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Embraer Legacy 500 makes "flawless" maiden flight​

A new generation of business jets was ushered in today when Embraer’s midsize Legacy 500 made a successful first flight, marking the beginning of its flight test program. Deliveries of the first aircraft are expected to begin in 2014. "This remarkable airplane symbolizes the future of executive aviation and is the product of the innovation, talent and dedication that is part of the Embraer culture," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO.

“This is the aircraft that will move us from industry player to industry leader,” said Ernest Edwards, President, Embraer Executive Jets...

Dassault Falcon Receives ADS-B Out STC Approval from EASA ​

Dassault Falcon has received EASA approval for a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to install ADS-B Out (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out) on Falcon 50EX and classic Falcon 2000 aircraft equipped with Pro Line 4 avionics. With this STC, Falcon operators can take advantage of the safety and operational improvements of the new technology before the mandated compliance dates set by airworthiness authorities. This approval follows FAA approval which was received for both aircraft within the past year...

Piper Names Aircraft Dealer for China; Launches Meridian Tour​

Piper Aircraft named Piper Summit Aircraft China Ltd., Beijing, as the aircraft manufacturer’s authorized dealer in China for sales of new Meridian single-engine turboprop aircraft. The new Piper dealer conducted a number of Meridian demonstrations for potential customers as the airplane flew enroute for display at Air Show China 2012 held this month in Zhuhai. “With more than 1.3 billion people, stretching from eastern Asia to the South China Sea, China already has more than 450 airports and a rapidly expanding aviation infrastructure,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott...

VistaJet Thinks Global with $7.8 Billion Bombardier Business Aircraft Order​

Bombardier announced today the largest business aircraft sale in its history. VistaJet, a world-leading luxury aviation company and exclusive operator of Bombardier business aircraft, has signed a deal for up to 142 Global business jets which includes firm orders for 56 Global jets and options for a further 86 Global jets at a 2012 U.S. list price value of more than $7.8 billion if all options are exercised. The value of the firm order is approximately $3.1 billion at 2012 list prices. The firm order comprises 25 Global 5000, 25 Global 6000 and six Global 8000 jets. Deliveries of these aircraft will begin in 2014...

Cessna and CAIGA Sign Contract for Joint Venture to Assemble and Sell Utility Turboprops in China​

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company (through Textron Far East Pte. Ltd.), has entered into a joint venture contract with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company Ltd., (CAIGA) (through CAIGA North China Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd.), in accordance with their previously announced strategic agreement, for the formation of a joint venture company to conduct final assembly of Cessna Caravan utility turboprop aircraft in China for the Chinese market...

Fleet of 24 New Piper Archers Possible for Florida Institute of Technology​

The Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics will take delivery of eight single-engine Piper Archer TX training airplanes during 2013 and also has options on 16 additional trainers (Archer TX or Seminole) for future delivery, bringing the total potential new aircraft under the agreement to a fleet of 24 aircraft. Neither party is releasing the value of the contract. The new Piper Archers will be among the first Piper training aircraft equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass panel avionics suite...

FAA Type Certification Meetings a Success​

This week’s event was a critical milestone to get the FAA engaged in the Vision SF50 certification program. Discussions about the current design configuration were used to identify unique aspects that will require FAA review. Further, all existing and prior project documents (e.g. Issue Papers, Equivalent Level of Safety findings and Special Conditions) were discussed and assessed for applicability with current regulation.

It was a very successful meeting and the results gave further evidence that Cirrus and the FAA both have a strong commitment toward improving product safety...

Piper Incorporates Garmin G1000 in Seminole and Archer Models ​

Piper Aircraft, Inc. is incorporating the Garmin G1000 avionics suite into new twin-engine Piper Seminole and single-engine Piper Archer aircraft models available in 2013. Launch customer for the new Garmin G1000-equipped Pipers is the Florida Institute of Technology.

Piper made the announcement at the company’s 75th anniversary celebration and fly-in earlier this month. Garmin’s G1000 is a seamlessly integrated all-glass avionics suite that makes flight information easier to scan and process. G1000's design brings new levels of situational awareness, simplicity and safety to the cockpit...

Bombardier Learjet 85 gets its wings ​

Bombardier Aerospace announced today that the first wing shipment for its Learjet 85 jet has arrived at the Wichita assembly line and is now in the process of being readied for mating to the fuselage of Flight Test Vehicle one (FTV1). Alongside the arrival of the first complete Learjet 85 aircraft wing, the fuselage for FTV2 has successfully completed its integrity inspection. Installation of the nose, bulkheads, floor, windshield and door surrounds are scheduled to begin in the coming days. Once complete the main fuselage will be shipped with the aft fuselage to the final assembly line...

Cessna and CAIGA Sign Contract for Joint Venture to Assemble and Sell Citation XLS+ Business Jets in China​

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company (through Textron Far East Pte. Ltd.), has entered into a joint venture contract with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company Ltd., (CAIGA) (through CAIGA South China Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd.), in accordance with their previously announced strategic agreement, for the formation of a joint venture company to conduct final assembly of Cessna Citation XLS+ aircraft in China for the Chinese market...

