As the world progresses into the post-Covid era, billings for general aviation airplane and rotorcraft delivered in the first quarter soared 18.1 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively, from a year ago, according to data released this morning by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
At 113 deliveries, business jet airframers were off one unit from last year’s first-quarter total, while the number of turboprops handed over rose by more than 18 percent year-over-year, to 84 aircraft, GAMA said. Piston airplane shipments were also up, with its 235 deliveries representing a 7.3 percent advance over the first quarter of last year.
Meanwhile, turbine-powered helicopter deliveries in the quarter increased by seven units from the first three months of 2020, to 92—an 8 percent improvement. Piston helicopter deliveries were flat from a year ago, with one fewer delivery than last year, at 36 units.
“It is encouraging to see manufacturers begin to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic, although we are not yet in the clear,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “The industry continues to face headwinds, especially with ongoing supply chain issues and pandemic-related restrictions and constraints to global travel.” He added that it is important for the industry to continue working with governments to assist in strengthening the supply chain, safely easing travel-related restrictions, and protecting its highly skilled workforce.
DALaviation Named First CJ4 Gen2 Customer in Europe
DALaviation Switzerland is the first European customer for the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2, Textron Aviation announced on Wednesday. The $10.75 million twinjet will be the third aircraft to join the Geneva-based charter operator’s fleet, which includes a CJ2+ and a CJ1.
The Citation CJ4 received EASA type certification in 2011, and approval of the Gen2’s interior is expected in June, the Wichita airframer said. Textron Aviation announced the Gen2 in February as an upgraded model with new folding airstairs with a lower step to the ground, step lighting, and handrail; added seating options; new ambient lighting, and a galley with improved storage.
“Citation business jets have a solid reputation among our customers as reliable, high-quality aircraft, and we are proud to be the first company in Europe to add the CJ4 Gen2 to our charter fleet,” said DALaviation founder and CEO Nicolas Trefeil. “Flexibility and wellness are top-of-mind for our customers as travel resumes, and our client base is growing as people are increasingly turning to charter services for an exclusive and comfortable flying experience. The CJ4 Gen2 will help us continue expanding our business.”
Luxaviation To Operate eVTOL Flights for Lilium
Lilium is partnering with business aircraft operator Luxaviation to provide commercial operations with its seven-seat eVTOL aircraft in Europe from 2024. Under the terms of the contract announced today, Luxaviation will take responsibility for securing necessary regulatory approvals and managing pilots, who will train following an EASA-approved type rating concept developed by Lilium partner Lufthansa Aviation Training.
The German startup said that it chose the Luxembourg-based group because of its extensive experience in operating business jets and helicopters. Luxaviation manages hundreds of aircraft under 10 air operator certificates (AOCs) across Europe, giving it operational flexibility. The company was the first to secure the new EASA AOC approval for a business jet operation, which is valid across all 27 EU member states.
On a single charge, the all-electric Lilium Jet will have a projected range of 155 miles and fly at speeds of 175 mph. Power comes from 36 tilting ducted fans installed in its wing and canard.
Lilium describes its planned service as an “airline” operation but has not yet confirmed whether flights will be on-demand or scheduled. It has also announced plans to launch services in locations such as Florida and intends to partner with other local operators where necessary. The company previously announced plans to launch networks in Germany through partnerships with Munich, Nuremberg, Dusseldorf, and Cologne/Bonn airports.
Want more? A longer version of this article can be found at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology.
Shell Aircraft has become the first operator in Europe to enroll in the International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) new International Standard for Business Aircraft Operators (IS-BAO) Progressive Stage 3 program. IBAC launched the Progressive Stage 3 (PS3) option in 2020 after the beta leadership team of operators designed and tested the program over two years.
PS3 allows operators to access the Stage 3 safety system, share data, and take advantage of opportunities to mentor and share their best practices with others. IBAC calls the one-day Progressive auditing process—featuring a specific credentialed Progressive auditor based in the operator’s region of the world—a key benefit. The council characterizes the audit as “low impact” and an opportunity for operators to concentrate on areas that might show room for improvement.
Shell Aviation became IS-BAO Stage 1 in 2004 and progressed to Stage 3 in 2007. Shell Aircraft operates three Dassault Falcon 8Xs based in the Netherlands and it offsets its emissions using carbon credits.
“We are so glad to see this new PS3 concept come together and excited about integrating it into our department,” said the company’s director of corporate aviation, Stan Medved.
The insurer of a key defendant in a tsunami of litigation engulfing the January 2020 crash of a Sikorsky S-76B that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight others has filed suit to be removed from the proceedings. Sompo International Holdings unit Endurance Assurance filed the suit in U.S. District Court, claiming the $10 million non-owned policy it issued to OC Helicopters, which booked the flight for Bryant and his party, does not cover helicopters. Island Express Helicopters owned and operated the accident helicopter.
