Bombardier experienced a strong first quarter and is well on its way toward meeting its 2022 guidance, the company said this morning during a quarterly investor call. The Canadian business jet manufacturer's $167 million in pre-tax earnings in the quarter represented a 36 percent rise over the same period a year ago.
“Our team has been able to build on our strong performance last year and our momentum from last year,” said president and CEO Éric Martel. “In this quarter, which was one of the best in our books, we’ve proven once more that we know how to make the most out of opportunities when they present themselves.”
The company delivered 21 jets during the quarter, including nine of its flagship Global 7500s and the final three Learjets, and is on track to exceed last year’s delivery total of 120 aircraft by the end of 2022. As it transitions from the Challenger 350 to the Challenger 3500, which is expected to enter service in September, the company expects deliveries in the second and third quarters to be static year-over-year, with a surge in the fourth quarter as 3500 production and deliveries ramp up.
Bombardier has seen strong orders thus far for the year with a book-to-bill of 2.5:1. During the quarter, its backlog subsequently rose by $1.3 billion, to $13.5 billion.
California-based helicopter operator Helinet is partnering with Urban Movement Labs (UML) to explore eVTOL applications for advanced air mobility in Los Angeles as a new member of the Urban Air Mobility Partnership. The partnership, announced in 2020 by L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti, will explore how aviation operators can integrate new eVTOL technology into their operations to reduce community impacts while enhancing safety and efficiency. Its work will be used to fashion regulations and policies governing local urban air mobility.
Helinet operates a diverse, multi-mission helicopter fleet, including two Sikorsky S-76 helicopters tasked to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). Since the inception of that program in 1998, Helinet has logged more than 10,000 trips in support of CHLA. The company also transports over 900 transplant organs annually.
Other missions conducted by Helinet include chartered passenger travel, medical supply transport, rapid parcel delivery, aerial firefighting, and filming. Helinet will share its experience with those missions to evaluate their applicability to eVTOLs and the attendant infrastructure requirements, including the addition of electric charging capacity.
“Helinet values the benefits of new eVTOL technology, which can positively impact the environment and mitigate noise impacts on local communities. This partnership with UML will let us explore route opportunities, charging station technology implementation, and the testing of advanced air mobility aircraft,” said Helinet CEO Kathryn Purwin.
Florida-based kit helicopter maker Vertical Aviation Technologies (VAT) is seeking a strategic partner to produce an updated, certified version of the Sikorsky S-52. VAT has manufactured an experimental kit version derived from that aircraft under the name Hummingbird since 1991 after acquiring the engineering data, flight-test data, and drawings from Sikorsky in 1987. It now plans to enter the commercial market.
The new, certified version will be known as the Hummingbird S-52L, which VAT said “has been redesigned with modifications, new technology, new materials, and processes, notably in terms of safety and performance.” VAT recently acquired the type certificate for the S-52 from Sikorsky and plans to amend it with the new modifications and technology.
According to VAT president Brad Clark, the company has already conducted extensive pre-certification testing of the updated design. “We are seeking a strategic partner who shares our vision and can provide the needed capital,” said Clark.
The S-52L will be built to FAA Part 27 standards and feature seating for four, a six-cylinder fuel-injected IO-540 Lycoming engine, and a three-blade main rotor. The company noted that a modified S-52 was the first helicopter to fly solely on battery power in 1982 and is also an ideal candidate for turbine propulsion. Sikorsky designed the original model in 1945 and it saw a limited production run of 93 units between 1947 and 1953.
Serving Business Aviation With Sustainability In Mind
Duncan Aviation was recently certified to NATA’s Sustainability Standard for Aviation Businesses, which encourages reduced greenhouse gas emissions, use of environmentally friendly energy sources and reduced waste. Duncan Aviation is committed to sustainability at all levels and is working with leaders in its communities to ensure support for their goals.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has developed a framework to reduce the regulatory burden on general aviation. The plan, drafted in response to a requirement from the country's minister for transport, is intended to work with industry to identify opportunities to refine the safety framework and keep the general aviation community safe while reducing costs wherever possible.
Regulatory priorities underway in the General Aviation Workplan (GAW) are intended to improve pilot licensing rules, streamline regulations that ensure aircraft are airworthy and properly maintained, simplify arrangements that ensure pilots are healthy and alert, facilitate greater operational opportunities for sport and recreational flying activities, and finalize outstanding standards for certain flight operations.
