Embraer, Porsche Team on Phenom 300E, 911 Turbo S Pair

Embraer and Porsche have announced a limited-edition Phenom 300E and Porsche 911 Turbo S pairing. Each shares similar exterior and interior elements designed through a collaboration of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer and German carmaker. Deliveries will begin in 2021.

Called Duet, the $10.9 million package is limited to just 10 pairs and also includes a special three-piece baggage set and exclusive Swiss titanium wristwatch that matches the clocks found on the panels of the limited-edition Phenom 300Es and Porsche 911s.

The companies have also designed an exclusive collaboration logo that “brings together the aeronautical requirement of lift—depicted by the Phenom 300E winglet—with the automotive requirement of downforce—depicted by the rear wing of the flagship 911.” This logo is embossed on the seat headrests of the car and aircraft, as well as featured on the aircraft side ledge, speaker grills, and mounted near the main door. To further solidify the symbiotic pairing, the aircraft registration number appears on both the car’s rear wing and the sides of its key, said Jay Beever, v-p of Embraer design operations.

Design inspiration for the aircraft mirrors that of the car, and vice versa, he added. The aircraft and car also share the same exterior paint pallet and general scheme—the upper part with platinum silver metallic paint, transitioning to jet gray metallic at the bottom.

AINsight: Counting the Days

We are still getting calls every day from prospects asking if it is possible to get a preowned business airplane bought and put into service by the end of the year. Given the complexity of the entire process, that task is getting more and more difficult by the day.

The first thing that must happen, and happen in just days, is to find the airplane to buy. Many of the best choices are already in play. And if you can find that perfect choice, you will want to go see it and review logs and records—that might take as long as a week.

For first-time buyers, there will need to be a search for either pilots or a management company—adding more time to the process. Then the all-important contract phase begins, which could take up to 10 days.

These are all precious days. Another tricky part can occur if, during the inspection, items are discovered involving parts or engineering requirements that start to hold up the aircraft’s return to service.

I do not want to take any wind out of anyone’s sails, but just approach these starting-today transactions that have a must close by year-end mandate with eyes wide open.

NBAA Survey Finds Many Covid-related Furloughs Recalled

An NBAA survey has revealed that more companies used furloughs rather than layoffs during the Covid-19 pandemic and that many of those affected have returned to work. The survey, conducted as part of NBAA’s larger annual Compensation Survey, drew the participation of 175 companies, the majority of which have between one and 20 employees.

Pilots felt the greatest impact of the furloughs, according to NBAA's results. The survey found that of those that had pilot workforce reductions, 41 percent had furloughs, while 29 percent had layoffs, and another 29 percent had both. As for non-pilot-related reductions, 46 percent had furloughs, 38 percent had layoffs, and 15 percent had both.

According to NBAA, “More than half of the organizations returned to work in June and are implementing a broad spectrum of approaches to accommodate employees and ensure safety.” While the organization included a Covid-related survey, the larger Compensation Survey queries flight departments of all sizes across the country, providing a “reasonable approximation of the marketplace,” the association said.

Global Jet Capital Raises $522 Million in Newest ABS

Global Jet Capital has closed on its fourth asset-backed securitization (ABS), BJETS 2020-1, which raised $522 million. That brings Global Jet Capital's total assets securitized to more than $2.8 billion and bonds issued to more than $2.3 billion.

This latest ABS comprises aircraft loans and leases representing more than 30 different aircraft models—mostly midsize to large-cabin business jets—used by more than 30 different industry sectors such as medical services and consumer durables. Global Jet CEO Shawn Vick said the ABS served to further broaden the company’s investor base and demonstrated their confidence in the business aviation market despite being in the throes of a global pandemic. Global Jet will continue to use the ABS market as a key part of its funding strategy.

“Our ongoing success in the ABS market and the growing strength of our liquidity profile are representative of our underwriting discipline and the resulting stability of our portfolio—not to mention the vitality of the business aviation sector as a whole,” Vick explained. “The value proposition supporting business aviation—random access, productivity, and security—has never been more important to corporations and business leaders around the globe. The evidence of this can be seen in business aircraft operations and transaction metrics which snapped back to near 2019 levels following an initial drop off at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Bongiovi Audio System Installed in Hawker 900XP

West Star Aviation has completed the first installation of the Bongiovi Aviation Audio System in a Hawker 900XP, the company reported this week.

The system, first introduced in 2018 with HondaJet as its launch customer, doesn’t utilize speakers per se—rather small transducers are attached to the backside of cabin panels to transmit the sound, giving the aircraft cabin a sleeker look while reducing overall weight through the elimination of speakers and subwoofers. These transducers, weighing about three ounces each, don’t require precise placement; once the installation is complete, professional audio producers “tune” each cabin to ensure maximum sound fidelity. Audio can then be operated through any cabin management system.

