Bizav Flight Activity Sees Double-digit Drop in Europe
Business aviation traffic in Europe dropped by 16 percent year-over-year in May with almost all categories of aircraft showing declines, according to Argus’s latest data for the Eurocontrol coverage area.
Turboprops led the declines, down 28.6 percent, driven in large part by a drop-off in multi-engine activity. Large aircraft followed with a 14.4 percent slide in activity overall as declines among the shorter-range aircraft in this segment offset gains in ultra-long-range aircraft flights. Light and midsize jets saw single-digit dips at 5.3 percent and 4 percent, respectively. However, super-midsize jets experienced a 4.8 percent uptick in year-over-year activity, Argus reported.
Despite the year-over-year results, business aviation did experience a seasonal uptick in May in Europe when compared with April. Flight activity overall was up 3.6 percent from April with light-jet flights jumping 22.2 percent from the month earlier. Very light jets, in particular, experienced a 30 percent increase. Large-jet activity also improved month-over-month in Europe by 15.9 percent, and midsize jets logged a 10.3 percent gain. However, while super-midsize jet flights were up year-over-year, they were down 14 percent from April.
Turboprop activity was down 16.7 percent as multi-engine activity plunged 22.5 percent, offsetting modest gains in single-engine turboprop flights.
Business Aircraft Financier Global Jet Raises $517M
Business aircraft financier Global Jet Capital has closed its third securitization in a little more than a year, raising $517 million, the Connecticut-based company announced June 20. The “BJETS 2019-1” securitization was the company’s third asset-backed security (ABS) offering with total assets securitized now reaching more than $2.1 billion. It concluded its first securitization for $608 million in late February 2018, followed by a second securitization in June 2018, raising $674 million.
“We are pleased that we continue to broaden our investor base with each new offering, having added several new investors to BJETS 2019-1 who were attracted to the business aviation sector and our company,” Global Jet Capital CEO Shawn Vick said. “We also appreciate the support of our existing lenders and the confidence that their continued commitment to the credit facility reflects in our business.”
This latest ABS included a $417.4 million Class A tranche; a $62.3 million Class B tranche; and a $37.4 million Class C tranche, each of which was oversubscribed and attracted orders from a variety of investors, according to Global Jet Capital, which was established in 2014 by three global investment firms and industry veterans to offer financing options to the business aviation market. Global Jet Capital plans to continue using the ABS market as a piece of its funding strategy.
Honeywell Earns STC on Learjet 40/45 Upgrade
Honeywell has received an STC from the FAA for its Primus Elite enhanced feature upgrades on the Learjet 40 and 45. The cockpit modernization replaces aging DU-870 CRT displays with DU-875 LCD monitors, which provide increased clarity, generate less heat, and offer a weight savings of seven pounds per display. The modification includes the three-in-one cursor control device for simplified one-handed scrolling on the displays, which enables users to more efficiently select charts and maps or download navigational databases.
Safety and situational awareness are improved through approach charts that show the aircraft’s position, along with charts of airport runways and taxiways. The upgrade also provides integrated maps for two-dimensional illustration of flight plans, weather, traffic, and geographical boundaries and incorporates Jeppesen charts to show geo-referenced departures and arrivals.
When the DU-875 display is used in conjunction with optional XM Weather, pilots can get real-time weather upgrades along the route and at specific destinations, a helpful feature when flying into unfamiliar airports.
In addition to the Learjet 40 and 45, Honeywell’s upgrade is also certified for the Bombardier Global Express, Dassault Falcon 900EX/900C, Embraer Legacy 600/650, the Cessna Citation X and 550/560, and the Dornier 328.
NATA Appoints Next Slate for Board of Directors
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) elected its new board of directors, naming as chairman Curt Castagna, president and CEO of Aeroplex/Aerolease Group. Castagna, who had been vice chairman, succeeds outgoing chairman Jeff Ross, president and CEO of Ross Aviation. Clive Lowe, senior v-p of business development for Atlantic Aviation, takes over as vice chair.
Also, the association appointed three new members to the board for three-year terms: Donald Haloburdo, senior v-p of Flight Services at Jet Aviation; Chris Rozansky, executive director of the Naples Airport Authority; and Megan Wolf, COO of Flexjet. “NATA is excited to bring in these new perspectives to the board, which provide a well-rounded representation of the many facets of the general aviation community,” said NATA president Gary Dempsey.
Meanwhile, four members completed terms on the board: Clara Bennett, executive director of the Boca Raton Airport; Andy Priester, president and CEO of Priester Aviation; Christian Sasfai, president of Stevens Aerospace and Defense and former COO and v-p of TAC Air, and, Greg Schmidt, president and CEO of Pentastar Aviation.
The new board was elected during NATA’s fifth Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference held June 17-19 in Washington, D.C.
Solairus Aviation has reorganized its charter membership service with the introduction of the Altitude 25-hour charter program that offers all-inclusive pricing, no positioning charges, and other features such as streamlined booking and transparent account processing, the California-based firm announced yesterday. Highlights of its Altitude 25 program include no long-term commitment, 60-minute segment, and two-hour daily minimums as well as guaranteed availability with 24 hours' notice for non-peak periods and Wi-Fi availability on all super-midsize and large-cabin jets.
