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CMC Electronics Introducing New Satellite Landing System Receiver
CMC Electronics is introducing a new GPS receiver, with incorporated WAAS (wide area augmentation system) technology, for business, regional, air transport and helicopter aircraft.  It is intended for both retrofit and new aircraft installations.

Chelton and Kollsman to Collaborate on Flight-Guidance System
Chelton Flight Systems and Kollsman will collaborate on a new series of products to combine Chelton's synthetic vision EFIS (electronic flight instrument system) and Kollsman's general aviation EVS (enhanced vision system).

Honeywell Selects EMS Technology for Its SwiftBroadband Satcom Products
Honeywell has selected software and hardware technology from EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies, for its multi-channel broadband satcom products.

Rockwell Collins Moving Its eXchange Customers onto ARINC's SkyLink
Rockwell Collins is moving its eXchange data and TV Ku-band satellite system and its customers onto ARINC's SKYLink satellite broadband network.

SITA Announces New Mobile Voice Communications Service
SITA is introducing a new VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) meant to substantially reduce mobile communication costs for the air transport industry (ATI).

Garmin Enhances G1000 Integrated Avionics Suite
Garmin International says it has made three "significant enhancements" to its all-glass, G1000 integrated avionics suite to simplify its use, and improve the pilot's situational awareness capability during flight and taxiing.

ARINC Direct Introduces New Online Fuel-Shopping Tool
ARINC Direct is offering a new online tool to help its business aviation customers leverage their fuel purchasing power.

AirGator Unveils New EFB
AirGator unveiled its latest generation EFB (electronic flight bag), designed for airline and business aircraft operators, at last week's National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference.

Sino Swearingen Selects CMC Electronics' EFB for SJ-30 Business Jet
The Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation will offer the CMC Electronics PilotView EFB (electronic flight bag) as a standard option on its SJ-30 business jet.

Barco to Develop Displays for Honeywell's APEX Platform
Barco says it will develop avionics displays for Honeywell's new APEX integrated cockpit system.

IS&S Launching Class-3 EFB with Integrated Navigation
Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) said at this week's NBAA convention that it is offering class-3 EFB (electronic flight bag) capabilities, along with its glass-cockpit upgrades.

ARINC Extends SKYLink Internet Service for Business Jets across Europe
ARINC Direct has extended its SKYLink broadband Internet service for business jets over more than 20 European countries, effectively doubling its geographic coverage.

Dassault Falcon to Offer ARINC's SKYLink on New Falcon 7X
Dassault Falcon will offer ARINC Direct's SKYLink high-speed satellite broadband service as a factory option on its new Falcon 7X ultra-long-range corporate aircraft.

MedAire and AirCell Launch New Airborne Medical Assistance Program
AirCell and MedAire are introducing a new program that makes MedAire's worldwide in-flight medical assistance available to AirCell's satcom customers that operate light and medium business aircraft.

Avidyne Introduces "Glass Cockpit" Retrofit Program for GA Aircraft
Avidyne Corporation is introducing a retrofit installation, intended for a wide a range of GA (general aviation) aircraft to modernize them with state-of-the-art situational awareness systems.

Alliant Integrated Flight Deck Certified on King Air 200
The FAA has granted Avidyne and S-TEC an STC (supplemental type certificate) for their Alliant integrated flight deck for the Beechcraft King Air 200 family of twin-engine turboprops.

DHS to Evaluate Northrop Grumman's Ground-Based Anti-MANPADS
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will evaluate Northrop Grumman's ground-based high-energy laser system to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles known as MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems).

ARI's Flight Manager Now Features Space Photos of Routes
Air Routing International (ARI) has a new feature in its Web-based flight management application that allows users, such as flight department personnel, to display the locations of their aircraft and planned routes.

ARI Enhances Its Online Aviation Weather Program
Air Routing International (ARI) has made several enhancements to its online weather resource AiRMET global aviation weather program.

Spectrum's Business Jet to Have Avidyne's Integrated Flight Deck
Spectrum Aeronautical has selected Avidyne's Entegra next-generation integrated avionics system for its now-in-development Spectrum 33 business jet.

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CMC Electronics Introducing New Satellite Landing System Receiver

CMC Electronics is introducing a new GPS receiver, with incorporated WAAS (wide area augmentation system) technology, for business, regional, air transport and helicopter aircraft.  It is intended for both retrofit and new aircraft installations.

