NetJets announced today that its recent acceptance of a 25th Challenger 650 fulfills more than $10 billion in firm orders placed by the fractional provider for Bombardier Challengers and Globals, Embraer Phenom 300s, and Cessna Citation Latitudes between 2010 and 2012. The original firm orders were for 50 Phenom 300s, 25 Citation Latitudes, 75 Challenger 350s, 25 Challenger 650s, and 30 Global 5000/6000s.
“Taking delivery of our 25th Challenger 650 fulfills a promise to our owners to bring them the finest fleet in the sky,” said NetJets executive v-p and COO Alan Bobo. “Each of the aircraft in our fleet is selected to deliver safety, speed, and comfort to our owners and their guests.” NeJets described the Challenger 650 as an “entry-level large-cabin aircraft with coast-to-coast range and a flight attendant.”
Additionally, NetJets has taken delivery of 163 optional aircraft orders that were later converted to firm orders. In total, the company has accepted 368 new aircraft since 2012.
NetJets said it has more firm orders for the Phenom 300, Citation Latitude, Citation Longitude, Global 6000, and Global 7500, adding that it “is always evaluating future aircraft that will enhance the service and experience to our owners while meeting NetJets’ operational standards of efficiency and reliability.”
Embraer's executive jet deliveries dropped by nearly half to 13 shipments in the second quarter while its commercial aircraft shipments fell precipitously to just four units, the Brazilian manufacturer reported Monday morning. The company cited the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic for the diminished results, which have been largely expected throughout the industry as manufacturers have struggled to ship aircraft across borders and meet with prospective clients to finalize sales.
In the second quarter, Embraer delivered nine light jets (two Phenom 100s and seven Phenom 300s) and four large jets (one Legacy 650, one Praetor 500, and two Praetor 600s). The quarter marked the first delivery of the OEM's enhanced Phenom 300E—that aircraft went to the Texas law firm Dunham & Jones.
The shipments, however, were down from the 25 executive jets (19 light jets and six large jets) shipped in the second quarter of 2019. Through the first half of this year, executive jet shipments were down by 14 units—Embraer delivered 22 executive jets in the first six months (14 light jets and eight large jets), compared with 36 (27 light and nine large jets) in the first half of last year.
Backlog, meanwhile, slid to $15.4 billion, compared with $16.9 billion a year ago.
The NTSB has released docket information on the crash of a Cessna Citation Latitude on Aug. 15, 2019 on a short VFR trip from Statesville, North Carolina, to Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee carrying race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife, and child. After a runway excursion on Elizabethton Municipal's Runway 24, the Latitude caught fire and burned. The two pilots were not injured in the accident, while the three passengers suffered minor injuries, according to the NTSB.
According to the NTSB, the aircraft's Vref was 108 knots, but the Latitude crossed the displaced threshold of Runway 24 at 127 kias. The Latitude bounced three times before the final touchdown.
“Eight seconds after the final touchdown, the aircraft crossed the end of the runway, on centerline. Four seconds after that, the aircraft experienced an impact measuring 3.4 g vertically and the fuselage began rolling left. The aircraft continued to move for five more seconds, then came to rest with the fuselage rolled 42 degrees left,” according to the NTSB docket.
After the Latitude stopped, the crew couldn’t open the main cabin door. Earnhardt and the captain unsuccessfully tried to open the emergency overwing exit. The first officer was eventually able to open the cabin door partially and everyone was able to exit before the aircraft became engulfed in flames.
Faradair Establishes Duxford HQ for Hybrid Electric STOL
Faradair, the UK company developing a hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing aircraft, is relocating its operation to Duxford airfield. Beginning September 1, the startup will be a tenant in the new Avtech facility being established there as a research and development hub for general aviation ventures by Cambridge University’s Gonville & Caius College on land that it owns.
The Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft (BEHA) being developed by Faradair is due to be ready for a first flight by late 2023 or early 2024. The program will consist of three variants: the hybrid-electric M1H; a pilotless M1AT model to be operated autonomously for military roles; and an all-electric E1 that is expected to be available by 2030, subject to the availability of applicable battery or hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The first prototype, which will be built at Duxford, is due to be ready for a first flight by late 2023 or early 2024. The company is still determining whether to pursue civil or military certification first, depending on when it considers EASA's new Part CS-23 regulations to be sufficiently “streamlined” to allow certification in two years. It hopes to be able to have the first aircraft ready to enter service in 2026.
Aero Asset: Preowned Helicopter Market Plunges in Q2
Toronto-based brokerage Aero Asset has seen preowned twin-engine rotorcraft sales slide throughout the market with 14 total retail sales and $34 million in transactions in the second quarter. Sales were down 58 percent and transaction value was off 78 percent from the same period in 2019, the firm reported today.
