With the small to midsize business jet segments seeing a stronger post-Covid comeback, fractional aircraft provider Jet It, which operates only HondaJet Elites, has seen growth. “Our business model affords the market that's looking for private means of travel, more autonomy, and more control,” said company CEO and co-founder Glenn Gonzales. “Especially in today's environment with the pandemic, our business model coupled with that market is a great opportunity."
With HondaJets, Jet It’s operating model is predicated on the airplane returning to its base each night. Currently, its fleet consists of five of the six-passenger light twinjets, four of which are fractionally-owned and based in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, and Florida, while the fifth is leased. Gonzales confirmed the company is currently out of inventory and has a one-aircraft-per-five-owner ratio. The Greensboro, North Carolina-based company has a firm order for 10 additional Elites and expects the next delivery in August. That aircraft will be based in the New York City area.
“Over the next couple of years, we anticipate that we will bring those airplanes on fairly quickly,” said Gonzales. “We should get another four here domestically and we are expanding into Canada.” Further expansion through sister-company JetClub into Southeast Asia has been delayed by the pandemic, but plans are to install a HondaJet there as soon as the crisis subsides.
The last and smallest of the upgraded variants of Bombardier’s legacy Global family, the $46 million Global 5500, has entered service with a recent delivery to an undisclosed customer, the Canadian airframer announced today. Unveiled alongside the upgraded Global 6500 at EBACE 2018, the Global 5500 received its type certification from Transport Canada, EASA, and FAA last year.
Featuring three living areas with Nuage seating and powered by a pair of 15,125-pound-thrust Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 engines, the 5500 has a range of 5,900 nm—200 nm more than originally planned. “This spacious and efficient aircraft is the ultimate business tool, with the range and access to safely take our customers where they need to be,” said Bombardier Aviation president David Coleal.
Coleal noted that the 5500, along with the earlier 5000 variant, breaks from tradition with interior completions done at Bombardier’s Wichita site, where the Montreal-based company assembles Learjets, operates service and flight-test centers, and performs specialized aircraft work.
With a top speed of Mach 0.90, the 5500 accommodates up to 16 passengers. It also has Bombardier’s Vision flight deck, Ka-band connectivity, and an air purification system with an advanced HEPA filter.
Vu Systems Completes Development Testing
Development testing of the Vu Systems passive millimeter-wave (PMMW) sensor has been completed, the company announced today, noting that this critical milestone in the program marks the end of “all flight testing required to validate the design of its Vu Cube sensor.” The Vu Cube PMMW sensor allows pilots to “see” through fog and clouds from much longer distances than traditional infrared sensors—up to two to three miles in low-visibility conditions.
Testing was done in a Beechcraft King Air during more than 150 approaches in 50 flights in rain, heavy fog, and extremely low cloud ceilings. The Vu Cube is mounted in the nose of the King Air, but testing of various sensor variants was done to optimize the system for business jets and large air transport aircraft.
"Our sensor operates at a wavelength up to one thousand times longer than that of today's most advanced sensors, and this allows Vu Cube to see through clouds and fog when traditional sensors cannot,” said Vu Systems CEO Stedman Stevens. Even in dense fog where the runway was completely obscured for viewing with an infrared sensor, test pilots were able to see the runway with the Vu Cube-provided imagery.
Vu Systems is working with aircraft and avionics manufacturers to develop Vu Cube installations.
Honeywell Aerospace, which recently rolled out its Forge analytics platform to provide operators with a holistic approach to managing a flight end-to-end, is building on its initial capabilities to include integration with Professional Flight Management’s scheduling software and a new cabin connectivity analytics dashboard. In addition, a beta version of a propulsion date reporting system will integrate aircraft health data with Honeywell’s Maintenance and Service Plan (MSP) monthly reporting.
“Since Honeywell Forge launched to support business aviation in March, we have been focused on continuously innovating the platform and expanding the integration with key partners so our customers can get a clear picture of how their aircraft are using data and how they can better manage their costs,” said John Peterson, v-p and general manager, software and services at Honeywell Connected Enterprise, Aerospace.
Evolved from Honeywell’s GoDirect, Forge is designed to integrate mission management from connectivity to flight operations, navigation databases, and maintenance through a single platform. With the latest updates, operators can integrate the Professional Flight Management suite, providing access to its scheduling, recordkeeping, and reporting applications through Forge.
