Embraer Bizjet Deliveries Edge Lower in First Quarter

Embraer Executive Jets (EEJ) saw its business jet deliveries slip from a year ago, according to its first-quarter 2020 delivery report issued today. Specifically, the Brazilian airframer reported deliveries of five light jets—all Phenom 300Es—and four large jets—one Praetor 500 and three Praetor 600s—for a total of nine aircraft.

That compares with 11 in last year’s first quarter: two Phenom 100s, six Phenom 300s, two Legacy 500s, and one Legacy 650. An EEJ spokeswoman told AIN this year’s first quarter Phenom deliveries were of all the original 300E variant. First delivery of the upgraded 300E—priced at $9.65 million and boasting more speed and range, as well as a quieter cabin—has not yet occurred, she said.

Embraer noted that the first quarter is seasonally its lowest for aircraft deliveries, although for the past two consecutive years the company has reported higher but flat deliveries. During the quarter it saw certification of the new 300E by ANAC, FAA, and EASA, adding that in the 2010s the 300 was the most-delivered twinjet in its class.

Argus: Covid-19 ‘Crushes’ N. American Bizav Traffic

As expected, Covid-19 “crushed” business aviation traffic in the U.S., Caribbean, and Canada last month, with the average daily activity for the entire month falling short of the single worst day for all of 2019, according to Argus International. Traqpak data released yesterday by the business aviation information firm showed that April flying plummeted 71.5 percent from a year ago. However, its forecast shows signs of optimism for May, which calls for a 43.9 percent year-over-year reduction.

Activity by aircraft category was consistent with previous trends showing heavier losses in larger-cabin jets and softer blows for the turboprop and light jet segments. On a year-over-year basis, turboprop flying dropped 62.1 percent last month, while light jets suffered a 70.1 percent loss. Midsize jet flying contracted 77.8 percent and large-cabin fell the hardest, sliding 80.3 percent.

Operator activity also followed recent trends showing charter faring the best and fractionals the worst. Charter flying skidded 66.9 percent, while Part 91 and fractional activity plunged 72.3 percent and 80.3 percent, respectively.

Every individual category experienced losses in the mid to upper double digits. The worst recorded decrease in individual categories—80.9 percent—was in fractional turboprops, closely followed by fractional midsize and large-cabin jets, which each were down 80.4 percent, and an 80.1 percent reduction in Part 91 large-cabin jet flying.

Gulfstream G600 Lands EASA Nod

Gulfstream Aerospace has received the green light to begin deliveries of the fly-by-wire G600 to customers in Europe, following EASA certification of the large-cabin jet, the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer announced yesterday. This nod comes almost a year after similar FAA approval for the twinjet, which entered service on Aug. 8, 2019.

“The Gulfstream G600’s technology, high-speed performance, and efficiency will serve the intercontinental European business traveler well,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “We are excited to get this aircraft in the hands of customers throughout the continent.”

According to Gulfstream, the G600 can fly 5,500 nm at its Mach 0.90 high-speed cruise or 6,500 nm at its Mach 0.85 long-range cruise speed. The jet's maximum operating speed is Mach 0.925.

The G600 has racked up 23 city-pair speed records, including a 4,057-nm flight from Savannah to Geneva in 7 hours and 21 minutes at Mach 0.90.

Group Wins Contract To Open New Wilmington FBO

Delaware’s Wilmington International Airport (ILM) will be receiving a second FBO after a group led by business aviation industry veterans Marty Hiller, Michael Scheeringa, and Sanjay Aggarwal won a contract after a request for proposal was issued by the New Hanover County Airport Authority.

According to Hiller, who operates two FBOs at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport, the new entity known as Marathon Aviation Partners will operate the FBO, to be constructed on a 6.3-acre leasehold at ILM under the name Aero Center Wilmington. Hiller remains the owner of Marathon Aviation Associates. 

Hiller expects to break ground on the new facility within three months and for the FBO to be operational in at least one of the hangars by next April. Located on the west side of the airfield, just north of the commercial terminal, it will include a 5,200-sq-ft FBO terminal, a fuel farm, and a pair of up to 12,000-sq-ft hangars able to accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets.

“Wilmington is very much a combination of a vacation destination location plus it has a nice business side to it,” Hiller told AIN. “When we came up with the name, it was very specific that it was Aero Center Wilmington because we want to serve the local clientele and the local community.”

