http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/index.html en-us Copyright 2008 AVweb. All rights Reserved. editor@avweb.com webmaster@iproduction.com 1000Thu, 08 May 2008 05:01:15 CDT 1000Thu, 08 May 2008 05:01:15 CDT IPS - www.iproduction.com Today in the AVweb Insider, Editor-in-Chief Russ Niles reminds us that it would be easy to pat ourselves on the back for "predicting" DayJet's scaling back of operations — but it may serve everyone better in the long run if we look at what's still viable about the air taxi business (even if it isn't setting the world on fire as fast as some proponents would have hoped). http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/AVwebInsiderBlog_DayJet_GlimmerOfHope_197809-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Flexjet, the fractional arm of Bombardier Aerospace, says its appealing to the penny-pinching side of today's noveau riche by pitching private jet travel as a productivity tool. The company has started a new ad campaign aimed at the recently rich, most of whom grew up with meat and potatoes on the table and a Chevy (or Toyota) in the driveway. "Veering from the standard course of industry marketing, Flexjet's new multi-million dollar advertising campaign identifies private jets as tools that enhance productivity and quality of life, not glamorous toys for the rich," the company said in a news release. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_FlexJet_SaysBizJetsAreToolsNotToys_197804-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The Phenom 100 got a frosty reception on its first trip to the U.S. but that was the whole idea. The fourth prototype of the very light jet underwent the critical cold soak test at Florida's Elgin Air Force Base's climate laboratory last month and the company says it came through just fine. In the test, the aircraft is put in the cold chamber at -40 degrees for 12 hours and then engineers start the engines, light up the panel, open and close the door and a myriad of other tests to make sure it will function in extreme cold. The cold soak is part of the aircraft's "maturity campaign" which essentially gives the jet a real-life going over. Embraer says the jet's development remains on schedule. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Embraer_Phenom100_PassesColdTest_197803-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Cessna flew its CJ4 prototype for the first time on Monday and by all accounts it went well. It was an outstanding first flight," said test pilot Dan Morris, who flew the aircraft with engineering flight test manager Dave Bonifield as co-pilot. "We tested quite a number of the systems on the aircraft, including the autopilot, and all performed very well." The flight lasted two hours and 22 minutes and onboard telemetry sent systems data to Cessna's engineering facility. Two more test articles are under construction at the company's Pawnee Advanced Engineering facility in Wichita. The CJ4 is a beefier and technologically advanced progression of the CJ3. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Cessna_CJ4Prototype_FirstFlight_197802-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The hundreds of titles of technical and training manuals produced by industry leader Jeppesen are now available for download into your computer from AVweb Bookstore. The AVweb Bookstore is among the retail aviation book catalogs operated by the Aircraft Technical Book Company. President Andy Gold told AVweb in a podcast interview that e-books are a burgeoning segment of the market now that copyright and duplication issues have been resolved and he expects the PDF downloads to be available for most of his titles by the end of the year. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_AVwebBookstore_Jeppesen_eBooks_197801-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The Senate has defeated a "cloture" motion that would have limited debate on its FAA Reauthorization bill. A successful cloture motion would have significantly speeded up the discussion on the debate but with all the controversy surrounding the FAA these days, that was probably unrealistic. Members on both sides of the aisle were lining up to offer their amendments, ranging from airspace restructuring to the availability of peanuts on airliners, and enough of them insisted on being heard that the hurry-up motion was defeated. Aviation leaders were particularly anxious to see the current version of the bill passed quickly because it does not contain user fees as a method to fund air traffic control modernization. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_FAAReauthorizatonBill_NoEarlyResolution_NoCloture_197800-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS DayJet has cut its fleet by more than half and its staff by more than a third as it scales back operations in the absence of capital to fund expansion. DayJet founder and CEO Ed Iacobucci told AVweb on Tuesday the company needs about $50 million to essentially triple its current size to achieve the "critical mass" necessary to be profitable. DayJet operates out of 11 "Dayport" hubs and flies to more than 30 destinations. Iacobucci said they need 20 to 30 hubs and up to 50 aircraft to start making money and they've been unable to find investors because of the tight market. As a result, staff has been trimmed by 100 to 160 and the company is selling or leasing 16 of its 28 Eclipse 500s "to minimize the loss." But Iacobucci said he predicts the company will find the money it needs and the expansion will take place within a year. "Keep watching us because you're going to see a lot of development," he said. "The model works." Iacobucci also downplayed the impact of the decision on Eclipse, which lists DayJet as its largest customer, with more than 1,400 aircraft reserved. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_DayJet_CutsJets_CutsStaff_197799-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Start-up air taxi operator Dayjet has announced it will "scale back" its immediate growth plans and lay off employees in all areas of its operations. In an email release today, company founder and CEO Ed Iacobucci did not detail the numbers of people let go. Iacobucci blamed weak capital markets and not the company's early performance for the decision. He said expanding the company to the point of profitability would require a $40 million capital infusion and he apparently couldn't find that money. "I won't dwell on this point, but suffice it to say that given the current state of the U.S. capital markets, the timing of our planned financing could not have been worse," he said. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_DayJet_Layoffs_197792-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved the retrofit of any of Gulfstream’s in-production large-cabin aircraft with its new Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD). The approval applies to G550, G500, G450 and G350 aircraft operated from European Union countries. The system is a available as a factory option on new aircraft and will come standard on Gulfstream’s new flagship, the 650. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/GulfstreamSyntheticVisionRetrofitApprovedInEurope_197756-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The Massachusetts House has voted to end a sales tax exemption for aircraft and parts but the State Senate is not similarly inclined. The House voted 87 to 67 against a budget amendment that would have preserved the exemption from the five percent tax that applies to almost everything else in Massachusetts. Cutting the exemption would add about $7 million a year to state coffers, assuming the same level of business activity was maintained, something opponents said won’t happen. Senate President Therese Murray, a Democrat from Plymouth, favors maintaining the exemption, saying eliminating it would push aircraft business to the neighboring states of New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York and Connecticut that all exempt aircraft and parts from tax. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/MassachusettsMayEndAircraftTaxExemption_197755-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The chairman of Aero Toy Store, one of the largest business aircraft dealers in the world, says the U.S. no longer calls the tune in the bizjet market. “Five years ago our business was 100 percent in the U.S,” Steve McMillan told the Financial Times Now it is 75 percent outside the U.S. We used to track our business directly against American corporate profitability. Now that is only one factor, our sales are much more closely related to the number of billionaires in the world. It is an almost exact match.” McMillan was interviewed about news his company is planning an expansion to Monaco to be closer to its customers. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/USCorporateInfluenceOnBizjetMarketFading_197754-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Embraer announced Tuesday that the prototype of its Phenom 300 light business jet flew for the first time from the company’s Gaviao Peixoto plant. Three more test articles are under construction and will be used in the 1,400-hour certification test regime. The first production models are scheduled to enter service in the second quarter of 2009. “This first flight of the Phenom 300 executive jet is a very special and historic moment for all of us at Embraer…,” said CEO Frederico Fleury Curado “We unveiled the Phenom jets nearly three years ago, making a clear statement to the business aviation community of our commitment to becoming a long-term player in the executive aviation market. (Click through for a video of the first flight.) http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/FirstPhenom300Flies_197753-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS After a breakthrough on the major logjam that was stalling passage of the FAA reauthorization bill in the Senate last week, it seems like members on both sides of the aisle are now anxious to chip in their changes. While it doesn’t seem likely that any type of user fee amendment is waiting in the wings, the long list of proposed changes—ranging from a suggestion to ban peanuts on commercial airliners (allergy concerns) to equipage of helicopters with terrain and traffic awareness systems—seems destined to delay a vote on the bill until at least Thursday. As AVweb reported Monday, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the aviation subcommittee and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) chairman of the finance committee agreed last Friday to scrap a proposal to impose a $25 per leg user fee on turbine-powered noncommercial aircraft. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/SenatorsLineUpToAmendFAABill_197752-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Bombardier is apparently looking to capitalize on the auto industry’s experience in global supply chains in its latest executive appointment. Guy Hachey has been tapped as president and chief operating officer of the company’s aerospace division after more than 30 years with General Motors and its bankrupt spinoff Delphi Corp. "He has no aerospace experience, but he is from the very competitive automotive industry," Bombardier Aerospace spokesman Marc Duchesne told The Globe and Mail. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BombardierTapsAutoIndustryForPresident_197704-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The U.S. exported aircraft and related aerospace goods worth more than $97 billion in 2007, a hefty 14-percent increase over the previous year’s total of $85 billion and a rare bright spot in the U.S. economy. "Airlines from around the world are stocking up on U.S. aircraft because of growing demand in both emerging and established markets," Marion Blakey, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, said. "This is a very hot market despite economic uncertainty." The AIA deals mainly with airline-related business but GA manufacturers have been reporting major increases in sales in many of the same markets that are creating the boom for airliners. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/AerospaceExportsHitRecord_197703-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS If you needed further proof (besides the funky engine configuration) that Honda is approaching its entry into the aviation industry a little differently than most start-ups, consider the news from Albany, N.Y. Before the first HondaJets roll off the Greensboro, N.C., assembly line sometime in 2010, a network of five full-service dealerships, with maintenance and repair facilities, will be ready to receive them. Earlier this week, HondaJet East announced that the key Northeastern market will be served from a new facility to be built at Albany International Airport. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/HondaJetDealershipForAlbany_197702-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Eclipse Aviation has subpoenaed Google (PDF) to provide the IP addresses of some commenters to a blog site called Eclipse Aviation Critic NG (hosted by Google) that purports to carry “inside” information on Eclipse and also carries commentary critical of the company and the Eclipse 500. Eclipse spokeswoman Alana McCarraher declined comment about the action, but the current operator of the site, Shane Price, of Dublin, Ireland, says he’s both thrilled by the move and “feeling left out” because he isn’t personally named (although that could be because he uses his real name on the blog and is therefore easy to find). In an e-mail to Price, Google said it intends to hand over the IP address information if it doesn’t get notice that the commenters intend to fight the action by May 9. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/EclipseWantsIdentitiesOfBlogCritics_197701-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The European Aviation Safety Agency may put very light jets through additional scrutiny, adapting requirements beyond those of basic certification and addressing an aircraft's specific performance envelope and complexity, according to Flight International. Considering that the Eclipse 500 VLJ can cruise at 41,000 feet, but has no spoilers to facilitate an emergency descent, EASA has suggested that it may devise regulatory requirements to address that and other issues -- regardless of the 500's (or another given aircraft model's) acceptance by the FAA. Such requirements may include tougher testing for software or hardware used in advanced heavily integrated avionics suites often found aboard VLJ designs, tougher checks for backup electrical power, and perhaps a requirement for demonstration of more precise navigational capability that may include a requirement for Mode S transponders. Eclipse is hoping for EASA certification of its Eclipse 500 by late 2009. EASA seems to be setting the stage for the potential introduction of some additional hurdles. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/EASE_VLJ_Certification_197688-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's administration wants the state's legislature to provide Bombardier Aerospace with up to $40 million each year for the next 22 years ($880 million in sum) if the company builds a $375 million assembly plant near Kansas City International Airport. Once the facility begins producing Bombardier's new CSeries of 110-seat and 130-seat airliners, the state expects to recoup its money. Tuesday, the bill that carries the plan passed the state's Senate with a 140-8 vote and moved to the House. Currently, the depressed value of the U.S. dollar works in Missouri's favor, making the location more attractive to Bombardier. The potential 2,000 jobs offering average salaries near $55,000 makes Bombardier more attractive to Missouri. Still, Missouri must beat out Bombardier's own Canada for the deal, and the projected repayment schedule has yet to be released. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/Bombardier_Missouri_Blunt_197683-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Russia's Illyushin Finance Co. has announced it is developing a business jet version of the An-148 regional jet. The An-148 is a high-wing RJ with a cruise of about 450 knots. It's built by Antonov in Ukraine and can seat up to 70 passengers in airline configuration. As a bizjet, it will seat 19 in the luxury configuration and 38 as a corporate shuttle. It will have a range of about 4,000 nm with eight pax. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_AntonovBasedBizJet_An148_197660-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS While most of the emphasis has been on the red-hot business jet market, high fuel prices have shifted some attention to the turboprop sector and Hawker Beechcraft apparently had the right product at the right time with the new King Air B200GT. With a cruise speed of more than 300 knots (not much lower than some small jets) and the cavernous cabin that offers stand-up luxury available only in the larger bizjets. The B200GT was certified near the beginning of the year and already 40 have been delivered. (Click through for video from Sun 'n Fun.) http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_NewKingAir_RackingUpSales_197659-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Honeywell says it's inked one of its biggest deals ever, a $23 billion contract to supply 1,200 HTF7000-E engines to Embraer for its new midsized jet, now named the MSJ and midlight jet (MLJ). The first of the engines will be delivered in 2011 and the contract, which includes maintenance, will run for 20 to 25 years. The company recently announced a $3 billion deal for avionics for the new Gulfstream G650. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Honeywell_BigWinner_EmbraerDeal_197658-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Expect more detail from Embraer on its newly-announced mid-light jet (MLJ) and midsize jet (MSJ) models at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in May. Embraer was displaying scale model of the 10-12-passenger MSJ at Sun 'n Fun 2008. The company held a news conference at Sun 'n Fun to announce the formal approval by the Embraer board to proceed with development of the new aircraft. (Click through for video from Sun 'n Fun.) http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Embraer_CelebratesNewModels_197657-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS The Pilatus PC-12, a well-respected workhorse, has been given a 21st century makeover. The company displayed an example of its next generation model that was certified days before Sun 'n Fun 2008 opened in Lakeland, Fla. The biggest change is installation of a Honewell Primus Apex glass panel, a variation of the Honeywell system found in large business jets and is the base system for Gulfstream's Planeview. Pilatus spokesman Mike Haenggi said the version used in the PC-12NG is optimized for single pilot operation. The latest PC-12 also gets more power. (Click through for video of Haenggi at Sun 'n Fun.) http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Pilatus_NexGeneration_PC12_197656-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS While the big news out of Sun 'n Fun for Cessna's jet line was the integration of synthetic vision in the Garmin G1000 suite, company officials were also celebrating a sales milestone. According to spokeswoman Pia Bergqvist, firm orders for the "entry-level" jet have topped 500 and there are more than 60 in service. The fleet, which marked its first delivery almost exactly a year ago, has now racked up 10,500 hours. Cessna calls it "the only fully operational entry-level business jet available," and says it's ready to ramp up production. (Click through for video of Bergqvist at Sun 'n Fun.) http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_CessnaMustang_OrdersTop500_197655-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Embraer rolled out the first Phenom 300 light jet and ground testing will begin shortly in advance of its first flight. Work has already begun on the second Phenom 300. "We are thrilled to see the Phenom 300 become a reality," said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. "The Phenom 300... will set a new standard for the light jet category." The 300 was rolled out 10 months after the smaller Phenom 100 was completed. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Embraer_RollsOut_Phenom300_197654-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines have agreed to merge in a no-cash deal that trades stock only. The airline will be called Delta. The deal was reached early Monday evening and is worth $17.7 billion. The merger creates the world's largest airline, for the moment, at least. News of the merger has sparked speculation that Continental and United will follow. In the Delta-Northwest deal, the airlines have agreed to keep all their hubs open and Delta pilots have been given a 3.5 percent stake. They've also agreed to keep their current contract through 2012. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_Delta_Northwest_Merge_197653-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Kansas politicians can get things done in a hurry if they want to, as proven by the meteoric passage of an incentive package to ensure Cessna kept its Columbus 850 plant in Wichita. On March 31, Cessna told state officials it wanted $25 million in cash to build a factory to build the $27 million aircraft. Cessna's total investment is expected to be about $800 million and employ 1,000 people. By Friday, the Senate and House had passed a $33 million incentive package and by Saturday Cessna CEO Jack Pelton was at a news conference telling local media the deal had been sealed. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_CessnaColumbus_MadeInWichitaKansas_197572-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS AAI Acquisition is the new owner of Adam Aircraft after a deal was struck with bankruptcy trustees last week. However, the bargain-basement buyout of the company, which spent hundreds of millions of dollars developing the A500 piston twin and A700 very light jet was protested by one of the creditors, according to the Denver Post. Portfolio Real Estate, of Englewood, Colo., called the lone bidder a "thinly capitalized Delaware corporation" formed for no other reason than to buy Adam. It also claims the would-be buyer is affiliated with the Russian private equity firm Industrial Investors. The deal still has to be approved by the court. The trustee, Jeffery Weinmann, is looking on the bright side, however. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_RussianInvestorsBuy_AdamAircraft_197571-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Avidyne has introduced an integrated flight deck and retrofit for the Cessna 441 Conquest II that brings all the modern avionics conveniences to the venerable twin turboprop. The Alliant Retrofit was introduced at Sun 'n Fun on Tuesday and puts Avidyne's Envision Integrated Flight Deck System and S-TEC 2100 digital autopilot on two large-screen displays. It's also available with RVSM for operators who fly above 29,000 feet. Avidyne also introduced a new weather detection system. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_GlassPanelForYourConquest_Avidyne_197570-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Jeppesen is putting its prodigious database at the fingertips of clients who need flight information on the go. With technology partner Hilton Software, which has figured out how to make all that information available to your personal communicator. And it’s an impressive array of information that can be displayed on that little screen. From DUATS supported legal weather and flight plan filing, to real-time depictions of weather, airport information, and even weight and balance calculations for more than 400 aircraft stored in the database. The system is available for Windows-based mobile applications and Iphone and Blackberry versions are in the works. Jepp has also made learning (and teaching) the G1000 easier than ever. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/news/BizAv_JeppesenDatabase_HiltonSoftware_PDACellPhone_197569-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Randy FankRandy Fank has been named Manager of FBO operations at JA Air Center's new Aurora Municipal Airport location and the existing FBO at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport. Fank was previously director of DuPage Flight Center. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_RandyFank_JAAirCenter_197807-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Preston AviationPreston Aviation has relocated its Tailwheel flight school from Leesburg International Airport in Leesburg, Fla. to Peach State Airport in Williamson, Ga. The company offers instruction and rides in a restored Stearman and Cub. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_PrestonAviation_TailwheelFlightSchool_197806-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Michael A. Brosler has become the President and CEO of PlaneSmart Aviation. Brosler was the company's former Marketing and Communications Director and replaces Jeffrey A. Cullen, who is pursuing other interests. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_MichaelABrosler_PlaneSmart_197805-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Jeff RussellJeffAirLLC and BFT International have recently merged to form Maine's only dedicated aviation marketing company, BFT Aviation Marketing. It will be headed up by JeffAir owner Jeff Russell. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_JeffAirLLC_BFTInternational_BFTAviationMarketing_197759-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS David Herbst has rejoined Mercury Air Group as Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategies. In the 1990s he was Director of Corporate Relations when the company was public and was most recently Senior Vice President and General Manager of MWW Group, a PR firm in Los Angeles. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_DavidHerbst_MercuryAirGroup_197758-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Midcoast Aviation President Kurt Sutterer has been named vice chairman of the National Air Transportation Association. He's the fourth Midcoast executive to serve on the NATA board and will become Chairman of the organization in 2009. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_KurtSutterer_NATA_197757-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Dane FlaniganDane Flanigan has been added as an account executive for A List Jets. He’ll look after both business and celebrity clientele. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_AListJets_DaneFlanigan_197706-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS FirstFlightFirstFlight Inc. has named Michael Gaffney to head its new division, JetEquity Solutions, which will focus on aircraft financial services. Gaffney has more than 40 years of experience in the aviation finance sector. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_JetEquitySolutions_MichaelGaffney_197705-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Michael Gauvreau has joined Arcadia Aviation as Vice President of Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions. Arcadia is based in New York City and has FBOs in Martinsburg, W. Va. And Sullivan County, N.Y. Gauvreau worked previously at International Jet Management and Executive Flightways. http://www.avweb.com/avwebbiz/whoswhere/WhosWhere_MichaelGauvreau_ArcadiaAviation_197661-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS