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Court Approves Hawker Beechcraft’s Plan of Reorganization​

Hawker Beechcraft, Inc. (Hawker Beechcraft) today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has approved its Joint Plan of Reorganization (Plan), paving the way for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 in the second half of February. In confirming the Plan, Judge Stuart M. Bernstein found that it satisfied all of the requirements of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Robert S. (“Steve”) Miller, CEO of Hawker Beechcraft, Inc., said, “Today’s ruling marks the final significant step in the restructuring process...

Gulfstream G280 Sets 15 New City-Pair Speed Records ​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.’s new best-in-class G280 aircraft recently set 15 new city-pair speed records as part of the company’s reliability demonstration program. The 250-hour internal testing program, among the most extensive voluntary reliability programs ever implemented by Gulfstream, served to enhance fleet reliability, enrich pilot training and improve customer readiness...

Embraer delivers first three A-29 Super Tucanos to Angola​

Brazilian airframer Embraer has successfully delivered the first three A-29 Super Tucanos to the African nation of Angola. Embraer shipped the first half of the total order with Angola purchasing six overall. Angola now becomes the third African nation to possess Embraers' A-29 Super Tucanos, the others being Mauritania and Burkina Faso.

Angola already operates five EMB-312 Tucanos, an unarmed trainer developed by Embraer in the 1980s. The Super Tucanos are the newer generation and will go alongside a fleet of ground-attack aircraft in Angola inclusive of Sukhoi Su-22s and Su-25s...

Hawker Beechcraft Moves Closer to Chapter 11 Emergence​

Hawker Beechcraft, Inc. (Hawker Beechcraft) today announced the key creditors voting in the company’s solicitation process have overwhelmingly approved its proposed Joint Plan of Reorganization (Plan). The company also announced that J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC have agreed to act as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners to structure, arrange and syndicate $600 million in exit financing, consisting of a term loan and a revolving line of credit. The affiliated banks of the joint lead arrangers, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Credit Suisse AG, have committed to underwrite the financing...

Bombardier to showcase two class-leading jets at Aero India​

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it will showcase two of its class-defining jets at this year’s Aero India airshow in Bangalore, India from February 6 to February 11, 2013. On display will be the Challenger 605 and Global 6000 business jets. “India represents huge potential for business aviation,” said Nilesh Pattanayak, Regional Vice President, Sales, Asia-Pacific. “As the economy grows and the need for global and regional corporate travel increases in the region, the value of a business jet is now well established...

Dassault Falcon to Provide On-Site Support at Global Events in 2013 ​

Dassault Falcon will once again support operators attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland with a dedicated technical team positioned at nearby Zurich Airport. The forum, which takes place January 23-27, brings together intellectuals, business leaders and heads of state from around the world resulting in an unusually large influx of business aircraft. To ensure the highest level of customer service for operators attending the event, the Falcon team dispatched on-site will be backed up by the three Swiss-based Falcon Authorized Service Centers, which are certified to perform maintenance on all Falcon models...

Bombardier Global 6000 business-jet gets Brazilian certification​

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has received full certification for its Global 6000 jet from the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil in Brazil. “This is an important milestone in our Global 6000 jet’s history of leadership in Brazil, and we expect it to help generate even more interest in the world’s leading long-range, large cabin business jet,” said Fabio Rebello, Regional Vice President, Sales, Latin America, Bombardier Business Aircraft...

Embraer delivers 99 business jets in 2012​

Brazilian business-jet airframer Embraer finished the year on a high as they posted better results than expected. Embraer matched the previous year's performance which looked unlikely initially but thanks to a rush of deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2012, numbers quickly soared.

Embraer finished 2012 with 99 business-jet deliveries and a whopping 53 of those deliveries occured in the fourth quarter alone. The light jet category remains robust - in context - for Embraer and it showed with 77 of those deliveries being Phenom 100s and 300s...

Cirrus Introduces A New Class Leader In Load Carrying Capability For 2013​

Cirrus Aircraft today introduced its new SR-Series aircraft lineup for 2013, which is dominated by a dramatic increase in load carrying capability for the best-selling SR22 and SR22T. Increasing the certified gross weight to 3600 lbs. (1,633 kg) for both SR22 and SR22T, this new utility and flexibility allows an extra person, substantial extra baggage or cargo all while carrying more fuel in both of these 5-seat aircraft. The changes for 2013 make the SR22 and SR22T the highest in-class useful load aircraft available today...

Hawker Beechcraft offering free upgrade for post-bankruptcy momentum ​

Hawker Beechcraft is willing to offer free avionics upgrades to purchasers of Hawker Beechcraft King Air 250 and 350i aircraft . The move is in efforts to try boost sales when HBC plans to emerge from bankruptcy this year (in a few weeks). The free avionics upgrades takes in the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

However, there is a condition and according to Hawker Beechcraft, the offer is valid only for aircraft both purchased and delivered between 1 January and 28 February...

