Global 5500 Enters U.S. Market with Delivery to Unicorp

The first U.S.-bound Global 5500 was just handed over to longtime Bombardier customer Unicorp National Developments of Orlando, Florida. This delivery comes within a month of entry-of-service for the latest edition of the Global line, a follow-on to the Global 5000 that joins the Global 6500 and 7500 in the ultra-long-range family.

Bombardier delivered the aircraft at its facility in Wichita, where the 5500s are completed. The delivery comes 16 years after Unicorp accepted the first Learjet 60 that was completed in Wichita.

“Our team at Unicorp is beyond excited to benefit from the first Global 5500 aircraft in the U.S.,” said Unicorp president Chuck Whittall. “This aircraft will allow us to travel with less fuss and more peace of mind.” Unicorp's Global 5500 aircraft will also be offered for charter from Orlando International Airport via Elite Air.

With a 5,900-nm range, the Global 5500 can fly nonstop from Florida to São Paolo, Paris, London, or Moscow. The aircraft is designed with three living areas fitted with Nuage seats and offers Ka-band connectivity. In addition, the Global 5500 is equipped with the Bombardier Pũr Air air purification system, which incorporates a HEPA filter capable of capturing up to 99.99 percent of allergens, bacteria, and viruses.

1H Falcon Deliveries Flat, but Will Be Down for 2020

Dassault Aviation delivered 16 Falcons in the first half, one fewer than a year ago, but now plans to deliver only 30 business jets this year, down from its original guidance of 40, the French aircraft manufacturer announced today. While it has been able to keep development on the Falcon 6X going during the Covid-19 crisis, Dassault has postponed this year’s planned announcement of its “next Falcon,” dubbed NX, due to the pandemic.

According to Dassault chairman and CEO Eric Trappier, the company has not experienced any order cancellations for Falcons in the first half of 2020, but some customers have delayed deliveries to next year. This has prompted the company to trim its delivery forecast for this year, he said. “People will collect these orders next year,” Trappier added.

In the first six months of 2020, Dassault took in net orders for five Falcons, two fewer than in the same period last year. At the end of June, the company’s backlog for Falcons stood at 42 aircraft, down from 53 at the end of 2019.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 6X is on track to begin flight testing early next year, with service entry in 2022. However, the NX has been “put off until it is easier to travel,” Trappier said, adding that he prefers to make the announcement in person with the aircraft’s partners.

Embraer Consolidates Business Jet Product Line

Embraer Executive Jets has consolidated its product line to focus on its Phenom light jet and Praetor midsize jet. “As part of the renewed focus of Embraer Executive Jets to deliver the ultimate experience in business aviation with our industry-leading, clean-sheet Phenom 100 and 300 series and Praetor 500 and 600 jets, the prior derivatives Legacy 450, 500, and 650, as well as the Lineage 1000, are being phased out of our production plan,” a spokeswoman told AIN.

“However, we will be able to continue to produce the Legacy 450 and the Legacy 500 for some key strategic customers,” she said. “This does not change our ongoing commitment to our customers [for] services and support.”

Embraer entered the business jet market in 2001 with the Legacy 600, a variant of its ERJ-135 regional jet. It followed that with the Lineage 1000 in 2006; Phenom 100 in 2008; Phenom 300 and upgraded Legacy 650 in 2009; Legacy 450 and 500 in 2016 and 2014, respectively; and the Legacy 450 and 500 derivatives Praetor 500 and 600 in 2019. Along the way, it enhanced the Phenoms as the 100EV and 300E models.

“The Legacy 650 and Lineage 1000 programs were instrumental in developing Embraer into the key player we are in business aviation today and showcase our engineering capabilities, aviation knowledge, and product robustness,” the spokeswoman added.

SkyBridge Plans Bizjet MRO Complex at Miami Opa-Locka

Construction could begin next year on a 24-acre logistics, MRO, and business jet support facility at Miami Opa-Locka Airport (OPF). SkyBridge Miami acquired rights to the site for $12 million from an entity controlled by Airside International Business Park.

The proposed 500,000-sq-ft facility is expected to include hangars, offices, a hotel, and support buildings. The hangars will fill 350,000 sq ft of the total space and have room for up to 19 jets, according to a schematic provided to AIN by SkyBridge. SkyBridge's site is on the east side of the airport, adjacent to the new 300,000-sq-ft Bombardier business jet service center. This is the second major airport development for SkyBridge, which opened a logistics hub facility at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in 2017. 

Development partner and CEO Ronald Vogel said SkyBridge Miami would be an aeronautical campus complete with “recreational facilities that have sports fields and other open space facilities.” SkyBridge said the facility would generate hundreds of jobs. 

OPF is the busiest of Miami’s four general aviation airports and is a designated reliever for Miami International.

