Bristow Signs Deal for Up to 50 eVTOLs with Vertical Aero

Bristow Group and the UK’s Vertical Aerospace Group have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on the certification and potential purchase of up to 50 eVTOLs. Under the deal, Bristow would place a pre-order for 25 of Vertical’s VA-X4 four-passenger aircraft that are capable of speeds to 174 knots and a range of more than 87 nm.

Bristow’s commitment adds to Vertical’s pre-order book of 1,000 aircraft from potential customers, including American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Avolon. Under the MOU, the two companies have agreed to develop a joint working group to collaborate on regulatory and airspace; demand, fleet size, spare parts, and infrastructure; potential customers; and public acceptance and environmental requirements.

“As the global leader in vertical lift, Bristow’s operational expertise and efficiency, supported by the trust and confidence of our customers, can safely bring eVTOL aircraft into the market,” said Bristow CEO Chris Bradshaw.

This is Bristow’s second electric aircraft deal in less than a month. In late August, the company announced it had signed an MOU with Electra Aero for the purchase of up to 50 of that company’s hybrid-electric STOL airplanes for entry into service beginning in 2026. “Our expansion into these new and existing geographic markets with sustainable, innovative, and efficient vertical lift and aerial transport services will offer passengers superior regional air mobility solutions,” said Bradshaw.

Bombardier Expanding Interior Services in Dallas

Bombardier, in the midst of a multi-year project to dramatically expand its customer support facilities and services globally, rolled out its latest enhancement this morning, announcing new interior and refurbishment capabilities at its Dallas service center.

The airframer has teamed up with Wichita-based aircraft furnishings specialist Global Engineering & Technology (GETI) to offer expanded interior services and support. The agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between Bombardier and GETI, which already is a supplier for its Wichita service center.

As a result, customers of various Bombardier twinjet platforms will have expanded options in Dallas for interior repair and refurbishment of the aircraft flooring, cabinetry, seats, and upholstery. Bombardier believes this will particularly benefit its customer base in the U.S. Southwest and in Latin America.

“The enhancement of these services is a testament of our commitment to continue to meet growing customer demand with high-quality products and offerings that exceed expectations,” said Christopher Debergh, Bombardier's v-p of OEM parts and services.  

The additional services come as Bombardier is already expanding its service network in Berlin, Miami, London Biggin Hill, Singapore, and Melbourne, Australia. In the process, it is growing its footprint by 50 percent. In addition, the company continues to open line maintenance stations strategically in the U.S. and Europe and has increased its customer response team mobile units to 30 worldwide.

New U.S. Air Travel Policy Also Applies to Bizav

A new U.S. travel policy set to begin in November will lift nearly 18 months of pandemic-induced international air travel restrictions for foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The policy will require airlines to collect vaccination and contact information from U.S.-bound travelers, but currently there are no guidelines regarding this data collection for passengers or crew arriving via business aircraft.

Foreign nationals must show proof of vaccination and proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken three days before boarding an airplane. Quarantine for vaccinated travelers coming into the U.S. will not be required. Any unvaccinated Americans returning to the U.S. will be subject to stricter testing requirements under the new procedures.

“NBAA participates in regular meetings with multiple government agencies and industry associations to coordinate the safe arrival of international passengers,” Brian Koester, the association’s director of flight operations and regulations, told AIN. “While we understand the new process will apply to all aircraft arrivals, including business aviation, the government is still determining the details. NBAA will make information available once we know the process for complying with the new requirements.”

Piper, Mx School Partner on Workforce Pipeline

Piper Aircraft and International AeroTech Academy are partnering on a program aimed at providing the Vero Beach, Florida airframer a pipeline of production workers. Under the program, students entering airframe and powerplant training will be offered a conditional letter of employment at Piper following a successful job interview.

The awarding of the conditional letter is contingent upon successful completion of the 14-month training program at Lakeland, Florida-based International AeroTech. Following graduation, eligible students will begin employment at Piper, receive a $3,000 signing bonus, as well as an annual tuition reimbursement of $2,400 a year for up to 10 years.

“We are in a unique position to help strengthen the talent pipeline by providing job opportunities at the beginning of the student’s education, which we believe will help attract additional candidates to the program and to Piper Aircraft,” said Piper senior director of manufacturing Greg Wendel.

International AeroTech president and CEO Steven Markhoff said the partnership creates a defined career path at a time when industry forecasts project a need for 739,000 maintenance technicians globally and 192,000 in North America. “The availability of tuition financing coupled with Piper’s signing bonus and annual stipend creates a unique opportunity to attract, train, and retain the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals,” Markhoff added.

A Retrofit Upgrade That’s Truly Worth Considering

Airplanes like the Pilatus PC-12 are built to operate for decades. Ideally, a well-maintained airplane can be active for years.  However, the longer an airplane stays in circulation, the more likely the cockpit will need an upgrade. Fast-moving technology, required safety mandates, and parts obsolescence, keeping your aircraft FAA compliant can be a challenge both in time and feasibility. For the PC-12, and other applicable aircraft, there is a retrofit upgrade that’s worth the consideration and the investment.

