Gulfstream Aerospace’s flagship G700 will have more range and speed, in addition to better passenger comfort, than previously announced, the Savannah, Georgia-based company said yesterday. The G700 flight-test program is also nearing completion, with more than 4,100 hours flown by five flight-test aircraft and two outfitted production-test aircraft. Certification and service entry of the ultra-long-range twinjet is set for the fourth quarter, a company spokeswoman told AIN.

The G700’s range has been increased to 7,750 nm at Mach 0.85 and to 6,650 nm at Mach 0.90, representing a 250-nm boost at both speeds versus original projections. Mmo was also increased from Mach 0.925 to Mach 0.935, matching the top speed of the midsize Cessna Citation X+. Meanwhile, the cabin altitude has been further reduced to 2,840 feet at 41,000 feet, which means passengers should feel less fatigue on flights.

“We are undertaking one of the most extensive flight-test programs as the G700 is the first business aircraft to undergo FAA certification following the passage of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act,” said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. “As a result, we will be delivering an extremely mature, rigorously tested aircraft that will outperform expectations in speed, range, and cabin comfort.”

The company spokeswoman also confirmed that certification of the G700’s shorter sibling, the G800, is expected to follow in mid-2024.

Business aviation pilot salaries climbed by about 12 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to the results of NBAA’s latest Compensation Survey. Aviation compensation expert Christopher Broyhill called the jump “pretty huge” and added, “That shows something we were all wondering about. We’re hearing a lot of anecdotal stuff about pay raises out there and people getting more money for these positions, but that pretty much anchors it, shows that what we’re hearing is true.”

According to NBAA, the results showed that the average captain received long-term retention bonuses of $27,000 a year. Further, the survey found a 7.22 percent increase for business aviation positions overall over the past year. Aviation managers and senior flight attendants were the only positions seeing decreases. “If you take those two positions out, then I’m sure that the overall average increase would have been much higher than 7.22 percent,” said Broyhill, an NBAA Business Aviation Management Committee member who collaborates on the survey.

Survey results encompassed responses from 455 NBAA members, reflecting a jump from the 382 participants in the 2022 survey.

“This was especially helpful as we wanted to start measuring a few new things related to retention strategies,” said Jo Damato, NBAA senior v-p of education, training, and workforce development. “Everyone in aviation is focused on not only attracting new talent but also retaining the professionals already in our industry.”

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia will showcase its range of aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services at the three-day Selangor Aviation Show 2023, which opens tomorrow at Subang Airport’s Skypark Regional Aviation Centre. Malaysia’s largest business aviation MRO, ExecuJet confirms its participation as the country aims to capture half of the Asian MRO market and 5 percent of the global market by 2030.

Since Dassault Aviation acquired the ExecuJet MRO Services network in early 2019, ExecuJet’s Malaysia facility has steadily expanded its MRO service to include line and heavy maintenance on all models of Dassault Falcon aircraft still in production and most legacy models.

At the show, ExecuJet plans to tout its expanded range of MRO services, including airframe maintenance, cabin interior refurbishment, and avionics upgrades. Its maintenance facility at Subang Airport has earned certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, EASA, the FAA, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China, among others. The company’s engineers and technicians perform maintenance on a wide range of business jets, including those from Dassault, Gulfstream, and Bombardier.

Separately, ExecuJet plans to promote its new purpose-built MRO facility at Subang Airport, which it expects to open during the first half of next year. Now under construction, the facility will measure 149,500 sq ft, enough space to simultaneously accommodate 10 to 15 business jets of various sizes.

Jet Aviation has completed construction of another hangar at its FBO at Montana’s Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport (KBZN). This latest addition expands the facility—which Jet Aviation acquired in 2020—to more than 300,000 sq ft of hangar space, following a remodel of the FBO terminal and the purchase of new fuel trucks and ground equipment.

The 40,000-sq-ft structure with a 30-foot-high door height is capable of sheltering business jets up to the size of Gulfstream’s soon-to-be-certified G700. It replaces a 10,000-sq-ft hangar that was originally attached to the FBO terminal and features a heated ramp outside its doors along with heated walkways to ensure arrivals and departures in inclement winter weather.

“As the gateway to Yellowstone National Park, the Yellowstone Club, and the Big Sky resort area, Bozeman is Montana’s busiest airport and a key destination for many of our customers,” said Jet Aviation v-p of Americas FBO operations Richard Layson.

“We are seeing high demand for hangar space, particularly for newer and larger business jets,” added David Best, the General Dynamics subsidiary’s senior v-p of regional operations and general manager for the Americas. “As we continue to grow and invest in our network, we are focused on providing our customers with the services and facilities they need, where they need them.”