The IntegriFlight CMA-5024 is a self-contained GPS, with a WAAS approach database, that can provide primary-means navigation, as well as SBAS (space-based augmentation system) GPS approach capability that can be upgraded for LAAS (local area augmentation system) operations.

The receiver's interfaces can support both legacy (ARINC-743A) flight management systems and those capable of RNP (required navigation performance) and RNAV (area navigation) operations.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

Chelton and Kollsman to Collaborate on Flight-Guidance System

Chelton Flight Systems and Kollsman will collaborate on a new series of products to combine Chelton's synthetic vision EFIS (electronic flight instrument system) and Kollsman's general aviation EVS (enhanced vision system).

The objective, according to the companies, is to offer pilots flying aircraft ranging from light trainers to medium-sized business jets a new situational-awareness and flight-guidance system that integrates EVS and SVS (synthetic vision system).  This could include, for example, overlaying Chelton's HITS (highway-in-the-sky) and HUD (head-up display)-like  symbology on Kollsman's GAViS (general aviation vision system) images of a runway in darkness and/or weather-obscured visibility.

"We designed the Chelton EFIS to combine all instruments in one scan, and make it safer for a pilot to make rapid, informed decisions under difficult flight conditions," said Gordon Pratt, Chelton Flight Systems' president. "We display 3D terrain, towers and traffic in real time today.  The integration of an actual forward-looking infrared camera, such as Kollsman's GAViS, will blend in the real world and enhance the image.  A better image will mean safer takeoffs, landings and flight in terrain, especially at night."

Randy Moore, Kollsman's general manager and executive vice president, noted that the standard analog video output of GAViS, and no required control inputs, allow it to be easily interfaced with any video-capable head-up or head-down display. Also, Kollsman's software algorithms can seamlessly marry its EVS with Chelton's SVS, Moore added.

Chelton Flight Systems, which is part of the Cobham Avionics and Surveillance Division, will take the lead in certifying the collaborative products.  Kollsman, an Elbit Systems of America company, will provide certifiable product and certification support.  10-19-2006.  (Top)

Honeywell Selects EMS Technology for Its SwiftBroadband Satcom Products

Honeywell has selected software and hardware technology from EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies, for its multi-channel broadband satcom products.

EMS SATCOM will supply Honeywell with its eNfusion SwiftBroadband hardware and software for the Honeywell MCS-7100 series of satcom terminals, and with other complementary equipment, including a range of Inmarsat satcom antennas and cabin gateways, all of which are compatible with Honeywell products.

Neil Mackay, EMS SATCOM's senior vice-president and general manager, said the agreement should be worth at least $35 Million to his company over the next five years.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

Rockwell Collins Moving Its eXchange Customers onto ARINC's SkyLink

Rockwell Collins is moving its eXchange data and TV Ku-band satellite system and its customers onto ARINC's SKYLink satellite broadband network.

EXchange offers a range of in-flight Internet and television services, and is being installed on Bombardier Global Express, Global 5000, and XRS aircraft.

The action will give Rockwell Collins' eXchange customers access to ARINC's full SKYLink suite of Internet voice and data services and access to SkyLink's new coverage in Europe, and over the North Atlantic in 2007.

Robert Thompson, ARINC's senior director of business aviation services, said the two companies are working closely to understand the changes required to configure the eXchange system to operate on the SKYLink Ku-band network, but added, "this work can be expedited" because ARINC's satellite technology partner, ViaSat, manufactures the avionics for both systems.

As for Rockwell Collins, its vice president and general manager for cabin systems, Tommy Dodson, said teaming with ARINC will enable his company to combine the strengths of its Tailwind 500 antenna technology and signal processing with ARINC's broadband expertise.  10-23-2006.  (Top)

SITA Announces New Mobile Voice Communications Service

SITA is introducing a new VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) meant to substantially reduce mobile communication costs for the air transport industry (ATI).

The VoIP service, which follows the launch of SITA's Voice Exchange earlier this year, which allows the ATI to avail itself of free intra-community calls, SITA now enables the industry to reduce spending on calls over mobile networks by providing free calls to the community from session initiation protocol (SIP)-enabled portable devices, such as PDAs (personal digital assistants) and mobile phones like the Nokia E60.