"Retail sales volume dropped a startling 60 percent from what was still a positive market in the first quarter,” said Aero Asset sales director Emmanuel Dupuy. “We were starting to see the market soften towards the end of the first quarter, and clearly that trend amplified."
A drop in crude-oil prices and the Covid-19-induced economic slump are driving the drop in the rotor-wing market, Aero Asset said, adding that it continues to see volatility. The preowned supply remained relatively stable but the overall absorption rate—how long an aircraft is on the market—jumped 150 percent from a year ago, to four years. Meanwhile, the number of deals in the pipeline is down 40 percent from a year ago.
Quarter-over-quarter, the lightweight twin-engine preowned market supply decreased 10 percent but sales dropped 40 percent. The medium helicopter supply also fell 20 percent while retail sales plummeted 80 percent in the same period. No heavy-twin helicopters were sold, but the available aircraft inventory jumped by 30 percent in the second quarter.
Aerocor Expands Aircraft Buyer’s Guide Library
Turboprop and light jet brokerage Aerocor has expanded its digital aircraft library from just the Eclipse 500 to all single-pilot-certified Citations and the Beechcraft Premier I/A. The webpage of the Nevada-based company includes summary information such as aircraft dimensions and performance, in addition to finer details and comprehensive buyers' guides and market reports for select aircraft.
“There is a notable lack of unbiased information available to potential buyers,” said Aerocor cofounder and president Gavin Woodman. “By providing a single location for research, we hope to simplify the aircraft selection process.”
According to Aerocor, the online library will be updated regularly to include information for all of the “most relevant” single-pilot-certified turbine aircraft. Woodman added, “The site is geared to answer the common questions shared by most buyers as they begin their aircraft search. Our company is comprised of pilots, so we understand the importance of using accurate information when evaluating the suitability of an aircraft for a specific mission profile.”
Aerocor is also beta testing an interactive range map that will allow users to input their home airport and payload requirements to compare range capabilities of up to four aircraft simultaneously.
Piedmont Expands Helo Rotor Blade Capability
First Aviation Services’ Piedmont Propulsion Systems has been awarded FAA certification for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the Van Horn Aviation 206/OH-58 tail rotor blade. MRO capability for the main rotor blade is expected to follow shortly, according to North Carolina-based Piedmont.
The Van Horn tail rotor blade was designed to be quieter and have a longer service life than the OEM blade and has gained wide acceptance by operators. “We are very pleased to be designated by Van Horn Aviation as an authorized service center and look forward to providing exceptional service to Bell operators,” said Piedmont technical director Paul Bolton.
The Van Horn certification follows Piedmont receiving source approval request for the Blackhawk rotor hub, which builds upon its decades of experience in propeller hub assemblies. Piedmont's sister MRO, Aviation Blade Services, supports the Blackhawk helicopter and nearly all legacy Sikorsky rotor blades.
Aviation Safety Question of the Week
Provided by
In which flight regime could an aircraft experience speed instability?
A. At speeds above the minimum drag speed.
B. At speeds below the minimum drag speed.
C. It depends on the aircraft’s powerplant.
D. Only fly-by-wire aircraft can be speed unstable, as the computer corrects for the instability.
Helicopter Laserer Gets Federal Prison
A California man who lasered a police helicopter in 2017 has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years of probation. Roger Shane John, 34, of Turlock, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd after pleading guilty to purposely striking a Stanislaus County sheriff’s helicopter five or six times with an 85 milliwatt green laser that is 17 times more powerful than legally allowed for handheld consumer devices and strong enough to cause eye injury, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
John admitted to striking a CalStar emergency medical helicopter three or four times during the same evening. The strikes impacted the pilot and tactical flight officer aboard the sheriff’s helicopter and caused them to abort their response to a domestic violence call. John admitted guilt in the plea and said that he knew his conduct was illegal, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The events occurred on Oct. 22, 2017, near the Modesto City-County Airport and were investigated by the FBI, Stanislaus County sheriff, and Modesto police department. John could have received up to five years’ incarceration and a $250,000 fine.
Free Webinar: Value of an Engine Maintenance Program
An engine maintenance program can provide financial and operational benefits to business aircraft operators by enhancing asset value, protecting against unforeseen costs and unscheduled events, and maximizing availability and safety. In this free AIN-hosted webinar, you'll learn how such a maintenance program works and the many benefits it offers to aircraft owners and operators. Join us on July 29 at 1:30 p.m. EDT as AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber moderates this discussion with Andy Robinson, Rolls-Royce's senior v-p of customer services for business aviation, and Asset Insight president and CEO Anthony Kioussis. Sponsored by Rolls-Royce.
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