Gulfstream Deliveries Jump 40% in 3Q

Gulfstream Aerospace delivered 38 aircraft in the third quarter, marking an 11-aircraft leap from a year earlier, but backlog and book-to-bill ebbed as deals pushed into the fourth quarter. The Savannah, Georgia airframer’s gains in deliveries helped propel revenues at General Dynamics’ (GD) Aerospace Group, which also included Jet Aviation, by 22.8 percent to $2.495 billion in the third quarter.

Its large-cabin jets accounted for 29 deliveries in the quarter, up from 21 a year ago. Mid-cabin deliveries in the most recent quarter rose three units to nine.

However, funded backlog fell from $11.932 billion at the end of the second quarter to $11.195 billion at the end of September. Correspondingly, book-to-bill dipped to 0.7:1 for the quarter. “Activity and interest ranged between very attractive to robust, but the process and time to closure of transactions were slower,” said GD chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic. “We expect...a very strong order activity in the fourth quarter.”

Meanwhile, Novakovic outlined plans to slow G650 production as it ramps up deliveries of its newer G500 and G600. “We've been pretty voluble about the fact that G650 production and deliveries will be reduced next year and again the following year, so that will get production and delivery consistent with current demand,” she said, but added orders have been consistent over the past three to four years.

Lawmakers Push To Ban Helicopters over New York City

A trio of congressional helicopter critics from New York City have introduced legislation to ban them from Gotham’s airspace, including over waterways. Over the weekend, Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, and Nydia Velazquez introduced “The Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2019” that would essentially eliminate helicopter flights conducted under either Part 91 or 135 over “any city with a population of over eight million people and with a population density of over 25,000 people per square mile.”

The bill would allow civil helicopter operations at airports but would charge the FAA to develop “the shortest, most direct routes possible to access or depart from airports” and update aeronautical charts accordingly. Helicopters flying law enforcement and air medical missions would be exempted.  

At a press event in New York City on Saturday, the lawmakers took aim at the area’s helicopter businesses. “The risks that commuter, charter, and tourism helicopter flights pose to New Yorkers far outweigh the benefit to the very small number of people who use them,” Maloney said. Nadler served harsh criticism on the city’s already highly-restricted helitourism, saying, “There is simply no justification for allowing tourists to joy-ride over our city, endangering lives and creating unnecessary noise pollution.”

Avfuel Bolsters Its Fuel Transport, Storage Abilities

Industry fuel provider Avfuel has enhanced its supply and logistics infrastructure with the acquisition of CBL Trading, a fuel-supply subsidiary of Katy, Texas-based Charter Brokerage LLC. The move adds to Avfuel’s holdings along the Explorer Pipeline from the Gulf Coast to Chicago and the Westshore Pipeline from East Chicago, Indiana to Des Planes, Illinois, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

It will also take over CBL’s storage agreements at three terminals—Magellan in Dallas, Citgo in East Chicago, and Shell in Des Planes, which will allow it to ship and store additional fuel supplies at these locations.

“With more than 45 years in the business, we’ve become core competent in the delivery of fuel via pipeline, barge, rail, and truck,” said executive v-p C.R. Sincock. “The CBL Trading acquisition gives Avfuel access to additional touchpoints in the fuels journey from refinery to wingtip, offering greater control in the fuel supply process.”

Former CBL Trading scheduler Christine Owen will join the Avfuel staff and remain in Texas, maintaining continuity with CBL’s current customers.

CAN Raises $510,000 at Annual Fund an Angel Event

More than $510,000 was raised through sponsorships, donations, and auction items at Corporate Angel Network’s (CAN) annual Fund an Angel cocktail reception on Wednesday at NBAA-BACE. Attending the two-hour reception at the Wynn Las Vegas were more than 600 business aviation leaders to support CAN’s mission of providing air transportation for cancer patients undergoing treatment.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the business aviation community,” said CAN executive director Gina Russo. “The funds raised at this event, coupled with the year-round support of participating corporations, enable CAN to transport thousands of patients each year who without CAN’s help may not be able to seek treatment at a leading cancer center.”

CAN coordinates more than 250 patient flights a month and has flown more than 60,000 patients to treatment since its founding in 1981. The 2020 Fund an Angel cocktail reception has been scheduled for October 7 in Orlando, Florida, during next year's NBAA-BACE show.

