Textron Aviation today reported lower revenue and deliveries in its year-over-year fourth-quarter results, although full-year results matched more closely to the demand the business aviation industry was reporting throughout most of 2021. In the quarter, the Wichita-based Beechcraft and Cessna airframer earned $1.4 billion in revenue—$201 million less than the year-ago quarter—and delivered 46 Citation business jets and 43 Caravan and King Air turboprops, down from the same period in 2020 when it delivered 61 jets and 61 turboprops.
For all of 2021, however, revenue was $4.56 billion compared with $3.97 billion in 2020, while deliveries increased to 167 jets from 132 in 2020 and turboprops were higher at 125 versus 113. Fourth-quarter profit was $137 million, a $29 million increase from the same three-month period in 2020. Overall profit last year was substantially higher: $378 million compared with $16 million in 2020.
Backlog also rose by $655 million quarter-over-quarter, finishing the year at $4.1 billion. The higher backlog, which is up by $2.5 billion from year-end 2020, also means Textron Aviation is ramping up production this year.
Meanwhile, Textron Inc. chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly noted that the new Cessna SkyCourier has completed its test program with 2,100 hours of flight activity. He added that FAA type certification for the utility turboprop twin is expected in the first half of this year.
Wheels Up has reached an agreement to acquire London-based aviation services provider Air Partner for approximately $107 million in cash, the companies announced today. The acquisition is expected to close in March, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Air Partner, which was founded in 1961 and now has 18 worldwide offices, provides private jet, group, and freight charter, as well as aviation safety and security solutions. According to Wheels Up, the acquisition will allow it to expand its service offerings while permitting Air Partner to leverage Wheels Up’s investments in operations, service, and technology.
“Today’s announcement marks an important new chapter for Wheels Up as we systematically build [a] leading global, private aviation company,” said Wheels Up chairman and CEO Kenny Dichter. “This acquisition will allow us to offer existing and future customers even more compelling and seamless options for private travel, expand the reach of our marketplace in key markets around the world, and add important operational capabilities to our network. We look forward to sharing more details on the transaction and our go-to-market plans after the deal formally closes.”
Air Partner CEO Mark Briffa added that the deal will bring together “businesses with complementary offerings and values.”
International aviation services provider ExecuJet has expanded its reach in the Australasia region with the purchase of Air Center One, a long-standing FBO at New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport (NZAA). The Luxaviation Group subsidiary, a member of the Paragon Aviation Network, now has 24 FBOs, including three others in the area—at Wellington International Airport, which it manages in partnership with Capital Jet Services, and in Australia at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne.
NZAA is the country’s busiest airport with more than 2,000 business aviation flights a year. International flights represent more than half of the operations, with destinations such as Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the U.S.
In operation for more than 35 years, the Air Center One complex offers customs and immigration processing facilities, a dedicated guest lounge with views of the ramp, and hangar space for itinerant business aircraft. Founder Robin Leach will remain with the facility to ensure a smooth transition.
“We are excited to be expanding our global FBO network through this acquisition and offering our services at another major destination in the region,” said Luxaviation CEO Patrick Hansen. “Air Center One has been for a long time our preferred handling agent in Auckland, which is a major destination for New Zealand and complements our partnership at the Wellington FBO.”
Nevada-based helicopter operator El Aero Service has become the first Helicopter Association International (HAI) member to join the organization’s safety management system (SMS) program. HAI unveiled the program in October to help small operators and others with cost concerns adopt SMS. The association said the program was a “direct result” of a survey that revealed a number of members were looking for support to make SMS easier to implement and track.
SMS has been at the forefront since the FAA announced plans to issue a rule to require commercial operators to incorporate such programs. In addition, the NTSB has added SMS implementation to its “Most Wanted” list.
HAI has partnered with Baldwin Safety & Compliance, Wyvern, and the Air Charter Safety Foundation to offer the program, which provides various service packages and capabilities that can scale to an operator’s needs. Each package enables users to verify their compliance with current and future domestic and international regulations.