Diamond Sky Appoints Zela Sales Agent in Greece, Cyprus

Cyprus-based charter broker Zela Aviation has entered into a strategic agreement with charter operator Diamond Sky under which Zela Jet, a newly created brand of Zela Aviation, will serve as the general sales agent for all of Diamond’s private charter flights to and from Greece and Cyprus. According to Zela Aviation, the agreement allows Zela Jet to enhance its product offering to meet the demands of its growing customer base in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East markets. The agreement “is based on mutual respect and ambition for offering unique private charter services to our clients,” added Zela Jet chairman Andreas Christodoulides.

Diamond board member Karl Koort said the agreement offers “even better solutions for our customers traveling to Greece or Cyprus. [Zela Jet’s] vast knowledge and experience in the respected markets are a huge benefit to Diamond Sky. We are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation.”

With an EASA-approved air operator certificate, Estonia-based Diamond operates a fleet of 11 managed aircraft that includes a Nextant 400 XTi, Piaggio Avanti, Bombardier Learjet 60XR, and Embraer Phenom 300E.

Bell Establishes 525 Experience Center in Norway

Bell Textron has opened a new Bell 525 Experience Center at the Stavanger Airport in Norway. This move comes as Bell nears certification for the super-medium twin and seeks to promote it to North Sea offshore energy and regional military customers.

The rotorcraft manufacturer partnered with its area independent representative, the Norwegian Aviation & Defense Group, to establish the facility. It is located inside a hangar that displays the Bell 525 mockup with interactive workstations for potential customers to learn more about the helicopter. Bell said the fly-by-wire 525 will use up to 30 percent less fuel than heavy helicopters currently servicing the region.

Last year, Bell announced a collaboration agreement with Norwegian oil and gas operator Wintershall Dea Norge AS to bring enhanced operational helicopter safety to the North Sea. Bell said its involvement with Wintershall helped it develop a new standard of operations for the oil and gas industry in the North Sea. “Norway is a key market for Bell, and we are proud to establish our presence here,” said Patrick Moulay, Bell's senior v-p for commercial business.

MRO Insider Tops 2,000 Aircraft Registrations

More than 2,000 aircraft are now registered for free on MRO Insider’s business aircraft services platform, the Dexter, Michigan-based quoting software provider announced this week. Launched in October 2017, the platform has seen exponential growth in the past four years that has helped the MRO Insider network’s North American and global expansion.

MRO Insider president Andy Nixon explained that when he and co-founder Lindsay Nixon launched the platform—which provides operators quotes for services such as maintenance, detailing, and fuel—the original goal was to achieve 250 aircraft registrations within the first two years. “But we hit that milestone within six months of launch,” he said. “At that time, 500 aircraft seemed like an impossible goal—but we accomplished that in 2019.

“To see us hit the 2,000 aircraft mark two years later is somewhat surreal, but also keeps us motivated for our growth.”

While most of the platform’s registered turbine aircraft are based in the U.S., about 10 percent are in Mexico and South America, which Nixon attributed to the work of MRO Insider’s Latin America team. A labor shortage over the past year has also served to prove the platform’s efficiency, he added. “When you’re dealing with a short-staffed maintenance control department or you are a director of maintenance on overtime—every minute counts,” Nixon said. “We’ve heard the struggles that these departments are experiencing.”

FAI Converts Global Express to Air Ambulance

German special mission operator FAI rent-a-jet has configured one of its Bombardier Global Express twinjets as a dedicated air ambulance following higher market demand for ultra-long-range air ambulance missions, 10 of which it has undertaken in the past two months. Further, the company said it is focused on building up its air ambulance capabilities in long and ultra-long-range missions.

“Over the past year, we have experienced a significant increase in demand for long and ultra-long-range air ambulance business on sorties from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East,” said FAI air ambulance division head Volker Lemke. “Equally, we have seen increased demand in the short- and medium-range repatriation air ambulance business.”

With a range of 6,000 nm, FAI’s medevac-dedicated Global Express can transport up to three intensive care patients and medical teams from the U.S. West Coast to Europe, East Coast to the Middle East, or Europe to the Far East. Besides the Global Express, FAI’s fleet of 10 air ambulance twinjets includes the Challenger 604 and Learjet 60, all of which are based at the company’s headquarters at Albrecht Dürer International Airport in Nuremberg.

Challenger 3500 Refreshes Bombardier's Super-mid Family

Bombardier's new Challenger 3500 includes a range of improvements to its super-midsize Challenger 350 predecessor. For passengers, they include new seats, reduced cabin altitude, and a cabin management system that can be individually controlled via an app on a personal device. For pilots, a new Safe Flight autothrottle makes it easier and more efficient to control the 3500's Honeywell HTF7350 engines.