by Matt on November 29, 2011
Abdul Basit of Khaleej Times Online talks about the strength of Boeing in the Middle East in a recent article.
Basit quotes Jeffrey Johnson, president of Boeing Middle East, as saying
“Our legacy in the Middle East goes back more than 65 years, and throughout that time we have earned the trust of our partners and customers here through meaningful collaboration, contributions to the community, and providing the right services at the right time.”
Basit also mentions that “the Middle East represents the largest combined market for BBJs (31 per cent) and Boeing’s wide-body VIP airplanes. Of the 20 orders for the 787 and 747-8 VIP airplanes to-date, 11 have been bought by customers in the region. A regional spares center is located in Dubai, and Boeing is a founding member of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBA).”
by Matt on November 28, 2011
AINOnline’s Thierry Dubois reports that a Dassault Falcon will be the first purpose-built business aircraft to utilize the OnAir on-board cell phone service. The system allows people to use their own cell phones while keeping costs reasonable.
OnAir’s head of VIP, corporate and governmental aircraft, David Bony says:
“For the passenger, nothing changes, and that changes everything. This is different from using a satellite telephone, he pointed out. The passenger can also receive calls on his or her personal cell phone while flying and thus can use the contact directory that it contains.”
by Matt on November 28, 2011
With the current global crisis, business jet manufacturers are increasingly looking to the cash-rich Middle East to buy planes. Daniel Solon of the New York Times writes the “Dubai show is increasingly the must-go place for aviation manufacturers to showcase their hardware.”
For example, the chief exec of Kingdom Holding, Prince Walid bin Talal of Saudi Arabia, will soon be bringing home a new personalized executive version of the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet.
In addition, the Middle East’s first private jet airport, the Al Bateen Executive, can handle jets as big as the Boeing 767 and sports a luxurious VIP lounge. The number of aircraft moving through the airport rose 12% in the June to September quarter from the previous year, with visiting aircraft showing the fastest growth (up 42%). High end luxury planes like the BBJ, made up the bulk of the traffic, about 70%.
by Matt on November 4, 2011
At the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention earlier this month, Boeing Business Jets showcased Deer Jet’s new BBJ. Airlines and Destinations says the Beijing-based company is the largest BBJ operator in China.
The newest BBJ to join Chinese operator Deer Jet’s charter fleet features 28 seats, a bedroom suite and a full-sized bathroom with a shower
The newest BBJ to join Chinese operator Deer Jet’s charter fleet features 28 seats, a bedroom suite and a full-sized bathroom with a shower
The jet’s long range is appealing to buyers in Asia who are looking for long range jets to reach Europe and North America.
by Matt on November 3, 2011
Greenpoint Technologies, a sponsor of this blog, recently announced Greenpoint Aerospace Company (GAC), a startup venture that will focus on goverment and military clients as well as special projects.
Brian Hellings, GAC’s President, has over 35 years’ experience at The Boeing Company and in the U.S. Air Force. Hellings said:
“In today’s fiscally-constrained environment governments demand ingenuity to meet key mission requirements and are actively seeking alternative solutions. Greenpoint Aerospace will continue to build on its strong relationship with The Boeing Company, as well as other key defense contractors.”
by Matt on November 3, 2011
If you’ve got an old plane lying around and you’re not sure what to do with it, here’s one idea – use it to build a house.
Recently, an architect used a whole 747 to build a home that was “feminine, curvy, and eco-friendly” reports Sun Joo Kim for SmartPlanet.
Called the Wing House, the 4,000 square foot home in Malibu, CA features a wing that is over 2,500 square feet and cargo space that makes up 17,000 cubic feet of space.
Architect David Hertz of Studio of Environmental Architecture purchased the plane for $35,000 (the pieces had to be transported by helicopter).
“If you think security lines for traveling are bad, consider the clearance needed to build a house from a decommissioned 747. The permitting process took about 18 months to get approval from 17 government agencies. The permits were mostly for the huge amount of infrastructure work including an access road, but the project’s roof also required registration with the Federal Aviation Administration, so that pilots flying overhead don’t mistake the home for an aircraft crash site”
by Matt on November 1, 2011
ExecuJet Europe is celebrating the 5th anniversary of its Berlin Schonefeld FBO according to Industry Headline News. Able to handle large VIP jets like the BBJ, Airbus Corporate, and Boeing 767, the facility handles 3,000 movements a year.
The Berlin Schönefeld location has a VIP passenger lounge and conference room, a limousine transfer service, and its own fuel trucks.
“Since October last year ExecuJet Europe has increased its European FBO offering from two to nine with the addition of five FBOs in Spain, a partnership FBO in Paris and most recently the announcement at NBAA in October that ExecuJet has won the tender to run the FBO at the UK’s Cambridge Airport, effective January 2012.”
by Matt on October 31, 2011
Even during bleak economic times, Joe Sharkey of the New York Times says, the “top luxury niche is doing well.” With Asia, Brazil and the Middle East driving sales, large cabin, ultra-long-range jets represent 25% of projected sales through 2011.
“…Rob Wilson, the head of Honeywell’s business and general aviation unit, [maintains] a large cabin long-range plane allows a group of managers to travel efficiently and productively.”
“’The last trip I took on a large-cabin jet was over to India — two days in India, then a day in Singapore, two days in China and back home, all in five days,’ he said in an interview.”
by Matt on October 31, 2011
Boeing and Embraer have decided to team together on investigating jet engine biofuel with a Brazilian state-run scientific research foundation says domain-b. Brazil, home to Embraer, is one of the world’s largest sugarcane growers and the second largest producer of ethanol. Boeing is also looking into algae-based biofuel in the Middle East and jatropha in Asia.
Boeing International chief executive Shep Hill said:
“This is not just a gesture. This is a serious investigation in what bio-fuels will be viable for this industry going forward. We chose Brazil because of its strengths in biomass and this type of fuel stock.”
by Matt on October 30, 2011
Greenpoint Technologies, a sponsor of this blog, recently signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for a 747-8 VVIP completion.
Greenpoint’s EVP and President of Denton Facilities Sloan Benson says:
“Over the past three years Greenpoint has added technical talent and infrastructure to accommodate a 747-8 completion. Additionally, we have added several in-house facilities including: VIP cabinetry, Aerostructures facility and CNC 5-axis equipped machine shop to provide dedicated production capability.”
Annika Wicklund, Greenpoint’s Design Manager who is leading the architecture and design creation, adds:
“Materializing a client’s vision is truly satisfying. The 747-8 interior décor is fresh and elegant, infusing the client’s rich heritage. It’s an honor being selected for this highly prestigious program.”