A West Star spokesperson said the system install was performed during a minor Chapter 5 maintenance event on the Hawker, which also involved a full exterior strip and repaint. Bongiovi’s engineers went along on a test flight of the aircraft after the system’s installation to complete the sound adjustments.

According to Rob Hamelink, the manufacturer’s managing director, “The immersive sound is unique in the way that sound is distributed evenly throughout the cabin.”

“The dynamic range and frequency spectrum coverage are phenomenal throughout the aircraft,” added Walt Marcy, West Star’s avionics technical sales manager at its Grand Junction, Colorado location, which performed the installation.

Maryland Airport Completes Runway Expansion

The city of Frederick, Maryland, has completed a runway extension project at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), the second-busiest airport in the state and a reliever for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The $3.7 million project, funded 90 percent by the FAA, with the balance covered by the state aviation administration, the city, and county, began in June. It consisted of adding 600 feet to primary Runway 5/23, bringing it to a new length of 5,819 feet, which, according to the airport, will improve the safety margins for all local aircraft and will accommodate increased fuel and passenger loads for larger jets flying in and out of FDK. The work also included the extension of Taxiway Alpha. Airport manager Rick Johnson told AIN the runway expansion opens the airport to future ramp and hangar development.

Located just outside the Washington, D.C. special flight rules area, the airport has a Signature Flight Support FBO and is home to 200 aircraft. It saw more than 95,000 operations last year. In December 2018, the city of Frederick awarded the lease of a 620,000-sq-ft site at the airport to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for the development of a hangar complex consisting of up to 194,400 sq ft of general aviation aircraft hangars.

First Leonardo Trekker Ordered for U.S. EMS Market

U.S. EMS operator Life Link III has ordered two more Leonardo helicopters, including the first AW109 Trekker light twin for the U.S. air ambulance market. The order also includes an AW169 medium twin. These helicopters are scheduled to deliver in the fourth quarter of next year and will boost Life Link III’s Leonardo fleet to 14 aircraft.

The deal follows Life Link’s III’s July order for the first AW119Kx IFR-equipped single for the civil market. That aircraft is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2021. The air ambulance company operates in Minnesota and Wisconsin and will be the first to fly a mixed fleet of IFR AW119Kx and AW109 Trekker helicopters. Life Link III’s Trekker will be equipped with night vision goggles and will be single pilot IFR (SPIFR) capable. The ordered AW169 will be equipped with a certified EMS interior that provides 360-degree patient access.  

Leonardo currently has 110 of its helicopters in service across the U.S. EMS fleet, which includes AW119s, AW109s, AW169s, and AW139s. Orders for nearly AW169s have been placed worldwide from customers. To date, more than 70 AW109 Trekkers have been sold to customers worldwide for a range of roles, and more than 1,500 AW109-series helicopters have been sold globally.

GAMA’s Membership Expands with Four More Companies

GAMA continues to build on its membership base with the addition of two more service companies and another two in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sector, bringing its total upwards of 115. Joining the organization as full members are Mustang Aviation and Seattle Aviation Solutions, while the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance (Nuair) and Texas UASWerx have signed on to the Electric Propulsion and Innovation Committee (EPIC) as associate members.

Pierre, South Dakota-based Mustang Aviation offers FBO, charter, maintenance, and repair services, along with flight instruction and cargo support. Redmond, Washington-based supplier Seattle Aviation Services, founded in 2017, provides parts and materials spanning from nose to tail of business jet and provides repair and overhaul services.

The new members further entrench GAMA’s service provider membership as the single largest segment within the membership. Meanwhile, the associate member, EPIC category also continues to grow as GAMA furthers its reach into new technologies such as eVTOLs and drones.

Nuair manages one of the seven FAA-designated UAS test sites (in Rome, New York). In this capacity, Nuair oversees the New York Advanced Air Mobility Proving Grounds and a 50-mile UAS corridor.

Texas UASWerx is a Dallas-based aeronautical and engineering firm that provides urban air mobility integration, systems engineering, and configuration management expertise to manufacturers, technology providers, and authorities. 

Photo of the Week

A real work of art. The paint team at Duncan Aviation’s Provo, Utah facility recently completed this custom paint scheme on a Gulfstream G550, according to Eric Anderson, a Duncan aircraft sales associate who snapped this photo. He said the fade and sunset design was created by lead designer Molly Foster, while the paint team was lead by Corey Clark. Thanks for sharing, Eric!

If you'd like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.