Analyst: Wave of New Bizjets Appear Waiting in Wings

The business jet market appears primed for several new aircraft unveilings, believes business aviation market analyst Brian Foley of Brian Foley Associates, suggesting that Gulfstream, Honda Aircraft, and others might “soon be taking the wraps off new planes.” Manufacturers have remained quiet about their plans, but he said announcements could come as soon as next month at NBAA-BACE.

Foley believes Gulfstream has a couple of significant motivators to moving forward with a successor of its G650ER flagship. From an operational standpoint, Gulfstream “hasn’t historically allowed any competitor’s product to have a meaningful edge for long,” Foley said. But Bombardier’s new Global 7500 has a 7,700-nm range, 200 nm more than the G650ER. He also noted that the G650ER manufacturing techniques are less efficient compared with those of Gulfstream’s newest models, the G500 and G600, which can be built in fewer hours and with fewer parts.

He said Bombardier has “doubled-down” on its business jet unit with the exit from a number of other business lines, adding that the company’s “middle-size” aircraft lines, the Challenger 350 and 650, “are both overdue for other than incremental improvements.”

Further, Foley points to the recent 82,000-sq-ft facility expansion at Honda Aircraft, saying it “telegraphs a new announcement forthcoming." Honda has been seeking engineers with expertise in wing, fuselage, and systems design—“all indicative of an active in-house Skunkworks."

Textron Aviation Adds More Asia-Pacific Service Options

Textron Aviation has added authorized service capabilities in the Philippines with the addition of PhilJets Aero Services in Manila, the airframer announced this week. PhilJets’ 13,000-sq-ft hangar facility at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) is initially offering maintenance on Philippines-registered Beechcraft King Air 200, 250, 300 and 350 turboprops, and is pursuing type certification for Cessna Caravans and Beechcraft King Air 90s.

The addition of PhilJets builds on Textron Aviation’s growing service assets in the Asia-Pacific region. This year, it has expanded its Singapore parts warehouse, opened a new parts warehouse in Australia, and added Premiair Aviation Maintenance, also in Australia, as an authorized service center.

“As we’ve demonstrated with multiple expansions and investments, Textron Aviation is committed to serving our established and growing customer base in Asia,” the OEM's Asia-Pacific service v-p and general manager Gabriel Massey said. “Working with PhilJets to expand authorized service options in the Philippines brings expert service closer to our customers and strengthens our global network.”

Vail Valley Jet Center To Continue Expansion

Based on growth in business jet traffic, particularly international flights, the Vail Valley Jet Center, the lone service provider at Colorado’s Eagle County Regional Airport, expects to complete construction next month of the first of several new hangars. Designated as “Hangar 7,” the 38,000-sq-ft structure will bring the location to 240,000 sq ft of heated space in time for the peak ski season and feature a private customer lounge, vehicle garages, aircraft maintenance bays, and offices, each with direct hangar access.

Located on the west side of the airport’s commercial terminal, Hangar 7 is already overbooked with based tenants, according to the company, and it has begun preparations for the similar-sized Hangar 8. The FBO recently added five more acres of concrete apron, for a total of 25 acres, to support further development.

In addition, the company is also launching a custom-build hangar complex, tailored to the unique specifications of each owner. Designed with 30-foot-high doors to accommodate the largest business jets, each of the 10,000-sq-ft or 14,400-sq-ft hangars will have options for deluxe business offices and lounges, private garages, and recreational equipment storage.

Honeywell Marks 100,000th APU Milestone

Honeywell has rolled off the production line its 100,000th auxiliary power unit (APU), which also happens to be its 15,000th 131-9 model, its most popular APU flying today, the Phoenix-based provider of aircraft systems and engines announced today. “Our legacy and leadership in this space combined with our expertise in connectivity make us well equipped to provide aircraft operators with the next generation of APUs and dependable backup power for years to come,” said Honeywell Aerospace engines and power systems president Brian Sill.

In 1950, Honeywell’s first APU took to the skies. Currently, more than 36,000 of them are in service on aircraft ranging from business, commercial, regional and military fixed-wing airplanes and rotorcraft. Of those, more than 13,000 are the model 131-9 and are primarily found on Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 airliners. Honeywell introduced the model 131-9 in 1995.

