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Embraer Breaks Ground for New Executive Jet Service Center in Brazil ​

Four months after announcing its new executive jet service center in Brazil, Embraer broke ground at Bertram Luiz Leupolz (SOD) airport in Sorocaba, fulfilling its promise to bring convenient services to its customers. The 216,000-square-foot site will include hangars, VIP lounges, meeting rooms and crew living quarters, as well as administrative offices. This facility will offer a broad range of maintenance, repair and overhaul and fixed-base operator services, affording customers maximum operational flexibility. The opening is expected in the second half of 2013...

Cessna further increases the range on the Citation Latitude business jet​

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition that it has increased the range capability of its planned new midsize jet, the Citation Latitude, once again. The Latitude was originally announced to have an expected range of 2,000 nautical miles, but through customer input and quality design and engineering, the Latitude is now expected to have a maximum range of 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 kilometers)...

Embraer starts fabrication process of the Legacy 450 business jet​

Embraer Executive Jets passed a major milestone in the mid-light Legacy 450 program last week when the first part was milled for the business jet, ushering in the beginning of fabrication. “Even as we have been making progress on the Legacy 500, we have been anticipating this event for the Legacy 450,” said Ernest Edwards, President, Embraer Executive Jets...

Gulfstream's new G280 almost ready for certification​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s super-midsized G280 aircraft is closing in on entry-into-service (EIS). As of July 31, the three aircraft used during the flight-test program have flown more than 2,000 hours over more than 740 flights. The fatigue test article has completed more than 17,000 of 40,000 cycles.

The G280 received provisional type certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on March 1, 2012, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel on Dec. 29, 2011. The aircraft is slated to enter service later this year after the final type certification requirements have been achieved...

Hawker Beechcraft Installs First Hawker 400XPR Avionics Upgrade​

Hawker Beechcraft today announced that the first customer aircraft in the Hawker 400XPR upgrade program is undergoing the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics system upgrade at its Hawker Beechcraft Service facility in Atlanta. The avionics upgrade is the first component of the 400XPR Program to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification.

Hawker 400XPR- “The first customer aircraft to receive the avionics upgrade is an important step in the 400XPR program,” said Christi Tannahill, Hawker Beechcraft senior vice president, Global Customer Support...

Gulfstream To Showcase Three Aircraft At Latin American Airshow​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. will display three of its business jets at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE), held Aug. 15-17 in São Paulo, Brazil. The show will feature the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150, the large-cabin, long-range G450 and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range G550. The aircraft will be available for viewing in the VASP Hangar of the Congonhas Airport, located at Av. Washington Luis, 6000 – Gate 3. In addition to the aircraft on static display, Gulfstream will have a reception area to host customers...

The Gulfstream G650 model nears FAA Certification​

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilots have completed all the scheduled flying required for the certification program for Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650. In addition, the European Aviation Safety Agency test team finished the flight testing required for its validation of the FAA’s type certification.

The G650 received a provisional type certificate from the FAA on Nov. 18, 2011, and is in the process of completing the final certification tests with the FAA to support entry-into-service later this year...

Daher-Socata introduces the TBM 850 Elite​

At a News Conference held at the SUN ’n FUN annual International Fly–In & Expo, DAHER-SOCATA announced the market introduction of its TBM 850 Elite, the 2012 Model Year version of its very fast turboprop aircraft – which offers a host of new features aimed at improving comfort and flexibility. The TBM 850 Elite’s most distinctive attribute is the capability of its middle seats to be positioned in either the rearward or forward-facing position. This new configuration provides extended cargo space to accommodate outsized baggage...

ICON Aircraft and Cirrus Aircraft to Partner on the Production of the ICON A5 Amphibious Sport Plane​

ICON Aircraft and Cirrus Aircraft today announced that Cirrus will become one of the key strategic supplier partners for the ICON A5 amphibious Light Sport Aircraft. The companies have agreed that Cirrus Aircraft, the manufacturer of the leading SR20 and SR22 lines of high-performance single-engine aircraft, will produce a significant portion of the composite airframe components for ICON Aircraft.

“Cirrus has a global reputation for producing truly outstanding composite aircraft structures,” said Kirk Hawkins, founder and CEO of ICON Aircraft...

Hawker Beechcraft expected to display six aircraft at LABACE 2012 ​

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced it will display six of its market-leading aircraft – ranging from the piston twin-engine Beechcraft Baron G58 to the Hawker 4000 super midsize business jet – at the ninth annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE), Aug. 15-17, at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. In cooperation with its regional distributor, Líder Aviação, the company’s display will feature the Hawker 4000, Hawker 900XP, Multi-Mission Beechcraft King Air 350ER demonstrator, King Air 250, King Air C90GTx and a Baron G58...

