NetJets has placed a firm order for four ultra-long-range Global 8000s, making the fractional operator the fleet launch customer for Bombardier’s flagship aircraft. The order is valued at $312 million at 2022 list prices.
Additionally, NetJets will convert eight existing orders for Bombardier aircraft to Global 8000s and upgrade the Global 7500s it has on hand to the 8000. Eventually, NetJets will have a fleet of 24 Global 8000 business jets.
“With inventory sold out through 2023 in the U.S., we are continuing to invest in further expansion for prospective owners in North America and across the globe,” said NetJets president of sales, marketing, and service Patrick Gallagher. “In fact, by the end of 2023, we are proud to share that our worldwide fleet will be approximately 30 percent larger than it was at the beginning of 2022.”
The upgrading of NetJets’ Global 7500s to 8000s will occur once the 8000 is certified and Bombardier issues a service bulletin for the conversion, a spokesman told AIN. The Global 8000 was unveiled at EBACE 2022 and features a range of 8,000 nm. “NetJets’ experience and expertise make them the ideal partner to unlock the full potential of this revolutionary Mach 0.94 business jet in a large fleet context,” said Bombardier president and CEO Eric Martel.
Members of UK industry group Aerospace, Defense, Security and Space (ADS) are concerned about a lack of political stability from the country’s government, which is now being led by its third prime minister in 2022. The association’s chief executive, Kevin Craven, told attendees today at a Royal Aeronautical Society conference that a recent survey of his members revealed “for the first time” concern about a lack of certainty over the UK’s political leadership at a time when companies face unprecedented challenges including supply chain disruption, rising fuel costs, and skills shortages.
According to Craven, the UK industry faces significant challenges in boosting the resilience of its supply chain to support continuing ramp-ups in the production of commercial aircraft. He also pointed to concerns over available funding for research and development in the wake of the new UK government’s recently announced cuts in public spending. “We’ve had a tough budget and it’s important that the government remains focused on co-investing [with companies] for the UK to be one of the winners in the face of global competition,” he stated.
The UK’s new aviation minister, Baroness Vere, said the aerospace industry’s future prosperity is directly linked to its ability to decarbonize. Pointing to the existing Jet Zero strategy, she said UK domestic airline flights, and also the airports they use, should achieve the net-zero goal by 2040.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has demanded that Danish and Icelandic air navigation service providers (ANSPs) scrap increases averaging 30 percent for fees to use routes across the North Atlantic. Today at a Royal Aeronautical Society gathering, the industry group complained that the increases due to take effect on January 1 were announced by the two air traffic management agencies without any user consultation.
“This is a cash grab by two monopoly suppliers with no justification. It must be stopped,” said Peter Cerda, IATA’s regional v-p for the Americas. “Why should airlines pay a higher price for a service by a monopoly supplier that has not changed and with nothing to justify the higher cost? Rather than ramping up charges, the providers should be looking to achieve efficiencies that will keep costs under control. And if efficiencies cannot be found, then it is time for these suppliers to sit in consultation with their customers to review proposals.”
IATA called for a consultation in accordance with ICAO guidelines. The group has lodged a formal complaint with both the Danish Transport, Construction, and Housing Authority and Iceland's Isavia ANS agency. Denmark oversees the management of airspace around Greenland.
In a final rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is replacing the existing smoke standard on civil subsonic jet airplanes with rated engine outputs exceeding 26.7 kilonewtons (6,609 pounds of thrust) with particulate matter (PM) standards. These standards apply to in-production engines manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2023, as well as type designs with initial type certification applications submitted on or after that same date.
The EPA is maintaining smoke number standards for new-production engines not covered by the PM mass concentration standard and for engines already manufactured. The PM standards and test procedures are equivalent to the engine standards adopted by the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2017 and 2020.
According to the final rule, the EPA and FAA actively participated in the proceedings in which the ICAO requirements were developed. “These standards reflect the importance of the control of PM emissions and U.S. efforts to secure the highest practicable degree of uniformity in aviation regulations and standards. As part of this update, the EPA is also aligning with ICAO by applying the smoke number standards to engines with less than or equal to 26.7 kilonewtons of rated output used on supersonic airplanes.
When It Comes to Connectivity, Capacity Is King
From email to streaming video, today’s business jet travelers demand the same connectivity experience in the cabin as they enjoy in their offices. The only way to meet that expectation is to use a network with the peak output capacity required to avoid data slowdowns.
Derek Richardson has been named as Bombardier project manager at West Star Aviation’s facility in East Alton, Illinois. Richardson brings to the position more than 30 years of aviation experience.
His previous stops include StandardAero and Jet Aviation. He began his career as a line service mechanic at the former TWA. “West Star is pleased to add another very experienced member to the team, while also benefiting our Bombardier customers,” said Scott Koehler, West Star senior manager of project management at East Alton.
