Cessna Calls for Industry Unity to Defend the Image of Business Aviation

Since the rough days of the economic crisis of 2008, the use of business aircraft has come under increased scrutiny.  Now, the aviation industry is taking on perception that business aircraft is just another gold-plated perk of big business.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The Cessna home page reports that Robert Stangarone, vice president, Corporate Communications, Cessna Aircraft Company said at the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) Annual Conference that the industry needs to keep communicating the value and benefits of business aviation. Stangarone said: “Everyone in our industry should consider themselves ambassadors. Business aircraft are used in so many valuable ways and have truly become essential to the global transportation system. We need to take every opportunity to spread that message to the world.”

Stangarone stressed the importance and strength of unity. “Protecting our image is a common goal we can all pursue, on both sides of the Atlantic. Through Cessna’s own ‘Rise’ campaign, we’ve seen the power of partnering with our industry allies and associations, with our government officials, with our customers and with other stakeholders. “Together, we need to make sure the facts are heard. Business aviation supports 1.2 million jobs across the U.S. Equally, thousands of European jobs depend on our industry. And companies that use business aviation are more productive than their competitors.

“It’s not just big business either,” continued Stangarone. “The vast majority of companies that rely on business aviation are small and medium-sized operations. And just as important, business jets are a lifeline for small cities across North America and remote communities in Europe, and they play a critical role in disaster relief efforts following catastrophes such as the earthquake in Haiti.” Stangarone concluded, “As an industry we’re a force with strong points to make and a solid strategy. We’re making good headway but we have to keep working to protect our image.”

Source: Cessna

FAA Deadline For Plastic Pilot's Licences Coming Up on March 31, 2010

AVStop.com reports that the FAA deadline requiring pilots to have a plastic license is coming up on March 31, 2010.

According to the story, paper licenses will not be valid after this March 31st..

The FAA.gov site has more details on the switch. You can get a replacement certificate from the FAA website or through regular mail.

Source AVStop.com and FAA.gov

Citation CJ4 Built On Cessna's New Assembly Line Makes First Flight

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced the first Citation CJ4 built on Cessna's new assembly line has made its first flight.

According to Cessna, the Citation CJ4 is a true upward extension to the single-pilot-certified family of Citation CJ family – delivering the strongest performance and payload balance in the series along with advanced amenities and system architecture.

Photo Credit: Cessna

Configurable for seven to eight passengers in the main cabin, the CJ4 is expected to have a cruise speed of 435 knots, a full fuel payload of 1,000 pounds and maximum payload of 2,100 pounds, more than 300 additional pounds compared to the typical CJ3.

Source: Cessna

Cessna Rolls Out 300th Citation Mustang

Cessna Aircraft Company has announced the rollout of the 300th Citation Mustang at its assembly facility in Independence, Kansas, less than three years after the first Mustang delivery in 2007.

Photo Credit: Cessna

“The aircraft continues to set the mark for entry level business jet operations around the world, and its demand has remained fairly resilient during the past year,” said Jack J. Pelton, Chairman, President and CEO. “It has found success in air taxi and charter operations, in flight departments, in training organizations as well as with owner-operators.”

The 300th Mustang will be delivered later this year to a retail customer in Australia. The Citation Mustang is the world’s first fully certified entry-level business jet. It was announced at the 2002 National Business Aviation Association convention and made its first flight in April 2005. The first Citation Mustang was delivered in April 2007. Coming in at just over $3 million (2010 delivery), the Mustang features Garmin avionics, Pratt & Whitney Canada engines and boasts a maximum 1,200-nautical mile range.

Source: Cessna

Gulfstream G150 Recieves FAA, EASA Approval For Steep Approach

Gulfstream has announced that the Gulfstream G150 aircraft has achieved steep approach certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

This approval allows the G150 to operate at airports with an approach angle of up to 6 degrees. Most airports have an approach angle of 3.5 degrees or less.

Several airports worldwide require steep approach certification to land at their facility due to terrain, obstacles or local noise ordinances. They include: Lugano in Switzerland; Sion in Switzerland; Stephenville International in Newfoundland, Canada; Marseille Provence in Marignane, France; and Chambery in Le Viviers du Lac, France.

The G150 is the first Gulfstream aircraft to receive steep approach certification from the FAA and EASA. “These FAA and EASA certifications allow our Gulfstream G150 operators around the world greater flexibility, particularly the operators in Europe,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test.

Source: Gulfstream

Piper Aircraft Enters the LSA Market With the PiperSport

Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

Piper Aircraft, Inc. recently announced details and unveiled its all-new PiperSport, underscoring its foray into the Light Sport Aviation segment. Piper President & CEO Kevin J. Gould made the announcement during a news conference at the Sebring U.S Sport Aviation Expo 2010.

Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

“With the PiperSport,” Gould said, “Piper is entering what is undeniably one of the most exciting market segments in general aviation. This burgeoning segment is becoming vital to our industry and playing an ever-increasing role in developing general aviation’s next generation of pilots. The PiperSport is an amazing entry-level aircraft that will bring new customers into Piper and lead the way for those customers to step up into more sophisticated and higher performance aircraft within our line over time. Moreover, as the only aircraft manufacturer to have models in every market segment, Piper continues to expand its business model to ensure that we are in tune with the times and that we meet the needs of our customers at every level.”

Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

Source: Piper Aircraft

Embraer Delivers 244 Jets in 2009 - Surpasses 2009 Goal

Embraer reports it delivered 91 jets to the airline, executive and defense markets during the fourth quarter of 2009, totaling 244 airplanes for the year.

According to Embraer, the company delivered 23 E-Jets and three ERJ 145 jets to the airline market; six Legacy 600 super midsize jets, 52 Phenom 100 entry level jets, two Lineage 1000 ultra-large jets, and the first Phenom 300 light jet to the executive jets market; and one ERJ 135 jet, two Phenom 100 jets, and one EMBRAER 190 jet to the defense market.

Source: Embraer

The SubSonex Jet Brings Do-It-Yourself Jet Travel to Your Garage

The year 2010 is here, and we still don't have flying cars or jetpacks as pulp science fiction novels predicted. While the personal jet pack is not consumer ready, the personal jet might be.

Photo Credit: Sonex

According to Wired.com Autopia blog, The SubSonex is designed to be a modestly priced (as in $60,000 modest) private jet that fits in your garage.

Don't expect luxury jet comfort for that price, you have to put it together yourself and it only flies one person. The story reports that SubSonex has only done ground tests, but is expected to hit a cruising speed at over 240 mph and climb to 2,000 feet.

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Source: Autopia and Sonex

Piper Aircraft Selects Aviall Services To Distribute Parts

Piper Aircraft today announced the selection of Aviall Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, to be its global parts distributor, providing supply chain support for the company’s global dealer network and individual customers.

“One of Piper’s primary goals is to enhance every facet of our customer service experience,” said Piper President & CEO Kevin J. Gould. “Aviall’s extensive experience and excellent reputation in parts management and distribution will give our customers world-class service that is fundamental to the total Piper experience.” Aviall Services any is a leading solutions provider of aftermarket supply chain management services for the aerospace, defense and marine industries.

Source: Piper Aircraft

Cessna Delivers First Skycatcher

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna Aircraft Company has delivered its first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. Yingling is one of three U.S. re-assembly facilities for the Skycatcher. As previously announced, Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton, received the first Skycatcher.

Cessna, in association with King Schools, has also developed a new Web-based training system for sport and private pilot certificates that will be available through the Cessna Pilot Center network of flight schools.

Cessna launched its Skycatcher program at AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007 and has since amassed more than 1,000 orders.

Source: Cessna

Gulfstream G250 Completes First Flight

Gulfstream Aerospace recently announced that its newest business jet, the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G250, has successfully completed its first flight.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

The aircraft was flown to 32,000 feet and achieved a maximum speed of 253 knots. Pilot Shapira commented that the flight was “extremely smooth with no issues.” IAI’s Flight Telemetry System enabled IAI and Gulfstream flight-test engineers on the ground to monitor the G250 aircraft systems in real time during the flight, as well as record the data from the first flight test point. “The G250 performed extremely well, just as we expected,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “We’re looking forward to 2011 when we’ll begin delivering this aircraft to the customers who had tremendous input in its design.”

Source: Gulfstream

Cessna Delivers 300th Citation X

Cessna Aircraft Company has delivered the 300th Citation X to its authorized sales representative, Jetalliance, based in Vienna, Austria. The Citation X will be operated from Vienna by an unnamed retail customer. Jetalliance is Cessna’s authorized sales representative for Russia and Eastern Europe.

Photo Credit: Cessna

“The Citation X continues to be a popular aircraft all over the world, including Europe. The exceptional speed, reliability, and cabin comfort offered by the Citation X have contributed to its great success,” said Trevor Esling, Cessna’s vice president, International Sales. The Citation X is the world's fastest non-military aircraft with a top speed of .92 Mach, just under the speed of sound. Since launch, Cessna has delivered more than 45 Citation Xs to the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).

Photo Credit: Cessna

The Citation X is the top of Cessna's line of light and mid-size business jets and was announced at the 1990 National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention. The first Citation X was delivered to golf legend and long-time Cessna customer, Arnold Palmer, in 1996.

