Embraer’s executive aviation division improved on its first-quarter deliveries, handing over 27 Phenoms and Praetors in the second quarter of the year for a total of 45 business jets in the first half of 2024. That represents a more than 18% increase over the first half of 2023.

While first-half shipments of Phenom 100 light jets remained static year over year at three, the Brazilian airframer ramped up the pace of its larger Phenom 300, delivering 28—six more than last year. Handovers of midsize Praetor 500 remained unchanged at six in the first half, while it delivered eight super-midsize Praetor 600s, one more than in the first six months of 2023.

The division ended the first half with a $4.6 billion backlog and a positive book-to-bill ratio. It has forecast total deliveries for the year in the range of 125 to 135 business jets.

On the commercial side, the OEM improved on its first-half 2023 output by two airliners, with deliveries of 11 E195E2s, four E190-E2s, and 11 E175s. It delivered its 1,800th E-Jet in May, and the backlog for the commercial division stands at 382 aircraft, worth $11.3 billion—a 2% increase over the first quarter.

In addition, the company’s services and support division reported a backlog of $3.1 billion. Altogether, Embraer's backlog totals more than $21 billion, a seven-year high.

Imagine you’re the leader of a Part 91 flight department. Your team is lean, with just enough staff to meet the demands of your operation. Unexpectedly, a senior captain hands in their resignation. They’re burnt out and an enticing offer from another operator was the final push they needed to leave. They left for higher pay, better-defined time off, and a better work environment.

When a tenured employee leaves for these reasons, it’s a clear sign of underlying issues. You can assume other staff might also be looking to leave. Now, as a leader, your focus needs to be on keeping your team happy and preventing further losses. Losing a key player has a domino effect, impacting not only your remaining pilots but also your recruiting potential, because tarnished reputations are hard to rebuild.

This scenario underscores a critical issue: retention is costly, but much less so than the cost of turnover. Retention is the top workforce issue for aviation leaders, according to my recent poll as well as this 2023 NBAA survey. The cost of replacing highly trained employees, like a veteran pilot, is staggering. But the financial burden is just one part of the problem. The sudden departure of a key team member can leave your organization vulnerable at critical times, catching you off guard.

Bell delivered 32 commercial helicopters in the second quarter, a slight decline from 35 in the same three months last year. This included nineteen 505s, matching last year's second-quarter deliveries, and nine 407s, one fewer than last year. Bell also handed over three 429s and one 412, with the latter down from three a year ago.

The rotorcraft manufacturer’s revenues reached $794 million in the quarter, marking a $93 million increase from the same period in 2023. This growth was primarily driven by a higher military volume of $104 million, largely related to the future long-range assault aircraft (FLRAA) program.

On the military side, Bell delivered two H-1 helicopters, down from three in last year’s second quarter. However, deliveries of the V-22 tiltrotor saw a significant increase, with 11 units delivered compared to four in the same period last year.

Bell's segment profit rose by $17 million, to $82 million, largely due to performance improvements and a reduction in research and development costs. The company's backlog at the end of the quarter stood at $4.2 billion.

During an earnings call yesterday, Scott Donnelly, chairman and CEO of parent company Textron, highlighted progress in Bell’s military programs. “Bell completed the FLRAA preliminary design review and was downselected as one of two companies for the next phase of the DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies X-Plane program.”

Market analyst Jefferies Equity Research added to the picture of a slowing used business jet aircraft market, noting that the number of aircraft for sale in July is up 16% year over year (YOY) and 12% over the past six months. Even with younger aircraft, inventories have increased 19% YOY but still represent only 3.7% of the total fleet.

The increased inventories cut across all categories, Jefferies added, with available midsize jets up by 21%, heavy by 18%, and light jets by 12%. At the same time, pricing is down 7% YOY.

Jefferies' findings, including data from Amstat and the firm’s own analysis, align with reports from Vref, which noted this week that the market has seen six consecutive quarters of reduced pricing and increased inventory, with aircraft staying on the market longer.

According to Jefferies, Bombardier units for sale are up 8%, to 65 units, representing 3.7% of the OEM’s fleet. Available Globals are up 19% YOY; however, Challengers for sale are down 17% and Learjets fell by 20%.

Gulfstream inventories have increased 27% YOY, to 85 units, also accounting for 3.7% of the fleet. This includes 21 G650s for sale. In addition, Amstat data shows 92 G700s are now produced, implying that 85 are for customers.

Cessna Citations for sale are up 29% YOY, with 134 on the market.

Areas of Texas are still experiencing power disruptions in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall more than a week ago. The Category 5 storm had diminished to Category 1 by the time it rolled ashore on July 8, wreaking havoc on the state’s Gulf Coast.

At Houston Hobby Airport (KHOU), FBOs reported moderate to minor damage, with power finally being restored to all of them this week. Million Air—which was running on generators until Monday, eight days after the storm—sustained damage to the roof of its maintenance hangar. Jet Aviation, which also reported it was finally able to switch off the generators on Monday, noted some minor damage, including the collapse of a wall in an unused hangar that will be repaired soon.

Galaxy FBO, which had its electricity restored on Saturday, even played host to some customers who chose to sleep in the generator-powered terminal’s pilot lounge rather than their hotel without power. The facility saw some damaged fencing and minor water leaks. Wilson Air reported that, though it had no damage, it too had to resort to backup generators, with power also returning on Saturday.

Atlantic Aviation’s location at KHOU endured only one day of operations on generator power, while electricity came back on at the Signature Aviation FBO on July 10, just two days after the storm.

AOPA is protesting “new and steep” entry and departure fees for general and business aviation aircraft in the Bahamas. According to AOPA, “the fees are exceedingly high and more than the new fees being imposed on commercial airline operations.” As of July 1, the inbound customs fee for general and business aircraft was reportedly raised from $50 to $75, while a new $75 departure fee was added on top of the existing $29-per-passenger departure charge and other fees. Airline aircraft are charged a $50 entry fee and a $50 exit fee.

In a letter sent to Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Edward “Brave” Davis, AOPA president Mark Baker urged the prime minister to intervene and rescind the “egregious” fees on visitors arriving and departing the country in private airplanes. “While we understand some fees are necessary, we also believe private pilots shouldn’t have fees imposed on them that are twice as much as those imposed on commercial aircraft,” Baker said.

He also noted a “complicated” entry and departure customs process. “There is no question that the Bahamas will lose its competitive advantage as a key destination for private pilots flying to the Caribbean,” Baker added.

AOPA said it hopes to continue to work with the Bahamas to ensure that general aviation activity in the Bahamas “continues to be robust without imposing unreasonable fees on pilots.”