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Gulfstream Rising ... And Expanding
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Gulfstream Aerospace is following on the heels of a nearly one million square foot expansion, which included the addition of
sales, service, manufacturing facilities, plus roughly 1,100 new jobs, with another expansion. "We now expect the total investment and job creation to be far in excess of what was originally
promised," Gulfstream senior vice president and general counsel Ira Berman announced at the Savannah (Ga.) Economic Development Authority's annual luncheon. Gulfstream's current order backlog is
nearly $8 billion and its Savannah plant is rolling out an airplane every four days. Reflecting the ups and downs of the business aviation market, the announcement comes some four years after a
month-long work stoppage that furloughed 1,000 workers after a company announcement that Gulfstream would lay off 1,000 employees companywide. Now the company has opened a new sales and design center
with the first phase of a new service center to be opened next month. Soon after that, construction begins on a new manufacturing facility. Gulfstream currently employs about 7,900 people, with the
majority based at its headquarters in Savannah. Some forecasters see no signs of a coming economic downturn in the w orldwide market for Gulfstream's large business jets. Paul Nisbet, presedent of JSA
Research Inc., a Rhode Island-based firm specializing in independent aerospace equity research told Savannahnow.com that Gulfstream business jets are the most profitable in the industry.
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Bombardier's Uplifting Q1 Results
Hawker Beechcraft/L-3 Communications Lawsuit
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Bombardier posted a $79 million profit in the first quarter, up from $24 million last year with corresponding revenues up from
$3.5 billion to $4 billion. Aircraft orders clocked in at 174 versus 52 for the same period one year ago. Bombardier Aerospace's backlog now stands at $15.4 billion and earnings have jumped from a
pre-interest, pre-tax figure of $55 million to $112 million. Laurent Beaudoin, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Bombardier Inc., said the company's aircraft division is performing well. "At
aerospace, business aircraft continue to attract a substantial level of new orders," he noted. "We're now also seeing the U.S. airline industry rebounding, as demonstrated by a higher level of
regional aircraft orders compared to last year." The rise in business corresponds to a year-over-year rebound in the U.S. airline industry's regional aircraft orders.
Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft is suing L-3 Communications in a lawsuit that arguably might directly involve neither
company. Hawker Beechcraft alleges its predecessor, Raytheon Aircraft, mistakenly credited former Raytheon-owned Vertex Aerospace, which is now part of L-3, some $4.79 million, according to the
Wichita Eagle. Vertex then used that credit in 2005 and 2006 to buy $2.76 million in parts from former sister company and then ignored demands by Raytheon Aircraft and its predecessor, Hawker
Beechcraft, to pay for those parts, according to the lawsuit. Hawker Beechcraft is now suing for that $2.76 million, which it claims was lost to Vertex due to a bookkeeping error. Vertex was a sister
company of Raytheon Aircraft until 20 01 and offers maintenance, repair and training services, but is now owned by L-3 Communications. The lawsuit states that Raytheon and Vertex maintained as part of
typical operations a relationship that offered Vertex credit for services and debits for purchased parts.
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FAA Approves Swearingen SJ30 Part 141 Pilot Training
P&WC Offers European Eclipse 500 Engine Program
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Sino Swearingen has received FAA approval of its CFR Part 141 Pilot School Certificate for the seven-seat SJ30 business jet. The
company believes factory flight training at San Antonio, Texas, provides better access "to Engineering, Production and Customer Support personnel with the hands-on knowledge to keep the training
curriculum up-to-date, practical, and accurate." The company's pilot training center was previously approved under a Part 61 syllabus and it believes the new 141 status will enable a more structured
environment and "not only help to make the SJ30 and its crews the best performing in this class, but also the safest.” The SJ30 is a twinjet with "the highest cruise speed in the light jet
industry of Mach 0.83 (486 ktas)" and a range of 2,500 nm. Classes are currently being schedule d for this summer.
The PW610F powerplant, currently flown on Eclipse 500 very light jets, will now enjoy extended support in Europe, according to
engine maker Pratt & Whitney Canada. The company has announced it will offer its Eagle Service Plan (ESP) to European operators and is initiating the program's rollout with a "10 percent discount on
the hourly rate for the first 1,000 hours of operation," which is eligible for operators who enroll before acquiring 200 hours total time. The plan allows operators to "virtually eliminate the risk of
high-cost sur prises" and more effectively manage routine maintenance expenses. Participating operators may select from four levels of coverage paid on a monthly basis and based on operating hours of
covered aircraft. Coverage ranges from complete coverage of scheduled overhauls, hot-sections and "basic unscheduled engine and accessory maintenance" to coverage of life-cycle-limited parts, removal
and installation costs and freight if an engine or parts need to be shipped.
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Boeing 747-8 VIP: When Your Biggest Bizjet Isn't Big Enough
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Boeing Business Jets has grander plans for your business dollars -- 5,667 square feet of cabin space with options for vaulted
ceilings, video wall displays, and spiral staircases all with a range of 9,260 nm. This "fastest large-cabin business jet," according to Boeing, is capable of cruising at Mach 0.86. The VIP version of
the 747-8 offers a new "SkyLoft area" located "above the main cabin between the upper deck and tail," adding up to 881 square feet of interior space for "unique personal suites, private offices and
recreational spaces." Without making reference to any other extremely large aircraft, Boeing noted in a release that the aircraft "is the only large airplane in its class that fits today's airport
infrastructure" and can therefore "fly into most airports throughout the world." Customers have so far ordered four 747-8 VIP aircraft. Commercial versions are scheduled to enter service in 2010.
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L-3 Infrared STC'd for King Air C90
Rolls-Royce AE Engines Pass 25 Million Hours
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L-3 has earned STC and PMA approvals for its 
Roll-Royce's family of AE engines has exceeded 25 million hours in operation on corporate and regional aircraft. "There have been
nearly 2,800 AE engines produced to date for all applications," according to the company, sharing 70% parts commonality. The AE 3007A, designed and built by Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis, powers the
Embraer ERJ-135/145 regional jet, the Embraer Legacy 600 and Cessna Citation X, while the AE2100 so far accounts only 2 million of the line's hours and powers the named Saab 2000 twin turboprop.
"There are more than 1,200 AE3007-powered regional and corporate aircraft and more than 50 AE2100-powered aircraft in service today," according to Rolls-Royce. The company calls its AE line one the
most successful programs in Rolls-Royce history and a reflection of "the performance, reliability and efficiency of not only the engine itself but also the engineering, manufacturing and services
teams dedicated to the program."
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FAA: Beechjet Cowlings Potentially Unsafe
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Reports of loose attachment fasteners found on engine cowling panels and the result of loose panels either peeling back or separating
from aircraft during flight has led the FAA to propose a
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You'll be glad you did!
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Meet the AVwebBiz TeamAVwebBiz is a weekly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
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