According to SITA, Voice Exchange is unique in that it provides the user with a secure offering that integrates with either legacy or IP (Internet protocol)-based telephony systems running over both broadband Internet and private networks.  Through this service SITA is taking what is called fixed/mobile convergence, or FMC, one step further: Community users can now use one number for both mobile and fixed devices and stay connected at all times through mobile presence, instant messaging and VoIP.

SITA says the service can now be used to call international destinations also at local rates and without the recipients incurring roaming charges as long as they are within a WiFi reception area, which might translate into significant savings as well.

For more, related information, see "No soft options from SITA i-Talk."  10-23-2006.  (Top)

Garmin Enhances G1000 Integrated Avionics Suite

Garmin International says it has made three "significant enhancements" to its all-glass, G1000 integrated avionics suite to simplify its use, and improve the pilot's situational awareness capability during flight and taxiing.

The first of these, ChartView, allows Jeppesen's electronic charts and airport diagrams to be viewed on the G1000's MFD (multifunction display), along with the aircraft's present position.  Customers subscribing to ChartView will receive periodic DVD updates from Jeppesen so they can update the information on the aircraft, and also onto a personal computer for displaying and printing charts while on the ground.

FliteCharts is an electronic version of the National Aeronautical Chart Office (NACO) U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication.  The G1000 enhancement lets pilots quickly find and view NACO departure procedures, STARS (standard terminal arrival routes), approach charts, and airport diagrams on the MFD. Garmin will offer regular updates to FliteCharts as they become available from NACO.

SafeTaxi displays an airport's runways, taxiways, and hangars, as well as the aircraft's exact location on the G1000's MFD, as a standard feature.  Over 700 U.S. airports and diagrams will be pre-loaded on G1000 equipped aircraft, and Garmin will continue to develop and offer new airport charts as NACO provides new information.  International airport diagrams will be added in the future, Garmin says, pending approvals from the necessary agencies.

Cessna's Citation Mustang is the first aircraft to incorporate these enhancements, Garmin says, but all aircraft manufacturers that offer the G1000 will also be incorporating them during 2007.

Flt Tech Online was unable to find additional information about these enhancements on Garmin's Website (www.garmin.com) as this item was being written, but the company indicates that such material should be available there soon.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

ARINC Direct Introduces New Online Fuel-Shopping Tool

ARINC Direct is offering a new online tool to help its business aviation customers leverage their fuel purchasing power.

Virtual Fuel Desk provides online comparative pricing from multiple fuel suppliers at virtually all major U.S. and Canadian airports and FBOs (fixed base operators), and is now included with all ARINC Direct subscriptions.

Customers can use the tool to purchase fuel online at favorable rates ARINC Direct has pre-negotiated, or they can purchase fuel through Direct's full-service fuel desk, which covers more than 2200 locations worldwide.

ARINC says Virtual Fuel Desk is the only fuel search program that shows pricing at multiple airports and FBOs across a region, making it simple for operators to plan optimal fuel purchases during trip planning.  Once a FBO has been selected an electronic fuel release can be e-mailed or faxed in a flight planning package.

For international trips, ARINC Direct takes the additional step of ensuring the fuel supplier at the destination is matched with the handler, eliminating the need to call overseas to ensure a fuel release has been accepted.  Overall, ARINC says its idea is to find the most competitive price, get a custom quote, handle any immediate steps, and deliver one invoice for the entire trip to the customer.

ARINC Direct says it also offers fuel management programs that can save flight departments "thousands of dollars a year" through higher-volume competitive pricing, and discounts at non-contract fuel locations.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

AirGator Unveils New EFB

AirGator unveiled its latest generation EFB (electronic flight bag), designed for airline and business aircraft operators, at last week's National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference.

The company's top offering for business aircraft, the NAVPad Bundle, includes a wireless tablet personal computer with a touch-screen display, a Bluetooth-enabled WAAS (wide area augmentation system) GPS, and either a XM WX or WSI/Sirius weather receiver (both with battery pack capability), and necessary antenna, that integrates with its moving map software.

AirGator NAVPad EFB

Source: AirGator

AirGator says its NAVPad bundles are available in either hard drive or 8-16 GB (gigabyte) high capacity solid-state configurations.  Secondary or multiple display units may be added for additional flexibility, giving all flight deck members, and even passengers access to current flight information.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

Sino Swearingen Selects CMC Electronics' EFB for SJ-30 Business Jet

The Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation will offer the CMC Electronics PilotView EFB (electronic flight bag) as a standard option on its SJ-30 business jet.