El Aero Services opted for a Baldwin service and implemented its SMS program on January 1, said director of operations Jairus Duncan, adding the company is “currently in the process of customizing the various elements of the program to match our operations and needs perfectly.” In business for more than 50 years, El Aero Services operates two Bell 206L4s, a Bell 206B3, and three airplanes.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association has added seven members representing a spectrum of the market—from a legacy airframer to an engine maker and an avionics provider—to those in the advanced air mobility realm. With the additions, the association now has some 140 full, associate, and Epic associate members.
New full members include Cascina Costa, Italy-based Leonardo Helicopters, which also has engineering and industrial operations in the UK, Poland, and the U.S., and a history dating back to predecessor companies Westland in 1916 and Agusta in 1928. Also joining as full members are Safran Helicopter Engines, which is part of the Safran group of companies, and Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Shadin Avionics, which was founded in 1978.
Associate members include ZeroAvia, which was founded in 2018 to develop zero-emission powertrains and is pursuing hydrogen-electric technology. ZeroAvia initially joined GAMA in 2018 as an Epic associate member, a base-level category that enables participation on GAMA’s Electric Propulsion & Innovation Committee. Also joining as an associate member—a category for companies primarily engaged in the development of new general aviation products and operations—is Prime Air, an Amazon future delivery system.
Finally, the new Epic associate members are a relatively new Swedish electric aircraft company, Heart Aerospace, and Jaunt Air Mobility, a Dallas-based eVTOL designer.
Embraer has completed the reintegration of its commercial aviation business, following its split from the company’s business aviation division in 2019 to prepare for a joint venture with Boeing. A deal announced in August 2018 would have seen Boeing take an 80 percent stake in Embraer’s commercial aircraft business, but that plan unraveled in early 2020 following financial woes at Boeing stemming from the 737 Max debacle.
The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer’s reorganization process began in May 2020 and since then has been one of its main focuses under a strategic plan to make the company more efficient and profitable. According to Embraer, the reintegration ensures operational benefits and eliminates fiscal inefficiencies via an integrated, less complex, and more agile management structure.
“We believe that 2022 will be a year of growth and we are well prepared to harness the full potential of the company. So the success of the reintegration of the commercial aviation business is another important step in the process of executing our strategic planning and will result in significant operational improvements and better profitability,” said Embraer executive v-p of finance and investor relations Antonio Carlos Garcia.
Global Aviation Technologies has been tapped as a sales and installation provider of SmartSky connectivity equipment, including aircraft antennas and aircraft base radios. The equipment is STC’d for more than 4,000 aircraft, SmartSky Networks said.
SmartSky is expanding the availability of the equipment as it rolls out its air-to-ground network, which the company says had achieved roughly 80 percent coverage of the Continental U.S. last year and will approach full coverage in the second quarter.
“We’re excited to establish new sales and installation partners at every segment of the market and bring our innovative in-flight connectivity to the skies,” said Aria Bahawdory, director of MRO account management for SmartSky Networks. Based in Wichita, Global Aviation Technologies will provide the hardware to support connectivity on business aircraft.
“SmartSky is an impressive addition to our portfolio of services,” said Woody Cottner, v-p of business development for Global Aviation Technologies. “Their in-flight connectivity service and innovative hardware offer an unmatched experience and are a great fit for the aircraft we service and support.”
SmartSky is expanding the network of installation partners and value-added resellers to offer its air-to-network services, connectivity hardware, and Skytelligence digital platform.
TAG Aviation’s TAG Global Training division was recently awarded Transport Malta approval for the delivery of cabin crew attestations during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement of the award comes as TAG Global Training marks its 15th year of offering ground school training courses for pilots and cabin crew in private aviation.
Since its establishment in 2007, TAG Global Training has instructed more than 31,000 students at its base at Farnborough Airport in the UK. Over the years, its courses have begun to attract not only people seeking careers in private aviation but those looking to work as butlers, interior yacht crew, and chauffeurs for high-net-worth individuals, according to the company.
“TAG Global Training has always strived to maintain its position as the market leader in crew training,” said TAG’s training manager Debbie Elliott. “Last year, we were recognized as an ‘outstanding’ training provider by the UK’s Department for Transport for our commitment to security training and the swift launch of our instructor-led, web-based live learning sessions when the Covid pandemic started.”
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