Bombardier’s biggest business jet, the Global 7500, continues to bust records—this time in the category of aircraft range, the Canadian airframer announced yesterday. On October 6, its demo aircraft completed an 8,225-nm flight between Sydney, Australia, and Detroit, Michigan, with some help from 20-knot tailwinds, besting a 7,990-nm flight, also in a Global 7500, between Singapore and Tucson, Arizona, earlier this year. The twinjet's published range is 7,700 nm.
“Since entry-into-service, the Global 7500 continues to go above and beyond expectations, flying farther and farther, setting new benchmarks for exceptional performance and comfort,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft senior v-p of worldwide sales and marketing Peter Likoray. Bombardier attributes the wing slats and flap system to the 7500’s aerodynamic efficiency and enhanced performance.
A Bombardier spokeswoman said today the company did not submit the record flight for consideration by the U.S. National Aeronautic Association. She confirmed Bombardier remains on track to deliver between 15 and 20 Global 7500s this year. The ultra-long-range business jet entered service late last year.
Kopter Flight Tests New MGB for SH09
Kopter Group's new main gearbox (MGB) developed for its SH09 light turbine helicopter has already been flight tested on its Prototype 3 (P3) aircraft in conjunction with different combinations of aerodynamic modifications aimed to improve handling and performance, the Swiss company said yesterday. The new MGB is smoother, quieter, and will enable the exploration of a wider performance envelope for the helicopter, it added.
Data from those tests will be used to finalize the design configuration of Pre-Series Aircraft 4 and 5 (PS4 and PS5), which will conduct certification flights next year. P3 is currently undergoing a planned inspection and will resume flight tests in a few weeks. Earlier this year, Kopter said it remains on track to obtain EASA certification of the SH09 in 2020. The $3.5 million SH09 will be powered by a single 1,020-shp Honeywell HTS900 and have a cruise speed of 140 knots and range of 430 nm.
In March, Kopter announced it had assumed occupancy of the former Bell 505 facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, and expects to eventually build half of its total production there, with deliveries from that facility beginning in 2021. Kopter also said earlier this year that it will start building a 215,000-sq-ft pre-assembly building at its Mollis, Switzerland headquarters later this year, with its opening slated for 2021.
FAA Completes Rollout of Baseline ADS-B Services
The FAA completed the operational rollout of ADS-B baseline services with the recent implementation at the last two of 155 airports slated for the technology, the agency announced yesterday. ADS-B services became operational last month at Akron-Canton Airport and Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, both in Ohio.
“This brings the operational rollout of ADS-B baseline services to a successful conclusion, on schedule and within budget,” the agency said, adding it was completed before the Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B aircraft equipage deadline.
ADS-B is now operational at airports, terminal radar approach control facilities, and en route facilities. The agency stressed ADS-B is the preferred source for surveillance at those facilities, citing improved situational awareness to both pilots and controllers, as well as more accurate tracking of airplanes and airport vehicles on runways and taxiways. In addition, the FAA further highlighted the ability to improve surveillance in geographically challenging areas, such as mountainous regions or over water.
According to the FAA, the number of aircraft equipped with “good [ADS-B] installs” stood at 93,833 as of October 1, with general aviation accounting for 67,137 of those. This was up from at 90,157 total aircraft, including 64,672 general aviation aircraft, at the beginning of September.
CBAA Fights Proposed 10 Percent Luxury Tax
The Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) is leading a fight against the recently released Liberal Party platform's proposal for a 10 percent tax on “luxury” vehicles, including aircraft, costing more than $100,000. “It is important for us to turn this to our advantage and educate all political parties on how and why business aircraft of all types are not luxuries, but workhorses that drive profit and success,” CBAA said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s party platform, released Sunday, said the Liberals would ask “the wealthiest Canadians to pay a little bit more” if the party is re-elected on October 21. The party estimated the new tax would generate $585 million in revenue in the 2020 tax year, a figure that would rise to $621 million by the 2023 tax year.
