Jeffries: Bizjet Deliveries To Rise Marginally in 2021

While overall sentiment is up in Jeffries Equity Research’s 10th biannual business jet survey, the newly released report calls for 3.7 percent growth for new jet deliveries this year, down from its midyear 2020 prediction for a 6 percent increase. Based on responses from 102 business jet brokers globally, the survey’s sentiment index climbed by 1.7 points, to 6.6 on a 10-point scale, compared with 4.9 in June and 5.7 a year ago.

Business jets from Cessna/Textron Aviation and Gulfstream have the highest customer interest—cited by 34 percent and 28 percent of respondents, respectively. In the mid-cabin space, respondents were mixed on the super-midsize Cessna Citation Longitude due to its high relative pricing versus competitors, but mostly positive on Embraer's Praetors.

On the higher end, they were split on the competition between the Bombardier Global 7500 and Gulfstream G650, while 23 percent of respondents consider the G700 to be best positioned for success in the crop of new models.

The survey did note an expected silver lining from the pandemic: continued elevated interest in business aircraft flying. In fact, 45 percent of those surveyed believe interest in fractional and air charter will climb post-Covid. However, in the near-term they expect sales transactions to drop by 11 percent and residual values to sink 14 percent thanks to the pandemic’s global macro-economic impact.

NTSB: Winds Triggered 2018 Helitour Fatal

A Grand Canyon helitour that killed five people on Feb. 10, 2018, was caused by “a loss of tail rotor effectiveness, the pilot’s loss of helicopter control, and collision with terrain during approach to land in gusting, tailwind conditions in an area of potential downdrafts and turbulence,” according to the NTSB.

The Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters-operated Airbus EC130B4 crashed at 5:20 p.m. local time near Quartermaster Canyon on the Hualapai Nation in Arizona, three miles east of the Grand Canyon West Airport. All seven aboard survived the initial impact, but three passengers died in the post-crash fire and another two subsequently succumbed to related injuries. The pilot and one passenger survived with severe injuries.  

No mechanical faults were found with the accident helicopter, but the NTSB did uncover questionable weather monitoring practices by the pilot and operator. Specifically, it noted “weather advisories issued…several hours before the accident [that] indicated a cold front proceeding through the area with associated gusts and turbulence…above the maximum wind outlined in the company’s general operations manual.” A National Weather Service urgent weather message the morning of the accident warned of sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts to 45 mph and isolated gusts to 55 mph by 6 p.m. local time.

Safran’s Cassiopée FDM Now Available for Select CJ4s

Textron Aviation has selected Safran Electronics & Defense’s Cassiopée flight data monitoring (FDM) software for its Aircraft Recording System II (ARes II)-equipped Cessna Citation CJ4s. Using Cassiopée, CJ4 operators will gain a greater insight into routine operational practices and the ability to quickly identify potential operational issues, Safran said.

Cassiopée’s user interface offers a comprehensive overview of operations through data visualization, such as automatic events notification, flight path, crew feedback and reports, and operational statistics. In addition, Cassiopée teams are able to perform detailed analyses of relevant flight parameters, according to Safran.

“Cassiopée already supports more than 300 [airline, business aviation, and helicopter operators] around the world,” said Safran Electronics & Defense Avionics USA president and CEO Trice Smith. According to Safran, more than a third of the global commercial fleet is tracked using its systems, with more than 30 million hours of data analyzed every year.

ACS Offers 2021 Predictions for Charter Industry

A rising number of insolvencies within the aircraft charter industry and an increase in private jet bookings among business travelers will be among the developments in 2021, according to global broker Air Charter Service (ACS). “We are already seeing a reduction in marketing spends from these [charter] companies who often portray the results of heavy marketing investment, as well as loss-leading pricing, as illustrations of the success of their business model to generate new investment,” said ACS group private jets director Andy Christie. “Without the new customers generated through these strategies, the rate of growth will slow and, for some, that will mean serious cash flow issues, which may lead to insolvency.”

ACS also expects private jet travel bookings this year to return to 2019 levels through a combination of increased business travel—85 percent of 2019 levels—and leisure travel. Continued disruption in commercial air service could also lead to additional first-time private air travelers who will travel less frequently but take longer trips. In 2020, ACS recorded a 25 percent increase in new customer bookings. Those first-time private jet travelers are also more sensitive to carbon offsetting and will drive an increased uptake in carbon credits.

Mexico and the Caribbean will remain popular destinations among American travelers in 2021 because of their proximity and continued travel bans among other international locales, according to ACS.

U.S. DOT To Assess FAA’s Pilot Psychological Testing

The U.S. DOT Inspector General’s (DOT IG) office is currently conducting an audit to assess the FAA’s procedures for evaluating the psychological health of airline and other commercial pilots, as well as mitigating potential threats to aviation safety from pilots with mental health issues.