Source: Cessna

Cessna Rolls Out First Production Citation CJ4

Cessna Aircraft Company recently celebrated the first production Citation CJ4 rolling off the assembly line at the company’s primary design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The first production unit will now go to paint and interiors, while three flight test aircraft continue to work toward type certification. Federal Aviation Administration certification is the final stages with deliveries starting in the first half of 2010.

The Citation CJ4 also offers an extensive standard equipment list including a four-screen Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with electronic charts and graphical weather, TCAS II, EGPWS Class A TAWS, Dual Mode S Diversity transponders with ADS-B out capability, Multi-Scan weather radar, Emergency Descent Mode, and an essential electrical bus.

The aircraft will also debut the new Williams International FJ44-4A electronically controlled (FADEC) engines. The cabin can be configured for up to eight passengers, plus a standard, belted aft lavatory. The Citation CJ4 also features the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system that includes BluRay DVD with HD monitors and XM radio. To date, the CJ4 test aircraft have flown more than 1,000 flights and accumulated more than 1,600 flight hours.

Source: Cessna

Cessna Poised to Deliver First Skycatcher LSA This Year

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced it will deliver the first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft to the first customer of the model later this year. The customer, Rose Pelton of Wichita, Kan., will use the aircraft to pursue her private pilot’s license.

Photo Credit: Cessna

“When I first saw the Skycatcher mockup at Oshkosh in 2007, I knew that was the aircraft I wanted to learn to fly in,” Pelton said. “I couldn’t be more excited to own the first Skycatcher.” Rose is the wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J. Pelton. The Model 162 Skycatcher is a two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft in the Light Sport Aircraft category, defined in the United States as an aircraft with a gross weight under 1,320 pounds and with a top speed of no more than 120 knots. LSAs are built to ASTM International standards.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The 162 is powered by a Continental O-200D 100-hp air-cooled, carbureted engine and a fixed-pitch propeller. The aircraft will cruise at speeds up to 118 knots and will have a maximum range of 470 nautical miles.

The Cessna 162 Skycatcher features a Garmin G300 avionics system. Information is presented in a single, split-screen primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD), or as two full-screen displays with an optional second screen. The Skycatcher will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations.

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna, in association with King Schools, has also developed a new Web-based training system for sport and private pilot certificates that will be available through the Cessna Pilot Center network of flight schools. Cessna launched its Skycatcher program at AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007 and has since amassed more than 1,000 orders.

Source: Cessna

Cessna Announces Preliminary Performance Increases for Citation CJ4

Cessna Aircraft Company recently released preliminary performance increases for the Citation CJ4.

According to Cessna, results of extensive engineering flight testing have validated significant performance enhancements including a maximum speed of 452 knots (838 kilometers per hour), a range of 1,963 nautical miles (3,638 kilometers) with two crew and five passengers, and a direct climb to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters) in just 28 minutes at maximum takeoff weight.

Photo Credit: Cessna

“We are very pleased with these preliminary figures for the CJ4. Our customers have been eagerly awaiting the performance results after months of collecting data. We believe these performance increases will delight our customers as well as position the CJ4 in a class of its own,” said CJ4 Program Manager Norm Baker.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The Citation CJ4 also offers a “best in class” standard equipment list including a four-screen Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with electronic charts and graphical weather, TCAS II, EGPWS Class A TAWS, Dual Mode S Diversity transponders with ADS-B out capability, Multi-Scan weather radar, Emergency Descent Mode, and an essential electrical bus.

The aircraft will also debut the new Williams International FJ44-4A electronically controlled (FADEC) engines. The cabin can be configured for up to eight passengers with a standard, belted aft lavatory. The Citation CJ4 also features the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system that includes BluRay DVD with HD monitors and XM radio. To date, the CJ4 test aircraft have flown more than 900 flights and accumulated more than 1,500 flight hours.

Cessna expects to begin deliveries as expected in the first half of 2010.

Source: Cessna

Cessna Offers Deposit Amplifier for Retail Skylane and Turbo Skylane Aircraft Purchased Through 2009

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced a “deposit amplifier” program through the end of the year that adds $30,000 to a deposit on a retail order for qualifying new Cessna 182 or Turbo 182 Skylane single-engine piston aircraft.

