Busy Day at EBACE

Today was a busy day for the fax machines (do people still use those?) at the EBACE.

Boeing, Gulfstream, and Hawker picked up large orders this week.

Gulfstream earned an order worth a possible $650 million for 3 G450's and options for 17 more from Saudi Arabia's National Air Services.

Hawker earned an order from NetJets Europe to purchase 32 Hawker 4000's with a total contract value of over $700 million.

Boeing earned orders for 6 BBJ's and one 787-9 VIP jets.

Changes at BusinessJet.com

As long as everyone is in Europe making announcements - we have a few to make about the format of BusinessJet.com. We will be trying to add value to our users by making ourselves a hybrid of the online marketplace and a data aggregator for the business jet industry.

We have changed the format ot the Industry spotlight to allow users to pick interesting news items and go to those sites to read them.

We will also be changing the Welcome section of the website as time permits and we are going to try to add some exciting, interesting, and original features for our users. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Falcon Engine Upgrades

I have been doing some research lately on engibe upgrades for business aircraft (both jets and turboprops). I have been able to find a lot of information about some programs and surprisingly little about others. Some of the companies have great web sites, others have terrible (if any) web sites.

A company with a very good web site and loads of information is 50 Dash 4, LLC which does engine upgrades for the Falcon 50. Their web site is located at www.50dash4.com and provides us with a lot of information regarding the performance increases of the new -4 engines. I have a call in with the company regarding pricing and more information. I will add this information to the blog when it becomes available.

Kentucky Derby

This weekend I had some time to chat with Russell Smith, a Falcon 20 pilot, and Chief Pilot for Flying Investments, LLC out of Fayetville, Arkansas. Russell and I (along with a local business owner) were able to talk about a variety of subjects. One area of interest that we spoke about was about whether an re-engine was a good idea on an older airframe. After talking with Russell, I am going to do some more digging and research and see what I can come up with.

The Kentucky Derby this year was wonderful. The weather on Friday for the Oaks was a little rainy and Saturday started out a little damp also. But by late afternoon on Friday, the weather was great. Watching Street Sense come from 19th to 1st was amazing but I had more fun watching the airplanes than I did the horses.

We have given some consideration to having a BusinessJet.com Derby Eve party or meet and greet for any of our users who happen to be at the Derby next year. If anyone is interested in attending, please let us know.

Cessna Delivers First Citation Encore+

Wichita, Kan., May 1, 2007 – Cessna Aircraft Company last week delivered the first Citation Encore+ to an undisclosed customer. The seven- to eleven-passenger Encore+ succeeds the Encore, offering FADEC (Full Authority Digital Electronic Control) equipped engines, increased payload capability, a new integrated avionics suite, more standard equipment, and new interior styling features.

Propulsion for the Encore+ is generated by two dual-channel FADEC equipped PW535B engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada, a United Technologies company (NYSE:UTX). FADEC provides reduced pilot workload, optimum engine efficiency, intelligent health monitoring and diagnostics capability, and enhanced reliability due to the dual channel redundancy.

An increase in the gross weight resulted in a full-fuel payload of 1,170 pounds, 340 pounds more than the original Encore. This enhancement in the Encore+ also increases the range significantly with higher passenger loads.

The integrated Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite supplies the Encore+ with many of the same features as the Citation CJ3 and CJ1+ and CJ2+. The heart of the integration resides in the File Server Unit (FSU) serving as a portal to display electronic charting, graphical weather, and enhanced mapping in the cockpit.
Flight data is presented on three 8-inch by 10-inch active matrix color liquid crystal displays –two Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and one enhanced Multi-Function Display (MFD).

Other integrated avionics features include Pro Line 21 Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) radios and Collins FMS-3000 with performance database. The Encore+ is equipped with standard Terrain Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II), Mark VIII Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), and XM Broadcast Graphical Weather including Next Generation Doppler Radar (NEXRAD) information, Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METARs), and textual Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF).

Cessna achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification (TC) for the Encore+ on December 21, 2006, meeting its Q4 timeline goal. Takeoff distance was certified as 3,520 feet, time to climb to 45,000 feet as 27 minutes, range (with NBAA IFR reserves) as 1,780 nautical miles, and maximum true airspeed as 428 knots (nearly 500 miles per hour).

Take You Kid To Work Day!

Ferry Flights International has some interesting pictures on their website. Looks like these guys are some of the best in the business at moving planes from point A to Point B in a professional and timely manner. They also appear to have a wonderful sense of humor. I'm going to try to get in touch with these guys and maybe relay a story or two on slow news days.

GULFSTREAM DELIVERS 150TH G200 BUSINESS JET

SAVANNAH , Ga. , April 26, 2007 – Gulfstream Aerospace delivered its 150th Gulfstream G200 business jet today. The large-cabin, mid-range G200 is one of six business jets – at varying size, price and performance points – offered by Gulfstream.

“With more than 200,000 flight hours accumulated, the G200 fleet has established a proven track record in terms of performance, quality and reliability,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. “We will continue our effort to improve the G200’s already best-in-class dispatch reliability, which has now reached 99.75 percent.”

Since Gulfstream acquired the G200 product line in 2001, the company has made significant improvements to it. Within the first year, Gulfstream redesigned the G200’s interior, reducing the aircraft’s weight by some 600 pounds. In 2004, Gulfstream began offering installations of Safe Flight’s Enhanced AutoPower® automatic throttle system (ATS). Also in 2004, the G200 received type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. In February 2005, Gulfstream began offering high-speed Internet in-flight capability.

To optimize the reliability of each G200 aircraft, Gulfstream has packaged several aircraft service bulletins into its G200 Short Term Enhancement Programs (STEPs). Under the latest program, STEP IV, G200 aircraft coming into a Gulfstream Service Center , a General Dynamics Aviation Services facility or Gulfstream Authorized Warranty Center for routine maintenance can also have a number of reliability-enhancing maintenance activities performed during the visit.

Gulfstream has also made strides in G200 maintainability. In August 2006, Gulfstream published details of the new version of its G200 MSG-3 scheduled maintenance program. The new MSG-3 program significantly reduces the number of required scheduled maintenance tasks while retaining the highest level of safety standards as defined by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). In addition, maintenance inspection intervals have been increased from 300 to 500 flight hours, thus improving aircraft availability for G200 operators.

The Gulfstream G200 was the first of the new generation of super mid-size business-jet aircraft to enter service.It offers the longest range, the largest cabin and the best balanced overall performance among its competitors. In addition, G200 can fly 3,400 nautical miles nonstop and is capable of reaching speeds of up to .85 Mach.