Endurance had been defending OC in the crash lawsuits brought by Bryant’s widow and others subject to “reservation for rights” but now seeks reimbursement for those costs. The defense employed by OC to date has been that it did not have “operational control” of the crash flight. In September, the company issued a formal statement, saying in part, “we adamantly deny any responsibility for the accident.”
In February, the NTSB said the probable cause of the crash was “the pilot's decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial orientation and loss of control.”
The filing by Endurance is the latest insurance cloud hanging over the crash. Industry experts have charged that the $50 million insurance coverage carried by Island Express Helicopters was inadequate, considering the passenger capacity of the S-76.
NBAA To Present Meritorious Award to Martine Rothblatt
NBAA has selected Dr. Martine Rothblatt as this year’s recipient of its highest honor: the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. A fixed-wing and rotorcraft pilot, she helped to revolutionize the satellite radio industry by co-founding the company that has become SiriusXM. To be presented in mid-October at NBAA-BACE, the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award recognizes “extraordinary lifelong professional contributions” to the field.
The association called Rothblatt a trailblazer in aviation and other industries whose work “fostered the availability of satellite weather information and Nexrad graphics on the flight deck. Rothblatt also has played a role in the emergence of electric helicopters. “Her intellectual property is at the heart of a record-setting electrically powered Robinson R44 helicopter dubbed the EcoMax,” NBAA said.
In addition, she is an integral player in advanced air mobility (AAM) companies, including Beta Technologies, which has won contracts from the U.S. Air Force, Blade Urban Air Mobility, and United Parcel Service. Her work has focused on the use of AAM for organ delivery, among other purposes.
She is considered an early visionary in biotechnology as well. After her daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, she founded United Therapeutics in 1994 to develop drugs to treat that condition and other rare diseases. Rothblatt will speak during NBAA-BACE, providing her perspectives on trends that will shape the future.
Wisk Asks Court To Stop Rival eVTOL over Theft Claims
Wisk Aero has asked the U.S. District Court in San Francisco to grant a preliminary injunction to stop Archer Aviation from using what the former claims are confidential trade secrets in the latter's planned eVTOL. The May 19 filing also seeks orders requiring Archer to provide full access to evidence for the trial due to start on July 7 in which Wisk will allege that the rival startup has based its five-seat, all-electric eVTOL on Wisk's own designs for a product it has had in development for several years.
Meanwhile, Wisk confirmed that the company is cooperating with an ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI and Department of Justice relating to allegations that a former employee stole trade secrets before moving to a role with Archer. The latest court filing names Jing Xue as the former employee subject to the investigation, alleging that he improperly downloaded almost 5,000 data files onto a personal device that he subsequently gave to Archer after joining the company in January 2020.
Archer has strenuously denied the allegations. In a written statement, it said, “This a baseless motion in a baseless lawsuit. Archer independently designed its aircraft, before any employees from Wisk joined Archer, and Archer looks forward to demonstrating that in court. Archer is moving forward with its business plans, including the development, certification, and production of its proprietary aircraft.”
Want more? A longer version of this article can be found at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology.
GPS Interference Testing Remains Problematic
During an NBAA News Hour session on Friday, experts summarized the status of problems caused by military GPS jamming tests. This type of testing continues to expand and is causing GPS reception outages for all types of flight operations, and there is no plan by the military to reduce GPS jamming training operations.
“We’ve seen the number of GPS interference events have nearly quadrupled in the past decade,” said NBAA director of air traffic services and infrastructure Heidi Williams. “The number of locations across the National Airspace System where those jamming events occur has doubled in the last two to three years. So we’re seeing a proliferation of events and locations.”
The reason for this testing and why it is growing is that the military needs to be prepared if GPS signals are compromised by enemy jamming, explained Jim McClay, director of airspace, air traffic, and security for AOPA. “The jamming by the DoD is to allow them to be able to train in an environment deprived of GPS signal.
“We as an industry are becoming more reliant on GPS,” said McClay. GPS is a critical part of the NAS and there are more IFR procedures that rely on GPS as well as airborne equipment that is primarily GPS-based. “This continues to be a concern for us,” he said.
How Battery and Motor Tech Is Transforming Aviation
Developers of new electric aircraft have learned a lot from electric car pioneers such as Tesla, but they face their own challenges in ensuring that batteries and electric motors are fit for purpose for aerospace applications, including eVTOL air-taxi services. Technical expert Sergio Cecutta of SMG Consulting explained how the technology is being applied in aviation, in addition to the current performance limits and how these might be expanded in the future.
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