Photo Credit: Cessna

Also included in the offer is a free service bulletin kit for one of the following software upgrades: Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) or Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS-B), or Jeppesen Chartview (subscription not included). The service bulletin kit will be installed by the local dealer. Depending on the buyer’s individual circumstances, the aircraft may also qualify for accelerated depreciation if it is purchased by the end of the year.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The Cessna 182 and Turbo 182 Skylane is a four-place single-engine, high-wing piston aircraft featuring a Textron Lycoming IO-540 engine, advanced Garmin G1000 avionics, and a range of more than 900 miles. When fitted with a turbocharger, the top speed jumps from 150 knots to 176 knots, or about 202 mph. The package is available through Cessna’s network of authorized dealers to new retail customers anywhere in the world.

Source: Cessna

Gulfstream Rolls Out New Flagship Aircraft: The Gulfstream G650

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

Gulfstream Aerospace recently rolled out its new flagship business jet, the all-new Gulfstream G650, at company headquarters in Savannah. The aircraft rolled out under its own power. First announced in March 2008, the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650 remains on schedule for customer deliveries in 2012.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

Approximately 7,000 people gathered at the new G650 manufacturing building for the aircraft’s debut. The audience included state and local dignitaries, customers, certifying authorities, supplier representatives, members of the G650 development team and many other employees at the Savannah facility.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

“We’ve all been looking forward to this day since we officially announced the G650 program last year,” said Joe Lombardo, executive vice president, General Dynamics Aerospace group. “Simply put, the Gulfstream G650 is in a class by itself. I want to thank everyone who made this aircraft possible. I share the tremendous amount of pride you have for this significant piece of aviation history. Like you, I am eagerly awaiting the first flight later this year.”

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

The G650 offers the longest range, fastest speed, largest cabin and the most advanced cockpit in the Gulfstream fleet. It features an all-new fuselage cross section, allowing a wider and taller cabin than the previous top-of-the-line G550 model. The G650 is capable of traveling 7,000 nautical miles at 0.85 Mach and has a maximum operating speed of 0.925, which will make it the fastest civil aircraft flying. It can climb to an altitude of 51,000 feet, which allows it to avoid traffic and inclement weather.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

“Our customers had an instrumental role in the design of the G650,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “The G650 will set new levels of performance in aircraft capability, cabin environment and maintainability. Customer input was used to guide fuselage size selection as well as aircraft performance characteristics.

Source: Gulfstream

Cessna Finance Corporation Offers New Finance Option

Cessna Aircraft Company has announced that its sister company, Cessna Finance Corporation (CFC), has initiated a new finance program with lower rates available for Cessna's single-engine piston and Caravan aircraft purchased in 2009.

Photo Credit: Cessna

"We are finding many people are ready to buy a new aircraft but are unsure about where to finance the purchase, so CFC initiated this program to ease their concern with a smoother process and lower rates," said John Doman, vice president, Worldwide Propeller Aircraft Sales."And since many of these aircraft are used for business, they may also qualify in the United States for accelerated depreciation, an option of the 2009 Federal stimulus package that is set to expire this year," Doman said. "It really is an excellent time to buy a new Cessna."

The CFC program offers new rates for the entire Cessna line of propeller aircraft: the Cessna 172, 182 and 206 high-wing pistons, the Corvalis and Corvalis TT high-performance pistons, and the 208/208B Caravan/Grand Caravan turboprops.

Source: Cessna

Two New Features Available With The Cirrus Perspective by Garmin

The Cirrus Aircraft News site reports that the AOPA Directory and automatic database synchronization are now available with the Cirrus Perspective by Garmin avionics suite.

Photo Credit: Cirrus Aircraft

According to Cirrus Aircraft, the The AOPA Directory allows access to useful airport information, including rental cars, airport restaurants and lodging.The new automatic database synchronization feature will automatically check all databases stored on the digital cards.

Source: Cirrus Aircraft

Gulfstream Marks 500th Enhanced Vision System Entry-Into-Service

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

Gulfstream recently marked the entry-into-service of its 500th revolutionary Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System (EVS). The milestone comes eight years after the company began offering the industry-leading flight deck technology to operators of large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft.

The original Gulfstream EVS, and now the second-generation EVS II, uses a nose-mounted FLIR (forward-looking infrared) camera, specially designed by Elbit Systems of America –Commercial Aviation Kollsman, to generate actual, real-time images of the aircraft’s surroundings. The system dramatically increases situational awareness at night and during low-visibility daylight conditions by allowing pilots to see terrain, runways, taxiways and approaches that are undetectable by unaided sight. To date, EVS I is in-service on 464 Gulfstream aircraft, while EVS II is in-service on 36Gulfstream aircraft.

“For more than 50 years, safety has been the prime focus at Gulfstream,” said Pres Henne,senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream.“This milestone reaffirms that. It has been said that the Gulfstream EVS is one of the greatest strides forward in aviation safety since the introduction of the instrument landing system in 1929.”

Source: Gulfstream