EPA Proposes Aircraft Emissions Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposal to require large subsonic turbine-powered airplanes to meet prescribed greenhouse emissions standards equivalent to CO2 recommendations adopted by ICAO in 2017. They would apply to both new type designs and in-production airplanes.

New type design standards would apply to jet airplanes with an mtow of more than 5,700 kilograms/12,500 pounds for which an application for certification is submitted to the FAA on or after Jan. 1, 2020 (Jan. 1, 2023, for new type designs that have an mtow of 60,000 kilograms/132,270 pounds or less and have 19 passenger seats or fewer). The standards would also apply to turboprop-powered airplanes having an mtow greater than 8,618 kilograms/19,000 pounds.

In-production standards would apply beginning Jan. 1, 2028. Additionally, modifications made to airplanes that would increase emissions would trigger a requirement to certify to the in-production regulation beginning Jan. 1, 2023.

The proposal directs the FAA to establish regulations to ensure compliance with the EPA’s standards but also prohibits the EPA from changing emission standards if that would significantly increase noise and adversely affect safety. It is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register, after which comments can be submitted for up to 60 days.

Collins Actuation Systems Joins AS2 Design Team

Aerion Supersonic has selected Collins Aerospace to design the flight control actuation system for the AS2 supersonic business jet. Collins Aerospace's Actuation Systems centers in Wolverhampton, UK, and Vernon, France, will design and develop the systems for the AS2's leading edge, elevons, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder.

“The very nature of supersonic travel presents some unique challenges when it comes to designing reliable and precise systems to guide the aircraft—and we are eager to address them head-on as a part of the Aerion team,” said Ed Dryden, v-p of Actuation Systems for Collins Aerospace. “Collins Aerospace has a long history in advancing complex actuation systems for both commercial and military platforms, and we look forward to continuing this legacy with the AS2.”

Collins Aerospace joins a supplier team for the AS2 that includes GE Aviation, Honeywell, Safran, GKN Aerospace, Aernnova, and Potez Aeronautique. In addition, Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems have collaborated on the program. Aerion anticipates beginning production in 2023, with first flight in 2025 and entry-into-service in the 2027 timeframe. The company expects to manufacture 300 of the Mach 1.4 business jet in the first decade of production.

Ruag Opens New Paint Shop in Oberpfaffenhofen

Ruag's new paint and drying shop at Munich-Oberpfaffenhofen International Airport is now operational. The MRO’s German facility is big enough to paint larger aircraft components such as elevators and rudders, flaps, and cabin components. The proximity of the paint and drying booths expedites workflow and eliminates contamination risk, according to paint shop team leader Stefan Schulz. 

The company's shop in Oberpfaffenhofen provides line, base, and heavy maintenance checks, cabin interior restyling and refurbishment, avionics and system upgrades, component services, aircraft painting, modifications, pre-purchase inspections, AOG, and support and consulting. It is an authorized service center for Embraer and a service center for Bombardier, and it is approved for the Gulfstream G550. The company recently performed an Embraer-patented paint technique on a Legacy 500 that prevents cracking along structural joints, and it added the Bombardier Global 7500 to its Part 145 repair station certificate. 

Ruag also is an independent supplier, support provider, and integrator of systems and components for civil and military aviation worldwide. It develops and supports simulation and training systems for international security forces and manufactures the Dornier 228 turboprop. Ruag International employs 6,500 people in 14 countries.

Amid Covid Surge, Grand Bahama is Shut Down

The Bahamas, which reopened its borders earlier this month, is instituting a two-week lockdown starting today for Grand Bahama after experiencing a surge of Covid-19 infections. This move will take effect at 7 p.m. ET and tentatively run through 5 a.m. ET August 7. During that period, all non-emergency or international flights to and from the island will be prohibited.

In an alert from NBAA, the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center was quoted as stating: “Aircraft on the ground will be allowed to depart with crewmembers only. This affects all traffic and is not limited to just the United States.” This latest announcement follows an earlier edict, effective last night, banning all scheduled international flights anywhere in the island country from anywhere but Canada, the UK, and the EU. Outside of Grand Bahama, international private and charter flights are still permitted, with certain health requirements.

U.S. citizens planning to depart Grand Bahama are being urged by the U.S. Embassy to do so immediately while they are able to and, according to OpsGroup, the Bahamian government noted that it will also prohibit boats from arriving or departing the island.

Those remaining will face restrictions, including weekday travel limited to essential trips to food stores, pharmacies, and gas stations between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., with sheltering in place ordered at all other times.

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.

Here’s What We’re Missing With No Farnborough Flying Display in 2020

It’s been poignant and unsettling not to have the 2020 Farnborough International Airshow in its full glory. The online FIA Connect event has provided some good, quiet reflection on where Covid has left the aviation industry. But many of us miss the stunning sights and sounds of a real air show. We’re counting the days until Paris in June 2021 and Farnborough in July 2022.