Dassault Aviation To Buy Luxaviation’s ExecuJet MROs

Luxaviation is divesting the global business aircraft maintenance activities of its ExecuJet subsidiary to Dassault Aviation, the companies announced today. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. After obtaining the necessary approvals, ExecuJet’s network of 15 MRO centers across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East will be gradually integrated into the structure of the French aircraft manufacturer this year.

Dassault Aviation chairman and CEO Eric Trappier said the acquisition of ExecuJet's MRO operations will strengthen the group’s global footprint, especially in Asia-Pacific, Oceania, Middle East, and Africa. Meanwhile, selling the maintenance activities “allows Luxaviation Group to refocus on our core aviation services and to further invest worldwide into the sector’s development,” Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen said.

The sale agreement with Dassault is limited to the maintenance activities of ExecuJet and excludes FBOs and the aircraft management activities of the Zurich Airport-headquartered company. ExecuJet provides maintenance support capabilities for a diverse collection of business aircraft types in 42 countries globally. Its specialized fuselage, engineering, and avionics services are certified by the FAA and/or EASA.

Graeme Duckworth, executive vice president MRO services Luxaviation Group, will continue to lead the MRO activities under the new shareholder. “ExecuJet will maintain its identity and its leadership. We will benefit from valuable synergies within the Dassault Group,” he said.

Gulfstream, IAI Eye Next Generation of G280: Report

Gulfstream and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) are collaborating on the next-generation variant of the G280, an Israeli news agency reports. According to the Israel business news organization Globes, the board of IAI recently signed off on the upgraded G280—codenamed the P32 project—and committed $80 million to the project, matching a Gulfstream investment. Gulfstream did not comment on the project, saying only, “Our research and development team is always contemplating options; we have no announcements.”

IAI manufactures the G280 for Gulfstream under license. In 2001, Gulfstream acquired IAI’s business jet business, then Galaxy Aerospace, but continued production of the original IAI models in Israel. Through this collaboration, Gulfstream launched the G280 in 2008 and brought the 3,600-nm, Mach 0.85 super-midsize aircraft to market in 2012.

“There has been some quiet buzz about the so-called P32 program floating around various corners of the industry,” said Rolland Vincent, managing director of JetNet iQ. “We have been including an enhanced G280 for some time in our JetNet iQ forecasts.”  

An upgraded model would come as the super-midsize category is staged for a makeover. Cessna has become a newcomer to the field with its 3,500-nm Longitude. Embraer, meanwhile, plans to bring its 3,900-nm Praetor 600 to market this year, upping the ante on range for the category, as well as competitive pressure on the G280 and Bombardier Challenger 350.

Farnborough Sets Traffic Record in 2018

One of London’s primary business aviation gateways, TAG Farnborough Airport, experienced record air traffic movements last year. The annual total of 30,279 movements represented a year-on-year increase of 13.8 percent over 2017 and was also 8.2 percent up on Farnborough’s previous busiest year in 2007, just before the economic crash.

“TAG Farnborough Airport’s improved performance last year is a clear vote of confidence from the business aviation sector,” said CEO Brandon O’Reilly. “It underlines the success of TAG Farnborough Airport’s philosophy—to consistently offer a five-star service of the highest standard with no compromises—and our position as Europe’s leading business airport.”

O’Reilly offered two reasons for the airport’s growth: the continued popularity of London as a global destination, and the squeeze being placed on business aviation at London’s commercial airports. There was a slight drop in traffic to and from Russia, but transatlantic traffic climbed significantly, with flights to and from the U.S. rising by 22.5 percent. Meanwhile, European destinations surged 15.5 percent.

Movements are expected to surpass 32,000 in 2019, which could push the annual passenger figures past 100,000 for the first time. Farnborough expects to collect approximately 50 percent of Northolt’s business when the West London airfield closes for runway work. There is plenty of capacity for further traffic growth, as Farnborough has been approved for up to 50,000 movements per year.

Private Jet Movements at Davos Could Top 1,500

The four Swiss airports that serve the bulk of the annual World Economic Forum’s business jet traffic could see a nearly 15 percent increase in aircraft movements, said global charter provider Air Charter Service. Movements at the four-day event that begins tomorrow in Davos, Switzerland, could reach almost 1,500, ACS predicted, up from more than 1,300 last year.

Andy Christie, ACS’s private jets director, said working with WingX the companies looked at private jet activity over six days—including the day before WEF and the day after—at the airports that primarily serve the forum’s attendees: Zürich, Dübendorf, St. Gallen-Altenrhein, and St. Moritz. WingX and ACS looked at the data going back to 2013 to make their prediction for 2019.

Countries with the most arrivals and departures over the past five years are Germany, France, the UK, U.S., Russia, and UAE, respectively. Christie said there is a trend toward heavy jets, with Gulfstream GVs and Bombardier Global Expresses each being used more than 100 times each in 2018. “This is at least in part due to some of the long distances traveled, but also possibly due to business rivals not wanting to be seen to be outdone by one another,” he said.

