GAMA: Deliveries Up through Q3, but Billings Decreased

Through the first three quarters of the year, general aviation deliveries rose 6.1 percent over the same period in 2017, while overall billings declined 3.1 percent to $12.7 billion, according to statistics released today by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

Business jet deliveries increased by 3 percent, from 433 in the first nine months of last year, to 446 in the same period of 2018. While the overall deliveries increased, this year’s total consisted of a higher concentration of smaller, less expensive jets, leading to the decrease in billings.

Pressurized turboprops saw a better-than 5 percent increase year-over-year, rising from 175 deliveries a year ago to 184 through the first nine months of 2018, and the turbine helicopter market also showed an improvement of 8.3 percent, jumping from 471 deliveries a year ago to 510 in the first nine months of 2018.

“This is one of those few times since the great recession that we have seen all segments up in shipment numbers,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “While there remain some soft spots in a few segments, including business jet deliveries and impacts being felt from global trade disputes, I’m optimistic about our industry’s performance in 2019 given continuing healthy demand for tax expensing, stabilization of the used market, and the number of new products being introduced to the marketplace.”

Gulfstream Won’t ‘Relinquish’ Top-of-market Position

“Gulfstream has no intention to relinquish control of the market we created with the G650/G650ER,” Gulfstream president and CEO Mark Burns said Wednesday at the Corporate Jet Investor Miami conference in reference to the Bombardier Global 7500’s imminent service entry. While he implied that Gulfstream Aerospace will respond with a new top-of-the-market aircraft, he declined to elaborate further at this time.

Asked about Gulfstream’s interest in developing a supersonic business jet, he pointed out several technological and regulatory issues that continue to be barriers. Burns responded more generically to a question on whether Gulfstream is entertaining a vertical takeoff and landing/urban aircraft, saying the company “continues to look at many things.”

Meanwhile, he addressed future workforce issues, highlighting Gulfstream’s active fronts on promoting STEM education in elementary through high schools; its Starbase program, which offers week-long STEM camps for fifth-grade students; job shadow days; youth apprentice programs; and promotion of the industry in general. On the latter, he concluded, “Business aviation has created the global commerce we see today. You can’t rely on an airline flight to get you to Accra [Ghana].”

UTC: Collins Merger Still on Track for China OK

United Technologies Corp. (UTC) continues to anticipate Chinese approval for its $30 billion merger with Rockwell Collins in the near term, but in the interim teams between the two companies are collaborating on areas where they can plan for alignment, a key UTC executive told investors late last week.

Speaking during the Baird’s Global Industrial Conference, UTC executive v-p and CFO Akhil Johri reiterated that approval will come soon and agreed that he did not see roadblocks on that end. This followed remarks of UTC chairman Greg Hayes, who told investors last month during the company's third quarter earnings release that the later-than-anticipated U.S. approvals “pushed out Chinese approval” but that “we don’t see any drama here. We expect this to happen soon.” While acknowledging heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and China, Hayes did not believe that is affecting Chinese approval on the UTC/Rockwell Collins deal.

Meanwhile, however, Johri said the companies have had “a lot of time to work on synergies” and still feel pretty confident that they will be able to generate $500 million from those actions. Engineering teams from both companies are among the most enthusiastic about the tie-up, Johri said, noting he gets more calls from these teams asking when the acquisition will close and they can begin working together.

King Aerospace Sees Record Growth, Jump in BBJ Business

King Aerospace Commercial Corp. is experiencing record growth with earnings that are up 30 percent over its Fiscal Year 2017, the company reported. The family owned-business, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, pointed to a notable jump in its Boeing VIP work at its Ardmore, Oklahoma facility with seven such aircraft currently in various stages of maintenance and modifications.

CEO and founder Jerry King said in 25 years of business, the company has not experienced such an influx at one time of the Boeing jets. The current aircraft comprise five Boeing Business Jets, a Boeing 737, and a Boeing 757. The work scope runs from routine maintenance, paint, and avionics to interior modifications.

“This is a milestone for us,” added president Jarid King. “It’s great to have this many Boeing aircraft at the same time and to have satisfied customers, who have shared with me that they feel at home.”

The growth comes as King Aerospace recently was appointed by GE Aviation as a GE OnPoint service center. Under the multi-year agreement announced during last month’s NBAA convention in Orlando, King Aerospace will provide maintenance and repair for BBJ CFM56-7B engines.

Changes Coming for U.S. Aircraft Registry

There are changes ahead for the U.S. aircraft registry due to new provisions in the recently passed FAA reauthorization bill, as well as anticipated recommendations stemming from ongoing investigations by the DOT Inspector General (IG) and Government Accountability Office (GAO), panelists said yesterday at Corporate Jet Investor Miami 2018.

