Spurred by sluggish demand for light and midsize jets and the threat from Brazil’s Embraer, Cessna has enlarged its midsize cabin cross-section and refreshed one of the lightest jets it builds. The new contenders were revealed last fall in the form of the 680A Latitude midsize and the M2 update of the CJ1+. They compete with, respectively, the Embraer Legacy 450 (slated for certification in late 2014 and service entry in early 2015) and the Phenom 100 (in service since 2009).
Very light jets
February 2, 2012 - 5:15am
GE Aviation, while it may still be associated largely with commercial and military powerplants, has been focusing its gaze on the business aviation market over the past several years.
Shawn O’Day, head of the company’s business and general aviation marketing, told AIN that although business aviation has historically been a segment of opportunity for GE, it is an area where the engine and systems maker sees potential. In fact, the company signaled its intention to expand its business and general aviation footprint at last year’s Paris Air Show.
January 5, 2012 - 2:10am
A new 10-hour jet card is available from broker Magellan Jets. The card costs $34,950 and imposes no daily minimum flight times, federal excise taxes, positioning charges within the base service area, blackout dates or fuel surcharges. The card includes 10 hours in an Eclipse 500 very light jet for flights in the Northeast U.S.
January 4, 2012 - 4:20am
On December 5, Embraer Executive Jets opened its Global Customer Center at the Melbourne International Airport in Florida and simultaneously delivered the first U.S.-assembled Phenom 100 to Executive AirShare. With this delivery, the Kansas City, Mo.-based fractional provider now has 18 Phenoms (thirteen 100s and five 300s).
December 22, 2011 - 4:24pm
On Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the start of flight testing for its first conforming light jet, Honda announced that its third FAA design-conforming HondaJet (F2) joined the test program.
December 6, 2011 - 4:35pm
Embraer Executive Jets opened its Global Customer Center at the Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport yesterday and simultaneously delivered the first U.S.-assembled Phenom 100 to Kansas City, Mo.-based Executive AirShare. With this delivery, the fractional provider now has 18 Phenoms (thirteen 100s and five 300s).
December 6, 2011 - 1:17pm
On Monday December 5, Embraer delivered the first U.S.-assembled Phenom 100 light jet from its new Phenom final assembly facility at the Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport to Kansas City, Mo.-based Executive AirShare. This milestone airplane marked the 18th Phenom jet to enter the fractional provider’s fleet.
December 4, 2011 - 12:10am
Shortly after Piper Aircraft posted billboards in Wichita advertising for engineers, the company suspended further development of the single-engine PiperJet Altaire, “following a review to align the company’s business goals with the light jet market outlook, investment strategies and overall economic forecasts.”
November 22, 2011 - 3:30pm
President Obama signed a $12.5 billion transportation, housing and urban development appropriations bill on Friday containing language that reinstated the Block Aircraft Registration Request (Barr) through at least Fiscal Year 2012 (Sept. 30, 2012).
November 16, 2011 - 12:52pm
Embraer has named Constant Aviation’s Birmingham, Ala. facility an authorized service center for the Phenom 100 and 300. The facility will be allowed to provide complete maintenance and avionics services as well as modifications, composite repairs and work required by Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins on the Phenom series.