“We believe our commitment to safety, streamlined pricing, and our shorter daily and segment minimums will help differentiate Altitude 25 for our program members,” Solairus senior v-p of charter sales Paul Class said. “We wanted to make the booking and payment process as simple as possible so that our clients can focus on what’s important and not on the tedious logistics of sourcing an aircraft to suit their needs and budget.”
Solairus has more than 150 aircraft under management and employs more than 600 flight crew and support staff from 60 bases across the U.S.
Japan Police Orders First Subaru Bell 412EPX
The Japan National Police Agency (JPNA) has placed the first order for the Subaru Bell 412EPX medium-twin helicopter, the companies announced at the Paris Air Show. Last year, Bell and Subaru announced their collaboration on a commercial enhancement of the helicopter, which they co-developed for the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) utility helicopter program. Subaru delivered a prototype aircraft to JMOD for testing this February. The helicopter features a more robust main rotor gearbox dry run capability, an increased internal maximum gross weight to 12,200 pounds, and mast torque output of plus 11 percent at speeds below 60 knots.
“We thank the National Police Agency for its trust,” said Bell CEO Mitch Snyder. “These aircraft will contribute to the overall safety and security of the people in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture. We look forward to further collaboration and continued success with Subaru for many years to come."
Bell began its partnership with Subaru in the 1960s when it licensed production of the UH-1B/204B. Subaru subsequently manufactured and supported more than 400 helicopters in Japan. The company provides helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul support to the Japan Coast Guard, Japan National Police Agency, and to the Japan Firefighting and Disaster Relief Government agencies.
The Bell 412 is currently in service with para-public customers in Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, the United States, and Thailand.
Carboman Expands Further into Aerostructures with Alice
Carboman Group, a collection of businesses with varied manufacturing technologies, is diving further into the business of developing, prototyping, and manufacturing advanced composite aerostructures. Its first full fuselage application, the nine-passenger electric Eviation Alice, was displayed last week at the Paris Air Show.
Carboman has worked with Eviation over the past year to develop the fuselage and assemble Alice at its plant in Vannes, France. The work was the culmination of combining companies, including three over the past decade, that could help facilitate its move to become more deeply involved in the aeronautical structures market, said Gregoire Metz, managing director of Carboman Decision. The Alice fuselage involved expertise from Carboman’s Multiplast, Decision, and SNE-SMM companies.
Decision SA has a history of producing carbon fiber structures for aircraft, including the Solar Impulse models. The addition of Brittany, France-based SNE-SMM in late 2017 brought five-axis CNC equipment, including one that enables ultra-large prototype molds. With a background producing large racing yachts longer than 22 meters each, Yann Penfornis, director general of Multiplast, said its equipment could easily handle the airframe for the 12.2-meter-long Alice.
Eviation has ordered a second fuselage and that work is expected to begin in September, Penfornis said. Carboman will develop the manufacturing process for full production of the Alice. Carboman reports it also has other projects in the works.
U.S.-based helicopter fleet operator Era Group and rotorcraft manufacturer Leonardo have a long-standing relationship, and at the Paris Air show last week, the OEM announced that Era’s AW139s have achieved 200,000 flight hours, including 166,000 operating flight hours and 34,000 hours in support of leasing partnerships. Era operates 36 Leonardo AW139 medium-twin helicopters, primarily for offshore oil-and-gas transport, emergency response services, firefighting, utility, and VIP transport.
The company’s AW139 fleet is equipped with a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS). More than 270 customers in around 70 nations have ordered more than 1,100 AW139s to date, with the more than 950 delivered amassing in excess of 2.3 million flight hours. Era’s fleet includes other Leonardo helicopter models such as the AW189, AW119, and AW109 Power models. Era’s flight time across all Leonardo models exceeds 350,000 flight hours. Era also operates a Leonardo Service Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Leonardo also hinted that its AW609 civil tiltrotor program continues to make progress, reiterating that it plans to deliver the aircraft next year to Era, its U.S. launch customer.
Dassault’s Falcon 8X Flies Like a Fighter at Paris Air Show
The Falcon 8X is Dassault’s largest and longest-range business jet. While the French trijet is built for speed and luxury, it is also extremely maneuverable as demonstrated by the test pilots. It features fly-by-wire controls—drawn from Dassault’s legacy of designing military fighters—for precision and flight-envelope protection and passenger comfort.
People in Aviation
Christian Sasfai was named president of South Carolina-based MRO provider Stevens Aerospace and Defense. Most recently v-p and COO for FBO chain TAC Air, Sasfai returns to Stevens after serving as its director of business development and financial planning from 1995-2002.
Gulfstream Aerospace has expanded its European sales team with the addition of two new regional vice presidents. Chris Edwards was appointed regional v-p of sales for Northern Europe, covering the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia after serving in that same role with Embraer Executive Jets. Alessandro Scarpellini, most recently Embraer’s director of sales in Africa, was named regional v-p of sales for Southern Europe, including Switzerland.
Leon Silva rejoined Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services as director of aftermarket programs. Silva, who has more than 28 years of program management and engineering experience, previously has served as chief engineer for Global Military Systems & Services and director of Sikorsky’s S-76 line of commercial helicopters in his former roles with Sikorsky.
Bob Sanchez was named director of government business development for Universal Avionics, overseeing efforts to promote the company’s commercial products to government customers worldwide. Sanchez joined Universal Avionics in March 2014 as program development for military and government and before that served with BAE systems and spent 11 years in the U.S. Air Force.
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