The side-mounted, class-2 EFB has a 8.4" AMLCD (active matrix liquid crystal display), with a "film-on-glass" touch-sensitive screen, as well as line-select keys and an integrated keyboard, to provide the pilot a choice when accessing or navigating through various applications.  Other features include the ability to immediately view what is on the other pilot's display through the touch of a single key, and a one-touch video key to quickly toggle to images from video surveillance systems.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

Barco to Develop Displays for Honeywell's APEX Platform

Barco says it will develop avionics displays for Honeywell's new APEX integrated cockpit system.

Barco will supply Honeywell with 10" and 15" displays, which will be marketed by Honeywell as KDUs (keyboard display units).  The KDU-1080 is a 10.4" PFD (primary flight display) with a XGA (1024x768) standard pixel resolution.  The 15" KDU-1500 will offer larger views as part of Honeywell's Primus APEX electronic flight instrument system.

First deliveries of the displays should start in early 2007, and should appear in a variety of business jet cockpits including the Grob Aerospace spⁿ business jet prototype.  Barco says its display technology is used in more than 50 different aircraft types.  10-21-2006.  (Top)

IS&S Launching Class-3 EFB with Integrated Navigation

Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) said at this week's NBAA convention that it is offering class-3 EFB (electronic flight bag) capabilities, along with its glass-cockpit upgrades.

IS&S says its EFB will have Jeppesen-powered electronic navigation charts, along with applications to supply pertinent takeoff, en-route, approach, landing, missed approach, and go-around information.  And its class-3 capability will allow it to interface with an aircraft's navigation systems to display aircraft's real-time air or ground position.

Pilots will view the charts on the aircraft's full-color multifunction display that can enlarge ("zoom") images for easier observation. 10-21-2006.  (Top)

ARINC Extends SKYLink Internet Service for Business Jets across Europe

ARINC Direct has extended its SKYLink broadband Internet service for business jets over more than 20 European countries, effectively doubling its geographic coverage.

SKYLink's European coverage is provided under a cooperative agreement between ViaSat and SkyLogic, using a SkyLogic ground earth station in Milan, Italy.  Additional SKYLink coverage is under development for the North Atlantic flight tracks that will give seamless service between North America and the European continent.

According to ARINC, SKYLink is today's only commercially available ultra-high speed Ku-band Internet satellite service for business aircraft, which enables in-flight Internet, Intranet, VoIP (voice over Internet protocol), FoIP (fax over IP) and VPN (virtual private network) communications.

ARINC and SES AMERICOM, its technology partner and investor, took SKYLink live over North America in April 2005, with Gulfstream Aerospace as its exclusive launch customer.  Since that time, Gulfstream has sold its 50th set of avionics, and about 20% of Gulfstream's new G450s and G550s are ordered with BBML (broadband multilink) avionics, with this percentage steadily increasing.

Since April 2006, ARINC has also signed aftermarket distribution agreements with several aircraft modification houses, including Jet Aviation, Landmark Aviation and Duncan Aviation, and is currently pursuing business aircraft OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreements for similar purposes.

SKYLink uses what ARINC describes as "extremely cost-effective" avionics developed by ViaSat that weigh just 42 pounds.  ARINC says ViaSat also provided SKYLink networking technology to carry transmission and reception on a single Ku-band transponder, which further reduces SKYLink operating costs.

"We made a conscious decision to launch SKYLink one region at a time, and to focus on the thriving market of business aviation. This strategy has clearly worked," said Robert B. Thompson, ARINC Business Aviation Systems' senior director.  10-23-2006.  (Top)

Dassault Falcon to Offer ARINC's SKYLink on New Falcon 7X

Dassault Falcon will offer ARINC Direct's SKYLink high-speed satellite broadband service as a factory option on its new Falcon 7X ultra-long-range corporate aircraft.

Dassault expects the Falcon 7X to be certified in 2007, and has already received more than 90 orders for delivery between 2007 and 2010, including an order of 24 Falcon 7Xs from NetJets Europe.  These aircraft should be able to make good use of ARINC Direct's recent European expansion of SKYLink coverage.  10-23-2006.  (Top)

MedAire and AirCell Launch New Airborne Medical Assistance Program

AirCell and MedAire are introducing a new program that makes MedAire's worldwide in-flight medical assistance available to AirCell's satcom customers that operate light and medium business aircraft.