EA Aerospace plans air-taxi launch by second quarter with Eclipse 500s ​

EA Aerospace, which is the Turkish founding partner of Eclipse Aerospace, is preparing to launch an air-taxi service in the second quarter of 2013 utilizing Eclipse VLJ's (Very Light Jets). This project is to be a stepping-stone for what is envisioned be an air-taxi service encompassing Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

"I have held the view for many years now that the Eclipse is the perfect aircraft for the air taxi market," says Ekim Alptekin the EA Aerospace president and Eclipse shareholder. In 2008 he was forced to abandon his initial project when Eclipse Aerospace went under...

Cessna Citation M2 Off To Flying Start​

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that the Citation M2 has commenced its initial production run in the company's Independence, Kansas facility. The front and aft cabin assemblies for the light business jet are built at Cessna's Wichita, Kansas facility and are then transported to Independence for final assembly and delivery. Unit 800 is slated for demonstrator purposes, and is expected to roll off the assembly line this April. Lily English, General Manager of Cessna's Independence Plant, says the production start is a rewarding moment that possesses its own challenges and benefits...

Cessna Grand Caravan EX Earns Type Certification, Performance Tops Initial Projections​

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the Grand Caravan EX has earned FAA Type Certification and has outperformed initial targets. Powered by the new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-140 engine, today's Grand Caravan EX boasts a 38 percent improvement in the rate of climb of the Grand Caravan, a figure which exceeds the original 20 percent improvement projection...

Bombardier Aerospace Delivers 233 Aircraft and Receives Orders for 481 Aircraft in 2012​

Business aircraft: 179 deliveries; 343 net orders Commercial aircraft: 50 deliveries; 138 net orders Amphibious aircraft: 4 deliveries Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it delivered 233 aircraft during the 2012 calendar year, compared to 245 aircraft deliveries in the previous fiscal year, the 11-month period ended December 31, 2011. The Company also received orders for 481 aircraft, net of cancellations, compared to 249 orders, net of cancellations, for the previous fiscal year...

Eclipse Aerospace and the U.S.A.F meet about the Eclipse Jet​

The United States Air Force is looking to potentially replace its fleet of Trainer aircraft that comprise mainly of Hawker T-1A Jayhawks, the military version of Hawker T-400 business jet. Eclipse Aerospace has been in talks with them about using their Eclipse Jet as the replacement.

"I have met with senior Air Force leaders and they are looking for an efficient and affordable solution to their challenges," says Mason Holland, Eclipse's chief executive officer...

Bombardier Aerospace Secures Orders for Six Learjet 75 Aircraft​

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has received orders for a total of six Learjet 75 business jets from an undisclosed customer. The transaction is valued at approximately $81 million US based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft. “The Learjet 75 aircraft is a blend of innovative technology, modern cabin design and legendary Learjet aircraft performance,” said Steve Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft...

Gulfstream Receives FAA Production Certificate and EASA certificate For G650​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. recently received two important certifications for its new flagship aircraft, the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650. The company received the Production Certificate (PC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Atlanta Manufacturing Inspection District Office. Gulfstream also earned a Type Certificate for the G650 from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The PC was obtained on December 20, 2012, and confirms that Gulfstream’s production processes for the G650 are in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations Part 21...

Gulfstream Begins Delivering Outfitted G650 Aircraft​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today delivered its first fully outfitted ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650 aircraft. The first aircraft was delivered to a U.S. customer. “We’re extremely proud of this aircraft and the work that’s been done by the G650 design, build and supplier teams,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “The first delivery of an aircraft is always an auspicious occasion and this one is especially so. This delivery represents the beginning of a new era in aircraft design and manufacturing in terms of quality, capabilities, reliability, parts availability and maintenance activities...

Bombardier Secures Orders for another Five Global Business Jets​

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has received orders for a total of five Global 6000 business jets from an undisclosed customer. The transaction is valued at approximately $293 million US based on the 2012 list price for typically equipped aircraft. “There is strong momentum for our entire Global aircraft product line”, said Steve Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “This order reinforces, once again, the leadership of our products in terms of range, cabin volume and comfort, as well as state-of-the-art technology,” he added...

Embraer Executive Jets’ ultra-large Lineage 1000 business aircraft received its Type Certificate from the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), also known by its Russian acronym MAK. Certification paves the way for Russian customers to register and operate the type in Russia. “This is exceptionally exciting news that the Lineage 1000 has received validation from the Russian authorities, a strong endorsement of our product,” said Colin Steven, Vice President Sales – Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Embraer Executive Jets...