Textron Aviation this week delivered a special-mission Cessna Citation Longitude fitted with flight inspection calibration equipment to the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The super-midsize jet will be used for flight validation and flight inspection operations to ensure the integrity of Japan’s airways. The JCAB also operates five Citation CJ4s in a similar flight-inspection capacity.
“Textron Aviation is honored to, once again, be selected as the aircraft provider of choice for the JCAB,” said Bob Gibbs, the v-p of special-mission sales for Textron Aviation. “The Longitude continues the legacy of Cessna Citation flight inspection jet aircraft in service by the JCAB. The performance, large cabin, and capabilities of the Longitude provide the JCAB a new level of efficiency and productivity in maintaining the operational integrity of its airports and airways.”
The JCAB’s Longitude is outfitted with Unifis 3000-G2 flight inspection equipment to perform verification of navigational aids that include ILSs, ground-based augmentation systems, and VORs.
AINsight: Are There Five Buyers Instead of 10?
If preowned business aircraft inventory remains in short supply, the market will feel the same regardless of if there are five buyers rather than 10. Demand could be shrinking, and we may not notice until it is too late because supply may mask the reality. Only if supply increases will the real demand come to light.
In real estate, demand is reported to be shrinking due to higher interest rates. Inventory is rising in some markets and home prices are being reduced to compete. But aircraft prices are not yet affected by these factors—aircraft transactions have always been a lagging rather than leading indicator of economic health.
We have a period coming up that will be very interesting and give us all some additional vision of our future market: year-end bonus depreciation. Starting in August, we should start hearing from prospects that they want a year-end deal to qualify for 100 percent bonus depreciation.
If the demand kicks up like it did in the last two years, we may be in for another round of frenzied activity. But if we experience a lighter amount of prospect calls and fewer people calling to capture a year-end deal, that might be a sign that there are five, not 10, buyers out there for each airplane.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published proposed rules for the operation of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) air taxis in cities. “With this, EASA becomes the first aviation regulator worldwide to release a comprehensive regulatory framework for operations of VTOL-capable aircraft, which will offer air taxi and similar services,” said EASA executive director Patrick Ky. “We have done our best to address general societal concerns and the expectations of EU citizens with respect to safety, security, privacy, environment, and noise.”
The proposed regulatory framework is open to public consultation until September 30 and covers the technical domains of airworthiness, air operations, flight crew licensing, and rules of the air. It complements existing EU regulatory material for operations of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), the unmanned traffic management system known in Europe as U-space, and certification of aircraft capable of VTOL, as well as EASA guidance on the design of vertiports.
Key provisions of the proposed rules include initial limits on the number of vertiports operating in each city, establishing predefined routes and operating altitudes, setting minimum forward visibility requirements of 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) for VFR operations, and limiting operations to those flown by experienced pilots. EASA stressed that predefined routes would provide traffic deconfliction and avoid noise-sensitive areas with the goal of gaining greater public acceptance for the technology.
Embraer is working with Toyota do Brasil to maximize production efficiency. Announcing the agreement, Embraer said it would “embrace” Toyota Product System (TPS) principles and concepts for its industrial operations as it seeks to eliminate waste, lower costs, and improve efficiency. The move comes a month after Embraer spinoff Eve said it has retained Porsche Consulting for recommendations on developing a supply chain for high-volume rates of production.
Initially, a Toyota TPS team will delve into Embraer’s operations to evaluate and recommend improvements for the Brazilian airframer’s main manufacturing plant at São José dos Campos. TPS methods can apply to different applications, explained Rafael Chang, president of Toyota do Brasil. One primary area Embraer expects to explore is the use of a just-in-time approach providing a continuous flow of manufacturing and use of parts, reducing excess inventories.
“More than efficiency and productivity, the TPS can provide solutions that allow industry and other sectors to continuously improve their processes, which is one of Toyota's pillars worldwide,” Chang said.
“Bringing Toyota to execute this work reinforces Embraer’s commitment to focus on business excellence and sustainable growth,” said Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto. “It will be an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and accelerate the usage of the Lean philosophy in the production systems."
In-flight caterer Air Culinaire promises increasing quality for customers as it expands to a larger facility near New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport. According to Air Culinaire, the new 17,000-sq-ft kitchen will provide its team with extra space and modern appliances一including six-point ranges, high thermal BTU grills, and a pastry rolling system一to be more creative.