Since 1994 there have been at least six suspected or confirmed passenger airplane crashes internationally caused by intentional action by a pilot, resulting in a total of 398 fatalities, according to the DOT. “These incidents emphasize the importance of monitoring the psychological health of pilots.” 

FAA first-class medical certification rules (FAR 67.107) include a list of mental standards. Nevertheless, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) requested that the DOT IG undertake this audit, expressing concerns that FAA commercial pilot mental certification rules might be insufficient.

Europe has already taken action on this issue. Beginning next month, EASA will require national aviation authorities to incorporate provisions to “better identify, assess, and treat the psychological fitness” of commercial flight crewmembers.

MU-2 Advocate Earle Martin Flies West

Earle Plain Martin III, a charter operator who became a known champion of the Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop twin, passed away on December 31 after battling Covid-19. He was 65 years old.

Martin, dubbed by a colleague as “Mr. Mitsubishi,” had devoted a significant amount of time to speaking publicly about the attributes of the MU-2 after it came under criticism and urged fellow operators to take industry-wide product surveys, leading to Mitsubishi earning top ratings. He also highlighted safety and training throughout these campaigns, according to obituary information from the Houston Chronicle.

Born in Houston on Aug. 14, 1955, Martin attended Vanderbilt University and then received a law degree from the University of Texas. He embarked on a career in law, joining the firm of Vinson & Elkins. However, his love of flying led him to change course and become an air charter pilot and launch his own operation, Personal Air Charter.

Martin teamed up with another charter business owner and eventually joined that operation, Mid-Coast Air Charter. In 1996, he acquired that business and along with it, its MU-2. That launched his decades-long advocacy for the aircraft.

Martin further became known for his interaction with customers and co-workers, who gave him the nickname “Captain Beloved.” He is survived by his wife, Deborah, and sons Martin (fiancée Allison Trost), Daniel, and Grant Martin.

Pilot To Be Sentenced after Drone Hits LAPD Helicopter

The pilot of a drone that struck and damaged a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter in September has pleaded guilty to a sole count of misdemeanor unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. Sentencing is scheduled April 12 for Andrew Rene Hernandez, 22, who could receive up to one year in federal prison. Hernandez said he launched his drone last September 18 at approximately 12:18 a.m. to investigate police activity at a nearby pharmacy.

A responding LAPD AStar unsuccessfully tried to evade the drone. The helicopter suffered damage to its nose, antenna, and bottom cowling. Following the collision, pieces of the DJI Mavic Pro drone, s/n 08Q3G9KP01W033, fell through the rear window of a nearby unoccupied Toyota Corolla car. LAPD recovered the wreckage and used its serial number, onboard video, and witness tips to trace it back to Hernandez. 

The LAPD drone collision follows a similar one between a drone and an electronic newsgathering helicopter being operated for Los Angeles television station KABC in 2019. In that accident, the drone punctured, dented, and scraped the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer immediately forward of the tail rotor. In both cases, the helicopters made safe precautionary landings.

U.S. Helicopters Founder Cress Horne Dies at 61

Cresful William “Cress” Horne, Jr., who founded U.S. Helicopters as a college student and turned it into a nationwide company supporting the film, television, and a range of other industries, died on December 18 at the age of 61 at his home in Marvin, North Carolina.

Horne established U.S. Helicopters in 1979 while still a student at Wingate University, combining his passion for flying helicopters and his business understanding, according to his obituary information. The company began in a barn in Marshville, North Carolina, originally flying crop dusting missions and supporting aerial surveys of land and timber. U.S. Helicopters evolved into providing helicopter services for film and TV news, along with aerial surveys. In addition, it ventured into charter, maintenance, sales, and a range of other support activities.

Horne’s roles evolved with the company and he became a noted aerial director, pilot, and technical director of films with credits including The Fugitive, Nell, and The Gingerbread Man, among many others. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America.

But Horne ultimately returned to the Carolinas to expand U.S. Helicopters, as well as focus on his family, according to his obituary. He is survived by his wife Shawn King Horne, son Cresful William “Wil” Horne, III, and daughter Skylar Kimberlyn Horne.

Airbus H160 Lands Top Flight Award for Rotorcraft

The Airbus Helicopters H160 took highest honors in AIN's 2020 Top Flight Awards for the rotorcraft category. Airbus's medium-twin incorporates a variety of new technologies: “Blue Edge” active-tracking main rotor blades that reduce noise and improve ride smoothness; a 1,300-shp Safran Arrano engine that cuts fuel consumption by 10 to 15 percent; and four-panel touchscreen Helionix avionics. Overall, the H160 combines a composite airframe, futuristic styling, and modern technologies to produce a helicopter that is safer and more economical to operate and maintain.

See this year's award winners.