GAMA: GA Aircraft Shipments Dip in Pandemic Year

General aviation fixed-wing shipments and billings predictably dropped across the board in 2020 thanks to the pandemic, with business jet deliveries the hardest hit, down by 20.4 percent, GAMA reported today. However, pockets of the market fared better—piston deliveries were off by just 0.9 percent—leading to an overall decline of 9.7 percent in deliveries and 14.8 percent in billings last year. Overall, the industry shipped 2,399 fixed-wing aircraft valued at $20 billion last year versus 2,658 aircraft worth $23.5 billion in 2019.

Manufacturers handed over 644 business jets in 2020, compared with 809 a year earlier. Most business-jet OEMs saw deliveries slide on the year, save for Pilatus, which is ramping up on its PC-24. As for turboprops, deliveries dropped 15.6 percent from 525 in 2019 to 443 last year. But during a pandemic when general aviation private flying continued as other types of other operations slowed or ceased, piston aircraft deliveries proved more resilient, down just 12 units, to 1,312. 

Meanwhile, rotorcraft deliveries fell 17.7 percent, to 674, while billings declined 16.2 percent, to $2.7 billion. (These figures do not include Leonardo, which has not yet reported its year-end totals.) Helicopter piston shipments slid 20.7 percent, to 142 units, while turbine shipments were down 16.9 percent, to 532 units.

Rolls-Royce Opens Savannah Engine Support Facility

Rolls-Royce recently opened a customer support facility in Savannah, Georgia, that is adjacent to the new Gulfstream Service Center East. Rolls-Royce's 62,000-sq-ft facility will support Gulfstream and its customers and includes an on-site customer support office, areas for on-wing services, repair, and powerplant completion, as well as a warehouse.

Named the Rolls-Royce Raines Building in recognition of Georgia aviation pioneer Hazel Jane Raines, the new facility represents the decades-long relationship between the engine maker and airframer that dates back to 1958. Rolls-Royce's BR710 and BR725 engines power the G550 and G650, respectively, as does its Pearl 700 for the new G700. In all, Rolls supports more than 2,100 Gulfstream jets worldwide. The engine manufacturer noted many of those aircraft are enrolled in its CorporateCare and CorporateCare Enhanced engine maintenance programs.

“This brand-new customer support facility is a strategic investment, which takes our longstanding partnership with Gulfstream to the next level and will help us deliver market-leading services to our business aviation customers in North America,” said Andy Robinson, Rolls-Royce senior v-p of business aviation customers and services.

Covid-19 Best Practices Help Bizav Keep Flying

Flight department managers and medical experts shared useful information for operating safely during the Covid-19 pandemic yesterday during the NBAA virtual Flight Operations Conference. They also explained how vaccines could facilitate a return to normal operations. 

The key piece of advice from the experts during the “Post Covid-19: Best Practices for Crewmembers” webinar was that with proper risk-mitigation, flying can continue during a pandemic. However, planning is essential and, even with regular testing, it is still necessary to adopt best practices for mask-wearing, social distancing, hand-washing, and cleaning.

For flight departments, it is important to build a plan to keep team members safe from Covid-19 while also enabling them to maintain currency and prepare to fly during a time when executives need to resume traveling. A first step is to create an active Covid-19 testing program, as well as protocols for when testing isn’t available. MedAire's Alexander Smith, director of nursing and health screening products, told attendees that his company can help aircraft operators set up testing programs.

On the vaccine front, these are already helping lower case numbers, but Smith doesn’t expect something like a “vaccine passport” to enable widespread travel. “We’ll see indirect effects of lower transmission numbers, hospitalizations, and lower death [numbers]. We’re seeing a significant decrease of cases in the U.S."

UK Firm Seeks To Turn Waste Plastic into Jet-A

London-based renewable fuel startup Clean Planet Energy (CPE) has launched a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from non-recyclable plastics. According to the company, its new kerosene/jet-A can be used as a direct drop-in fuel “fully miscible with conventional jet fuels and is fully compatible with existing aircraft and fuel infrastructure,” including equipment, pipelines, and tanks. Over its lifecycle, the fuel promises to reduce CO2 emissions by 75 percent compared to conventional fuel.

“We are very excited to have developed a [SAF] pathway that not only fits well within the ASTM D7566 existing definitions but uses ultra-low-cost, zero-value waste plastic feedstock,” company CEO Bertie Stephens told AIN.

CPE has two production plants already under construction in the UK, the first of which is expected to begin production this year, and four others under development, each of which would be able to process up to 60 tonnes of plastic a day. Through a proprietary process, the plastic hydrocarbons are broken down into small chains, which are then upgraded into new products such as SAF and petrochemical feedstocks from which new recyclable plastics can be manufactured.

The company noted it has already introduced a certified, ultra-clean burning diesel fuel as well as a zero-sulfur-emitting maritime fuel as it reaches to power air-, land-, and water-based transport. SAF production would be a subset of those products.

