Bombardier has named the first research partners for its EcoJet project, which aims to reduce business jet emissions by 50 percent through aerodynamic blended-wing-body (BWB) designs. The Montreal-based business jet manufacturer announced yesterday that it has enlisted two Canadian partners—the University of Victoria’s Centre for Aerospace Research (CfAR) and Quaternion Aerospace—to collaborate on the EcoJet project.

Quaternion Aerospace is a research and development firm in British Columbia that specializes in the design and manufacture of energy-efficient aircraft. It provides consulting services for OEMs such as Bombardier. 

CfAR has extensive experience in the development of autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), or drones, for research purposes, as well as commercial and military applications. The institution has designed, built, and tested several scaled demonstrator aircraft over the years, including the first two EcoJet technology demonstrators. 

“Through this collaboration, our students and researchers are gaining critical real-world skills while helping to push forward the frontiers of sustainability and redefining the boundaries of what is possible for the future of the global aviation industry,” said CfAR director Afzal Suleman, who teaches mechanical engineering at the university. 

Bombardier launched the EcoJet program 15 years ago and flew its first subscale demonstrator in 2017. The EcoJet team revealed its second technology demonstrator at EBACE 2023.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based fractional ownership provider PlaneSense is expanding its Pilatus PC-24 program to west of the Rockies, with plans to eliminate its out-of-area fees for those clients by the end of June.

“Demand for fractional shares in the PC-24 jet has far exceeded expectations,” said PlaneSense president and CEO George Antoniadis. “We are thrilled to soon offer jet shares in the Western U.S. without any out-of-area restrictions. The Pilatus PC-24 is ideally suited for the missions of the West Coast region.”

PlaneSense has primarily focused its jet program east of the Rockies but has found clients increasingly seeking flights on the West Coast, the company said. With the changes, the jet program will operate in the Lower 48 states and parts of Canada without restrictions—similar to the PlaneSense program for its Pilatus PC-12 turboprop singles.

The move comes as PlaneSense took delivery of its first upgraded PC-24 in late December, with plans to take five more this year. With the additional deliveries, one-third of its PC-24 fleet will involve the upgraded model, which features a 200-nm range increase, to 2,000 nm, with six passengers.

Along with the upgraded models, PlaneSense expanded its maintenance facility in Boulder City, Nevada, last year. The fractional provider established the base in 2021 to accommodate its growing business in the Western U.S.

Airbus Helicopters delivered 346 helicopters and logged 393 net orders in 2023, up from 344 deliveries and 362 net orders in 2022. Orders came from 179 customers in 47 countries, giving it an estimated 54 percent share of the civil and parapublic market, according to the company. For the year, orders increased by nearly 10 percent compared with 2022.

CEO Bruno Even called the results “a testament to the versatility of our products.” However, Even also pointed out that while deliveries represented a “slight increase” from 2022, they were still 20 percent below pre-Covid 2019 levels.

Orders for H145 twins led the book with 186, followed by 108 H125 singles, 39 H130 singles, 29 H135 light twins, 26 H160 intermediate twins, 14 H175 super-medium twins, and eight military NH90s, a helicopter co-produced in a joint venture with Leonardo. Airbus did not book any orders for the Super Puma family of heavy twins.

Even said he expected demand for Super Pumas to pick up now that an “enhanced” main gearbox is available for that aircraft family. Orders for its H125 single likely were depressed by increased interest rates. And while the H160 intermediate twin, which gained FAA certification validation in June, accounted for just 26 orders in 2023, he said the program had “good momentum.” 

Aircraft management services provider Solairus boosted the scale of its activities last year, reporting growth in its fleet, flight activity, and employees. According to the U.S. group, most of its growth last year was through the addition of long-range, large-cabin, and super-midsize business jets, which accounted for 87 percent of the new fleet. These segments also constitute 88 percent of its fleet of 325 aircraft.

Most of this fleet, which grew by almost 9 percent last year, is operated for private owners under Part 91, with almost a quarter on its Part 135 certificate and available for charter. According to Solairus, the number of legs flown in 2023 was up by about 1 percent and flight hours grew by 2 percent.

The large-cabin portion of the fleet now includes 103 aircraft and there are 45 super-midsize jets. The arrival of 18 long-range aircraft last year represented a growth rate of 16 percent, and these accounted for almost 70 percent of all new additions.

Solairus said it aims to hire over 300 new crewmembers in 2024. Its presence next week at the NBAA Regional Forum at Miami-Opa Locka Airport is part of this recruitment drive. At this event, it will be particularly focused on meeting qualified captains and maintenance supervisors.

Bell Textron achieved a healthy uptick in revenues in the fourth quarter, largely driven by increasing numbers of helicopter deliveries. The U.S. group's revenues for the three months ending December 31 reached $1.1 billion, marking a $255 million increase from the same period a year earlier.

Commercial aviation revenues soared by $171 million, largely due to increased helicopter deliveries. Additionally, military revenues saw an increase of $84 million, closely associated with advancements in the Pentagon's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program.

Bell’s revenues for the full year were nearly $3.15 billion, up from about $3.09 billion in 2022. The segment’s profit totaled $320 million last year, up from $282 million in 2022.

Bell achieved a significant milestone in helicopter deliveries, with 91 commercial helicopters delivered in the quarter, up from 71 in the previous year's corresponding period. This increase in volume and improved product mix contributed an additional $39 million, resulting in a segment profit of $118 million, a $55 million rise from the year-ago quarter.

Throughout 2023, Bell delivered a total of 171 commercial helicopters, slightly lower than the 179 helicopters delivered in 2022. Despite this marginal decrease, the year-end backlog for Bell stood at $4.8 billion.