Meanwhile, the cabin connectivity dashboard provides analytics to monitor how much data is being used, track outages, and manage costs. The integration with MSP combines health data from aircraft and automatically compiles it into the monthly reports.
Bell is expanding its virtual training offerings during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bell’s training academy is now offering virtual pilot and maintenance courses covering pilot training for its Model 505, 407, and 429 helicopters and avionics and field maintenance for the 505. The courses are aimed at Bell global customers who cannot travel to the academy in Fort Worth, Texas.
The company said it will have virtual courses in place for all of its current commercial production helicopters by the end of July. Those courses will include 407 electrical and avionics, 407 field maintenance, and 429 electrical and avionics. Bell is also offering a series of blended courses that combine virtual and “hands-on” training, the latter portion of which should be completed within six months of taking the former.
“This is one of many virtual support offerings in the initial phase of Bell’s customer support and services modernization effort,” said Sam Nelson, general manager of Bell's global training academy. “In today’s environment, Bell recognizes the need for the availability of virtual training courses and has developed a virtual experience that offers a comprehensive training curriculum.”
GAMA, Eurocae To Collaborate on Emerging Tech Standards
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (Eurocae) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on industry standards for emerging technologies. Under the MoU, the organizations will work to facilitate and speed up the introduction of technologies such as hybrid and electric propulsion, VTOL, and cybersecurity.
Establishing a framework of cooperation between GAMA and Eurocae, the MoU provides for the exchanging of information and sharing of expertise and best practices. In addition, the organizations will have cross-participation in working groups. GAMA joined Eurocae as a full member earlier in 2020 as a first step leading up to this collaboration and has already been involved in its VTOL working group.
“GAMA looks forward to working closely with Eurocae to further the development of industry standards,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “This partnership will help advance the exciting future development of the global general and business aviation industry."
Eurocae secretary general Christian Schleifer-Heingärtner added that strengthening cooperation with organizations like GAMA has been a key objective of Eurocae. “We see a great opportunity to work with GAMA, to complement each other’s working structure, and to collaborate on the many areas of common interest,” Schleifer-Heingärtner said.
Elite Jets Promotes Pilots to Executive Posts
Florida-based Elite Jets Charters has promoted two of its pilots to top-level positions at the four-year-old charter operator and aircraft management firm. Mark London, previously general manager, and Stephen Myers, formerly assistant chief pilot, have been promoted to president and executive v-p, respectively.
London assumes a role previously held by founder Dan Randolph, who remains CEO. As president, London will oversee Elite Jets’ day-to-day operations. Before joining Elite Jets, London was president of London Aviation Group, which offered helicopter sightseeing tours, flight training, aerial photography, and maintenance. In his new role, Myers will oversee operations such as flight scheduling, aircraft maintenance, information technology, and sales and marketing, as well as assist with the company’s strategic growth.
Based at Naples Airport with a fleet of four Embraer Phenom 300s, a Legacy 500, and a Bell 407 helicopter, Elite Jets operates from a recently opened 60,000-sq-ft terminal serving a client base comprising seasonal and full-time residents, as well as business executives with second homes in the area.
MRO Insider Adds Constant AOG Team to App
Constant Aviation’s AOG team has joined MRO Insider’s app-based searchable network of maintenance providers. “Having a provider join our AOG network of Constant Aviation’s caliber is such a huge affirmation for our team that we are moving in the right direction,” said MRO Insider co-founder Andy Nixon. Constant v-p of AOG Paul Witt “has been supportive of our platform and end goal, so having the AOG team he built receiving requests through our mobile app will be a great benefit to our business aircraft users.”
MRO Insider allows users to solicit multiple quotes for maintenance and related work through its network of service providers that include aircraft detailing, AOG, scheduled airframe and engine maintenance, avionics, paint, and interior outfitting. Users of its mobile app can “ping” AOG providers, detailers, part suppliers, and equipment based on the location of their aircraft and without having to make a telephone call.
“We feel the service that [MRO Insider] is offering complements our capabilities and gives customers the confidence and peace of mind that help is available to them in even in the most remote areas of the country,” Constant’s Witt explained. MRO Insider’s platform has more than 1,000 registered tail numbers and more than 100 provider locations.
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