Daher-Socata's TBM 700 and 850's line up at Ameila Island​

The ninth convention of the user organization for DAHER-SOCATA’s TBM very fast turboprops – the TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) – surpassed all previous records with the presence of 95 TBM 700s and TBM 850s for its annual gathering, which was held this year at Amelia Island off the U.S. state of Florida. These TBM aircraft landed at Fernandina Beach Airport, and some 275 total attendees participated in the October 24-27 meeting at the Amelia Island Ritz Carlton resort – located on the southernmost of the Sea Islands along the U.S. East Coast...

Airbus sells ACJ319 sharklet-equipped business jet to Chinese client​

Airbus recently sold a sharklet-equipped Airbus Corporate Jet 319 to a client in China. That sale takes the sale tally to 25 business jets for Airbus sold in or to Chinese clients. Although generally the market in China is new for business jets it is a region being increasingly tapped.

"China is a relatively new market for corporate jets, as well as having one of the highest economic growth rates, making it a bright spot in today's business jet market, especially at the top end where Airbus corporate jets serve with distinction," according to Airbus' Chief Operating Officer for customers, John Leahy...

Piaggio delivers first Avanti II to China ​

Good news for Piaggio Aero recently because they delivered their first P180 Avanti II business aircraft to a Chinese client in China. The momentous event occured at the Airshow China 2012. The brand new P180 Avanti II went to Beijing-based 'Free Sky Aviation'. There is actually a second P180 Avanti II that is expected to be delivered to them in December.

Piaggio, like most business aircraft manufacturers are seeing the value and potential in the Chinese market...

Vision SF50 Type Certification Topic of Meeting with FAA ​

This week, the Cirrus Vision SF50 certification team will meet with the FAA to hold a Type Certification Board Meeting at their Duluth headquarters Tuesday through Thursday. This is the first significant meeting with the FAA since the announcement in May that the program received full funding from parent company CAIGA to achieve FAA type certification.

This meeting marks a major milestone in the Vision certification program, as it centers around establishing the regulatory requirements that will be applied to it in order to achieve an FAA Type Certificate...

Embraer Executive Jets Phenom 300 Type Certificate Validated by CAAC ​

Embraer Executive Jets announced that its Phenom 300 aircraft recently received the Validation of Type Certificate issued by Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) today at the 9th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China 2012) in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. “With CAAC's certificate for Phenom 300, Embraer Executive Jets’ five in-service models have been certified by China's civil aviation authority," said Guan Dongyuan, President, Embraer China. "The China market has shown confidence in our aircraft with 28 firm orders and five options for business aircraft in this developing market...

Dassault Falcon to Offer New Features for FalconCabin HD+ ​

Dassault Falcon today unveiled two new features that further enhance its innovative FalconCabin HD+ cabin management system. The new options developed by Rockwell Collins, include a wireless cabin media server and an iPad moving map application. The Skybox wireless media server allows passengers to access a one terabyte onboard Apple iTunes library and share television shows and music wirelessly on demand. Each passenger will be able to access ‘digital rights managed’ content stored in the system on up to ten Apple iOS devices. They can also stream content directly from their devices onto cabin displays...

Hawker Beechcraft to Showcase Beechcraft King Air Products at Airshow China 2012​

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced it will participate in the 2012 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China), the country’s largest airshow, held Nov. 13-18 in Zhuhai, China. The company will display a Beechcraft King Air 350i and King Air C90GTx at its chalet B3.“The strong promise of the Chinese market for business and general aviation is being realized,” said Sean McGeough, HBC president, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific...

Revision of performance specifications for the Gulfstream G650​

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced that its ultra-long-range, ultra-large-cabin G650 aircraft offers even better performance than originally announced. The improvements affect the aircraft’s range at high speed and takeoff distance, giving operators increased flexibility for ultra-long-range missions. “The improved performance of the G650 makes an already best-in-class aircraft even better,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. “Operators are gaining a distinct advantage with these improvements: They’re going farther faster and requiring less runway...

Gulfstream G280 Sets Three City-pair Speed Records​

Gulfstream Aerospace new best-in-class G280 aircraft set three new city-pair speed records in June flying from Dallas to Teterboro, N.J., Teterboro to Jacksonville, Fla., and Jacksonville to Dallas. Gulfstream’s new super mid-sized aircraft has now established seven speed records since setting its first in May.

“These new speed records demonstrate the G280’s exceptional range and performance for our customers,” said Larry Flynn, president, Gulfstream. “We anticipate that it will set many, many more in the months and years to come.” The G280 flew from Love Field in Dallas to Teterboro Airport in 2 hours and 47 minutes...

Embraer Executive Jets Debuts Legacy 650 with New Interior and Phenom 300 at Airshow China 2012 ​

Embraer Executive Jets is debuting its newly refined interior for the Legacy 650 as well as the Phenom 300 during the the 9th Annual China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China 2012) in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, from November 13 to 18, 2012. A press conference to provide program updates has been scheduled for November 13th, 14:00 - 16:00, in Press Conference Room 210 at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition Center, while the company’s commercial and executive aviation product portfolio will be presented at Booth B3-1, Hall 1...