With the service, passengers and flight crews can use speed dialing from their AirCell satcom to talk directly to emergency room physicians at MedAire's 24/7 MedLink Global Response Center.  Physicians at the center have special training in remote airborne diagnosis and treatment to provide real-time medical advice while the aircraft is in flight.

AirCell customers can purchase the service when they initially activate their AirCell satcom system or by calling 888.286.9876 (U.S.) or +1.303.379.0278 (worldwide).  The optional service will be added to the customer's regular AirCell billing, so a single monthly invoice will continue to cover all their airborne telecommunications needs.  10-21-2006.  (Top)

Avidyne Introduces "Glass Cockpit" Retrofit Program for GA Aircraft

Avidyne Corporation is introducing a retrofit installation, intended for a wide a range of GA (general aviation) aircraft to modernize them with state-of-the-art situational awareness systems.

The Envision series, based on the company's popular Entegra integrated flight deck, integrates an Avidyne EXP5000 PFD (primary flight display), and EX5000 MFD (multi-function display) to many existing systems, including autopilots, GPS, traffic and terrain alerting and warning, as well as lightning detection, radar and other systems. Owners may choose dual-redundant EXP5000s or an EX500 MFD depending on the aircraft.

The first implementation of the Envision is the Alliant system for the King Air 200 that was produced in cooperation with S-TEC.  (See related story.)  The Alliant system features dual-redundant PFDs, an EX500 MFD and the S-TEC IntelliFlight 2100 Digital Flight Control System.  Envision systems for additional GA aircraft are in development and in flight testing, Avidyne says.

Envision marks a major expansion by Avidyne into the retrofit avionics market, and also represents the next step in what Avidyne describes as its strategy to make GA flying safer and simpler with advanced, yet intuitive, cockpit technology, such as its Entegra integrated flight deck it developed for new aircraft models.

Envision System Overview

The Envision system uses a 10.4" diagonal PFD, with standard flight instrumentation, integrated flight director command bars, pilot-selectable moving-map flight plan data, an EHSI (electronic horizontal situation indicator), a RMI (radio magnetic indicator) pointer, and digital RMI readouts.  The PFD is integrated with a solid-state ADAHRS (air data and attitude/heading reference system), and may be coupled with the autopilot for altitude pre-select, vertical speed select and heading select without the need for an external control panel.

Flight decks with dual-redundant Envision PFDs also come with dual independent ADAHRS, and Avidyne's unique CCS (cross-compare system), which monitors both ADAHRS and aircraft navigation systems and provides visual alerts should any discrepancy occur.  Either ADAHRS may be selected for display in reversionary operations.

The integrated air data computer provides a valuable full-time instantaneous wind vector displayed on the PFD, taking the guesswork out of finding the right altitude to optimize flight time and wind correction while entering the pattern or flying an approach.  Trend indicators provide six-second trend data for airspeed, altitude and heading, allowing precise control with reduced workload when changing or maintaining an airspeed or altitude.

The system also includes a 10.4" diagonal comprehensive EX5000 display system, or the 5.5" EX500 MFD (multi-function display) that features a high-resolution moving map that can show one's flight plan as well as Avidyne's two-way Multilink datalink weather information.

Options include interfaces to 19 different airborne weather radar systems, an EGPWS/TAWS (enhanced ground proximity warning system/terrain awareness warning system) display, plus lightning and traffic depictions.  Additional options are Avidyne's Flight Center services for flight tracking and two-way text messaging capabilities, and the CMax library of JeppView electronic charts.  10-22-2006.  (Top)

Alliant Integrated Flight Deck Certified on King Air 200

The FAA has granted Avidyne and S-TEC an STC (supplemental type certificate) for their Alliant integrated flight deck for the Beechcraft King Air 200 family of twin-engine turboprops.

Avidyne and S-TEC have joined forces with their Alliant King Air Program, to create the first large display integrated flight deck available as a retrofit for this popular business aircraft to provide the situational awareness, safety, reliability, and redundancy, which has been available only on newer aircraft.

On the King Air 200, Alliant combines dual Avidyne EXP5000 PFDs (primary flight displays) and EX500 MFD (multi-function display), along with S-TEC's IntelliFlight 2100 digital, multi-axis, attitude-based autopilot.

Alliant Integrated Flight Deck King Air 200 with Avidyne Flight Displays

Source: S-TEC and Avidyne

DHS to Evaluate Northrop Grumman's Ground-Based Anti-MANPADS

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will evaluate Northrop Grumman's ground-based high-energy laser system to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles known as MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems).

The DHS awarded Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector a $1.9 million, 18-month contract to develop a detailed operational plan for its ground-based, Skyguard anti-MANPADS technology, perform component-level testing, and assess life-cycle costs.  The company is already participating in a DHS aircraft-based MANPADS program, using its Guardian DIRCM (directional infrared countermeasure) airborne system.

Source: Northrop Grumman

Source: Northrop Grumman

ARI's Flight Manager Now Features Space Photos of Routes

Air Routing International (ARI) has a new feature in its Web-based flight management application that allows users, such as flight department personnel, to display the locations of their aircraft and planned routes.

Global Trip View provides a visual depiction of Earth with a trip overlaid on it as it would appear from space, allowing the user to zoom and pan various navigational options.  The application can be left open on a personal computer if desired, and an auto update will refresh the displayed information.

Global Trip View and AiRMET (see item below), are two of Air Routing's Flight Manager products and services that can keep pilots, dispatchers, schedulers, and appropriate passengers, easily informed about flight plans, weather, permits, fuel and ground-service arrangements, hotel and ground transportation, and security, on virtually any device that has Internet accessibility.  10-23-2006.  (Top)

ARI Enhances Its Online Aviation Weather Program

Air Routing International (ARI) has made several enhancements to its online weather resource AiRMET global aviation weather program.

AiRMET's new high-resolution satellite pictures are now available for much of the world including Europe and the Middle East, according to Greg Murray, the company's IT services coordinator and flight-control supervisor.  In addition, passengers can now have access to weather forecasts out to seven days while onboard.

The site can be accessed any time anywhere where Internet access is available to get information and graphical depictions of weather throughout the world, including polar and oceanic regions.  Personalized en-route weather briefs can be created by inputting choices of weather charts and text weather for the regions surrounding the actual flight plan routing.

According to ARI, More than 30,000 animated global weather maps and images are generated every 24 hours on AiRMET that users can access through personal computers and wireless PDAs (personal digital assistants) through ARI's Flight Manager.

ARI's aviation and weather and operations center has 30 full-time weather forecasters and 20 additional in-house specialist meteorologists to produce live weather feeds.  10-23-2006.  (Top)

Spectrum's Business Jet to Have Avidyne's Integrated Flight Deck

Spectrum Aeronautical has selected Avidyne's Entegra next-generation integrated avionics system for its now-in-development Spectrum 33 business jet.

The Spectrum 33 Independence uses a highly advanced graphite-epoxy construction process that gives it the same size cabin as popular eight to nine seat entry-level business jets, at less than two-thirds the weight.  It is designed to cruise at FL450 at speeds up to 415 knots (Mach 0.72) and fly as far as 2000 nm (3700 km) while using about half the fuel of comparably sized current production aircraft.

Spectrum 33 Independence

Source: Spectrum Aeronautical

Additional information on the next-generation Entegra integrated avionics system in the Spectrum 33 is expected to be released in the first half of 2007.  10-23-2006.  (Top)

Indian Airlines took delivery of its first directly purchased A319.  The aircraft is one of 43 A320 Family aircraft ordered in January 2006.  10-24-2006.

Guggenheim Aviation Partners will use GEnx engines to power four B-747-8s it has on order, along with options for two additional freighters.  Deliveries of the aircraft should begin in 2009.  10-24-2006.

Charter operator Clay Lacy Aviation ordered a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). 10-24-2006.

China Southern Airlines will purchase six B-777 Freighters, with deliveries expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2008.  10-24-2006.

Monaco's Boutsen Aviation ordered two CFM56-5B7/P-powered ACJs (Airbus corporate jetliners) on behalf of undisclosed customers.  10-24-2006.

Petters Group Worldwide will acquire an A318 Elite corporate jet, becoming the first US customer for this aircraft type. The company plans to use its subsidiary Petters Aviation to manage the aircraft for private customers.  10-24-2006.

Eagle Creek Aviation Services purchased 12 Phenom 100s and four Phenom 300s, with options for another five, which can be converted into either model. The first delivery should occur at the end of 2008.  The aircraft will be managed, serviced and operated by Eagle Creek.  The contract is valued at approximately $61 million (U.S.).  10-24-2006.

AeroRepublica will lease an EMB-190 from GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS).  The aircraft will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2007.  10-24-2006.

