Tag Archives: #businessaviation

  • 21
    Aug 24
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Boeing grounds B777X test fleet over structural issues

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Boeing (BOE, Washington National) has grounded its B777-9 testbed fleet after a routine post-flight inspection revealed the failure of a piece of the structure that mounts the engine to the aircraft, The Air Current reported on August 19 and the manufacturer subsequently confirmed to ch-aviation.

“During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed. Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready,” Boeing told ch-aviation.

The impacted part is a structural component between the engine and the central structure, custom-made for the B777-9. Each engine has two parts of this component. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Boeing had informed it of the discovery of a damaged component following a flight test last week, adding that the manufacturer was taking steps to assess the problem.

The Air Current reported that the issue was discovered on N779XY (msn 65799), Boeing’s third test aircraft. Subsequent inspections on other test aircraft of the type revealed cracks in the thrust link structure.

ADS-B data shows N779XY last operated a five-hour flight in Hawaii, departing and landing at Kona. No near-term flight tests have been planned on the other testbed widebodies, which have scheduled maintenance and layup activities, ch-aviation understands.

Boeing received the type inspection authorisation (TIA) for the B777-9 in July 2024 and began certification flight testing with FAA personnel onboard the aircraft, the company revealed in its second-quarter investors call. The manufacturer still expects the first delivery of the type to take place in 2025.

Boeing has received orders for 383 B777-9s, with Emirates being the largest customer (expecting 170 aircraft of the type). Other customers include ANA – All Nippon Airways, Air India, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

  • 16
    Aug 24
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Textron Aviation Delivers 400th Cessna Citation Latitude

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Simmons Foods accepted the milestone delivery

Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Latitude has hit a key milestone with the handing over of the 400th to Simmons Foods, a long-time Citation customer. The landmark delivery comes less than a decade after the midsize jet was certified in 2015.

Simmons Foods—a Siloam Springs, Arkansas-based, family-owned and -operated company since 1949—is adding the Latitude to its existing fleet of three Citations. The company uses the jets to manage operations across multiple locations, Textron Aviation said.

“Over the years, we’ve found that Citation jets mean business in every way. Our fleet of Citations has significantly enhanced our company’s operational capabilities, allowing us to serve our customers, employees, and farmers more effectively,” said Simmons Foods CEO Todd Simmons. “The Latitude’s performance and reliability are a natural fit for our business.”

The flat-floor, nine-passenger business jet has a 2,700-nm range, capable of flying nonstop between destinations such as New York and Los Angeles or Vancouver and Guatemala City.

“This milestone not only reinforces the Latitude’s status as the leader in the midsize jet segment but also underscores our commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, setting new standards for comfort, efficiency, and performance in the aviation industry,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior v-p of global sales and flight operations at Textron Aviation.

  • 16
    Aug 24
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Gulfstream Aerospace Begins G400 Flight-test Program

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Large-cabin jet was announced in 2021

Gulfstream has officially begun the flight test program for its G400, successfully completing its first flight tearlier today. The large-cabin twinjet departed Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) at 9:04 a.m. and returned just under three hours later having reached a top speed of Mach 0.85 and an altitude of 41,000 feet. The flight was conducted using the manufacturer’s supply of blended sustainable aviation fuel.

The G400 was announced in 2021, along with the ultra-long-range G800, in a move that expanded the airframer’s product lineup to six models. Powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812GA engines, the G400 will be able to fly 4,200 nm at Mach 0.85. It features the advanced high-speed wing and winglet design as used by its G500 and G600 siblings, along with the Symmetry flight deck and predictive landing performance system.

Prospective customers can view full-scale cabin mockups of the airplane—which can seat up to 12 passengers—by visiting the OEM’s showroom at its Savannah headquarters or the company’s sales and design center in Los Angeles.

“The completion of the first flight marks a significant milestone for the G400,” said Gulfstream Aerospace president Mark Burns. “It demonstrates, yet again, the maturity of Gulfstream’s new aircraft programs and the advantages created by the intentionally designed commonalities shared across our next-generation fleet.”

