Buisness aviation news
Despite the slowest start to June in the last 2 years, US bizjet activity remains robust, with activity significantly ahead of comparable June 2019. In contrast, the European summer is looking weaker, with just a 3% foothold over June 5 years ago. The D-Day anniversary lifted business jet arrivals into airports in the Normandy region of France. At the start of the party season in Ibiza there is a noticeable absence of bizjets from France and the United Kingdom.
Bombardier Defense announced that German automobile association, Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC SE), has placed an order for a Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft through its daughter company Aero-Dienst. The aircraft will be configured as a dedicated air ambulance for Aero-Dienst, ADAC’s main aircraft operator, and is scheduled for delivery in 2026. The aircraft will be used to provide medical transportation to ADAC’s customers around the world. With the signing of this agreement, Bombardier Defense continues to expand its footprint in Germany and on the European continent.
Lilium N.V., developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) jet and global pioneer in regional air mobility (RAM), today announced an expansion of its partnership with Luxaviation Group, one of the largest business aircraft and helicopter operators worldwide.
Global bizjet activity was flat in week 22, as it was for the month of May, and is trailing 2023 by just 1%, which very much reflects the mood at EBACE, tending towards normalisation after the turbulence of the post-Covid years. There is a good deal of underlying variability, with Europe a 7% above 2019, demand still hot in the Mediterranean, but tapering well below 2019 levels in Central Europe.
Aero-Dienst GmbH, the Nuremberg full-service provider for business aviation and air ambulance services, will expand its range of maintenance services at Vienna Airport starting at the end of June 2024, when it will begin doing line maintenance for Phenom 300 business jets made by the Brazilian Embraer company.
Textron Aviation announced that the 400th Cessna Citation Latitude business jet has rolled out of production at the company’s factory in Wichita, Kansas, and is expected to be delivered later this year. Employees recognized the milestone with a special celebration at the company’s headquarters in Wichita.
Business aircraft are spending less time for sale than ever before, according to the latest edition of the Pre-Owned Business Jet Market Forecast by Jetcraft, the global leader in business aircraft sales, acquisitions and trades.
This week saw a marked drop-in flight activity in some key geographies, notably California, Germany, Saudi Arabia, China and Morocco. It was notable that the blue riband event for European bizav, the Monaco Grand Prix, drew 15% fewer bizjet visits than in 2019.
Satcom Direct, the business aviation solutions provider, at EBACE 2024, launched a new portfolio of pricing plans for customers equipping the SD Plane Simple Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA). Operators and owners equipping aircraft with the low-profile, advanced technology ESA can choose from several options, including an industry first three-year plan, that offers a fixed monthly fee of US$15,000 with no initial capital outlay.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) published the First Quarter 2024 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report. The results for the first three months of 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, show deliveries were flat for piston airplanes and piston helicopters, decreased for turboprops and turbine helicopters, and increased for business jets. Total aircraft billings were up 3.2% at $4.7 billion.
Jet Aviation announced today that the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has approved the company’s use of automated drone and AI technology for General Visual Inspections (GVIs) by images. The drone inspection can be used to create a full visual record of the entire external surface of the aircraft.
Satcom Direct, the business aviation solutions provider, confirms at EBACE 2024, that Avcon Jet, one of the world’s leading private aviation management companies is the launch customer for the SD Plane Simple Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) Ku-band, flat panel terminal.
The latest week shows stable activity compared to last year, with fractional activity still booming, in contrast to some weaker charter demand, particularly at the light end of the market. Various gala events will see peaks in traffic in Europe in the next few weeks, starting with the Champions League Finals bringing visitors to London airports next week.
Asian Sky Group recently released its "Asia-Pacific Business Jet Fleet Report YE 2023", revealing that as of 2023, the region boasts a total of 1,154 business jets. Despite Greater China's continued dominance in the market, the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have seen a three-year decline, with a total reduction of 19 jets in 2023, reducing the total to 326 jets.
LCI, a leading aviation company, and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited (SMFL), have announced an order for up to 21 of the latest generation helicopters from Airbus.
Satcom Direct, the business aviation solutions provider, has confirmed approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the first Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the SD Plane Simple Ka-band tail mount terminal for a Gulfstream G650. Equipping the Gulfstream GVI-type with the advanced technology represents a significant milestone in the SD Plane Simple antenna series rollout.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has launched the second release of its digital space for the exchange of information on air taxis and drones with a focus on privacy concerns.