes through a partnership with private aviation sustainability specialist 4Air, also a Directional Aviation company.
Under the program with 4Air, all aviation emissions are offset, including water vapor, aerosols, and nitrous oxide. Combined, they account for two-thirds of the emissions an aircraft produces during flight. Sentient provides the offset program to its jet card owners at no additional cost. The offsets are used to support renewable energy projects and forest conservation, which sequesters carbon.
“We’ve made strides on the sustainability front in terms of how we are thinking and handling it differently,” said Sentient president and CEO Andrew Collins. “Guided by our partnership with 4Air, the past 12 months were truly transformative, and we're looking forward to continuing our commitment and thoughtful approach to sustainability to meet both market and customer needs."
Covid-19 transports drove a record mission tempo at Swiss air ambulance provider Rega last year. The operator organized 18,017 missions for the year, an increase of 10.7 percent, and transported an average of 34 patients per day and a total of 12,284 for the year—an increase of 10.3 percent. Rega operates a mixed fleet of 19 Airbus and Leonardo helicopters and three Bombardier Challenger 650s from its 13 bases and one partner base. Although Rega's missions are primarily patient transport, the aircraft fleet is also used for search and other non-patient missions.
This past year, Rega aircraft transported 702 Covid patients—471 by helicopter and the remainder by jet. Helicopter Covid patient transports increased by 49.1 percent versus 2020. Rega's operations center also coordinated the distribution of Covid patients among hospital intensive care units and handled patient transfer and repatriation requests for intensive care patients living in Switzerland. Hospital transfer flights increased by 9.2 percent, to 2,854, and on-site rescue missions increased by 8.6 percent, to 8,444, resulting in an overall helicopter flight hour increase of 8.1 percent for the year.
Rega was founded in 1952 and is a privately-run, non-profit organization that provides air ambulance service regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The company employs more than 400 individuals and is majority supported by the voluntary contributions of more than 3.6 million patrons.
Compliance with ADS-B Out equipment and operating requirements will become mandatory in the country’s Class A and B airspace above 12,500 feet beginning Feb. 23, 2023. Nav Canada, the air traffic control service provider for Canada, has been providing ADS-B services in Canadian airspace on a voluntary basis since 2008.
In 2019, Nav Canada suspended its plan to mandate use of ADS-B starting in 2021 in response to feedback from stakeholders and the industry. The postponement has given Nav Canada more time to develop regulations with Transport Canada, as well as provide additional time for the equipment certification process associated with antenna diversity requirements.
To demonstrate compliance with the mandate, aircraft must be equipped with an appropriate transponder with ADS-B Out capabilities, meet the applicable minimum operational performance standards, and have antenna capability for broadcast toward space-based ADS-B receivers emitting 1090-MHz extended squitter. This latter requirement can be met either through antenna diversity—the use of a top and bottom antenna—or with a single antenna that can transmit both toward the ground and up to satellites.
Operators are expected to file the following ADS-B equipage in Item 10 of ICAO flight plans: ADS-B with dedicated 1090-MHz ADS-B “out” capability or ADS-B with dedicated 1090-MHz ADS-B “out” and “in” capability.
Real Flight Data Powers Flightsafety’s Enhanced Training Environment
Under a partnership unlike any other in the business aviation industry, GE Digital will provide data-driven C-FOQA insights to FlightSafety International, which will use them to enhance training and ensure pilots are prepared for any possible risk before they encounter them in the sky. It follows with FlightSafety’s philosophy that proficiency alone isn’t the goal of training.
The FAA has issued draft Advisory Circular AC 120-FPM to provide guidance and recommended practices for operational procedures and training to assure the intended guidance and control of aircraft trajectory and energy. Known as flightpath management (FPM), this includes manual flight operations, managing automated systems, pilot monitoring, and energy management in flight or on the ground.
Although this AC is directed towards meeting the regulatory requirements of Part 121 and 135 certificate holders, as well as Part 142 training centers, the FAA “encourages all training providers and operators to consider this guidance as applicable to the type of airplane, operational environment, and pilot demographics in which training or operations are conducted. This guidance may also be helpful for avionics and aircraft manufacturers designing equipment and systems used by pilots to manage the aircraft flightpath.”