TAM S.A. received another A320, bringing its Airbus fleet to 13 A319s, 46 A320s, and 10 A330s.  10-24-2006.

Mitsui & Co. and Israel Aircraft Industries, Bedek Aviation Group are establishing a joint venture company to convert B-767-300s from passenger to a special freighter configuration.  Their target is to convert 80 to 100 aircraft in ten years. 10-24-2006.

Air taxi provider SATSair will acquire 50 Cirrus SR22s with options for 50 more in a deal valued at over $45 million (U.S.). SATSair is now in its second year of operation, and plans to include Florida in its service area by November 1, 2006.  Deliveries have already commenced, and the first 50 should be delivered by early 2007. 10-24-2006.

Raytheon says it will broaden its Hawker product line by introducing the Hawker 900XP and the Hawker 750, both derivatives of the Hawker 850XP. The models will replace the Hawker 850XP when they begin entering service. The Hawker 750, which is expected to be certified and start first deliveries in the first quarter of 2007, will cost $11.95 million (U.S.). 10-24-2006.

Pilatus says it will certify a new generation PC-12 with a more powerful P&WC PT6A-67P turboprop engine and a Honeywell Apex integrated avionics suite by the end of 2007.  10-24-2006.

Piper says it will design and build an all metal PiperJet VLJ (very light jet) with deliveries to begin in the first half of 2010.  The new aircraft will seat up to seven with a 1,300 nautical mile range, feature side-stick controllers, and will be certified for single-pilot operations.  Its estimated price is 2.199 million in 2006 U.S. dollars.  10-24-2006.

Singapore's low-fare Tiger Airways ordered eight more A320s, bringing the airline's backlog of deliveries to 13 aircraft to join the seven A320s it currently operates.  10-24-2006.

VIP charter operator JETALLIANCE will acquire two more A318 Elite corporate airliners.  10-24-2006.

German carrier Blue Wings confirmed its intention to purchase 16 A320s and four A321s. The intention to order was first announced during the Farnborough air show in July.  The engine selection remains to be made.  10-24-2006.

NetJets and NetJets Europe have purchased 48 additional Hawker aircraft, comprised of 30 Hawker 750s and 18 Hawker 900XPs. The order is valued in excess of one half billion dollars.  Deliveries will commence in 2007 and continue through 2009.  10-24-2006.

Emirates selected the GEnx engine for the 10 B-747-8 freighters it recently ordered.  The purchase agreement is for 45 GEnx engines valued at more than $600 million (U.S.).  Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2010. 10-24-2006.

Spartan Chemical took delivery of the 500^th Beechcraft King Air 350.  10-24-2006.

Voyager Group is the domestic launch customer for the Raytheon Hawker 900XP.  10-24-2006.

Fractional-share-aircraft provider, Avantair, ordered 20 Phenom 100s. The first aircraft should be delivered in June 2009.  10-24-2006.  (Top)

Textron reported that its Cessna Aircraft business unit received 115 jet orders, worth more than $1 billion, at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention last week.  Combined with pre-show agreements, the company has already booked over 160 orders for the fourth quarter.  Textron's Bell Helicopter booked 10 new aircraft orders.

Honda Aircraft Company says it received more than 100 individual customer orders during the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention last week. 10-24-2006.

Cessna's chairman, president and CEO, Jack J. Pelton, said his company expects to deliver 300 jets in 2006.  Its goal for 2007 is 370, which will include 40 Citation Mustangs.  10-24-2006.

Airbus says it has sold 22 corporate jets this year, which is a new record.  The sales include 21 ACJ Family aircraft and one VIP A330-200.  10-24-2006.

Gulfstream says it delivered 83 business jets in the first nine months of this year compared to 65 in the same period last year.  Shipments of its large models (G350 through G550) increased to 52 from 46, while deliveries of its midsized (G100 through G200) models increased to 31 in the first three quarters of this year compared to 19 in the same period last year.  10-24-2006.

Rolls-Royce forecasts that 51,000 engines, valued at $70 billion, will be needed over the next 20 years to meet demand for 24,000 new corporate jet aircraft; from very light jets through business jetliners.  Nearly half of the 24,000 are expected to be in the medium or large business jet category.  The company also predicts a continued growth in business jet deliveries through the remainder of the decade, especially for medium and large business jets.  During the entire 2006 through 2025 period, Rolls-Royce predicts that nearly 12,000 medium and large business jets will be delivered. 10-24-2006.  (Top)

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