Big Business Jet

A380 For Private Buyer

Matt — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:36:33 +0000

The Chronicle Herald reports Airbus is getting ready to deliver the most expensive personal jet, an A380 double-decker jet for Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company. With a price in excess of $500 million:

“The original plans included a garage for two Rolls-Royces, a stable for horses and camels, a pen for hawks and a prayer room that rotates so it always points toward Mecca.”

Selling Business Jets in China

Matt — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:49:02 +0000

Global Travel Industry News predicts the Chinese business jet market is about to take off. Both Airbus and Boeing had recent press conferences where each company expects to sell 5 business jets per year in China. Bombardier also chimed in with projections of total China business jet sales of over 600 units.

From the article:

“This year Boeing is expected to deliver 3 business jets, mainly to VIP charters such as Hainan Airlines, and Air China. Up to now Boeing has sold 195 business jets worldwide. Although only with 8 Boeing jets, China is among the fastest growing regions…Comparatively, Airbus’s business jet marketing in China is much quicker. Among its 170 sets of business jets sold worldwide, China owned 20. This year Airbus has already sold 2 jets to China, to be delivered to DeerJet and Southern Airlines. Last year, Airbus sold 15 business jets worldwide, China took 15%.”

Blackpool Airport Busy for 2012 Open

Matt — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:25:30 +0000

Blackpool Airport in Lancashire, United Kingdom, is expecting to be very busy this coming July as a major golf tournament gets underway says Marielle Roux of Click! Lancashire. Blackpool is the closest airport to the course at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club and, in conjunction with partner Pool Aviation, plans to offer a variety of VIP services, including shuttle transfers to the golf course. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected.

Simon Menzies, Managing Director of Pool Aviation, says:

“We have already begun taking a significant number of bookings for arrival and departure slots before and after The Open including the arrival of a Boeing Business Jet – the biggest business jet of its kind…As we head closer towards the event, we predict that there will be significantly more demand so anyone planning to use our facilities should make enquiries as soon as possible by completing the necessary booking form available online from either Pool Aviation or Blackpool Airport’s websites.”

BBJ Impresses in Shanghai

Matt — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:07:22 +0000

The recent Asian Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in Shanghai featured a 737-700 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) with -800 wings and other longer range modifications. The jet is the second BBJ for a private customer in the United States, and is the first to enter service with Honeywell’s Ovation Select digital connectivity system. Carrying 19 passengers and 7 auxiliary fuel tanks, the aircraft can fly about 12 hours nonstop (plus reserve fuel).

Greenpoint is Hiring

Matt — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:15:41 +0000

Greenpoint Technologies (a sponsor of this blog) is now hiring to meet growing demand and expanded capabilities. After increasing its team by 23% in the past year with 275 total employees companywide.

Greenpoint is currently hiring for the following positions:

Program Manager
Director, Operations
Senior Stress Engineer
Senior Design Engineer for Interiors, Structures and Mechanical Systems
Design Engineer
Manufacturing Engineer

Interested applicants should visit www.greenpnt.com/careers for more information.

Greenpoint Receives Corporate Citizen Award

Matt — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:02:19 +0000

Greenpoint Technologies (a sponsor of this blog) was recently recognized by the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce (WA) as one of 2012′s Best of the Eastside Top Corporate Citizens. The award acknowledges companies who “grow, prosper, and provide a cooperative work environment for top talent” and Greenpoint received it for strong community involvement over the past 24 years and dedication to their employees.

Greenpoint Executive Vice President Sloan Benson said:

“Greenpoint takes great pride in our employees and it’s reflected by our employee-customer relationships. We create a positive culture, instilling accountability and trust with both customers and employees. This approach serves us well by our ability to continually deliver programs on-time.”

Seattle Business Magazine named Greenpoint Technologies as one of Washington’s 100 Best Companies to Work for in 2011.

U.S. Tops in Business Aviation?

Matt — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:05:06 +0000

The world’s biggest provider of bases for business jets, BBA Aviation Plc (BBA), will be spending big in the United States this year says Steve Rothwell for Bloomberg Businessweek. 75% of sales for BBA are in the U.S. market, and CEO Simon Pryce maintains that is because emerging economies do not have the big companies or infrastructure to support extensive use of business jets:

“There are more planes on the ramp at Palm Beach on any given Saturday afternoon than there are in the whole of India and China. We will see lots and lots of growth in India and China and the other emerging markets, but from a very low base…We’re a mature-economy business. You need an economy’s net worth to get to a certain level before you have the right size of company to buy private jets. You also need the right sorts of demographics and geography.”

New Airport Terminals for Business Travelers

Matt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:05:25 +0000

Two new business facilities have opened up at two different airports. Narita will see a new terminal for users of business jets landing at the Tokyo airport by the end of this month. This terminal will be first in the metropolitan area and will have its own lounge, as well as immigration and customs controls. The use fee will be 250,000 yen per arrival.

The Moscow Sheremetievo Airport (SVO) terminal opened last month and is the first for business jet passengers only. The 29,000 sq ft Terminal A can serve up to 75,000 business travelers a year, and features departure and arrival halls, VIP rooms conference hall and a bar with a view.

Jackie Chan Gets a Legacy

Matt — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:43:49 +0000

Jackie Chan has a new toy – an Embraer Legacy 650 with a snazzy dragon paint scheme and Chan’s personal logo on the tail.

Chan said:

“I chose the Legacy 650 because its large three zone cabin, offering incredibly quiet performance and luxury. I am honored to join the Embraer Legacy 650 family of users. I believe that Embraer is poised to become a major player in the Chinese executive jet market and thrilled to fulfill my role as brand ambassador for this great Company.”

Chan’s Legacy 650 is the first to be delivered into China, and Chan will also serve as the official Embraer brand ambassador.

Greenpoint Successfully Tests 747-8 Aeroloft

Matt — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:13:01 +0000

Greenpoint Products and Services (GPS, Greenpoint Technologies is a sponsor of this blog) successfully completed load testing on the 747-8 Aeroloft™ product which withstood loads of 9Gs using 18,000 pounds of lead weight during both flight and abuse load testing.. GPS has four confirmed orders and will start shipping to the installation facility beginning in March 2012. In addition, the company has increased its workforce by 25% over the last few months to meet production deadlines and growing demand.

The Aeroloft^TM is a modular product designed specifically for the Boeing VIP 747-8 aircraft, providing eight private sleeping berths located above the main deck in the aft section of the aircraft. It allows passengers a private rest area adorned with custom designed interior furnishings and a forward entry staircase.

Tim Abuhl, Director of Operations at GPS, said:

“We are very pleased with the results of the test. This is a significant milestone for the company and we look forward to supporting the first installation next month.”

Bret Neely, Vice President of Sales for GPS, adds:

“Our VIP clients required a solution to offer guests a comfortable and relaxing rest area during long, transcontinental flights. The Aeroloft^TM addresses those needs by providing utility, safety, and luxury all in one product.”