Fractional aircraft flights, which reached a new record and surpassed the growth of charter and wholly owned flights last year, are expected to continue an upward trajectory in 2023, according to SherpaReport.
“The next 12 months will continue to be very busy for the fractional market,” said SherpaReport president Nick Copley. “The reasons are multifaceted, but key trends for increased activity relate to a wider variety of aircraft, shorter wait times to gain access to fractional ownership, a more favorable buyer’s market, flexible structures, and an increased focus on sustainability.”
All fractional providers have placed orders for new aircraft to be delivered beginning this year, Copley pointed out. “Fractional companies are not just replacing existing aircraft, they are adding to their fleets. NetJets, for example, is aiming to have 1,000 aircraft in its fleet by end of 2023—up from 750 before the pandemic.”
As fleets expand, waitlists to buy new fractions are easing. SherpaReport noted wait times have varied from several months to several years, but the anticipated addition of hundreds of aircraft will enable new owners to enter the market more quickly. Copley also anticipates a buyer’s market to begin to emerge this year as preowned business aircraft supply increases. In addition, he expects new financing and cost structures to become more available and favorable to the owner.
The business jet fleet in the Asia-Pacific region declined by 2.4 percent, or 30 aircraft, to 1,196, according to industry analyst Global Sky Media. In its 2022 fleet report, Global Sky reported the region received 31 new-production jets and added another 58 preowned aircraft. Meanwhile, 119 jets left the region.
Global Sky Media attributed the faltering market at least in part to ongoing challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic that were compounded by supply-chain and manufacturing disruptions. This tempered OEM activities, and all of this has caused rising operating costs.
As for the additions, Global Sky Media said light and very light jet models have seen expansion, fueled in part by the Cessna Citation Mustang and Pilatus PC-24. In fact, they are the only categories of fleet growth in 2022, with light increasing by six aircraft, to 278, and very light by eight, to 87.
The large-cabin jet fleet in the region contracted by 15 units, to 213, and the long-range category slid by 17 aircraft, to 369. The corporate airliner fleet eroded by seven aircraft, to 102. With this changing dynamic, Textron has overtaken Bombardier as the fleet leader in the region at 323 units. Bombardier now has 315 aircraft in the region, according to Global Sky.
Blade Air Mobility's year-over-year losses narrowed to $27.26 million on revenues of $146.1 million in 2022 versus a $32 million loss on $67 million in revenues in 2021, it announced today.
The company ended the year with a particularly strong fourth quarter, according to CEO Rob Wiesenthal. "Strong organic growth in MediMobility organ transport coupled with our acquisitions in Europe and Canada drove record revenue and flight profit in 2022. As we navigate a dynamic macro environment, we continue to believe that Blade is well-positioned to thrive in any economic climate, particularly given the non-discretionary nature of our medical business, the resilience of our fliers, and the supply flexibility afforded by our asset-light model,” he said. In addition to organic growth, increased revenues were the result of higher prices and acquisitions, including Blade Europe and Blade Canada.
Blade’s various business segments posted strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter, with revenue increasing by 55 percent year-over-year, to $38.1 million; short-distance revenue jumping 51 percent;flight profit climbing by 38 percent; and MediMobility organ transplant revenue soaring by 120 percent. The company said its “Blade Airport” passenger service between Manhattan and John F. Kennedy International (KJFK) and Newark Liberty International (KEWR) airports “has continued to show sequential improvements, with the fourth quarter setting a record for total revenues and seats flown.”
Aviation Battery Systems (ABS) has expanded its range of portable ground power units (GPUs) with the introduction of the new StartStick 20. The rugged, lightweight units are made to provide auxiliary power to aircraft operators, both on airport ramps and in remote locations.
The Arizona-based company first introduced the StartStick portable GPU in 2014 and has delivered more than 2,000 around the world. The 20 amp-hour StartStick20 weighs just 20 pounds and can support engine/APU starts, database/avionics updates, and compressor washes.
According to ABS director Paul Ross, the StartStick 20 gives operators of heavy twin-engine helicopters access to its GPU family. The equipment, which can conduct multiple restarts before having to be recharged, is already in service with charter and private operators of Leonardo AW139s.
Oceanview Helicopters said the unit can extend the service life of its aircraft’s main batteries by having easier access to a flexible GPU. The StartStick has a standard GPU/NATO power port connector that is compatible with a range of aircraft and is covered by a two-year warranty.
Operators can recharge the GPUs during flights using a 28-volt charging cable or plug them into an onboard inverter. A standard wall adaptor plugs into a hangar socket. The unit’s display shows constant on-condition data, including the state of charge. ABS said it protects aircraft electrical systems by protecting against deficient voltage levels.
Now you own an aircraft. But do you know what to expect from your service provider?
Maintenance, upgrade, and refurbishment decisions can get overwhelming. Knowing what to expect can help you make the right decisions for your aircraft and your mission. In this series, we’ll walk through everything you should expect from a reputable MRO. From initial needs to your aircraft in the hangar. Ready for some insights?
Aero Asset’s 2022 twin-engine helicopter market report reveals a continuing tight used market. Compared with the previous year, transactions of preowned twins fell 4 percent, the number of helicopters for sale dropped 11 percent, light twin retail sales fell 10 percent, and the supply for resale decreased in all asset classes in 2022. However, the aggregate value of transactions increased by 2 percent, to $558 million on 171 helicopters.
Tight supply led to more interest in helicopters 20 years and older, where sales “experienced a strong resurgence,” according to Valerie Pereira, vice president of market research for the consultancy.
Geographically, North America and Europe combined for 73 percent of all twin transactions, but European transactions plunged by 20 percent. While pending deals rose 35 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, for the year the deal pipeline dropped 15 percent from the count in 2020 and 2019.
Top twin-engine performers for valuation included the Airbus EC/H135, EC/H145, and Sikorsky S-76 C+/C++, while market laggards included the Leonardo AW169, Sikorsky S-76D, and Bell 429, which fell from a rank of two to 10 in popularity in class between 2021 and 2022. Medium and heavy twin sales remained stable year-over-year.
Guardian Mobility and Flightcell International are introducing a Iridium Certus 100 communications system that supports both satellite and cellular mid-band data and voice services for rotorcraft and light fixed-wing aircraft. The package combines Flightcell’s DZMx cellular and satellite voice, data and tracking system with the Guardian Mobility G6 Iridium Certus 100 satellite terminal, adding 88 kbps bi-directional satellite data connectivity.
According to Guardian Mobility, the one-box G6 unit provides an effective size and weight combination for installations on smaller aircraft. “This solution complements Flightcell’s cellular connectivity and will offer new features, capabilities, and cost-effective aviation satellite communications not seen before in this market,” said Flightcell v-p Hamish Neill.
The new Iridium Certus 100 system will be available to customers midyear. According to FlightCell, operators will achieve significant cost savings when while routing data through its DZMx cellular unit and by using the 88 kbps data link of the G6 Certus satellite service when a cellular connection is not available.
Guardian says the G6’s uplink speed suits data transmissions from aircraft, including email, flight following and data monitoring, medical device data, images, and compressed video. Other benefits of the package include the Iridium Messaging Transport service, which optimizes data transport for small to moderate-sized messages, allowing increased data and lower costs compared with the Iridium Short Burst Data service.
Helicopter leasing company Milestone Aviation Group has agreed to lease four Leonardo helicopters to the German offshore helicopter operator HeliService International, the companies announced last week at Heli-Expo 2023. The lease agreements cover two Leonardo AW139s and two AW169s. Milestone recently handed over the first AW139 to HeliService, and plans call for delivery of the second AW139 in April.
HeliService plans to operate the AW139s at its offshore wind farm at the German Bight in the southeastern region of the North Sea. The AW169s, which Leonardo plans to delive in mid-2023, will support offshore wind projects in Taiwan, according to Milestone.
“Offshore wind is an exciting growth area for helicopter leasing, and we are delighted to be able to support HeliService as they expand their fleet and services,” said Sebastien Moulin, Milestone’s head of Europe and the Americas. “We look forward to a long and successful relationship with HeliService.”
“The Taiwanese offshore wind market is one of the key global growth markets for offshore wind,” added HeliService CEO Oliver Freiland. “Helicopters are a crucial element in meeting this growth in demand given the vital role they play in ensuring the maintenance of offshore wind turbines, particularly in the harsh sea conditions of Taiwan.”
Inflight Connectivity Question of the Week
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The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) will operate under new leadership starting June 1 when Angelo Collins succeeds Mike Hirschberg as executive director. Collins becomes the organization’s seventh leader in its 80-year history.
The not-for-profit group is dedicated to the advancement of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and technology. It now counts 6,500 individual members worldwide from industry, academia, and government agencies, as well as 185 corporate members and 30 educational members.
Collins, a VFS member since 2008, now works as an aerospace engineer with Booz Allen Hamilton, managing the science and engineering technical assistance support contract for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Tactical Technology Office. With 15 years of experience in aerospace engineering, project management, and technical consulting, he started his career as an intern with DARPA contractor Centra Technology, where he was recruited by Hirschberg himself. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in engineering administration from Virginia Tech.
Hirschberg joined the VFS as executive director in 2011 and will stay with the organization in the new role of director of strategy. He also led the society’s prominent role as an advocate for new vertical flight technology, most notably eVTOL aircraft, and its rebranding from its former name of American Helicopter Association.
People in Aviation
Air charter specialist Chapman Freeborn promoted Catriona Taylor to global supplier relations director and Jenny van Wyk to country manager for South Africa. Taylor has worked with Chapman Freeborn for 18 years, most recently in the position of group passenger operations director. Van Wyk has served the company for more than nine years as a member of the passenger team based in South Africa.
Mark Daniels joined Jet East as Citation product director at the company's Dallas facility. Daniels served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a mechanic and later as a helicopter crew chief. Following his military service, he held various maintenance roles with the National Guard, Dee Howard, Lockheed Martin, and most recently at Cessna, where he spent 23 years.
Industry veteran Simon Williams was hired by Avidyne as director of international sales. Williams’ years of experience in aviation include aftermarket and OEM sales management in Asia-Pacific at Honeywell/Bendix/King, product management and technical business development at Airwork, and maintenance and operations positions in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Greg Principato, president and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, announced plans to retire in September after serving the organization for seven years. Principato has worked for more than 40 years in Washington, D.C., in aviation and public service. He previously headed the National Association of State Aviation Officials and Airports Council International—North America.
Maintenance controller and CASA delegate Nicole Zhou was hired by Jet Diligence, a provider of aircraft airworthiness management and maintenance support. Zhou has more than 10 years of experience as a maintenance controller with Hawker Pacific and Jet Aviation in Australia.
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