Under the reauthorization bill, the FAA’s Oklahoma City-based aircraft registry is required to become fully digitized within three years, including all non-digital registry information and manual-/paper-based processes, business operations, and functions. The agency must also install systems that allow digital submission of information and conduct any transactions electronically.

Further, the reauthorization bill will allow the FAA to charge a manual surcharge “for certain matters conducted in person” and prevents a government shutdown from affecting the registry. It also directs the FAA to initiate a rulemaking by early February that would extend the duration of general aviation aircraft registrations from three years to seven.

Meanwhile, the DOT IG and GAO audits, spawned by last year’s Boston Globe reports that criticized the registry, will cause even more, yet-to-be-determined changes. A DOT IG audit report on the efficiency of the FAA registry is imminent, while one on security is expected next year. The GAO report is also anticipated to come out next year.

DC Aviation Becomes Rockwell Collins Authorized Dealer

Germany-based aviation services provider DC Aviation reported that its flagship Stuttgart maintenance service center is now a Rockwell Collins authorized Business and Regional Systems (BRS) dealer. The move gives it access to the U.S. company’s product range, which features avionics equipment for just about every type of business and commercial jet currently operated.

Under the terms of the four-year deal, DC Aviation, Germany’s largest business jet operator, will provide sales and support for Rockwell Collins avionics and cabin systems to its customers. That includes the Venue cabin management and entertainment system, with its interactive Airshow moving map and Tailwind airborne satellite TV, as well as future mandated avionics requirements such as ADS-B Out.

“We welcome the opportunity to further increase our service level for comprehensive maintenance solutions and modifications by becoming an authorized Rockwell Collins BRS dealer,” said Oliver Weiss, the German company’s vice president of maintenance. “DC Aviation’s extensive industry experience, wide maintenance network, and knowledge of business operations, in cooperation with Rockwell Collins’s innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions is a collaboration which I am certain will be of considerable benefit to both companies.”

Aerotex Earns STCs for Bell Cabin Interior Kit

Aerotex Aircraft Interiors has earned an STC from the FAA and Transport Canada for its new wall blanket kit for Bell helicopters, including the 407 and the 206L series.

According to the Calgary, Canada-based interior upholstery specialist, the kit, which is “the very first supplemental type certificate-certified interior wall blanket for various Bell helicopter models,” was developed to replace the cabin trim plastics with a lower-cost, lighter weight alternative. It provides thermal insulation and sound reduction at less than a third of the weight of the standard interior covering. 

Produced in coordination with Avio Design Group, the wall blanket kit can provide weight savings of up to 25 pounds, thereby improving the rotorcraft’s fuel efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint, one of Aerotex’s drivers “in providing solutions to various aviation needs.”

Web Manuals and ASQS To Support Audit Preparation

Web Manuals partnered with Advanced Safety and Quality Solutions (ASQS) to provide auditors with a robust ability to prepare audits. ASQS’s intuitive quality and safety management system will be used in tandem with Web Manuals and it is expected the combination will save auditors time during audit preparation. Automated retrieval of compliance links and cross-referencing of regulatory content provided by the integration will help auditors to maintain a focus on analysis of audit implementation.

“It became obvious during discussions with ASQS that an integrated solution would offer a new level of digitization for customers, and in turn, improve safety within these organizations,” said Martin Lidgard, CEO and founder of Web Manuals. “Further integration will allow users to pull out process compliance links and generate an audit plan, complete with requirement list, all at the touch of a button.”

ASQS functions as a quality and risk management solution tool with a web-based platform. According to ASQS, the new partnership with Web Manuals will save auditors hundreds of working hours on an annual basis. “Users can now use the compliance link functionality from Web Manuals to quickly view relevant manuals within their own internal documents,” said Günther Schindl, managing director at ASQS. “This has made a huge improvement to our customers’ efficiency, as previously they had to manually upload documents from Web Manuals into the IQSMS software.”

Count on AIN for Full Coverage of MEBAA

As ever, you can count on AIN for full coverage of MEBAA 2018. Our team will publish three of our award-winning daily MEBAA Convention News editions at the show on December 10, 11, and 12. We will also have comprehensive real-time reporting of all the top news at AINonline.com and in our daily e-newsletters. If you are an exhibiting company that wants to share news or propose pre-show interviews and briefings please contact show editor Ian Sheppard.

Terrafugia’s eVTOL Concept Taps Hybrid Tech and Detachable Passenger Pods

Terrafugia, known for its flying car technology, is now talking with Part 135 air taxi operators about the feasibility of its emerging TF-2 hybrid vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. These remarkable machines can pick up a passenger as an Uber or LYFT would, bring them to a heliport, mate the passenger pod with its airborne component, fly the passengers to a destination, and re-mate with a roadable undercarriage that drives the passengers to their final destinations.