Robinson Helicopter has received FAA approval for an improved empennage on its R66 single-engine turbine helicopter. According to the company, the new symmetrical horizontal stabilizer is mounted on the tailcone a little farther from the tail rotor than the original, providing enhanced roll stability during high-speed flight. It also has a 4,000-hour TBO—double that of the original horizontal stabilizer.

This configuration is standard on all new-production R66s beginning with S/N 1279. Robinson Helicopter said it is working with civil airworthiness authorities worldwide to obtain foreign validations and, once received, R66s destined for those markets will be delivered with the improved stabilizer.

Company CEO Kurt Robinson told AIN that the enhanced stabilizer “does not alter in any way the authorized flight envelope of the R66,” especially with regard to high-speed flight, avoiding significant turbulence, and prohibitions on low-G maneuvers. However, he said, “Our pilots have found that the aircraft feels more stable at high speeds and in turbulence toward the outer ranges [of the approved flight envelope]. That is what you will notice.

“Everything we do is to try and increase safety,” Robinson said. He added that the upgraded R66 stabilizer is the latest in a line of standard and optional safety enhancements added to the company’s helicopters. This list includes crash-resistant fuel cells, 4K cockpit cameras, night-vision goggle-compatible cockpits, and autopilots.

Rolls-Royce has tapped Cadorath's Broussard, Louisiana facility as an authorized maintenance and repair overhaul center (AMROC) for M250- and RR300-series turbine engines and modules, the Winnipeg, Canada-based MRO specialist said Tuesday.

Cadorath became an authorized repair facility to perform single-part repair in 2003 and added the Broussard location in 2008. It will continue to offer those repair services in support of the Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 turbine engine lines for the engine company’s Fully Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team (First) network.

“We have a long history of support for M250 and RR300 operators around the world,” said Cadorath president Gerry Cadorath. “The addition of these services reaffirms our commitment to these operators with our newly added capabilities and capacities.”

Cadorath plans to soon start what it calls a major expansion of Cadorath Aerospace Lafayette in Broussard, where it offers complete repair and overhaul, modifications, upgrades, and test cell capabilities. 

“When we made the decision to become an AMROC, we started by assembling a team of highly skilled and experienced individuals, many of whom began as customers,” said Cadorath COO David Haines. “In addition, we continued to invest in large critical inventories of detail parts and complete engines and modules to support operators of the RR300 and M250. We are excited to bring our 30-plus years of experience to this market.”

Makers Air, which operates a fleet of Cessna Caravans and specializes in scheduled and charter service in the Bahamas, has acquired rival operator Staniel Air. Based at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) in Florida, Makers Air has been operating a fleet of six Grand Caravans, and it just added a seventh through its acquisition of Staniel Air. Its customers can charter the turboprop singles entirely or fly by the seat on day trips.

Makers occupies three hangars at KFXE with nearly 12,000 sq ft of aircraft storage space and 5,000 sq ft of offices. The consolidation includes the former Staniel hangar, which increases the company’s space at the airport by 25 percent. Maker plans to convert space in the newly added hangar into a passenger lounge and offices.

“This acquisition complements and fortifies Makers Air’s capabilities, bolstering our existing fleet and enlarging our existing departure and arrival lounges,” said Makers Air owner and president David Hocher. “By assimilating Staniel Air’s aircraft into [our] portfolio, we are well positioned to provide expanded services to current destinations, and add new routes in addition to enhancing our private charter division.”

Whirly-Girls will again offer scholarships to women rotorcraft pilots and technicians in 2024, with more than $500,000 available for award recipients. Applications are due October 1 and the scholarships will be formally presented on Feb. 25, 2024, at HAI Heli-Expo in Anaheim, California.

“When the original 13 members of the Whirly-Girls founded this organization, they were the only female helicopter pilots in the world,” said Alison Martin, Whirly-Girls' past president. “They envisioned a place where female pilots could find support and camaraderie and help one another succeed. Today, our group has grown to over 2,000 members but, despite this growth, females still comprise fewer than 6 percent of pilots.”

Scholarships are being provided by Airbus, Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, Bell, Bristow Group, CAE, Central Oregon Community College, Edward M. Thurn Trust, Erickson, FlightSafety International, Garmin, Leading Edge Flight Academy, Leonardo, MD Helicopters, Palm Beach Helicopters, PHI Aviation, Randy Mains and Oregon Aero, Robinson Helicopter, Southern Utah University, Survival Systems USA, Volo Mission, and private donors.