Air Culinaire added that the “expanded facilities reflect Air Culinaire’s constant pursuit of more efficient service and increased product quality” and that the team “is confident about the quality of service that the team will produce from the new kitchen.” The company’s executive chef of 14 years, Salvator Lano, and general manager Erick Arce have together led the transition to the new facility.
“The next chapter is here, and as we reinvest in the future, this facility reflects our commitment to creating a promising future for our team members and customers,” said Air Culinaire senior v-p of global operations Steven Roberts.
Air Culinaire has been operating in New Jersey since 2005. The new facility will make use of energy-efficient equipment and custom ventilation system, as well as anti-bacterial flooring and walls and retractable spray-down systems for sanitation.
Execujet Haite Aviation Services China and business jet operator Metrojet are jointly acquiring Funian Aviation, a deal that is expected to be completed this month. Founded in 2017, Funian Aviation provides aircraft management and charter services, operating a fleet of Gulfstream G450s and G550s. Based in Shenzhen, China, the company holds a CAAC Part 135 charter certificate and CAAC Part 145 maintenance organization approval. Funian Aviation has also obtained IS-BAO Stage II registration.
According to Execujet Haite—a subsidiary of the Sichuan-based Haite Group and a joint venture between Execujet Aviation and Tianjin Haite—the joint acquisition of Funian Aviation with Hong Kong-based Metrojet is “a major strategic step forward for both parties.” Metrojet added that the deal allows it to build on existing strengths in aircraft management, flight operations, and MRO services.
"Through leveraging the combined strengths of Haite and Metrojet, Funian Aviation will continue to promote and provide superior business aviation services and solutions that meet the highest international standards of safety, quality, and service in the Greater China region and abroad,” said Metrojet CEO Gary Dolski.
California’s Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) this week announced 18 aircraft operators as the recipients of its 2021 Friendly Flyer Awards. The awards are intended to honor general aviation companies and corporate flight departments that operate jets at reduced noise levels at KNVY.
To receive a recognition plaque, aircraft operators must comply with every mandatory noise abatement policy and have at least 99 percent adherence to voluntary noise-abatement policies. Operators were also rewarded for following the airport’s Quieter Nights program, which aims to reduce jet takeoffs and landings during nighttime hours.
Since 1981, KVNY has implemented programs to reduce noise from jet aircraft operations. It began its programs with a partial curfew for nighttime departure and in the last decade has aimed to phase out noisier jets. The airport has also implemented voluntary measures for noise reduction including the No Early Turn, Helicopter Route and Altitude Deviation, Quiet Jet Departure, and Quieter Nights programs.
“Van Nuys Airport is pleased to recognize the exceptional achievements of aircraft operators that continually strive to achieve meaningful noise reduction and address the concerns of airport neighbors,” KVNY airport manager Flora Margheritis said.
The assembly of Sikorsky’s Raider X competitive prototype for the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program is now 90 percent complete. Sikorsky's compound coaxial helicopter is a semi-finalist in the FARA competition and is 20 percent larger than the S-97 proof-of-concept vehicle the company first flew in 2015. Sikorsky recently displayed the Raider X at its West Palm Beach, Florida test and development center.
A competitive fly-off of both the Raider X and its competitor, the Bell 360 Invictus, has been delayed until October 2023 at the earliest due to delays with the GE T901 engine selected by the U.S. Army. While Bell is fielding a conventional-looking design reminiscent of the RAH-66 Comanche program of the 1990s, Sikorsky is planning one based on its X2 technology that features a pair of rigid, four-blade contrarotating main rotors assisted by an aft-mounted thruster.
At a media briefing held this week in West Palm Beach, key members of the Raider X team maintained that the Sikorsky design provides superior stealth, speed, maneuverability, survivability, flexibility, and potential for mission growth. For example, modular weapons launchers mounted behind the side-by-side sitting pilots can be removed, making way for the transport of up to six troops.
While the Army’s FARA requirements are for an aircraft with a sustained cruise speed of 180 knots and a dash speed of 205 knots, Sikorsky believes it can greatly exceed this goal while at the same time adhering to the overall program budget constraints. “We really feel that this will deliver transformational capability to the Army,” said Jay Macklin, Sikorsky business director for Army programs and innovations.
Photo of the Week
Waltzing to Europe. Michael Kaplan, the director of operations for Boston-based charter outfit Waltzing Matilda, took this evening photo of a company-managed Bombardier Challenger 604 at Germany’s Berlin Brandenburg Airport. He and the rest of the crew were buttoning up the twinjet after a seven-hour transatlantic flight from the U.S. Northeast in mid-June when he snapped this beautiful sunset image. Thanks for sharing, Michael!
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