  • 14
    Aug 24
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Air Baltic converts options for A220s to boost order

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Latvian carrier Air Baltic has converted options to firm orders for 10 additional Airbus A220 airliners, bringing the total now on order to 90.

Air Baltic has now placed four orders for the A220 which has proved to suit the airline’s operations.

The airline now operates an all A220 fleet and was the launch customer for the A220-300.

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic, said: “For the first time in the company’s history, airBaltic plans to operate a fleet of close to 100 A220-300 aircraft, and these exercised options are the next step in the right direction.

“Over the years, this aircraft type has proven its operational capabilities and value – it has been the backbone of our operations and has played an integral role in the international success story of airBaltic.

“By exercising these options, we are strengthening our unwavering support and trust in the A220 Programme and are looking forward to our fleet expansion over the upcoming years.”

The A220 is a single-aisle airliner designed to carry between 120 and 150 passengers, making it ideal for flights up to 3,600nm as well as regional and domestic routes.

Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft business, added: “We are honored and thankful that airBaltic is placing its fourth follow-up order. This latest agreement from Latvia’s flag carrier is a strong endorsement of  the superior value and operational opportunities offered by this latest generation aircraft.

“The A220 is quite simply the most efficient aircraft in its size category, with a spacious cabin driving the best Net Promoter Scores with passengers wherever it is operated, and the range capability to fly non-stop to any destination on the carrier’s current network and beyond.”

As well as offering a 25% lower fuel burn than previous generation aircraft in this class, the A220 can operate on 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) helping to reduce Air Baltic’s carbon footprint. Airbus aims to be able to operate the A220 on 100% SAF by 2030.

  • 09
    Aug 24
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Versatile Cessna Caravan Embodies Aviation in Brazil

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Turboprop single is a workhorse in Latin America

Two Cessna Caravans on display this week at LABACE 2024 illustrate Textron Aviation’s long relationship with Brazil and how varied the business aviation market is.

Caravan serial number 50—displayed by Azul Conecta, a feeder for Azul Airlines—is one of at least 26 of the utility turboprop singles that make Azul the country’s largest Caravan operator. With 35,000 flight hours and a new digital cockpit, this airplane is in an executive configuration with only six seats.

Meanwhile, at the stand of TAM Aviação Executiva, Textron Aviation’s Brazilian distributor, a modern Grand Caravan EX is being shown in an executive configuration, but with a far greater level of luxury.

Marcelo Moreira, who leads Textron Aviation’s sales for Latin America and the U.S. West Coast, said many airlines around the world fly Caravans besides Azul, including Suzy Air in Indonesia, CTA in Brazil, Sansa, Costa Rica Green Airways, and Maya Island Air in Belize. But, he noted, “Azul is exploring the [Caravan’s] capacity very well, its ability to operate on unimproved runways and to reach smaller cities.”

Moreira gave other examples of the Caravan’s versatility and ability to perform special missions. A number of customers use amphibious Caravans in the Amazon “for many kinds of missions, such as sports fishing and ecotourism.” He said there are several large operators in Africa, where the Caravan is popular for cargo.

“It’s easy to operate, to maintain, and to fly,” Moreira said, “and also the choice of a lot of humanitarian organizations, such as Mission Aviation Fellowship.”

Moreira’s Latin American sales region includes Mexico, the Caribbean, and all of South America. Besides the versatile Caravan, his sales domain includes King Air turboprop twins and Citation twinjets.

Textron’s relationship with Brazil goes back many years, “and with time comes experience,” he said. The 43-year partnership with TAM AE goes back to when it was TAM, starting with founder Rolim Adolfo Amaro. Any visitor can see Rolim’s bust outside TAM AE’s flagship FBO at Congonhas, but Moreira can point out where his office was in the building known as Hangar 1.

According to Moreira, Textron Aviation maintains a full-time presence in São Paulo “inside TAM, but a separate office.” He said the turboprops and Citations “have done well in Brazil for more than 50 years.”

Looking to the future, he foresees a strong market for the company’s Beechcraft Denali, a pressurized turboprop single expected to be certified next year. It will complement the King Air, he said.