NATA Says ‘No’ on Hangar Foam

With the window on public and industry comments for the revision of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standard for aircraft hangars—NFPA 409—set to close on November 14, the National Air Transport Association (NATA) is running an online petition for the safety organization to remove the requirements for foam fire suppression systems for most business and business aviation hangars, excluding those that house inherently hazardous operations.

“Research and our members’ experience indicate that foam fire suppression systems are unnecessary in most general aviation hangars,” said Megan Eisenstein, NATA’s director of regulatory affairs. “Since the inception of this standard, aircraft design has changed, aircraft fuels have changed, and operational safety management has changed, yet the requirement for foam in GA hangars has not.”

The petition website allows interested parties to review NATA’s proposed comments, as well as register their support for the policy change. The NFPA 409 Technical Committee will review industry comments and internal processes will occur during late 2019 through mid-2021. The next edition of NFPA 409 will be published in early 2021.

King Air C90 Now Eligible for G1000 NXi Upgrade

Garmin announced at NBAA-BACE that it has received certification for the G1000 NXi upgrade for the Beechcraft King Air C90. King Air operators can easily upgrade from the G1000 suite, Garmin said, “with minimal aircraft downtime and installation labor.”

“The G1000 NXi adds modern features, including wireless connectivity, visual approach guidance, SurfaceWatch, HSI map, and more, all of which add tremendous value and advanced capability than ever before into existing King Air C90 aircraft,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin v-p of aviation sales and marketing.

The upgrade adds the King Air C90 to a growing portfolio of aircraft eligible for Garmin’s G1000 NXi upgrade. It joins the King Air 200/300/350 family as well as the Daher TBM series, Citation Mustang, Piper PA-46, and soon the Embraer Phenom 100. The NXi has the same display footprint and connectors as the G1000, easing the installation process. The C90 upgrade is now available from Garmin dealers and the components come with a two-year warranty, supported by Garmin’s factory product support team.

Alnaqbi Tapped as IBAC Chairman-elect

The Middle East's leading business aviation advocate, Ali Alnaqbi, was elected chairman of the governing board of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). The IBAC Board elected the UAE’s Alnaqbi to the position for a period of three years, effective January 1, at a meeting held last week in conjunction with NBAA-BACE 2019  

Alnaqbi, the first Arab ever to head IBAC, has held the position of vice chairman since 2017 and earlier served as treasurer for three years. He also heads the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), which represents business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. MEBAA is also an IBAC member organization.

Alnaqbi has served in the region's business aviation industry for more than 30 years, holding a senior role with Abu Dhabi’s Presidential Flight until 2015. He also founded MEBAA in Dubai in 2006.

“This opportunity to guide the business aviation sector not only in the MENA region, but also globally, is a big responsibility, and it is also a perfect synergy with my passion for the industry,” Alnaqbi said. “I look forward to driving the industry forward through IBAC in the next three years in this role.”

Meanwhile, EBAA chairman Juergen Wiese will become IBAC's vice chairman and Sudhir Nayak of the Business Aircraft Operators Association of India will continue to serve as IBAC governing board treasurer.

Winglet Tech Gets Updated STC For Sovereign Winglets

Winglet Technology has received an updated STC for its Cessna Citation Sovereign transitional winglets and reprogramming the twinjet’s Honeywell Epic FMS for improved performance, including better second segment climb, en route climb, and cruise performance. The STC also increases the airplane’s mtow by 475 pounds to 30,775 pounds, and maximum zero fuel weight (MZFW) by 200 pounds to 21,000 pounds. Operations at the higher mtow and MZFW are permitted by the amended STC.

Also under the STC, the aircraft can climb direct to FL450 at the higher takeoff weight, increase its speed by 35 ktas at the top of FL450, and make a step climb from FL450 to FL470 at a weight that’s 3,000 pounds heavier than a Sovereign without the winglets.

“The transitional winglet upgrade will provide owners and operators with even greater operational capability,” Winglet Technology president and managing member Bob Kiser said. “The transitional winglets are a great, high-altitude compliment to the Sovereign’s outstanding short-field performance.”