West Star is FAA certified to provide maintenance on the Challenger 300/350 and 600/650 series business jets, as well as the Global Express, 5000, and 6000. That includes airframe, engine, and APU inspections, repairs and modifications, parts and component overhaul, and avionics installations. Interior and exterior refurbishment are also available at most of West Star’s primary maintenance facilities in East Alton; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Planet Nine has reached the milestone of 30 business jets under management with the addition of a Gulfstream IV-SP to its on-demand charter fleet, the Los Angeles-based company announced yesterday.
Since its founding four years ago, the company has flown more than 21,000 passengers more than 15.4 million miles to 695 cities, including Paris, London, and Geneva. The company’s charter fleet is composed of Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, and Gulfstream jets.
“In 2018, we set out to create the preferred on-demand private jet charter product with a unique floating fleet model, and with that north star, we have consistently delivered world-class service, flexibility, and access,” said Planet Nine Private Air co-founder Matt Walter. “Between our best-in-class in-flight experience and an expert team that is nimble, we have been able to adapt to the changing travel landscape, allowing us continued growth.”
Idaho-based Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) and its Brazilian distributor, Quartzo Defense, have been awarded a contract to supply helicopter night vision systems (NVIS) to governmental organizations in Brazil. ASU will initially supply NVIS in three military police and one military firefighting helicopter from Brazil’s Federal District.
The order includes 12 night vision goggles, 45 helmets, and training for 12 pilots and crewmembers. The contract ultimately enables governmental organizations from 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District to purchase products and services from ASU. Military police from two other states and the civil police of the Federal District will join shortly. “ASU’s core mission revolves around safety,” said ASU v-p Dan Meyer, noting that the company already has supplied several Latin American nations with night vision equipment, installation, and training.
ASU has been supplying NVIS for more than 25 years. Quartzo was established in 2002 and represents more than a dozen foreign companies in Brazil that provide high-tech and value-added products for the national defense and public security markets.
As part of its “unwavering support,” the British government will provide Ukraine with three retired Westland WS-61 Sea King helicopters. UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced the deal last week ahead of a regional European meeting to discuss continued military aid to Ukraine. The first helicopter has been delivered and the UK Royal Navy is providing Ukrainian crews with training.
Westland manufactured 341 WS-61s between 1969 and 1995 under license from Sikorsky. The substitution of Rolls-Royce Gnome engines is the major differentiator between the WS-61 and the U.S.-made SH-3/S-61, which is powered by a pair of GE T58 engines. Sikorsky produced more than 1,300 of the models since 1959.
The U.S. Navy retired the helicopter type in 2006 and UK forces retired it in 2018. It is still widely used by civilian contractors and the VH-3D variant continues to fly as Marine One, transporting the U.S. President. The 54-foot-long helicopter has a normal cruise speed of 120 knots, mtow of 21,500 pounds, and maximum range of 542 nm.
A slightly stretched version, the S-61, was concurrently manufactured for the civil market. An updated version of that aircraft, the S-61T, was produced in a limited quantity under contract for the U.S. State Department for personnel transport beginning in 2014.
People in Aviation
VoltAero has added to its governance team with the appointments of Martin Füllenbach as an independent director and Hervé Blanc as an advisory board member. Füllenbach is CEO and chairman of the board of SolydEra. His career includes serving as the CEO of Semperit, as CEO of Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum (now Atlas Copco Group), as CEO of Voith Marine Systems, as well as working at DaimlerChrysler Aerospace/EADS (now Airbus) in the defense systems division at Munich and Paris. Blanc is president of Beta Strategy, which provides coaching and guidance for projects in decarbonization, system architecture, and leadership. He formerly held the role of executive v-p and general manager of the Power Division at Safran Electrical and Power.
Andrew Fischer was hired by Priester Aviation as v-p of aircraft management. Fischer has nearly 30 years of experience in corporate aviation having served for 19 years at NetJets in roles including program manager and v-p of sales; at Pentastar Aviation, where he worked as an aircraft management consultant; and most recently at Jet Linx.
Luxaviation Group has appointed Joachim Krüger as v-p of northern Europe and managing director of the German entities, and Paul van der Blom as director for commercial development of the northern European region as part of a strategy to reinforce its activities in the German market. Krüger, a former German Air Force officer, has more than 20 years of experience in business aviation having previously worked as a consultant for the Middle East, served as an independent cargo/freight broker for VW, and founded FairJets—along with Dirk Bruse—which was acquired by Luxaviaton in 2011. Van der Blom has 30 years of experience in commercial aviation in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and has held various positions in aircraft management and sales with operators and aircraft manufacturers.
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