Moreira made another prediction for the future: Textron Aviation will continue for many years at LABACE.

  • 07
    Aug 24
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Air Serbia plans further fleet growth

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Air Serbia plans to further grow its fleet in 2025 with the carrier expected to add seven aircraft this year alone. Speaking to Euronews Serbia, Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said, “Logically with the growth in passenger numbers and the network, the fleet will grow as well. Over the past two years we completely renewed our ATR fleet and this year a further three joined so now we have ten ATR72-600s. Currently, we have two Embraer E195s in Belgrade, and we are waiting for some administrative procedures to be completed in order for them to begin commercial operations as well. We will also add two wide-body aircraft. One A330-200 is currently in Lisbon in the delivery process. We think it will be in Belgrade within August. Another one will come in October or November, depending on the maintenance. We will continue growing our fleet next year, but I won’t share in which segment”.

According to the CEO, the carrier’s existing ten-member ATR72-600 fleet is big enough to meet its current needs for regional operations. The carrier will look to further grow the number of Embraer jets, in addition to the incoming two, while it plans to replace existing Airbus A319s with A320s once their lease agreements come to an end. Mr Marek did not want to put a limit on the number of aircraft the airline may have. He noted, “I don’t want to stick to any number because the fleet is constantly growing. Saying a number might cause confusion. Currently we have 25 aircraft in the fleet, we will have 27 and soon we hope 29”.

In addition to its own fleet, Air Serbia currently has three wet-lease partners providing the airline with its aircraft and crew. These include four A320s operated by GetJet Airlines. From time to time, depending on operational needs, the A320s may be exchanged with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Fly2Sky operates one A320 on Air Serbia’s behalf, while Bulgaria Air wet-leases two of its E190 jets. Mr Marek recently noted, “If you look across Europe, wet-leasing has become inevitable for the time being. We are sometimes criticised that we are using too much wet-leased capacity. It is something that we would not like to do, but it is what it is at the moment due to the state of the industry. We are working hard to be able to have sufficient capacity to grow on our own”.

  • 02
    Aug 24
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Archer’s eVTOL Aircraft Factory Takes Shape in Georgia

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The start-up aims to produce 650 of the four-passenger Midnight vehicle each year

Archer Aviation has erected the walls of a 400,000-sq-ft factory in Covington, Georgia, where the Silicon Valley-based aircraft developer plans to mass-produce its four-passenger Midnight eVTOL air taxi. According to Archer, construction is on track for completion by the end of this year. 

In a statement issued July 31, Archer said it completed the first build phase, involving grading and foundation work, earlier this year. Phase two, the construction of the facility’s exterior walls and roof, is “nearing completion,” the company said. It is working towards completing FAA type certification in time for commercial operations to begin in 2025.

Located at Covington Municipal Airport some 40 miles east of Atlanta, the high-volume manufacturing facility will initially target a production rate of 650 Midnight aircraft per year. Eventually the company hopes to more than double the factory’s floorspace and ramp up production rates to around 2,300 aircraft per year. 

To help it achieve these ambitious and unprecedented production rates, Archer has partnered with European automotive group Stellantis, which formed in 2021 from the merger between carmakers Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot. Stellantis is also a major investor in Archer and has agreed to provide the company with up to $150 million in equity financing.

Thanks to the hard work of the Archer and Stellantis teams, we’re tracking towards completing this manufacturing facility by the end of the year,” said Archer founder and CEO Adam Goldstein. “Once complete, we’ll focus on ramping production up to 650 aircraft a year—our goal is to be the first in the eVTOL industry to achieve scaled manufacturing.” 

Last week Archer showed off an example of the Midnight aircraft to a group of government officials in a special event held at Atlantic Aviation’s new FBO at DeKalb–Peachtree Municipal Airport near Atlanta.

  • 26
    Jul 24
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Korean Air commits to 50 Boeing widebodies

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On the first day of the Farnborough Airshow, Korean Air signed a letter of intent (LoI) to purchase 50 Boeing wide-body airlines including the Boeing 777-9 (777X).

The deal will see Korean Air expand its fleet to meet market demand on its European and North American routes with 20 Boeing 777-9s, 20 Boeing 787-10s and the option for 10 more 787s.

