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In yet another demonstration of why they are the top GA Manufacturer Cessna has recently addressed the challenges and realities of the global aviation market place. Drawing on the history of Detroit and the automotive industry Cessna has called attention to the fundamentals of Aircraft Manufacture. The problems of Globalisation and costs invite broad input and consideration. Despite the advances of robots and technology aircraft are still very labor intensive to manufacture and any manufacture who ignores this does so at their peril. The new strategy is to optimize the research, design, resourcing, manufacture, assembly and development cycle. Cessna looks to stay on the leading edge by grasping the nettle. Read more…

In the land of Oz we have long distances, high temperatures and a member of the old British colonial family and good mate New Zealand an inconvenient 1200nm or so to the East. One of the results of this is that the aviation oriented members of the Oz community spend a lot of time poring over performance specs, cash flows and maintenance costs not to mention single engine vs twin engine safety analyses so that we can give substance to our dreams of commuting from our place of work in Oz to our hideaway in NZ. Various products come to mind but for the average moderately successful person who is sold on flying their own aircraft to and from there is a slippery slope with no obvious sweet spot. The Cessna Mustang eg looks to be a really good little rocket with considerable charter potential in the SE of Australia as it will cover Vic and NSW Adelaide Melbourne Sydney stuff pretty well but it requires a bit of planning and usually a stop on the way to NZ and certainly one on the way back . The Piperjet looks better but is single engine (on the other hand it is a Turbine and in flight-shut downs are said to be of the order of 1 in 150,000 hrs of operation). It is however still one’s one and only life in the opinion of many and the statistics of twins (likely to lose both engines once in 22.5 trillion hours of operation) are still pursuasive. Since nothing quite fills the bill and the idea of flying a personal aircraft with DOC of more than about $700 per hour starts to look a bit extravagant, people dream on with brochures and business plans spread out before them. As the result of a recent airport purchase the business I am associated with has put the bizjet on the back burner for a few months and this has encouraged a new bout of dreaming. The latest target is the Stratos. Obviously some smart people have got together what they know is about in available technology and decided they can do better than has been done so far. Essentially if they were to achieve their goals there would be an affordable non stop commuter from Oz to NZ. Back to one engine though. Also one engine at 41,000 ft raises some thoughts about emergency descent etc. Probably pie in the sky (one wonders what is in the water they are drinking but does wish them every success). Sooner or later some such will fly and what a buzz that will be.
Read more…

Gulfstream Aerospace has Rolled Out it’s new Flagship Aircraft, the All-new Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream Aerospace, now a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and once upon a time a part of Grumman, today revealed 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. 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.
The aircraft raises the bar in every area including price and it is a great achivement that is has been developed on schedule and without developmen glitches Read more…

Eclipse was a game changer and an historic episode in aviation. When it finally fell on its sword or was forced to face reality many were deeply saddened but few were really surprised. it had all sounded too good to be true from the outset and so it turned out to be. The normal routine fighting over the corps has been prolonged but maybe it is over and perhaps just maybe Eclipse has a future and a secure place in Aviation.
Just yesterday a Federal Judge approved the $40 million purchase of Eclipse Aviation.
This gives the Albuquerque-based manufacturer a chance to restart production and support of its light jet. Read more…

Organizers of next week’s centennial Paris Air Show said Monday the world’s biggest aviation industry gathering won’t be diminished by the global economic crisis, which has hit the aviation industry hard.

Organizers expect around 300,000 visitors this year, half of them professionals, about the same as the last show in 2007 — despite notable no-shows such as business jet makers Gulfstream and Cessna.

“This year again, despite the crisis we consider that it is a considerable success because we’re full,” said Louis Le Portz, the air show’s chief executive. Roughly the same number of exhibitors will be present as in 2007, around 2,000, Le Portz said. Read more…

Recovery Is in Sight, Say Bizjet Makers at Ebace
 
 
Their production slowed, workforces slashed, products and reputations besmirched,

and giddy forecasts turned into fiction, the battered and bruised makers of

business aircraft are beginning to express cautious optimism that the current

market downturn may be changing direction.

Hopeful signs include some sales of large-cabin aircraft and increased interest in

general aviation models, says Gulfstream Aerospace President Joe Lombardo, who was

among the many industry executives gathering at the European Business Aviation

Convention and Exhibition (Ebace) here last week. Compared to February, which saw a

steady stream of order cancellations and deferrals, Lombardo says, “anything is

better.” Read more…