Business and general aviation fixed-wing shipments began a recovery across the board in 2021, reaching a total of 2,630 units worth $21.6 billion, up from 2,408 and $20 billion in 2020, according to year-end statistics released today by GAMA. Meanwhile, helicopter deliveries surged by about 25 percent, to 826 units worth $3.7 billion. The totals, GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce noted, are “converging on figures that were seen before the outset of the pandemic.”
Business jet makers handed over 710 units last year, marking a 10.2 percent jump from the 644 aircraft delivered in 2020. Turboprop deliveries, meanwhile, reached 527 units in total, a 19 percent jump from a year earlier when 443 aircraft were delivered. Light aircraft edged up from 1,321 units to 1,393. For the first time, GAMA reported this category as piston and electric.
“The strength and the tenacity of the general aviation industry have provided a strong foundation for the industry to rebound from pandemic-related setbacks with a powerful showing in 2021,” Bunce said, adding this bounce occurred in the face of workforce and supply chain challenges that are still ongoing. “Despite this adversity, there is robust interest and excitement in our industry as we continue to further our advancements in innovation, technology, and environmental sustainability.”
Constant Aviation has been recognized by the FAA as the second independent MRO to achieve corporate safety management system (SMS) status. The corporate SMS designation means the Directional Aviation company is operating under a single safety system companywide at its MRO operations in Cleveland, Ohio, and Orlando, Florida. Illinois-based AAR Corp. was the first MRO to receive the FAA’s corporate SMS designation.
While Constant’s SMS was only recently recognized by the FAA, the company has been operating under SMS processes since August 2018. The FAA recognition came after a December 2021 audit of the company's SMS that demonstrated its system ran parallel to its two business aviation maintenance sites. The corporate SMS status was awarded based on criteria that included appointing a single accountable executive to oversee the program; reviewing and analyzing data at the corporate level; identifying and communicating hazards across the company; and developing a common manual and documentation.
“Having two or more systems generally means maintaining multiple manuals, operating multiple databases, and operating with less communication and coordination,” said Constant CEO David Davies. “The FAA understands that safety management systems work best with priorities, resources, and interaction fully aligned to maximize their effectiveness. We have worked to integrate our SMS across our entire company, and FAA acceptance of our corporate SMS program is recognition of this at the highest level.”
Business aviation industry analyst Brian Foley is calling for worldwide business jet shipments to “get out of their 700-unit-per-year rut and approach 900 units as soon as 2024, but not later than 2025.” But he expects any production increase this year to be incremental, as “some aircraft manufacturers are temporarily stuck on the sidelines unable to fully capitalize on the current market upswing.”
Foley noted that Gulfstream, which in the fourth quarter reported its best order activity since 2008, cannot add more production capacity until 2023 due to a temporary wing shortage. Thus, he said, the Savannah, Georgia-based company expects to produce 124 jets in 2022, just five more than it did last year, during a time of increasing demand.
“Competitor Bombardier isn’t in much better shape to capture the market upswing right away,” Foley added. Despite backlogs swelling by $1.5 billion last year, the company's 2022 deliveries are only ramping up by a “little bit.” While Bombardier said it is just being “conservative,” Foley believes the company does not want to further increase already high debt levels by spending more on procurement and capacity expansion. Another factor is the closure of its Learjet production line last year.
However, he said, Gulfstream and Bombardier are anticipating a 15 to 20 percent production increase next year, which will help pave the way to break the 900-unit-per-year barrier.
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has added a lease-to-own option to its Spare Engine Solutions program. Under lease-to-own, customers can lease a new or used P&WC turbine, turboprop, or turboshaft engine and own it by the end of the lease term. It’s one of four options in P&WC’s spare engine program intended to offer customers ways to prioritize their spending, reduce costs, better plan their monthly expenses, and extend aircraft life, according to P&WC.
Created in 2020, the spare engine program also offers long-term leasing, on-wing leasing, and short-term engine rental. Long-term leasing offers terms of 12 months or more and equips the customer with a spare engine under the latest configuration. On-wing leasing entails the leasing of an engine that remains on-wing. In some instances, the company will purchase the customer’s existing engine and lease one back to them, which lowers their operating expenses and extends the life of their aircraft. The program also offers a short-term rental option for customers whose engine is in the shop for scheduled or unscheduled maintenance.
“We are expanding our Spare Engine Solutions portfolio because more and more of our customers seek new ways to conserve cash and spur operational efficiency,” said P&WC v-p of customer service Irene Makris. “Our new leasing and ownership models serve customers who want alternatives that align with their individual situation.”
A survey from Private Jet Card Comparisons indicates that 51 percent of business aircraft users plan to fly more this year, while 41 percent said they expect to fly about the same amount as last year. Only 5 percent of the 452 respondents indicated they would fly less this year.
