Analysts: Bombardier’s Bizjet Unit Could Be Sold

After warning about worse-than-forecast earnings, a reassessment of its partnership with Airbus on the A220, and pursuit of alternatives to pay down debt, Bombardier could “take an existing page out of their old playbook…and sell yet another business unit,” specifically its business jet division, posits business aviation analyst Brian Foley. While it wouldn’t be a “seller’s market” for Bombardier's business jet division,” Foley said there would likely be several potential suitors.

Of the major business aviation OEMs, “The last logical man standing…would be Textron Aviation,” he said, noting that product overlap would rule out both Gulfstream and Dassault, while Embraer is preoccupied with its Boeing tie-up. “Non-strategic buyers could also be suspects,” Foley added, citing large private-equity firms, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and the company's founding Beaudoin family.

Fellow business aviation analyst Rolland Vincent agrees that its business jet unit could be put up for sale, “although there are other possibilities such as further asset sales or joint ventures in its airplane and train units.” He told AIN that the most likely buyers would be Textron Aviation, allowing it to go up-market, or Mitsubishi, which reached a deal in June to buy Bombardier’s CRJ program.

A Bombardier Aviation spokesman told AIN that the company’s business aviation division “has strong platforms that continue to perform,” adding that the company won’t comment on market speculation.

Datalink Mandate To Expand in North Atlantic

North Atlantic Datalink requirements are expanding effective January 30 to cover airspace between FL290 and FL410, warns flight-planning firm OpsGroup. Currently, aircraft must be equipped for datalink communications, essentially controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) and ADS-C, to fly through FL350 to FL390 in North Atlantic Tracks. Phase 2C of the North Atlantic Datalink Mandate expands CPDLC requirements from FL290 to FL410.

OpsGroup, which monitors and provides advisories on airspace and other aviation operational events, notes a few exceptions to the requirements: airspace north of 80° North; New York Oceanic East Flight Instrument Region; Tango Routes T9, along with new route T290 being introduced on January 30 (Tango Routes T213, T13, T16 will all require datalink); and certain ATS Surveillance airspace where surveillance service is provided by radar and/or ADS-B, coupled with VHF.

Once in effect, OpsGroup further advises, a corridor of airspace between Canada and Iceland will remain open for aircraft not equipped with CPDLC. Aircraft without datalink can request to climb or descend through datalink mandated airspace, the organization adds, but advises that this will be granted only on a “tactical basis.”

Genesys Aerosystems Unveils Digital Radios

Genesys Aerosystems has developed its own line of digital radios for application in any aviation segment, including special-mission operators and a variety of civil helicopters and airplanes. The digital radios, the first-ever designed and manufactured by Mineral Wells, Texas-based Genesys, can be integrated with its displays and avionics or serve as standalone units.

The Genesys Digital Radio (GDR) family consists of remote-mount, software-definable VHF com and nav radios, with optional embedded 225-400 MHz UHF. Frequencies for com radios range from 118-136 MHz and 118-156 MHz, with 25- or 8.33-MHz frequency spacing and transmit power of 16 or 25 watts. Nav functions include VOR/localizer/glideslope and marker beacon. The GDRs interface with a host controller/display unit, which controls com and nav functions via RS-232, RS-422, or Arinc 429 protocols.

The new radios meet software design assurance level A and Mil-STD 704E and 810G, according to Genesys, “accommodating all segments of the aviation market.” In addition to electronic flight displays, Genesys also manufactures autopilots and sensors.

With radios in its product line, Genesys (established from the former S-Tec and Chelton Flight Systems businesses) can now offer fully integrated avionics systems. “The GDR is a powerful radio line that is customizable and is the perfect complement to our avionics suite, including our EFIS, autopilot, and sensor product lines,” said business development v-p Gordon Pratt.

Air BP To Further SAF Talk at AirOps Europe

As part of its continuing efforts to help business aviation reduce carbon emissions, Air BP will be present at the upcoming EBAA AirOps Europe 2020, which will be held on February 4 and 5 in Brussels. Tom Parsons, the fuel company’s low carbon commercial development manager, will among a panel of industry experts that will discuss the paths to a more environmentally sustainable future for the business aviation industry, which is currently facing scrutiny due to its carbon emissions, particularly in Europe. Other panelists will include Bruce Parry, EBAA’s senior environment manager; Miles Thomas, Farnborough Airport's environment manager; Laura Casati, online marketing manager with GlobeAir; and Charlotte Pruvot, air, climate, and energy officer for Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur.

