Inventory of preowned business jets has reached a record low, with approximately 4.65 percent of the preowned fleet up for sale, according to market analysis by UK-based private jet broker Colibri Aircraft. This is the lowest percentage since such recordkeeping began in the 1980s, it said.
This is exacerbated by last year’s Covid-induced decline in new jet deliveries—at 644, the lowest total since 2004—combined with the private jet sector experiencing high demand as passengers seek safer travel methods during a pandemic. “Buying private jets is extremely difficult right now, particularly for European-compliant aircraft,” said Colibri managing director Oliver Stone. “Multiple buyers and a shrinking inventory of available aircraft have made a very competitive market.”
He described a recent attempt to purchase a late-model Challenger 650 for a client, only to encounter at least six competing bids. The aircraft eventually sold near its asking price.
Stone noted that much of the decline in inventory has been in the U.S., which reopened more quickly following pandemic restrictions than other parts of the world. He attributed the strong demand for private aviation to two factors: a desire to travel in an environment better insulated from the risk of Covid transmission and the significant reduction in commercial airline schedules. Both have spurred owners to retain their aircraft, as well as causing a surge of first-time buyers into the market.
Gulfstream Exceeds 500 Jet ConneX Installs on Large Jets
Gulfstream Aerospace has now installed more than 500 Inmarsat Jet ConneX connectivity platforms on large-cabin Gulfstreams. The onboard Wi-Fi solution is available for all in-production, large-cabin Gulfstreams—including the G650/ER, G500, and G600, as well as the yet-to-be-certified G700—and can be retrofitted on qualifying in-service large-cabin Gulfstreams such as the GIV/G450 and GV/G550.
“Gulfstream owners expect a seamless transition from life on the ground to life on their aircraft, making connectivity essential,” said the company's president, Mark Burns. “This milestone illustrates our commitment to performance with high-speed connectivity and increased productivity, allowing our aircraft to be offices in the skies.”
Jet ConneX employs Inmarsat’s global Ka-band satellite network to provide airborne connectivity at speeds of approximately 20 Mbps, supporting high-bandwidth activities such as video streaming. Inmarsat provides coverage over most of the globe, with extended coverage over the polar regions coming soon. Honeywell and Satcom Direct hardware also complement Gulfstream’s connectivity service.
Flexjet Obtains AOC, Adds Ops Center in Malta
Flexjet Europe is expanding its reach in the Old Continent with the receipt of an air operator certificate (AOC) for Malta. The AOC comes as Flexjet has expanded its fleet by 40 percent in Europe year-to-date. Flexjet Europe established a new operational center in Sliema, Malta, building on its headquarters in the London Mayfair district; tactical control center in St. Albans, UK; and maintenance facility in Milan, Italy.
An Embraer Legacy 500 is the first Flexjet aircraft to operate under the Malta (9H) registration. Flexjet further operates the super-midsize Embraer Praetor 600 in Europe, providing range for its clients to fly to the U.S. East Coast and the Middle East, it said.
Flexjet’s European operation has grown rapidly since its launch in late 2019 through investment in infrastructure, crew, and aircraft that were part of a $1.4 billion order. Its European fleet operations were further bolstered by Flexjet parent Directional Aviation’s acquisition of UK-based helicopter operator Halo Aviation in May and the closer integration of charter provider PrivateFly.
Marine Eugène, Flexjet's European managing director, added that the new Malta operational center will “prove an important asset as we continue to grow Flexjet throughout Europe. Our first 9H-registration for Flexjet is an important milestone and one that we plan to build upon over the coming months.”
Floatplane Operator Launches NYC-Boston Harbor Service
New York-based seaplane operator Tailwind Air will launch a scheduled service between New York City and Boston Harbor starting on August 3. Running through November, the weekday schedule calls for its float-equipped Cessna Grand Caravan EXs to make four daily departures from both locations.
The cost for the 75-minute flight on its eight-passenger, single-engine turboprops, which fly from the New York Skyport at East 23rd Street in downtown Manhattan and from a floating dock near Boston Logan Airport, is $395 one way. In Boston, a dedicated seven-minute water-taxi ride connects passengers to the South Boston waterfront. The company has its own passenger lounges at both locations, and passengers can check in as little as 10 minutes before their flight.
Tailwind had displayed interest in using Boston Harbor as far back as 2017 when its Boston-bound flights would land at Logan, and by now bypassing the airport congestion it is positioning itself as a pioneer in regional urban mobility. “No one else is doing this,” explained Peter Manice, the operator’s v-p of marketing and director of scheduled operations. “Seaplanes and waterway access fuel our service—a game-changer for travelers between these cities.”