Global Trek To Expand, Opening FBO in Wales

Global Trek Aviation, which operates a full-service FBO at Northern Ireland’s Belfast International Airport, is expanding its operations to Cardiff International Airport in the capital of Wales.

The company expects to open the location in April, offering a range of ground service equipment and a dedicated fueling service. It plans to provide “world class” services from the very first day, with a local team trained to NATA Safety 1st certification standards.

“We are delighted to be opening this all-new facility at Cardiff International Airport as it offers tremendous potential with its ideal strategic location,” said Global Trek COO Gordon Bingham. “We are investing in building a bespoke, modern facility on the south side of the airport, with a dedicated VIP lounge, private offices, crew briefing center, flight operations facilities, and a fully integrated security screening suite.”

Employees Looted Drone Maker DJI in $150M Fraud

Chinese drone maker DJI, the world’s largest maker of recreational small UASs, lost $150 million last year due to a wide-sweeping internal financial fraud in which some employees inflated the cost of parts and materials and diverted the proceeds for personal financial gain, according to the company. In a statement issued this morning, DJI said it “took swift action to address this issue, dismissed a number of employees who violated company policies, and contacted law enforcement officials. We continue to investigate the situation and are cooperating fully with law enforcement’s investigation.”

The company further said that it is “taking steps to strengthen internal controls and have established new channels for employees to submit confidential and anonymous reports relating to any violations of the company’s workplace conduct policies.” This fraud investigation to date has resulted in the termination of 29 employees, the referral of 16 for criminal prosecution, and could potentially involve more.

Privately held DJI was founded in 2006 by Frank Wang who had received an $18,000 grant from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for drone research in 2003. It has 14,000 employees, commands 74 percent of the light drone market, had $2.9 billion in sales in 2017, and has an estimated valuation of $15 billion. The company is widely expected to issue a stock IPO later this year.

Alto Adds CMS Upgrades for GIV, GV

Alto Aviation’s new cabin management system (CMS) upgrades for the Gulfstream GIV and GV provide a simple means of replacing the original legacy Pacific Systems/Airshow cabin switches. The Alto switches are a direct replacement and are fit-compatible, which means that existing wood and furnishing are not compromised. Alto solutions include and fit “Micronet round, squared, raised-oval button, and the concave curved side ledge panels,” according to the company.

Customers can select a variety of Alto solutions to fit their aircraft and budget needs. For example, headphone functionality can be removed, and those jacks replaced with blanking plates and new panels with USB charging and seat lighting controls. Headphones can be retained too, when needed for viewing video. If more capability is required, such as aux input ports for VIP or entertainment cabinet panels, HDMI ports, and USB charging ports, Alto’s Cadence Switch System can accommodate this functionality without having to change the original switch cutout.

KlasJet Adding Three VIP B737-500s to Fleet

Lithuania-based charter and management firm KlasJet is significantly increasing its fleet with the addition of three VIP Boeing 737-500s. The aircraft, currently being prepped for operations, will join a KlasJet fleet that consists of a Hawker 800XP; Bombardier CRJ200 and Challenger 850; and another VIP Boeing 737-500. In addition, KlasJet outlined plans to acquire up to four more Boeings, listing fleet expansion among its focuses for 2019.

The fleet expansion will enable the operator to further tailor its services to a client base that has involved special customer segments and groups such as sports clubs, show business, diplomatic flights, and VIP flights, said KlasJet CEO Dovydas Jurgelevicius.

“Insights towards potential business opportunities in newly identified segments let us make the decision and double the fleet,” he added. “With new capabilities, our team will be able to provide the best solutions to a wider range of customers."

To be operational in the first quarter, the first of the three 737-500s will be fitted with 52 business-class seats in red-and-black leather trim. The next, to enter the fleet in the second quarter, incorporates a “blue bird of the sky” design, will have an interchangeable interior that can be configured for between 68 and 102 business-class seats. The third, to join the fleet in the second half of the year, will be equipped with 120 upgraded seats.

AIN’s Tales from the Flight Deck: When It All Goes Sideways

Having reached their 43,000-foot cruise altitude, the crew of a corporate Citation XLS had their world almost literally turned upside down. Like a rogue wave far out at sea, clear air turbulence can come from nowhere, and a routine flight can instantly become a heart-stopping roller coaster ride. Like many before them, this crew battled not only a gut-wrenching upset and aerodynamic stall, but even more significantly, they experienced the paralyzing effects of shock. In this episode, we’ll hear from one of the pilots, as well as experts in the field of upset recovery training. We’ll also learn how proper conditioning can enable pilots to react quickly and calmly when confronted with a “one in a million” event.