"Limiting aviation’s impact on climate and on communities is a very important priority,” noted EBAA COO Robert Baltus, adding that he is pleased Air BP will be present to share its expertise at the event. “With sustainability an ever-increasing challenge for on-demand, non-scheduled aviation, our sector faces environmental challenges globally and locally, from atmospheric contributions and climate change, through to local noise around airports.”

Air BP will also lead a workshop for invited delegates to discuss the latest in low-carbon technologies and sustainable work practices.

Ruag MRO Paints Its First Embraer Lineage

Ruag MRO International recently completed a 48-month inspection on an Embraer Lineage, in addition to an avionics upgrade, cabin refurbishment, and full exterior paint, the latter of which was a first for the Switzerland-based MRO provider. “The choices our customer made for optimizing the downtime succeeded in personalizing their aircraft while also enhancing performance and safeguarding accuracy in controlled airspace,” said Ruag MRO head of sales business jets Christian Karl.

Seeking a full refurbishment of the private aircraft based on the Embraer E190 airliner following its recent purchase, the customer opted for a cabin refresh, new livery, and compliance with the FAA’s and EASA’s ADS-B Out and future air navigation system (FANS) mandates. That was in addition to heavy maintenance on the aircraft, as well as a resolution of Embraer service bulletins. All of the work was completed on time at Ruag MRO’s Embraer-authorized service center at Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen Airport in Germany.

“We believe our one-stop-shop approach to aircraft MRO and upgrades provide our customers with a sustainable strategic advantage,” explained Ruag MRO business jets general manager Markus Frötschl.

Victor Expands Rewards Program for Charter Flights

On-demand jet charter platform operator Victor has expanded its Alto frequent-flier program to include travel and lifestyle brands Scott Dunn, Sixt, and Spencer Hart, the London-based company announced on Tuesday. Called Alto Partners, the program awards Victor members points that they can use for charters.

“With Alto Partners, we have listened to what resonates with our customers and are delivering lifestyle benefits to match their interests beyond jet travel,” said Victor UK managing director Toby Edwards. “These lifestyle benefits would typically be exclusive to clients of expensive pre-paid jet cards; however, like the Victor membership, Alto is free to join and accessible to all.”

The first Alto Partners include Scott Dunn, a global provider of travel services; Sixt, a luxury ground transportation provider; and Spencer Hart, a custom-made clothing service. Victor members using those luxury services and goods providers earn between two and five points for every dollar they spend. Those points are added to a member’s account and can be redeemed in blocks of 10,000 on future flights through Victor.

Erickson Delivers Sixth Air Crane to Korea

Helicopter operator and manufacturer Erickson has delivered the last of two S-64 Air Crane heavy-twin utility helicopters to the Korean Forest Service for 2019. These latest deliveries were of the K8 variant, which incorporates the company’s newest modifications, namely composite main rotor blades and a glass cockpit. The addition of the K8 variant brings the Korean Forest Service’s operational fleet of S-64s to six helicopters, according to Erickson.

The Korean Forest Service and rotorcraft manufacturer have a nearly 20-year business relationship that has included the development of a model firefighting and emergency response program along with by-the-hour maintenance services and pilot training.

In 1999, Erickson sold its first S-64 to the Korean Forest Service , which also marked the first S-64 purchase by a foreign government. The Portland, Oregon-based company became the type certificate holder and purchased the intellectual property of the S-64 from Sikorsky in 1992. The model’s first flight was in May 1962, and the U.S. Army placed an initial order for six S-64As that it designated as the YCH-54 Tarhe.

Charter Broker Magellan Concludes a Decade of Growth

Boston-based charter broker Magellan Jets wrapped up a decade of an average year-over-year growth rate of 30 percent and expects to be approaching $60 million in revenue in 2020, the on-demand charter and membership company announced this week. “2018 was the most challenging year in our 11-plus years in the business, and but we are a better organization because of it,” said Magellan CEO and founder Joshua Hebert. “We needed to use 2018 and early 2019 to position the company for growth and sustainability, and that resulted in 2019 being our best year of the 2010s in terms of revenue, net profit, membership services renewal rates, and client retention.”

According to Magellan, the renewal rate of its membership services programs such as Elevate exceeds 93 percent. In 2019, the number of high-net-worth individuals and companies joining its membership services programs doubled, while the number of charter services clients grew by 33 percent.

The company said it is fully prepared to continue its organic growth rate of 30 percent annually into the next decade. “The 2020s are going to be the golden decade of opportunity for personalized service in private aviation,” Herbert said.