Garmin is building on the graphical notam depiction feature in version 10.5 of its Pilot electronic flight bag app and has added runway and airport closures to help pilots quickly see when a planned flight might be affected. An earlier version of Garmin Pilot added graphical airspace, obstacle, and navaid notams.
When flying to an airport that has a pertinent notam, the pilot will be able to see a runway closure notam depicted when zooming in on the dynamic map’s airport or viewing the Garmin SafeTaxi airport diagram. If the whole airport is closed, that will be shown on the dynamic map. Three color codes illustrate different runway closure information: a red runway with a yellow X at each end is closed; an orange runway with a yellow clock at each end denotes there is information associated with the closure, such as a time or date; and a yellow runway means closure is upcoming.
Another new feature in Garmin Pilot is enhanced terminal notam alerting, which highlights notams on the airport page, procedures, and airport diagrams. This includes a color-coded warning banner on the top of the airport page, a warning button on the bottom right corner, and color-coded badge on procedures and airport diagrams, as well as a warnings tab on the flight plan form. Runway closures are also shown on instrument procedures.
Waco Aircraft recently opened its new FBO at Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field in Michigan. Part of an overall expansion of the airframer’s facility, the two-story, 9,400-sq-ft terminal is four times the size of the previous one.
On the first floor are an open passenger seating area, business center, pilot lounge with a snooze room, shower facilities, four private offices, and café bar. Upstairs is the Waco Kitchen restaurant, featuring locally sourced farm-to-table ingredients. The restaurant's large windows provide views into the company’s biplane production facility.
The FBO is open every day from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., except Sunday when it closes at 2 p.m. After-hours call-out service is available. With advance notice, the FBO can provide overnight hangar space capable of sheltering aircraft up to the size of a Gulfstream G650. It is co-located with Centennial Aircraft Services, Waco’s Part 145 repair station.
The location’s Epic-branded fuel farm has a 10,000-gallon jet-A tank served by a 5,000-gallon refueler and a like amount of low-lead avgas, which is dispensed 24/7 at a self-serve pump. Customers who stop en route at the Waco FBO while flying to or from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for AirVenture 2021, will also receive discounts. AirVenture 2021 opens on Monday and runs through Sunday, August 1.
EASA Gives Nod to Garmin Autoland in Cirrus Vision Jet
Cirrus Aircraft’s Vision Jet Safe Return Emergency Autoland system, which is based on Garmin’s Autoland technology, has received approval from EASA, the aircraft manufacturer announced today. Safe Return Emergency Autoland, which allows passengers to autonomously land the SF50 Vision Jet with the press of a button, was certified by the FAA in August 2020.
“With Safe Return, we are making personal aviation more accessible, elevating the passenger experience, and taking the next step towards autonomous flight,” said Cirrus Aircraft CEO Zean Nielsen. “The Vision Jet sets a new standard in personal travel with the combination of Safe Return and [Cirrus Airframe Parachute System], offering the ultimate level of safety, control, and comfort for the pilot and passengers.”
This latest approval follows continued growth in the popularity of the Vision Jet, which has been recognized as the world’s bestselling general aviation jet for the past two years. Cirrus handed over 73 of its jet singles to customers last year and has delivered more than 245 since receiving FAA type certification in October 2016.
Private Jetaway Offers ‘Revenge Travel’ Packages
Private Jetaway has developed comprehensive private jet, ground transportation, and luxury villa packages as it vies to tap into the market for what it calls “revenge travel”—leisure trips by people who have been vaccinated and are ready to resume vacation plans after remaining home during the pandemic.
The company said each portion of the packages is “wellness vetted” and personalized to the traveler. Private Jetaway has partnered with resorts such as Los Cabos villa provider Elegant Mexico and Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, to offer its UltraLuxe Jet-to-Villa packages. The packages employ private aircraft to reach luxury villas, private islands, and yachts.
"We are here to make that experience comfortable and convenient while incorporating proper protocols,” said Private Jetaway president Wayne Rizzi. “Unlike other private jet and luxury travel companies that piecemeal their partnerships, Private Jetaway offers ultraluxe packages inclusive of ground transport, private jet, and luxury villa intricately designed for each guest with one call."
AIN Events: Building a Sustainable Flight Department
Don’t miss out—early-bird pricing is ending July 30 for AIN's one-day conference on sustainability and the modern flight department in Tarrytown, New York, on September 22. Attendees will learn about aviation’s contribution to carbon emissions, regulator/government roles in minimizing aviation emissions (including CORSIA), making sense of carbon offsets, building to LEED standards, and much more. This conference will also be repeated in three other locations: Dallas (November 10); Fort Lauderdale, Florida (December 8); and Los Angeles (Jan. 19, 2022). Early-bird pricing is also available for these venues. Register today.
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