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May 14, 2009

Customers ‘sticking with’ HondaJet

By Kirby J. Harrison

Honda Aircraft, which announced last month a one-year delay in certification of its HondaJet as a result of supplier issues, remains confident, buoyed by an order book for “well over 100 aircraft.” According to Stephen Keeney, senior manager for corporate affairs, “the vast majority of our customers are sticking with us.”

Many of those more recent customer orders, said Keeney, a more

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Spanish operators add more birds

Two Spanish charter operators announced additions to their charter fleets here at EBACE.

Madrid-based Executive Airlines (Booth No. 542), the second largest business aviation operator in Spain, took delivery of its ninth Gulfstream G200 on April 6. The company claims to be the largest Gulfstream operator in Europe. It counts four G550s, nine G200s and three G150s among its total fleet o more

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FlyingGroup expands over borders

By Thomas Stocker

Charter operator FlyingGroup has opened new bases in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam and also in Luxembourg. The Belgium-based company already operates jets out of  Cannes and Paris. The company is active in aircraft management, charter, consultancy and maintenance. Operating a fleet of 23 aircraft, FlyingGroup is an authorized Cessna Citation service center for the Mustang and the Citation more

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Learjet 85 program still on track for 2013 entry into service

By R. Randall Padfield

Development of the “clean sheet” all-composite Bombardier Learjet 85 continues on track for its announced entry-into-service date of 2013, notwithstanding the unexpected insolvency and subsequent bankruptcy in late 2008 of supplier Grob Aerospace, which had been selected to help develop the structure and build the first three prototypes for the program. Bombardier announced in September that i more

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More networking, site services to strengthen F’boro airshow

By Thomas Stocker

The organizers of the biennial Farnborough International Air Show announced several improvements for the next edition, scheduled to take place July 19 to 25, 2010. The setup of the show is being re-evaluated with emphasis on enhancing and increasing networking opportunities, as well as improving site services in line with feedback from exhibitors, particularly in the business aviation sector. The more

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EASA-approved Beech pistons hit Euro scene

By Paul Lowe

Hawker Beechcraft (HBC) announced here this week the delivery of the first European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified piston singles and twins to enter service in Europe. Three new Bonanza G36 single-engine aircraft went to a customer in the UK and one Baron G58 twin to a customer in Poland.

“There has been great interest in Europe for the Baron G58 and Bonanza G36,” said Hawk more

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FSI gets slew of EASA sim approvals

By Paul Lowe

Forty of FlightSafety International’s full flight simulators located at 15 learning centers in North America have been qualified under the EASA flight simulator training device catch-up process. The process was developed to qualify simulators located outside of EASA member states’ jurisdiction so they can continue to be used in the training of European-licensed flight crews under EASA regulati more

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328 Support Logs Middle Eastern Sale

328 Support Services announced the sale of two 328Jets to a Middle Eastern customer. The aircraft, formerly operated by Shell Netherlands, will be refurbished with 10-seat executive interiors and long-range wing-center tanks at 328 Support’s Oberpfaffenhofen facility. The aircraft will be operated for VIP use in the Middle East and Africa by HYSSOP Global of Nigeria on behalf of its private owne more

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Embraer Taps Nayak as Service Center

Embraer has named Nayak Aircraft Services in Cologne, Germany, an authorized service center. With the announcement, Nayak will become the first maintenance center in the country to service Embraer’s Phenom 100 and 300. Workers at Nayak’s main base at Cologne Bonn Airport will provide warranty support, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and airframe, engine and avionics repairs 24 hours a da more

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StandardAero Gets BBJ Mod Approval

Associated Air Center, a subsidiary of StandardAero, has completed the necessary modifications for compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration’s SFAR-88 Airworthiness Directive on its ninth BBJ equipped with DeCrane-PATS auxiliary fuel tanks. Associated Air Center will complete these mandatory modifications on seven other BBJs before the AD deadline of December 2009. The FAA has approved more

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