General Business Aviation News

Another company is trying to get into the Business Aviation Market

Italian engineering company Mecaer Aviation Group (MAG) is seeking to expand into the business aircraft completions and refurbishment market and may use this month’s NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas as a launch pad for the new venture.

“Cessna is proud to join the aviation community in celebrating the enshrinement of Mr. Dwane Wallace into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Known as ‘Mr. Aviation,’ Wallace’s visionary leadership brought Cessna Aircraft Company into the modern age through the aggressive expansion of the company’s product line, including the introduction of the world’s most successful line of business jets - the Cessna Citation. Mr. Wallace’s legacy is secure as the man who built general aviation around the world and positioned Cessna at the forefront of innovation in the early years of the industry. Mr. Wallace was the personal embodiment of the bold spirit that led him to say of Cessna, ‘We have what it takes to lead the way.’ Thanks to his legacy, 8,000 proud Cessnans are still leading the way in general aviation. We commend the National Aviation Hall of Fame for bestowing this honor on a most deserving honoree.”

Bombardier has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of its subsidiary Flexjet to a group led by Directional Aviation Capital (DAC), to become a stand-alone entity – Flexjet, LLC. Principal of DAC is the well-known Kenn Ricci, owner of Flight Options, Nextant Aerospace and Constant Aviation.

Total consideration of the acquisition is $185 million. The deal is expected to be completed by year-end, subject to US governmental and regulatory approvals. Flexjet has placed a $1.8-billion order for 85 business jets, consisting of 20 Challenger 350s, 10 Challenger 605s, 25 Learjet 75s and 30 examples of the expected Learjet 85.

Canadian completions, refurbishment and maintenance provider Flying Colours has broken ground on the first part of a three-phase $3.5-million expansion plan at its Peterborough, Ontario headquarters. The work is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2014. The first phase is envisioned to consist of adding 20,000 sq ft to one of the company’s three existing hangars.

Jet Aviation Singapore is in full construction mode as it presses forward to complete its new hangar facilities at Seletar Aerospace Park, Seletar (XSP) by early February 2014.

The eagle has landed! Our new EmbraerSA Legacy650 after arrival.

http://www.aircharterscotland.com/gsuga.html

According to business aviation intelligence provider WINGX, the number of business aircraft registrations in North Africa is growing at a 6.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

U.S.-registered business jets experienced a notable drop in nonfatal accidents in the first nine months compared to the same period last year. There were six non-fatal accidents involving United States registered business jets aircraft in the first three quarters of this year, compared with 23 last year. Both periods saw four fatal crashes, resulting in 13 deaths in the first nine months compared to 17 in the corresponding period last year.

TMC’s Hawker fleet goes full Wi-Fi. More info in the Hawker Beechcraft forum.

Canadian headquartered maintenance, completion and refurbishment company Flying Colours has aligned its US subsidiary, previously known as JetCorp Tech Services, to Flying Colours Corp. KSUS. The decision to rename the company’s St. Louis, US-based facility will bring the full scope of Flying Colours service provisions under one company name and serves to align the operational activities at the two locations, which now mirror each other in terms of capabilities and output.

Swiss manufacturer Pilatus will showcase its first business jet, the PC-24. The PC-24 is expected to make a US debut at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas, 22-24 October, 2013.

The Citation Latitude is on schedule for its first prototype flight in Q1 2014.

Comlux America widens completion range

Comlux America are at the on-going NBAA show in Las Vegas, Nevada at Comlux - Booth #N5927). This completions and maintenance center based in Indianapolis is expanding its work scope to include wide body VIP aircraft that include the Airbus ACJ330, ACJ340-ACJ380 and Boeing 767BBJ, 777BBJ and 747BBJ.

Swiss-based Jet Aviation has expanded its US footprint through the completion of a ramp and hangar expansion at its Teterboro, New York fixed-base operator facility (FBO) and through the addition of two tenant hangars at its Houston, Texas location.

A peek inside Asia's business aviation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8-dzy1Z2rk

Luxembourg-based aviation services provider Luxaviation has decided to expand geographically by establishing itself in Georgia as of 15 January, 2014. Starting then, three aircraft from its fleet will be based in the capital, Tbilisi, so as to serve the regional market from there.

Rolls-Royce said on Sunday it had won a USD$5 billion order from Etihad Airways for Trent XWB engines to power 50 Airbus A350 aircraft. The order includes long-term care of the engines, Rolls-Royce said. Earlier in the day at the Dubai Airshow, Etihad announced orders for 87 Airbus aircraft, including the 50 A350s.

(Reuters)

China has simplified flight approval procedures for private aircraft in a move that may lead to the full opening of its under-developed general aviation market. The move may provide marketing opportunities for companies such as Cessna and Bombardier who have been eager to sell their private jets in the world's largest economy.

Under the new rule, jointly issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the military, companies or individuals flying in a private jet or helicopter outside a no-fly zone within the country no longer need to submit their plans to the military. They only need the permission of CAAC. The policy, effective December 1, marks China's latest step in easing its grip on air space since late 2010 when it opened up low-altitude space for commercial jets in select cities, industry observers say.

"It's good now that they've eased the control all over the country, not just in those pilot cities. But the market for general aviation is still in the initial stage and it's hard to say how fast it could grow," said Jefferies Hong Kong analyst Liu Boyong. "We don't have enough airports for small jets." The more immediate beneficiaries are general aviation service providers, such as Citic Offshore Helicopter, as the new rules would cut back the paper work for flight approval and improve their operating efficiency, industry observers say. By 2020, China's fleet of general aviation aircraft is expected to rise to 10,000, up from 1,200 currently.

(Reuters)

GAL Aviation (GAL), a Quebec-based manufacturer of aircraft interior components, has achieved the status of Approved Supplier for Bombardier Aerospace.

National provider of aircraft management and jet charter services Key Air has added a Virginia-based Falcon Jet 900C to its fleet of managed charter aircraft.