Embraer Debuts the Lineage 1000 jet at the LABACE​

Brazilian business jet manufacturer Embraer is set to officially debut the Lineage 1000 business jet at this year’s LABACE, Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition. The show gets underway later this month, August 15-17 at the Congonhas Airport in Sao Paulo. This year, the LABACE is in its ninth year and is expected to be exiting for visitors looking at Embraer products. Not only with the Lineage 1000 be on display but also the entry-level Phenom 100, light Phenom 300 and the large Legacy 650...

Flexjet and Bombardier Launch Nationwide Learjet 85 Aircraft Mock-Up Tour​

Bombardier’s exclusive fractional launch customer, Flexjet, showcases new aircraft model at 11 private events in a coast-to-coast U.S. tour Guests to interact with an aircraft that is set to revolutionize the industry and enjoy experiences provided by select luxury partners Flexjet, the first fractional jet ownership company to offer shares on the all-new Learjet 85 aircraft, and business aircraft manufacturer Bombardier are launching an 11-city U.S. tour offering the opportunity to experience firsthand the aircraft that is poised to revolutionize the industry...

600th PlaneView cockpit delivered on Gulfstream jet​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently delivered the 600th Gulfstream business jet aircraft equipped with the innovative PlaneView™ cockpit, achieving the milestone just nine years after the flight deck was first delivered. Additionally, the company has installed more than 250 synthetic vision systems and enhanced navigation systems. The deliveries solidify the manufacturer's technological leadership position in the business-aviation industry. Gulfstream was the first original equipment manufacturer to get Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of synthetic vision in 2008...

Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft Company Open Asia Pacific Service Facility in Singapore​

Bell Helicopter, in partnership with Cessna Aircraft Company, opened a new regional service center in Singapore at Seletar Aerospace Park. Bell Helicopter and Cessna are Textron companies (NYSE: TXT). The new state-of-the-art facility offers customers a one-stop shop for comprehensive repair, completion, fulfillment, maintenance and customization solutions. “The grand opening of our Asia Pacific service center brings to life a vision of providing exceptional support to our current and future customers in this important growth region,” said John L. Garrison, president and CEO of Bell Helicopter...

Global 6000 Jet Continues its World Tour with China Showcase​

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that the Global 6000 jet featuring the Vision Flight Deck will premiere in Shanghai for the Chinese chapter of its world tour, with a four day visit including stops in Beijing, Hong Kong and Chengdu from July 28 – July 31, 2012.

“China’s appetite for business aviation is strong and will continue to increase. According to our market forecast, China is expected to see a 13 per cent year-on-year growth* in business jet deliveries, from 2012 to 2031,” said Michael Han, Regional Vice President, Sales, China, Bombardier Business Aircraft...

Embraer and Conviasa sign a deal for up to 20 E190 jets ​

Embraer announced today an agreement with Venezuela’s Conviasa Airlines for the sale of six EMBRAER 190 jets. The deal also includes 14 purchase options for the same aircraft model. The value of the order, at list price, is USD 271.2 million, based on January 2012 economic conditions, and could total as much as USD 904 million, if all of the options to buy are confirmed. The first deliveries are scheduled to take place by the end of 2012...

Bombardier Delivers a Global 5000 Jet to Jana Aviation ​

Bombardier today announced the delivery of a Global 5000 jet to Jana Aviation. The aircraft will be managed by Executive Aircraft Services and based in Beirut, Lebanon. “We are delighted that Jana Aviation has continued to place their trust in Bombardier aircraft for their operations in Lebanon,” said Khader Mattar, Regional Vice President, Sales, Middle East, Africa and India, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The Global 5000 jet is perfectly suited for the very discerning needs of our customers in the Middle East...

Cessna Citation M2: Customers Asked, Cessna Answered​

Cessna’s Citation M2, on display at Cessna’s EAA AirVenture exhibit, is what their customers are asking for — ease of cockpit navigation, friendly transition for the pilot moving up or new to the jet market, comfortable cabin and efficient speed and range. Since the program was announced, nearly nine months ago, Cessna’s M2 engineering team has incorporated customer comments and suggestions into the design of the M2. Cessna Aircraft Company is a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company...

United Airlines announced orders for 100 Boeing 737MAXs and 50 Boeing 737 NEXT GEN​

The world's largest airline upgrades its fleet with 100 Boeing 737MAX and 50 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. United Airlines has announced an order for 150 737 airplanes, including 100 of the new Boeing 737 MAX 9. The world's largest airline by traffic is the latest carrier to choose the newest member of the 737 family which today eclipsed 10,000 orders overall.

Counting all variants, the 737 program has now logged more than 10,000 orders, further cementing the 737 as the undisputed best-selling jetliner in the world...

Cirrus Vision Progresses to C-Zero, Production line coming​

After years of planning, designing, testing and flying, the Cirrus Vision SF50 personal jet is on course to begin production in 2015. With full program resource funding through certification now in the hands of the team, Cirrus is ramping up for the final push with recruitment, tooling and type certification. Since the inaugural first flight of V1, the Vision test plane, four years ago, the program’s development has reflected the twists and turns of the world economy...