GPS Interference Issue Back on the Table

A coalition of industries that rely on GPS is concerned that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) approval of Ligado Networks' telecommunications system will risk interference with GPS signals. Ligado is the new company formed after LightSquared’s bankruptcy in 2012, and it took over LightSquared’s L-band network. Ligado does not agree that there is any risk of GPS interference in the range of frequencies covered by its FCC license.

The coalition’s issues are summarized in a submission to a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held on May 6, “Department of Defense Spectrum Policy and the Impact of the FCC’s Ligado Decision on National Security.” The issues include ignoring national security, risking public safety, economic impact, and outsourcing enforcement of GPS interference issues to Ligado.

The public safety issue is perhaps the most important as it addresses the widespread use of GPS and reintroduces the GPS interference issues that dogged the LightSquared FCC application. 

Ligado disagrees, and in a letter to the committee, pointed out that the FCC granted “our spectrum license applications, after a lengthy public proceeding involving years of public comment and expert review.” Ligado also expressed disappointment that no one from the company or the FCC was invited to testify at the hearing.

JetHQ Expands International Teams

Aircraft transaction and brokerage specialist JetHQ has bolstered its international team with additions to head up two newly created divisions covering Asia and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Rohit Kapur joins JetHQ to serve as president of JetHQ Asia. Kapur, who founded Arrow Aircraft, previously spent 20 years flying helicopters in the Indian Army before moving into civil aviation in 2003. He since has held leadership roles including as CEO of Indocopters, supporting Airbus Helicopters sales before founding Arrow Aircraft in 2010. He also helped found the Business Aircraft Operators Association in India.

Meanwhile, JetHQ promoted Rebecca Johnson to president of JetHQ EMEA. Johnson previously was v-p of sales for the firm and has managed European aircraft transactions for 15 years. Before joining JetHQ, she led Gulfstream sales in southern Europe. She also has served as a Hawker Beechcraft demonstration pilot and a corporate pilot.

JetHQ further added Kani Saritas as v-p of sales in the Dubai office. Saritas, who brings 15 years of service to his new role, will have responsibilities for sales in the Middle East and Africa. He formerly was senior director of regional sales for Jet Aviation.

JetHQ founder and managing director Garett Jerde said the executives bring “great insights gained from hundreds of transactions and thousands of flight hours to identify and meet our customers’ needs.”

Regulators Note Loss of Cabin Pressure in Hawker Jets

The FAA and EASA have issued safety bulletins warning operators of certain Hawker jets that duct and sleeve clamps on the air-cycle machine and water separator can become loose and lead to a potential loss of cabin pressure. This condition potentially affects Textron Aviation Hawker 750, 800, 800 (U-125A), 800XP, 850XP, and 900XP series aircraft.

According to an FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB), the regulator has received multiple reports in recent years of sudden disconnections of air-conditioning system ducts and sleeves attached to the air-cycle machine and water separator, which can occur at both ends of the air-cycle machine’s discharge duct and immediately downstream of the water separator. Disconnections are usually accompanied by a popping sound or loud bang followed by a cabin rate of climb more than 2,000 fpm, depending on cabin altitude. 

Improper re-torquing of the clamps following parts replacement or other maintenance is believed to be behind the disconnections. Textron Aviation is updating sections of the maintenance manual to bring attention to the correct torque requirements for the clamps. 

For out-of-phase inspections mentioned in the aircraft flexible maintenance schedule, the FAA recommends that maintainers check for the correct torque loading of the clamps after any disturbance of the air conditioning ducts or rubber sleeves as close as possible to the lower 50-hour limit.

Oscar Flowers Passes Away

Oscar “Tam” Flowers, a long-time employee of TAC Air, recently passed away at the age of 76. Flowers joined the FBO chain in 1998 and held roles as its general manager of TAC Air’s Shreveport, Louisiana, facility, director of safety and security, and procurement manager.

Born Dec. 11, 1943, in Wilson, North Carolina, Flowers spent a number of years with Amtrak, serving as chief of onboard services. His career led him into aviation with AMR Corp., Ogden Air, and ultimately TAC Air, according to The Wilson Times.

“Always prepared with a story, Oscar acted as the backbone to the TAC Air family and aviation community and was an example to everyone,” TAC Air said. “He had the talent to always make a room brighter when he entered and was known for his friendly attitude, strong work ethic, and caring, humble nature.”