“The addition of the Boeing 777-9 and 787-10 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our strategic objective to expand and upgrade our fleet,” said Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air. “This investment underscores our commitment to providing a best-in-class flying experience. These new airplanes will elevate passenger comfort and enhance operational efficiency, while significantly reducing carbon emissions, supporting our long-term commitment to sustainable aviation.”

In a two-class configuration, the Boeing 777-9 can carry up to 426 passengers with a range of 7,285nm making it ideal for the ultra-long-haul market from Asia. The 787-10, the largest Dreamliner variant, can carry up to 336 passengers with a range of 6,330nm.

“We are honored Korean Air has selected our largest, most efficient widebody airplanes to add capacity to its global network,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Boeing airplanes have played an integral role with Korean Air over the past 50 years, and the 777X and 787 Dreamliner will continue to support the airline’s long-term goals for sustainability and continued growth.”

  • 25
    Jul 24
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Japan Airlines orders 31 aircraft from Airbus

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Japan Airlines has placed an order with Airbus for 31 airliners in a deal announced at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. The deal is made up of 20 wide-body Airbus A350-900 and 11 single-aisle A321neo airliners.

The A350s will join Japan Airlines’ international network while the A321s will serve Japan’s busy domestic market.

Executive Officer and Senior Vice President Procurement of Japan Airlines Yukio Nakagawa said: “We are delighted to have signed the firm order for the introduction of additional A350s and new A321s. We will accelerate the introduction of the state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient aircraft to provide our passengers with excellent service and to reduce CO₂ emissions. We believe that this additional introduction of Airbus aircraft will further deepen our partnership.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Aircraft business, Airbus, Christian Scherer added: “We thank Japan Airlines for placing its confidence once again in the A350. In addition, we celebrate a new milestone in our partnership with the airline following its order for the A321neo. We are committed to providing our full support to Japan Airlines as its growing fleet is deployed on more routes across its network, both domestically and internationally.”

Both the A350 and A320 family aircraft have proved popular in Asia thanks to the increases in efficiency they bring. The A350 in particular is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and the long-range leader in the 300-410 seater category and its all-new design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort.

  • 24
    Jul 24
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Boeing scores big on day one of Farnborough International Airshow 2024

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Boeing has come out as the big winner on Day one of the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 with multiple orders being announced.

As previously reported, National Airlines and Korean Air placed orders for 777 freighters and wide-body airliners respectively early in the day but this was followed a raft of orders from other airlines.

Luxembourg-based carrier Luxair placed an order for four Boeing 737 Max jets choosing the largest Max 10 models for its fleet expansion.

“The purchase of the 737-10 is another step towards Luxair positioning for its future with the investment in the latest airplane technology that will support Luxair’s growth plans and the decarbonization of our fleet. There is high commonality between the 737 MAX models, and this allows for significant operational savings for the airline,” said Gilles Feith, Luxair CEO.

This was followed shortly after by an order for 20 more Boeing 787 Dreamliners for Japan Airlines as part of their fleet modernisation programme. The airline has selected the mid-sized -9 model representing the balance between range and efficiency.

“We are delighted to announce the addition of 787 Dreamliners to our fleet. This order underscores our commitment to accelerating the introduction of the modern and more fuel-efficient aircraft to deliver unparalleled service to our customers and further reduce CO₂ emissions. We greatly appreciate the strong relationship and support from Boeing, which has been instrumental in our efforts to modernize our fleet and expand our international routes,” said Yukio Nakagawa, JAL Executive Officer of Procurement.

Boeing also announced a new licensing deal with Lufthansa Technik for cabin modifications on Boeing 787 Dreamliners as an MRO provider expanding on previous agreements.

“We are pleased to bring additional interior modification capacity to 787 owners and operators by designating Lufthansa Technik as a Boeing Licensed Service Center. Through this novel collaboration, customers will benefit from Lufthansa Technik’s decades of MRO experience, and familiarity with the 787 platform,” said Doug Backhus, vice president of Boeing Cabins, Modifications and Maintenance.

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