Delays in FAA certification for the Gulfstream G700 “deprived” parent company General Dynamics of $1 billion in revenue and $250 million in earnings last year at its aerospace division, General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic said this morning during the company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 investor call. The company had planned for FAA approval and deliveries of 15 G700s last month, which didn’t materialize due to circumstances “outside of our control,” she said, referring to the U.S. agency. Customers of these 15 G700s were told earlier this week to prepare for deliveries in the first quarter.

Last year, Gulfstream delivered 111 jets (89 large-cabin and 22 super-midsize G280s), down from 120 (96 large-cabin and 24 G280s) in 2022 and missing its downgraded 2023 estimate of between 133 and 135 aircraft. General Dynamics' aerospace division, which includes both Gulfstream and Jet Aviation, still saw year-over-year increases of about $50 million in both revenues and earnings, to $8.621 billion and $1.182 billion, respectively.

Aerospace backlog climbed to $20.454 billion as of December 31, up from $19.516 billion a year earlier.

Looking ahead, the General Dynamics chief said Gulfstream is poised to deliver 160 jets this year, including 50 G700s and fewer G280s due to the conflict in Gaza (G280s are manufactured for Gulfstream by IAI in Tel Aviv).

Textron Aviation saw modest declines in revenues in the fourth quarter, reporting this morning that these totaled $1.5 billion, down $58 million from the same period in 2022. This reduction was attributed to a lower volume and mix of aircraft deliveries but partially offset by a rise in pricing. The division's third-quarter revenue was slightly lower, at $1.3 billion, and the U.S. manufacturer provided an optimistic outlook for 2024, indicating expectations for continued growth and expansion in aerospace.

The company delivered 50 jets and 44 commercial turboprops in the fourth quarter, marking a slight decrease from 52 jets and 47 turboprops in the same quarter of the previous year. It reported that profits reached $193 million in the fourth quarter, up $23 million from a year ago.

“While we ended the year with an expectation of a book-to-bill of 1:1, solid order flow and customer demand across our product portfolio resulted in a year-end backlog of $7.2 billion, an increase of $782 million,” said Scott Donnelly, chairman, president, and CEO of parent company Textron.

Looking ahead to 2024, Textron projects revenues of approximately $14.6 billion, compared with $13.7 billion in 2023. Textron's growth strategy emphasizes ongoing investments in new products and programs.

Embraer Executive Jets has extended Duncan Aviation’s service center authorization for another five years. The authorization allows Duncan Aviation’s facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah, to offer support and service for maintenance events on the Phenom 100 and 300; Legacy 450, 500, 600, and 650; and Praetor 500 and 600.

“We’re pleased to be able to continue offering Embraer authorized services at our full-service facilities to our mutual Embraer customers,” said Duncan Aviation v-p of sales Ryan Huss. “We’re proud to provide authorized Embraer services in the United States to include drop-in services, scheduled maintenance, inspections, and AOG emergencies and structural repairs.”

“This extension of our long-term relationship is the right direction for our company,” added Embraer Services and Support v-p of MRO services Frank Stevens. “Duncan Aviation offers world-class facilities and excellent services to our customers. This agreement will allow us to meet the high demand across the entire Embraer Executive Jets network and to bring value to our customers with high-level services across the U.S.”

Government officials and industry leaders were on hand today in Soperton, Georgia, as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) innovator and producer LanzaJet opened the world’s first ethanol-to-SAF refinery.

The Freedom Pines facility—under construction since 2022—represents the first viable next-generation SAF technology capable of scaling production to the levels needed to help aviation decarbonize. It will use a variety of sustainable feedstocks, including agricultural waste, municipal solid waste, energy crops, and captured carbon from industrial processes. At full capacity, it will produce 10 million gallons of SAF or renewable diesel a year. Through offtake agreements, its entire output is already committed for the next decade.

In attendance at today's ribbon cutting were company shareholders International Airlines Group, Mitsui & Co., Shell, and Suncor Energy, along with investors such as the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, Breakthrough Energy, British Airways, and All Nippon Airways.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to harnessing the full potential of SAF as we continue to build a strong economy that is sustainable, resilient, competitive, and keeps rural places thriving,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As we transition to SAF, this will not only create new climate-smart commodity markets for American producers, but it will also help American companies like LanzaJet corner the market of a valuable, emerging industry, while revitalizing rural communities like Soperton with agriculture front and center in the effort.”

Plane Place Aviation has added aircraft-on-ground (AOG) and mobile repair team (MRT) services to its capabilities for Texas and Oklahoma, while expanding onsite support at Dallas Love Field (KDAL), the Texas-based maintenance provider said today.

The added services augment maintenance of Bombardier Challenger 300, Hawker, and Cessna Citation airframes, on which the company claims "extensive" experience supporting large MROs, charter operations, and aircraft maintenance management companies.

“We continue to add services to benefit our customers and are now able to assist with AOG service to surrounding areas, along with on-site service at Dallas Love Field,” said Plane Place Aviation co-owner Tristan Noe.

Besides providing business aircraft maintenance at Cleburne Regional Airport in central Texas and additional AOG/MRT support across Texas and Oklahoma, the company provides onsite support at Dallas Love Field.