Opposition leader Jagmeet Singh of the NDP party claims the Liberal Party’s plan to impose the new tax has “no credibility.” He dismissed the idea of taxing luxury goods as “a distraction.”
“We will be active in Ottawa to set the record straight and work to have this policy walked back, and we urge you to reach out to your local candidates to make sure they understand what is at stake,” CBAA told its members.
Citi: Econ Uncertainty Could Extend Bizav’s Lost Decade
Sentiment for the business jet market has taken a step back from June “as perceived economic risks impact a market that benefits from certainty and stability,” Citi Research said yesterday based on its quarterly business jet broker panel held on Friday. From a broker’s perspective, Citi said, “It was always going to be tough to repeat a strong 2018…but summer 2019 was slower than normal.”
The financial firm also warned that preowned business jet supply/demand imbalances could re-emerge. Last year, Citi brokers were having trouble finding aircraft for buyers, but now “the pendulum appears to be swinging the other way, with the used market again offering attractive value versus new.” This could result in OEMs needing to cut prices to make sales, it noted.
“So it’s still tough to get confident about the business jet market through the second half even as we’re approaching the end of what we’ve called the ‘lost decade,’” Citi said. “Economic/trade concerns could tease it out a bit longer.”
Citi is also concerned about reports of layoffs at Gulfstream, which the OEM “has ascribed these to ‘regular changes’ while also acknowledging macro headwinds.” According to Citi Research aerospace analyst Jonathan Raviv, “These acknowledged macro headwinds give us pause around the business jet conversation about production rates, backlogs, and orders.”
Bristow Emerging From Bankruptcy with $535M
Bristow Group's amended plan of financial reorganization likely will be approved and the company plans to emerge from bankruptcy by the end of this month, it announced yesterday. Under the plan, Bristow will be recapitalized with $535 million. “We will emerge a stronger, well-capitalized global organization with an industry-leading balance sheet and strong liquidity,” said Bristow CEO L. Don Miller.
The Texas-based global helicopter services company will receive $385 million from a new equity rights offering and convert a $150 million debtor-in-possession loan received in August to new equity. Under the plan, Bristow will be majority controlled by a consortium of investment firms and bodies comprised of affiliates of Solus Alternative Asset Management LP, the South Dakota Investment Council, Empyrean Capital Partners, LP, Bain Capital Credit, and Oak Hill Advisors. Consummation of the plan is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of several conditions, including completion of the equity rights offering.
In May, Bristow entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Southern District of Texas, claiming debts of $1.885 billion against assets of $2.86 billion and citing “previously disclosed financial challenges” and “constrained liquidity.” The company derives more than 70 percent of its revenues from the offshore oil-and-gas market and joined a growing list of helicopter-related companies serving it that have filed bankruptcy in recent times, including CHC, PHI, and leasing company Waypoint.
Air Charter Operator Guilty of Cocaine Distribution
Khamraj Lall of Ringwood, New Jersey, was found guilty by a federal jury in Trenton of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and money laundering, among other crimes. Lall owned a now-defunct private jet charter business called Exec Jet Club based in Gainesville, Florida, and used the proceeds of his cocaine empire to purchase jets, houses, and cars, according to the indictment. He also paid more than $2 million in cash to a Florida contractor to build a hangar in Guyana.
According to the indictment, in November 2014 Lall was flying one of his jets from the U.S. to Guyana and stopped in Puerto Rico to refuel. A search of the airplane uncovered $470,000 in cash in a suitcase hidden in the tail of the airplane, and another $150,000 in cash hidden under a passenger seat.
U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson imposed a sentence of 13 years in prison for trafficking hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into New Jersey and New York and then laundering more than $10.2 million in cash drug proceeds. In addition, Thompson sentenced Lall to five years of supervised release.