Additionally, Honeywell said it will soon introduce a new unit to provide on-ground power to turboprops and small to midsize jets.

MRO Insider Adding AOG Service Functionality to App

Maintenance price quote platform provider MRO Insider is adding new AOG service functionality to its mobile application for smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. Through the app, users will be able to simplify the AOG process by entering their aircraft’s location. Service providers will then quickly respond to them with their hourly rate, ETA to aircraft, and other information. This will be presented along with any client reviews or ratings and the facility’s repair authorization and drug program paperwork.

“Our team began developing the app based on the feedback we’ve received from owner/operators, as well as AOG providers,” said co-founder Andy Nixon, noting this will allow users to streamline searches for qualified maintenance providers on just one platform. “With a worldwide database, we had the ability to quickly build out our current AOG search from our website.” He added it will save aircraft operators time and money by removing the need to pick up the telephone or perform internet searches—“one ping and the AOG providers will respond to them with a competitive rate.”

The function is expected to be operational early next year. Next month at NBAA-BACE, the company (Booth N2711) will be offering showgoers a sneak-peek preview of the AOG service request features and how it works.

Metrojet Hong Kong Earns Qatar Mx Approval

Hong Kong-based business aviation services provider Metrojet has received authorization from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority for its Hong Kong maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility, designating it as an approved maintenance organization for Qatar-registered aircraft. The approval covers the MRO’s full capability list for Gulfstream, Bombardier, and Embraer business jets.

This latest nod is added to the company’s already established approvals from Hong Kong, U.S. FAA, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Island, Isle of Man, San Marino, Thailand, and Aruba. Established in 1995, Metrojet also operates a second MRO facility at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in the Philippines.

“The QCAA approval received for our Hong Kong MRO aligns with the one we obtained for our Clark MRO earlier this year, in which we see the increasing demand to support A7-registered aircraft in Hong Kong and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region,” said Bruce Watson, general manager of the Hong Kong facility. “We are dedicated to continue strengthening our service offerings in both MROs and to develop the Metrojet brand as the MRO of choice in Asia-Pacific."

UK FBO Chains Plan Expansion in Manchester, Bournemouth

UK-based Weston Aviation is adding a fifth airport to its FBO chain, with a new operation at Manchester Airport announced today at the Air Charter Expo at London Biggin Hill Airport. The privately owned company already provides passenger and cargo handling, flight supervision, maintenance, and charter broking at Gloucestershire Airport, Cornwall Airport Newquay, and Humberside International Airport in the UK, as well as at Cork International Airport in Ireland. It also provides fuel service at Doncaster Sheffield Airport in the north of England.

Meanwhile, UK-based FBO chain XLR Executive recently opened a new facility at Bournemouth Airport on the south coast of England, reporting 95 movements in the first five weeks of operation. The company also has FBOs at Birmingham, Liverpool, and Exeter.

Western Authorized To Work On FJ44-equipped Citations

FBO and MRO Western Aircraft has been authorized to service Williams International FJ44 engines found on seven Cessna Citation models, the company announced yesterday. Specifically, the authorization allows Western to maintain FJ44s on the CitationJet, CJ1/1+/M2, CJ2/2+, CJ3/3+, and CJ4.

“We are excited to add Citation models to our authorization for Williams FJ44 engines,” Western’s director of aircraft services Jody Harris said. “It’s another way to provide quality customer service to our Cessna customers.”

It already has some familiarity with the engine as Western is an authorized service facility for the Pilatus PC-24 twinjet, which is powered by the FJ44-4A. With this new authorization, Western will also be able to help Citation customers with engine rentals and parts.

Based in Boise, Idaho, Western operates a full-service FBO at Boise Airport (BOI). The Greenwich AeroGroup company is also a factory authorized maintenance and modification facility for Beechcraft, Dassault Falcon, Embraer Executive Jets, Gogo Business Aviation, Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, and Piper. In addition, it recently added Gulfstream aircraft to its maintenance capabilities.

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