Business & General Aviation News

AirGuide Business, March 17, 2008

Mar 17, 2008

FAA predicts in its aerospace forecast that the active general aviation fleet will increase by an average 1.3 percent annually, growing from an estimated 225,007 aircraft last year to 286,500 by 2025. Turboprop and turbine helicopter fleets are expected to increase by 3.7 percent annually over the 18-year forecast period, while the business jet fleet is predicted to grow 5.6 percent yearly. Even though the 143 very light jets delivered last year fell well short of the FAA[sup.1]s forecast of 350 shipments, the agency believes the active VLJ fleet could reach 1,000 aircraft by 2010 and an estimated 8,145 by 2025. Meanwhile, the FAA predicts that corporate safety and security concerns for executives, as well as increasing airline delays, will continue to fuel business aircraft fleet growth at corporate, fractional and on-demand charter operators. Hours flown by turbine GA airplanes and helicopters are expected to increase 5.3 percent yearly over the forecast period, with business jets accounting for much of this growth. Mar 13, 2008

Demand for private jets is still flying high. The bustling economies of China and India, and newfound oil wealth in countries such as Russia, have helped keep sales of small executive jets strong. Despite the weakening of corporate profits in the United States, North American plane makers are reporting record orders, many from overseas. The overall demand for jets is expected to remain strong in the coming years, said Jaworowski of Forecast International, who forecasts nearly 15,000 business jets worth a total of $192 billion will be sold over the next decade industrywide. The increase will come in planes of all sizes, he said. Mar 11, 2008

Private jets have become the travel method of choice for corporate executives who can afford them, cutting down on wait times and delays that affect commercial carriers. Corporations can either buy planes outright, or buy fractional jet shares to avoid shouldering the hefty price of planes that can range from a few million dollars to $50 million. Mar 11, 2008

Bjets, Cessna

BJETS, a new fractional and charter aircraft provider headquartered in India, said last week it placed orders for 40 new business jets - 20 from Cessna and 20 from Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Cessna will provide BJETS with 20 CJ2 aircraft, eight-passenger models powered by twin Williams FJ44-3A turbofans, an order valued at approximately $150 million, according to Cessna. The CJ2 can operate from runways as short as 3,400 feet, a capability that will help open "many additional airports in Asia which are not accessible to airlines or other business jets," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Cessna. HBC will deliver 20 aircraft to BJETS, 11 Hawker 900XPs and nine 850XPs, and it said the new carrier took options on 10 additional aircraft. The total value of the order, including options, is in excess of $450 million, the manufacturer said. Mar 10, 2008

Cessna Citation

Cessna Citation modifier Sierra Industries is expanding its product line by offering extended-range upgrades for the Citation I, II and S-II. The Uvalde, Texas company recently introduced for these older Citations a new aft fuel tank modification that adds 120 gallons of fuel capacity, extending range by as much as 400 nm. Mar 13, 2008

Cessna Citation

Cessna Citation Mustang S/N 049, the first very light jet to suffer major damage, returned to service on February 29 after enduring the collapse of its left fuel tank and two broken wing spars on a December 19 ferry flight. According to the FAA, the twinjet received [sup.3]substantial damage[sup.2] during the flight from Cessna[sup.1]s Independence, Kan. factory-where owner Spectator Grupa of Croatia took delivery of the aircraft earlier that day-to Allegheny County Airport (AGC) near Pittsburgh for a planned fuel stop. The crew, a Spectator Grupa pilot and a contract ferry pilot, heard a bang at 18,000 feet during the descent into AGC, which was followed by a left-engine low fuel pressure warning. They then noticed distortion on top of the left wing and heard a second bang. The crew continued the descent and landed safely at AGC. FAA inspectors found that Cessna workers inadvertently blocked the left fuel tank vent with adhesive vinyl, which covered the Croatian registration numbers while the aircraft carried a temporary N-number. This blockage prevented the inflow of air to replace fuel drawn from the tank by the engines, and the tank deformed. Cessna technicians disassembled the twinjet before trucking it to the Independence plant, where new wings were installed at Cessna[sup.1]s expense. Mar 11, 2008

Embraer

Embraer plans to begin serial production of the Phenom 100 very light jet next month at its plant in Botucatu, Brazil. According to facility managing director Almir Borges, the Botucatu plant will be turning out six Phenom 100s a month by year-end, and when it meets maximum production capacity late next year the rate is expected to reach 17 airplanes a month. The company expects to deliver as many as 15 Phenom 100s following certification this year and close to 170 next year. A fourth Phenom 100 test aircraft-the first to be fitted with an interior-is in the final stages of assembly and will soon be starting the required 600 hours of function and reliability testing. Mar 11, 2008