Most cited the convenience of private flying, poor airline service, connectivity, and Covid concerns as reasons to keep flying privately. “Private aviation has proven its value to both new and existing customers. It's sticky, and there are no signs demand is letting up,” said Private Jet Card Comparisons founder Doug Gollan.
However, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and high demand has led to delays and other service issues. In fact, 44 percent of respondents said they had suffered delays or cancelations in the past six months; 79 percent cited late flights; 41 percent reported providers changed the departure time after booking; and 30 percent said providers couldn’t accommodate their requested departure time.
Meanwhile, the survey found that program changes stemming from the pandemic-driven demand for private aircraft transportation has affected customer loyalty, with 43 percent of jet card customers saying they are considering different options due to these changes. Typically, jet card and membership programs have renewal rates exceeding 90 percent, but only 54 percent of respondents plan to renew with their current provider this year.
Helicopter Association International (HAI) is bringing a new feature to its upcoming Heli-Expo show: charter and tour flights to and from the vertiport next to the convention center. Heli-Expo will run March 7 to 10 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
HAI formed a partnership with Longhorn Helicopters to provide the services and established a website where these helicopter flights can be booked. The association added that it hopes to make this service a recurring feature at future Heli-Expos, as long as the flights are legally permitted.
“By bringing more helicopter services to our show, we are demonstrating the value of our entire industry,” said HAI president and CEO Jim Viola. “Our plan is to work with local partners each year to provide access for anyone who wants to avoid traffic or enjoy the local sights the best way possible—from the air.”
“Our pilots and helicopters are ready to go,” added Longhorn Helicopters operations manager Ashley Mikel. “We can take attendees on a sunset flight around the city or pick up visitors from hotels, businesses, or airports. Local residents already know how bad traffic can get. What better way to arrive at HAI Heli-Expo than in a helicopter?”
The FAA has approved a Banyan Air Service supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of Gogo Avance L3 Wi-Fi on the HondaJet HA-420. This STC is the culmination of a year-long project for Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Banyan and Gogo. It will be offered as an in-house installation or a standalone STC data packet sale to in-network Gogo dealers.
“We are excited to provide HondaJet operators with the latest in connectivity solutions,” said Banyan director of avionics Danny Santiago. “Avance L3 enables passengers to work, socialize, and have access to information and entertainment in the air as they are used to on the ground.”
Gogo Avance L3 and L5 are line-fit factory options on 27 new-production business aircraft and are certified and installed on some 198 different models of aircraft in the aftermarket, according to Gogo. There are more than 2,000 Avance systems in service.
A full-service FBO at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Banyan provides heavy maintenance, exterior and interior upgrades, turbine engine service, structural repairs, avionics installations and services, and aircraft part sales.
Dallas-area business aviation hub Addison Airport has opened its U.S. Customs and airport administration building. The $8.9 million, 10,300-sq-ft two-story building and adjoining ramp is located midfield on the east side of the field directly opposite the control tower.
Ground was broken on the site in October 2019 but construction and completion were delayed for nearly a year by effects of the Covid pandemic, airport director Joel Jenkinson told AIN. The facility is normally open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, with after-hours callout available.
Addison—which is base to more than 600 aircraft and sees approximately 100,000 operations a year—has had customs service since 1995. It was originally housed in the airport’s former administration building that was demolished in the early 2000s and, following that, moved to a 325-sq-ft area in the Million Air FBO, which a recent audit found to be no longer suitable.
“Over time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has updated its standards. To retain that service, we constructed the new, modern facility,” explained Jenkinson. “We took advantage of the opportunity to add a second floor to the building because it was cost-effective to do so to provide new office space for the airport staff.”
Requires installation of a new software version (v3.3) for the aircraft's engine indication and crew alert system. Prompted by the discovery of an error in the airplane takeoff configuration warning logic that precludes the system to sound an aural alert for the flight crew in the event the pitch trim is in a position that would not allow a safe takeoff. The lack of reliable takeoff configuration warning with a possible misconfigured airplane may result in loss of airplane controllability, according to Brazilian aviation regulator ANAC.
Model(s): Learjet 35/35A, 36/36A, 55/55B/55C, and 60
Published: February 22, 2022
Effective: March 9, 2022
According to the FAA, this AD affects only eight Learjets in the U.S. aircraft registry. Requires removing certain spoiler assemblies from service and prohibits their installation. Prompted by a report indicating that a Kansas City-area repair station approved Learjet spoiler assemblies for return to service after extending their life limit.
Supersedes but retains requirements of AD 2021-11-25, which mandated revising the existing rotorcraft flight manual by inserting a new temporary procedure. Since that AD was issued, the manufacturer identified an additional affected Fadec part number and developed an optional modification for the affected Fadecs, which now acts as a terminating action and eliminates the need for the temporary procedure. In addition, this AD adds helicopters to the applicability.
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