The Court previously ordered Lall to forfeit his interest in two jets, two airplane hangars, and multiple properties traceable to his crimes. The court also entered a monetary judgment against Lall for $9.3 million.
Unmanned Camcopter Completes SAR Sea-based Trials
Schiebel has concluded the shipboard trials of its unmanned S-100 Camcopter aboard the Norwegian Coast Guard icebreaker KV Svalbard. During the trials, the S-100 teamed with a Sikorsky Sea King helicopter to simulate man-overboard recovery operations.
The S-100 located the man-overboard dummy and transmitted positioning data and live images back to the Svalbard using a suite of equipment including the Overwatch Imaging PT-8 Oceanwatch wide-area maritime surveillance payload, the L3 Harris Wescam MX-10 real-time Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) camera, and Radionor’s Maritime Broadband Radio (MBR) link. It was also able to be launched in conditions up to Sea State 5 with the Schiebel-designed harpoon system.
“The S-100 is the only VTOL UAS outside of the United States that is routinely flying from ships and, in addition, it is capable of carrying a multitude of payloads,” said Schiebel Group chairman Hans Georg Schiebel.
According to Schiebel, the S-100 has a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) range of 108 nm, a service ceiling of 18,000 feet, and can stay aloft for up to 10 hours with a 75-pound payload. It runs on either avgas or JP-5 fuels and can operate in environments where GPS is not available.
Free Seminar at NBAA: Sustainable Aviation Fuel Basics
Alternative fuels are slowly but surely working their way into fuel supplies worldwide and many of the turbine-powered aircraft that will fly to Las Vegas for the NBAA-BACE static display will burn some amount of sustainable aviation fuel. AIN’s 1.5-hour live forum during the NBAA show in Vegas will bring together a panel of industry experts to explain how this fuel is gaining ground, why it is good for turbine engines and the environment, and how you can help move the needle on the use of sustainable aviation fuel in the aircraft that you operate. Register today for this free luncheon seminar on October 23 at 12 noon PT (seating is limited). Moderated by AIN editor in chief Matt Thurber, it will feature panelists Steve Csonka, Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative; Charles Etter, Gulfstream Aerospace; and Keith Sawyer, Avfuel Corp. Sponsored by World Fuel Services, TAG Farnborough and Gulfstream Aerospace.
Heli-One promoted Christian Drouin to v-p, serving as the lead executive for the entire organization. He replaces Eddie Lane, who is leaving Heli-One. Formerly v-p of global operations managing Heli-One’s three global bases, Drouin joined Heli-One this past May after 33 years of military service, leaving as a major-general in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Aviation Personnel International promoted Jennifer Pickerel to director of client and candidate services and Jenny Showalter to client services manager. The firm also named Debbi Laux candidate services manager. Pickerel has provided talent identification and placement services to API’s clients and more recently assumed responsibility and oversight of the company’s candidate services division. Showalter is transitioning to client service delivery, where she will assist with project management, including new search projects, candidate identification and selection, and the offer and placement of a hired candidate within a Part 91 or 135 flight department. Laux joined API in a part-time capacity as a candidate specialist and is expanding her role to full-time.
Bombardier named Christophe Degoumois v-p of international business aircraft sales, responsible for all regions outside of the Americas. Degoumois, who has more than 20 years of business jet sales experience, joined Bombardier in 2004 as a sales director and most recently was v-p of sales for Europe, Russia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
West Star appointed Mike Ditmeyer Gulfstream operations manager at its facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ditmeyer has more than 32 years of aviation experience, most recently as a maintenance technician and SR operations program manager for Gulfstream.
Cutter Aviation promoted Godfrey Higgs III to manager of aircraft services at its Centennial Airport facility in Denver. Higgs formerly was maintenance supervisor at the company's Part 145 repair station in Addison, Texas.
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.
AIN Alerts is a publication of AIN Publications, 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
For advertising in AIN Alerts please contact Nancy O'Brien at nobrien@ainonline.com.
