Steve Costley
ATP FLIGHT SCHOOL ordered 55 Cessna Skyhawks for delivery in 2023-2024 to join its fleet of nearly 200 Skyhawks. FLEXJET, OH agreed to combine with HORIZON ACQUISITION CORPORATION II and will become a publicly listed company on NYSE; transaction, anticipated to close in 2Q23, implies a pro forma enterprise value for Flexjet of $3.1b. Proceeds are expected to fund fleet, program, infrastructure (MRO facilities/private terminals) and geographic expansion. MODERN AVIATION agreed to acquire three FBOs in Northeast US: MYSTIC JET CENTER, Groton, CT; COLUMBIA AIR SERVICES-BHB, Trenton, ME; and COLUMBIA AIR SERVICES-RUT, Rutland, VT. It expects deals to close in 4Q22.
FOUR CORNERS AVIATION has acquired ULTRAAIR, Omaha (aircraft management; four Learjet 45s and one Falcon 7X).
Credit: PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT delivered 47 PC-12 NGXs and 27 PC-24s in January-September 2022 vs 88 and 45 in all of 2021.
DAHER delivered its 1,100th TBM turboprop aircraft to US private pilot; it is currently building TBM 960s and TBM 910s. HONDA AIRCRAFT announced performance/avionics software upgrade package for HondaJet Elite; performance upgrade will increase MTOW by 200 lb/range by 120 nm, and new avionics include FAA Datacom and ACARS. FLYEXCLUSIVE opened 48,000 sq ft Hangar 4 at Kinston, NC for maintenance/paint, avionics upgrades and interior work. MRO INSIDER, MI was selected by Thoroughbred Aviation to provide its customers with access to its app that provides domestic and international AOG coverage as well as scheduled maintenance, FBO, parts and GSE search capabilities.
TEXTRON AVIATION is adding 180,000 sq ft to its parts distribution operations in Wichita to bolster stock levels from late 2023. It is also opening a 12,000 sq ft satellite service center (nine Mobile Service Units) at Dallas Love Field in 4Q22.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE is investing $150.7m to add 262,000 ft.2 of manufacturing space at Savannah; the expansions add dedicated G400 production and wing lines as well as additional material delivery and distribution areas.
COMLUX COMPLETION was approved by Airbus (as first) to provide line and base maintenance on ACJ TwoTwenty.
GULFSTREAM plans in 1H23 to open 100,000 ft.2 component repair/overhaul facility in Dallas-Fort Worth area. It also added hangar space at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for routine inspections and maintenance, as well as AOG support.
EXECUJET AVIATION NIGERIA was selected by Gulfstream to provide warranty/maintenance services and spare parts.
HONEYWELL has agreement with Supernal (Hyundai) to explore integration of Anthem flight deck for its eVTOL vehicle.
TAMARACK AEROSPACE GROUP was selected by Ampaire to develop further upgrades for its hybrid electric aircraft, which includes exclusive access to Performance SMARTWING winglets for its Eco Caravan, Eco Otter, and Eco King Air.
BAE SYSTEMS was selected by Supernal (Hyundai) to design/develop the flight control computer for its eVTOL vehicle.
BOMBARDIER introduced new Executive Cabin for Global 7500/8000 featuring open office concept with Nuage seating.
MILLION AIR acquired former MARATHON JET CENTER in the Florida Keys, its fourth FBO in Florida and 34th overall.
HONDA AIRCRAFT unveiled the HondaJet Elite II with expanded range of 1,547 nm and ground spoilers for performance.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL was selected by Dassault Aviation as factory authorized training provider for Falcon 10X; it initially plans to design and manufacture two FS2500 full-flight simulators for installation in US (1) and Europe (1).
F/LIST, Germany unveiled new portfolio of bio-based sustainable materials for business jet cabins.
GE DIGITAL unveiled FlightPulse for Business Jets, a configurable modular EFB, developed with GULFSTREAM; analytical tools/reports help business jet operators collect, analyze and compare flight data to help make safer flight decisions.
IADA reports its dealers closed 331 sales transactions in 3Q22 vs 340 in 3Q21; year-to-date deals rose to 929 vs 869.
ASSET INSIGHT reports 4% of active business jet fleet was listed for sale in September, down from 5.6% in Sept 2021.
