JetNet: Market for Supersonic Bizjets Sizable, Growing

There is a “sizeable and growing market” for supersonic business jets (SSBJs), according to market research data presented by JetNet iQ managing director Rollie Vincent this week at the NBAA Business Aircraft Finance, Registration, and Legal Conference in Fort Myers, Florida. “Each time we analyze this market segment, customer interest and overall demand have increased. Our projected demand is for three SSBJ deliveries per month.”

About 72 percent of those surveyed by JetNet iQ believe an SSBJ will be in service in 10 years, while 71 percent agreed that speed is the next frontier in business aviation. Meanwhile, 31 percent would be more likely to consider purchasing an SSBJ if FAA regulations regarding supersonic overland flight are made less restrictive.

Vincent expects the SSBJ early adopters to mirror those for ultra-long-range jets, which would see corporate operators account for about 32 percent of the SSBJ market; ultra-high-net-worth individuals and private corporations, 25 percent; aircraft management, charter, and fractional, 24 percent; and government and head-of-state, 19 percent.

Co-presenter Ted Ellett of law firm Hogan Lovells added that the biggest obstacles to civil supersonic aircraft are regulatory, not technical. He specifically mentioned lack of FAR Part 36 landing and takeoff noise certification standards and supersonic overland flight restrictions. An industry working group that includes Aerion, Gulfstream, GE, Honeywell, and Embraer is currently tackling both issues, said Ellett.

USAIG Incentivizes IS-BAO, BASC Accreditations

Aviation insurance underwriter USAIG is adding financial incentives for operators with Performance Vector (PV) Plus policies to be IS-BAO registered or meet the Business Aviation Safety Consortium’s (BASC) requirements for a full-service member organization, the aviation insurance underwriter announced today.

Under the company’s Good Experience Return program, PV Plus policyholders with no losses after a year will yield a 5 percent premium return for having IS-BAO or BASC accreditation. This is additional to potential 5 percent premium returns for twice-yearly pilot simulation-based training in make and model and fleet use of an approved FOQA/FDM program. Operators that employ all three best practices can recoup a combined 15 percent of their premium after a no-loss year, USAIG said.

“The PV Plus component to ‘achieve or maintain IS-BAO registry’ was established because the process of meeting the IS-BAO standard and passing external IS-BAO audits strengthens the standardization and safety practices of a flight operation and serves to validate the presence and effectiveness of managerial safety functions,” said USAIG director of aviation safety programs Paul Ratté. Meanwhile, “BASC has grown steadily and established itself as an effective alternative resource that spurs and helps business aviation organizations to optimize the effectiveness of their safety management and standardization practices.”

Citation Pilots Group Strikes Fuel Deal with Signature

Signature Flight Support and the Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) Association signed an agreement that will offer CJP members and their aircraft lower fuel prices and fees at Signature’s 140 North American locations and through its rewards program, the FBO chain announced yesterday. The agreement also gives Orlando, Florida-based Signature a customer base that counts 1,000 people with more than 600 aircraft as members. 

”CJP is committed to bringing additional value to CJP members through operational discounts,” said CJP chief executive Andrew Broom. “This agreement with Signature Flight Support allows our members to enjoy reduced fuel and fee costs at Signature’s facilities.” 

Members also will be able to earn points on fuel purchases from the Signature TailWins program that are converted to cash on a reloadable Visa debit card or redeemed on more than 40 virtual gift cards from major retailers. “This agreement represents a great option for aircraft owner-operators to benefit from the Signature network and to experience our differentiated service offerings,” said Signature chief commercial officer Shawn Hall.

FAA Details Operator CORSIA Reporting

The FAA has developed a voluntary program for monitoring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) CO₂ emissions under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Private, on-demand charter, fractional, and airline operators who fly internationally are invited to voluntarily develop an MRV for CO₂ emissions.

According to the FAA, “The decision to participate is voluntary, but once an operator has volunteered, there are specific steps to follow.” However, the MRV program is independent of offsetting, and the data reported will be used for the calculation of CORSIA baselines. The offsetting of emissions under CORSIA, which might require rulemaking or other action, will be addressed at a future time.

With respect to the voluntary nature of the program, the FAA said the primary reason “is that there was not adequate time to undertake rulemaking to have a [regulatory] program in place for the 2019/2020 period.” Nevertheless, the agency said it anticipates a “high level of participation by U.S. aircraft operators based on public statements and information received to date.”

Participation in the CORSIA MRV Program is intended for U.S. airplane operators that produce annual CO₂ emissions greater than 10,000 metric tons. As previously reported, the vast majority of business aircraft will typically not reach this level, but operators can still elect to participate in the program to monitor their international emissions.

Bombardier Challenger 350 Arrives in Belgium

Bombardier’s Challenger 350 super-midsize jet has moved into a new market with the delivery of the first to be registered in Belgium. The aircraft will be based in Brussels and managed by Luxaviation Group.

The 350 joins more than 600 Bombardier Business Aircraft operating in Europe. “We are very pleased that Bombardier’s best-selling Challenger 350 business jet has joined Luxaviation’s fleet of aircraft,” said Christophe Degoumois, Bombardier Business Aviation’s v-p of sales for Europe, Russia, and CIS, adding that the aircraft’s performance, economics, cabin, and entertainment technology make it “ideally suited” for the European market.

The aircraft, which can climb direct to 43,000 feet, has a 3,200-nm range, connecting Brussels to Dubai nonstop. The 10-passenger jet further recently was awarded numerous steep approach certifications, allowing it to land at airfields such as London City Airport.

Bombardier last year celebrated the 700th delivery of the Challenger 300 family, which includes the 350, and more recently noted that in 2018, for the second year in a row, the model was the most delivered multi-engine business jet.

Australia Proposes Flight Sim Qualification Changes

Consultation has opened for proposed changes to the qualification standards of Australia’s flight training simulators and other flight training devices. These changes proposed by the country’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) would replace the detailed unique Australian standards with standards set by ICAO, FAA, and EASA.

The updated standards include increasing fidelity to support stall and upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT) requirements; increasing the fidelity of the simulation of engine and airframe icing effects; and upgrading the capabilities of the instructor operating station to ensure adequate feedback to the instructor in UPRT sequences.

The FAA’s updated simulator qualification standards were adopted in 2016 and became effective early last week.

In connection with the amended standards, CASA has published a draft of a manual detailing how the new standards would be incorporated in the operation of flight training devices. Comments on the proposed amendments are due April 10.

JetNet Launches Product Enabling User Customization

Aviation market information specialist JetNet has launched a new application program interface (API) that allows its subscribers to customize their own databases and applications, the Utica, New York-based firm announced yesterday. JetNet API enables users to interface the firm’s fixed- and rotary-wing data with their internal management and customer relationship management (CRM) systems such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, as well as non-competing databases and services, according to JetNet.

“JetNet API is robust, flexible, and available now,” said JetNet marketing director Mike Foye. “If our subscribers are interested or don’t have the programming expertise in house, we can help them design a custom connection between their company and JetNet API.”

The firm houses real-time marketplace information on the worldwide business and commercial airplane and helicopter fleet, comprising more than 110,000 airframes. 

Customs Cleared for Leesburg Executive

The Greater Washington Business Aviation Association (GWBAA) is hosting a ribbon cutting for a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at Virginia's Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO) on March 27 as part of an open house the regional association is holding. NBAA, noting the new customs option in the Washington, D.C. area, said it will relieve pressure from other busy regional facilities.

“The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is a prime international destination for business travelers,” said Paige Kroner, NBAA’s Mid-Atlantic regional representative. “This new CBP facility at Leesburg will provide business aircraft operators an alternative option for clearing customs and will help alleviate congestion at other local airports.”

The CBP facility will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., but 24-hour advance notice is requested for clearance.

GWBAA’s inaugural open house and static display at ProJet Aviation will feature business aircraft from Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, Gulfstream, Honda, and Textron Aviation. In addition, the event, which will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., will include tours of the first remote air traffic control tower in the U.S. This tower—a collaborative effort between the FAA, the Virginia Small Aircraft Transportation System Laboratory, and Saab Sensis—has undergone a series of trials over the past few years to evaluate the use of remote technology for non-towered airports.

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