New Duncan App Aims To Speed AOG Response

A new internal communications app developed by Duncan Aviation is expected to speed the Lincoln, Nebraska-based MRO provider’s response to requests for AOG service. The new app makes it possible for the company to issue a multi-point pledge to AOG customers.

That pledge includes AOG customers hearing from a Duncan Rapid Response Team (RRT) member by phone within 30 minutes of requesting the service; follow-up communication regarding labor availability and logistic planning within an hour; and a Duncan team on site within 24 hours, pending agreements and approvals.

Calls coming through Duncan’s published AOG number are answered by a team trained to quickly identify the problem and route the information to the appropriate RRT, based on whether the AOG involves airframe, avionics, or engine, as well as the location of the aircraft. “Being able to stand behind this promise with confidence began when we changed the way our teams communicated with each other,” said Duncan v-p of aircraft services Kasey Harwick. “We got together with our talented IT department to develop an internal communications app that facilitates getting an AOG customer to the right team as quickly as possible.”

Duncan has more than 175 airframe, engine, and avionics technicians located throughout its 30 satellite locations in the U.S. and three full-service MROs in Lincoln; Battle Creek, Michigan; and Provo, Utah.

Erickson To Fly Optionally-piloted Air Crane Next Year

Erickson plans to make the first flight of its optionally-piloted S-64F+ Air Crane next year, with customer deliveries of the new helicopter variant to begin as early as 2024, the company said yesterday. The aircraft will be equipped with recently certified all-composite main rotor blades, as well as Sikorsky’s Matrix optional pilot technology and new turboshaft engines. Options could include a HUD and Erickson’s new aerial water cannon.

A senior Erickson executive said the high/hot performance of the F+ will be improved over the current-production model. The new composite main rotor blades alone will increase the payload at 25 degrees C and 8,000 feet by 88 percent—offering an additional 755 pounds—while climb rate at max gross weight and 2,000 feet will rise 69.2 percent, from 1,300 fpm to 2,200 fpm. These numbers will be improved further with the new engine, he said.

Erickson will seek both military and civil customers for the new helicopter, which it plans to be certifiable for Part 135 operations and capable of external lifts up to 25,000 pounds. The company has been repurposing Vietnam-era Sikorsky CH-54 airframes for its new-production aircraft, but said it would soon deplete those and thus need to begin manufacturing new aircraft from scratch. To that end, Erickson has recently upgraded its manufacturing capabilities with 3D printing and digital data.

Brexit, CORSIA Bringing Aviation ETS Changes in Europe

Emissions trading systems (ETS) in Europe are undergoing a transition post-Brexit, with the EU contemplating the incorporation of the ICAO carbon offset program and new targets coming from the EU Green Deal, advised Bruce Parry, director of environment for the International Business Aviation Council. Parry provided an overview of the changes in Europe during a webinar on “Managing Your Carbon Footprint” yesterday as part of NBAA’s virtual Flight Operations Conference.

At the beginning of the year, the UK began managing participating aircraft based in its territories under its own ETS programs. Parry said UK authorities should have already reached out to participating operators, but new operators should contact the appropriate authority within their particular region of the UK. Operators seeking free allocations of emissions allowances will need to apply for them by the end of March, he added.

Meanwhile, the EU recently held a consultation soliciting input on planned revisions to the EU ETS, including how to fold in the ICAO Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and on the ability of the aviation sector to pass CO2 costs onto passengers. During this process, the EU is planning to increase its target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the original 40 percent over 1990 levels to 55 percent, in line with the European Green Deal.

West Star’s Perryville Site Adds Class 4 Repair Status

The FAA has approved West Star Aviation’s Perryville, Missouri, facility as a Class 4 repair station, the last of the MRO provider’s four, full-service facilities to earn the designation. As a Class 4 facility, the Perryville site will be able to service larger sheet metal airframes, including for most major business aircraft models.

In addition, all four primary West Star facilities—which include East Alton, Illinois, Grand Junction, Colorado, and Chattanooga, Tennessee—have added second shifts to maintain consistent turn times with the extra capabilities. “We are continually increasing our services and capabilities to meet our customers’ needs, as well as adding new customers with our expanded services,” said West Star Perryville general manager Kyle French.

West Star also operates satellite MRO facilities at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Colorado; Chicago Executive Airport; Centennial Airport in Denver; Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport in Texas; Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport; and Scottsdale Airport in Arizona.

BJT Webinar: Basics of Flying Privately

AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler is holding a free webinar on March 3 about how to get started with flying privately. Hosted by AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber and veteran business aviation journalist Charles Alcock, the webinar will feature EBAA COO Robert Baltus and NATA senior v-p Ryan Waguespack in an unbiased and invaluable conversation through the basics—from charter, jet cards, and flight clubs to fractional aircraft shares and full ownership. Register now

Lessons from B777 In-flight Engine Failure

As NTSB investigators find out why a Pratt & Whitney PW4077 engine failed on a Boeing 777 airliner soon after takeoff from Denver, AIN’s air transport editor Gregg Polek talks us through what we know so far. Already the focus is on a damaged fan blade, but authorities will also be considering possible connections with other incidents of engine failure.