Information in this AC stems from the FAA’s air carrier training aviation rulemaking committee, established in 2014 to provide a forum for the aviation community to discuss, prioritize, and provide recommendations to the agency concerning operations conducted under parts 121, 135, and 142. Over the ensuing period, some 65 recommendations have been made.
A feedback form on the last page of this AC requests readers to comment on any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements.
Austria-based FACC has been tapped by Rolls-Royce to develop and manufacture the complete composite package for the Pearl 10X engine that will power the new Dassault Falcon 10X. In addition to the bypass ducts and maintenance doors, FACC will also be supplying the fan track liners, spinner, and cable bushing for the turbofan engine.
“Engines are among the most highly stressed high-performance aircraft components—the production of their component parts is highly complex and requires the skill of experienced experts. The production of the outer skin in particular, meaning the outer layer of the bypass duct for the Pearl 10X, calls for the highest precision in addition to modern manufacturing processes,” said Günter Nelböck, FACC’s vice president for engines, nacelles, and aerostructures.
Rolls-Royce unveiled the more than 18,000-pound-thrust Pearl 10X—the third and most powerful member of its Pearl engine family for business aircraft—in May, when the Falcon 10X was also announced. Compared with the previous-generation Rolls-Royce BR700-series engines, the Pearl 10X boasts a 5 percent increase in efficiency combined with lower noise and emissions characteristics.
Air Charter Service (ACS) has added its 28th worldwide location with the opening of an office in Brisbane, Australia. It is the charter broker’s second office in Australia.
“We have been looking to invest further in the country after such a successful first six years for our Sydney operation,” said ACS Australia CEO Paul Crook. “It was clear that Brisbane would be the focus, as we already have a strong client base there. This new office will help to serve those clients even better and we have brought in a strong management team, with huge amounts of experience to lead the office.”
Leading the Brisbane office is Melissa Rogers as director and Matthew Haigh as assistant director, both of whom “have extensive experience in the industry and are well respected,” Crook added. UK-based ACS arranges more than 23,000 charter flights annually and recorded revenue of more than $1.8 billion in 2021.
Sanad elevated Mansoor Janahi to the role of group CEO as the Mubadala Investment company eyes plans to expand its reach beyond aerospace. Janahi, who stepped into his new role this month, joined Mubadala in 2008 and became deputy CEO of Sanad Aerotech in 2017. He since was named CEO for Sanad Aerotech and Sanad Powertech and deputy CEO for Sanad Group before assuming his current role.
The move is part of its “Operation 300bn” strategy unveiled last year to double its industrial sector contribution to the United Arab Emirates GDP to 300 billion AED ($81 billion) by 2031. To meet those goals, Sanad plans to diversify to help further position the UAE as a global industrial hub. Under its new strategy, Sanad will contribute to the economic diversification agenda, the company said, adding that its future offering will be focused on providing technology-driven and integrated industrial services.
“Building on our track record of more than three decades of experience in the commercial aviation sector, Sanad is ready to take the next step forward and become the source-to-go, one-stop-shop for the broader industrial services sector,” said Badr Al-Olama, executive director of UAE Clusters at Mubadala and chairman of Sanad.
CMC Electronics promoted Daniel Germain to manager of the displays and sensors business unit. Germain joined CMC in 1989 and has held roles of increasing responsibility, including as a product manager and senior product manager in the displays and sensors business unit.
MAAS Aviation named Richard Marston COO. Marston joined the aircraft painting and coatings specialist in January 2020 as director of customer service, sales, and marketing for EMEA after holding senior positions with Herberts, DuPont, and AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings.
TAC Air appointed Christina Lang general manager of its Spirit of St. Louis Airport facility in Chesterfield, Missouri, and Allison Graham general manager of its Fort Smith, Arkansas FBO. Lang has served with TAC Air for eight years, most recently as the Fort Smith general manager and before that as manager of administrative services in Dallas. Graham, who succeeds Lang, is a 31-year veteran of TAC Air holding roles as ramp hostess, customer service representative, aircraft maintenance administrator, and, most recently, customer service manager.
Airport Management Solutions (AMS) promoted Kevin Williams to regional FBO manager, responsible for facilities in Tupelo and Greenville, Mississippi, and a new location to open in Ohio. Previously quality control supervisor and training manager for AMS, Williams is a former U.S. Air Force nuclear weapons maintenance officer and academic instructor.
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