"Other proposals under consideration require further work to determine how to deliver the changes without unintended consequences for industry and in a way that is aligned to our safety objectives,” CASA said. “Ongoing engagement with industry, including through its constructive participation in our technical working groups, will be critical to the success of the workplan."
In preparing the GAW, CASA said it has “taken an expansive and flexible approach to considering what is ‘general aviation,’ noting many of the measures will have broader benefits across the wider aviation sector.” The initial GAW progress review is required to be submitted to the transport minister by June 30.
Miami-based AEG Fuels has partnered with Austrian aviation fuel producer OMV to provide sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Vienna International Airport through OMV’s direct pipeline to the airport. The two companies will market the fuel for on-demand sales mainly to the general aviation market.
“I am convinced that the replacement of fossil kerosene with fuels made from renewable raw materials is an indispensable strong lever to promote CO2-neutral flying,” explained Josef Rath, OMV’s senior v-p of sales and marketing. “With tailor-made sustainable aviation fuel solutions for our customers, we want to make a significant contribution to the decarbonization of the aviation industry.”
OMV’s SAF is produced at its Schwechat refinery with used cooking oil collected by local firm Münzer Bioindustrie, which makes the production chain as regional as possible and reduces transport considerations.
As a global fuel distributor, AEG committed to purchasing the SAF to supply to aircraft end-users via its sales and marketing channels including long-term contracts and instantaneous refueling authorizations.
“We are proud to partner with OMV to make the limited supply of their responsibly-produced SAF available to our customers,” said Daria Napolskikh, AEG’s director of European supply. “By improving SAF availability, we are simplifying our customers’ pathways to achieving their sustainability goals.”
Safran Aircraft Engines will use Ansys’s finite element analysis (FEA) software for the development of its next-generation sustainable engines. The FEA simulation software is expected to result in an improved end-to-end structural and thermal simulation workflow in new aircraft engine programs, Safran said, resulting in reduced development time and cost.
Ansys’s simulation software will be used by Safran for advanced engine developments, including sophisticated structural designs such as an open unducted fan, upgraded composite material to minimize the effects of higher temperatures, and hybrid-electrification to lower emissions.
“Ansys’s best-in-class simulation software and deep understanding of the challenges of our industry will enable us to support our engineers to develop sustainable technologies for our future aircraft engine programs,” said Safran Aircraft Engines v-p of engineering, research, and technology Michel Brioude. “By leveraging Ansys’s tools, Safran Aircraft Engines will benefit from improved usability, a streamlined workflow, and a set of technologies that enables scalability and optimizes our research and development process through virtual prototyping.”
Bristow Group will acquire British International Helicopter Services (BIH), a company that provides lift, training, and search and rescue (SAR) services to the British military and civil customers. Part of the Rigby Group’s aviation division, BIH operates a helicopter fleet that includes two Leonardo AW189s configured for SAR, three Sikorsky S-61s, and one Airbus AS365 for various passenger, freight transport, and hoist operations.
The all-cash transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, following required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, and BIH will then assume the Bristow name. Bristow has operations in 15 countries, which include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad, the UK, and the U.S.
“This acquisition will further our government services business as we look to strengthen existing relationships and develop new partnerships throughout government sectors for safe and reliable vertical lift solutions,” said Chris Bradshaw, Bristow president and CEO.
London-based 365 Aviation this week launched its 365Bespoke jet card program that is designed for clients traveling within the European Economic Area, as well as the UK, Switzerland, and Norway. 365 Aviation said the jet card program gives its clients competitive, guaranteed rate pricing and the ability to tailor terms to their flying needs.
A fixed-base rate and options such as deicing and last-minute booking or cancellation are available. Cardholders will have access to a fleet of Cessna Citation CJ2 and CJ3 light jets, in addition to midsize Citation XLS twinjets.
“The launch of our new Bespoke365 jet card marks the beginning of another chapter in the successful history of the company,” said 365 Aviation CEO Chris Tofts. “We can now offer the guarantees provided by a fixed-rate card while still maintaining the flexibility to expertly tailor the program to each client’s exact needs. This enables us to provide them with the most cost-effective solution based on their historical flight patterns.”
Flying with Garmin's G5000 in a Citation XLS
Textron Aviation has adopted Garmin integrated avionics in all of its new-production Citations, with the exception of the Model 560XL. But with about 700 Citation Excel/XLS/XLS+ twinjets already flying, Garmin saw an opportunity to offer a retrofit, and now owners can replace their original Honeywell avionics with a G5000 flight deck. AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber goes for a flight to experience the setup.
AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter.
AINalerts is a publication of AIN Media Group, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
