by Matt on December 23, 2008
According to AVWeb’s Russ Niles, Avjet has built an environmentally friendly hangar at Bob Hope Airport in California. Dedicated earlier this month, the 63,653 square foot hangar and is powered by roof-top solar arrays that provide ground power for the jets, tow and service vehicles. Since the solar panels produce about 50% more power, the excess is fed back into the local grid.
Other features include:
“a diamond-polished concrete floor that doesn’t need to be coated, a water-based fog fire suppression system and energy reducing systems to heat and cool the building with less dependence on standard HVAC equipment.”
by Matt on December 23, 2008
The newspaper Eastside Business is reporting that Boeing Field in Seattle will soon host a new $40 million private aircraft terminal, including an executive terminal and 7 hangars. The 190,000 square foot terminal will occupy 9 acres and house up to 25 jets, and will feature 24 hour a day security. Construction will begin in early 2009.
by Matt on December 1, 2008
A new VIP terminal is now available at Dubai International Airport, according to Zawya.
The new terminal, Executive Flight Center (EFC), has a 3,700 sq meter hangar and a VIP car park.
There is a dedicated immigration and customs sections, e-Gates for quick immigration clearance, a Dubai Duty Free outlet, a fully equipped business/conference center, eight luxury private lounges, an exotic car rental service, and limousine transportation between aircraft and the terminal.
“The terminal’s ramp area can accommodate up to 22 small-sized private jets such as the Lear Jet or Hawker; or between eight to 12 medium sized jets such as the Challenger or Falcon. It can accommodate up to three large sized jets like the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), the 727 or the Airbus 319. “
by Matt on December 1, 2008
Sales of Boeing Business Jets in the Middle East are still strong, despite the recent global economic turbulence.
According to Zawya:
“Orders in the Middle East represent the largest total for BBJ and VIP airplanes at 33 percent, and this region is the principal hub for 747s used by governments, charters and private individuals. All of the current orders for 747-8 VIPs and 70 percent of orders for the larger, longer range BBJ 2s and BBJ 3s represent Middle East buyers. This trend continues with nearly half of orders for 787 VIPs placed in the region.”
The current BBJ backlog for 58 aircraft is worth more than $8 billion U.S.
Zawya also mentions that new lightweight carbon brakes will soon be available for BBJ owners, and there will be a retrofit program available in 2009.
by Matt on November 13, 2008
According to Bloomberg News’ Chan Sue Ling, Embraer’s CEO Frederico Curado says he sees signs of tightening credit for some potential business aircraft buyers, but “so far we have had no direct impact”. Curado stated there was no change in their plan to deliver 215 airplanes by the end of 2008, and no orders have been cancelled, although some deliveries have been postponed.
by Matt on November 13, 2008
Mixed news from Textron, which owns Cessna, has announced an almost 20% decline in 3rd quarter profits and plans layoffs. Glenn Pew, of AVWeb, points out that Textron’s financing division, which finances new and used Cessna business jets, had a 66% decline in profits. However, sales of Cessna business jets during the same time rose. Textron’s stock has lost approximately 80% of its value since December of last year.
Also in AVWeb, Russ Niles relays rosier news from Honeywell which expects record deliveries of business jets to continue for a few more years, but says the market’s peak will most likely occur in 2009 or 2010. Honeywell predicts 17,000 business jets worth $300 billion will be delivered over the next decade.
by Matt on November 12, 2008
Cessna has begun construction on the design and assembly facility for the new Columbus aircraft in Wichita, Kansas.
The mockup for the plane debuted at the recent NBAA show.
Cessna has been busy gathering customer feedback, and has incorporated many of the suggestions into the design, including a more fully developed cockpit and a full-size baggage compartment. The aircraft also features a flight attendant seat, more galley space, new lighting, heated passenger seats, and moveable cup holders.
More about the Columbus:
“Cessna launched the Columbus program earlier this year and holds more than 70 orders for the aircraft, priced at $27 million (2008 price). The Citation Columbus is expected to be the only aircraft in its class capable of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometers) non-stop at Mach .80. Preliminary performance numbers set a maximum cruise speed of 488 knots (904 kilometers per hour, Mach .85), a maximum operating speed of Mach .86, a full fuel payload of 1,950 pounds (886 kilograms) and takeoff field length of 5,400 feet (1,646 meters) at maximum takeoff weight. The Citation Columbus is expected to gain full certification in 2013 and enter service in 2014.”
by Steve on November 12, 2008
Kirby J. Harrison reports that Montreal-based Aviation International Management Services (AIMS) has a new thermal acoustic barrier package called the Silentium Air SPS 360 that can reduce average cabin noise of as much as 5 dB (SIL), (about a 30-percent drop.)
…has been installed and tested in more than 30 business aircraft, from a Learjet 55 to a Boeing Business Jet.
It’s also lighter than a factory-installed standard thermal/acoustic system.
by Matt on November 10, 2008
According to AINOnline, Dassault acknowledges the economic downturn, but says their order book is still solid and they’ve had very few cancellations. In fact, they are still planning on opening a new 40,000 square foot facility in Reno, NV during the first quarter of 2009.
Dassault officials may think, of all business aircraft companies, that they are well positioned during these difficult times:
“With fuel reaching a peak of $150 per barrel earlier this year, it could be said that of all business jet salesmen, Dassault’s are truly in their element. The company’s well-worn assertion that its Falcons are 40 percent more fuel efficient than the competition has never had better traction than now, even if fuel prices have retreated from their summer highs. To put this into perspective, Dassault presented figures showing the 900LX’s fuel cost as $1,660 per hour versus $2,500 per hour for the GIV, a difference of $840, which on the Falcon 900LX pie chart of operating costs covers airframe and engine maintenance and insurance premiums. “
by Matt on October 15, 2008
Aerion has recently finished wind tunnel tests at the European Transonic Wind Tunnel in Germany. The tests involved simulating supersonic laminar flow wing performance at cruising altitude, and were considered successful.
According to Aerion’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Richard Tracy:
“These were historic tests, demonstrating for the first time supersonic natural laminar flow in a wind tunnel on a wing-like model atfull-scale Reynolds numbers,†said Dr. Richard Tracy, Aerion’s Chief Technology Officer, who
supervised the tests.”
From the press release:
“The supersonic natural laminar flow (SNLF) wing is the enabling technology behind the aircraft’s efficiency at both subsonic and supersonic speeds. Where supersonic natural laminar flow exists, drag is reduced by up to 90 percent. ‘It’s almost as if the wing isn’t there,’ said Tracy. The Aerion wing achieves about a 50 percent drag reduction over conventional delta wing supersonic
designs and a total airframe drag reduction of about 20 percent.”