B U S I N E S S & G E N E R A L A V A T I O N

July 20 2006 FLIGHT DAILY NEWS6

I N B R I E F

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Bombardierreaches trainingmilestoneBombardier has trainedit 1,000th pilot to typerating on a BombardierGlobal aircraft. BillMcClintock of GeneralElectric Corporate AirTransport was presentedwith a plaque andcertificate byBombardier TrainingCenter staff in Montreal,after reaching the mile-stone. Bombardierlaunched the Globalaircraft pilot trainingprogram in 1999. Thethree-week trainingcourse, concentratingfor the BombardierGlobal 5000 and GlobalExpress XRS, flighttrains 130 pilots annually.

Gulfstream set tocertify EVSII next springGulfstream is onschedule for FAA certifi-cation in the secondquarter of 2007 of itsEnhanced Vision SystemII (EVSII), which it plansto install in new produc-tion G550 and G450 busi-ness jets. “EVSII is thenext logical stepfollowing the over-whelming success of EVS,which was the firstsystem of its kind in thebusiness aviationindustry when it wasintroduced five yearsago,” says Pres Henne,senior vice-president,programs, engineeringand test.

Bombardierblows trumpet forSkyjet Judith Moreton hosted acheese and wine event atthe show on Wednesday,which the companydescribed as a“Farnborough first”.There was a seriousmessage behind thetongue in cheek invita-tion. Skyjet’s sales were26% above its target lastyear, which Moretonattributes to the “dedi-cation and flexibility” ofthe team.

RJs on finals for‘City’ certificationThe Airbus A318 and theEmbraer E-190 are bothon steep approach trialsfor London City Airport’s5.5° glideslope. The A318began its approach trialsearlier this year andexpects certification byspring 2007. Certificationfor both types wouldbode well for the execu-tive variants: the A318Elite and Embraer’sLineage 1000.

The rich and famous can match theiraircraft cabins to their clothes, followingthe decision by Italian fashion houseVersace to get into the business-jet interiorsbusiness.

Partnered by TAG Group, parent of fixed-base operator TAG Aviation (Chalet B26),the darling of those with money to burnannounced at April’s Milan Furniture Fairthat it would offer a cabin design service forprivate jet operators. Another TAG offshoot,TAG Aircraft Interiors, is responsible fortechnical aspects and marketing.

The partners are targeting the top end ofthe corporate/VIP market – the Bombardier

Global Express XRS and Global 5000,Gulfstream G550 and Boeing BBJ and 737 –offering customised luxury interiors andexternal paint schemes. They will alsoprovide lighting, crockery, glassware andfurniture, all integrated into the chosendesign concept.

Versace aircraft interiors are expected toreflect the furniture, fittings and furnish-ings the fashion house has created for itshome collection. Stressed executives will beencouraged by the company’s claim to beable to provide the ultimate in seating, notto mention its readiness to provide airbornelounges, home theatres and bars.

High style from Versace takes off

TBM850 turbopropthrows down the gauntletEADS Socata’s high performance six-seater TBM 850turboprop is visiting Farnborough for the first time.Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6A-66Dengine and with a maximum cruise speed of 320kt atFL260 in ISA conditions, the model is billed as theworld’s fastest business prop.

It competes against new generation very light jets(VLJs) on direct operating costs (DOC) – it has DOC ofroughly O320 ($400) per hour. The aircraft squares upto other turboprops on speed and comfort.

The TBM 850 is now certificated in the US and inEurope and is enjoying strong sales from EasternEurope. Gerard Bodin, international sales directoraircraft sales and marketing, says: “The money is overthere – 90% of our customers are owner-pilots.”

The TBM 850 has a maximum range of 1,519nm atlong-range cruise speed (ISA conditions). Socata plansto ramp up production as the model has proven sopopular. The TBM850 has replaced the TBM 700C2.

Dassault says UK isits hottest market

Liz Moscrop

Dassault says the UK is itshottest market with 34Falcons flying in thecountry. It has ten Falcon7Xs on order and is thecompany’s number oneEuropean market. JohnRosanvallon, president andCEO, says: “The UK is avery important market forus – it took over the US byorder growth for the firsttime last year and the trendwas confirmed this year.”

Order“Orders for the

company’s large jets are nolonger restricted to heads ofstate and that more andmore customers are comingfrom the Middle East”,continues Rosanvallon,who says that the 2000EXdoes “particularly well” inthe region. In January, the

airframer received its firstfirm order for a new 900DXfrom China’s largest state-owned financial servicesholding company, Citic.

Another critical next stepfor the company is an in-depth review of its mainte-nance software, in which ithas invested more than$100 million. After exten-

sive customer surveys, ittackled the issue of partsavailability and improvedits service level for parts to98%. It also reduced partscosts overall by 22% andlast month doubled its partswarranty for two years afterpurchase.

The airframer will furtherdevelop its Product Life

Cycle management, (PLM)tool for maintenance andtechnician training. Thesoftware identifies issues asthey arise on an individualaircraft.

It could potentially beuplinked while the aircraft isflying and would be aperfect fit with the all-digitalplatform on the 7X.

Bombardierinks firstsales to Libya

Phenom setfor mid-‘07first flight

United Aviation, a Tripoli-based charter company, hassigned up for a Challenger300 and a Global 5000. Thisis the first time the Canadianairframer has sold a businessaircraft to a Libyancompany. The order is worthapproximately $55 million.

United will offer theaircraft for flights to Europeand the Middle East. Thecompany says it selected thetwo aircraft because itscustomers prefer widebodiesand look for speed andcomfort with the 5000.

Bombardier received moregood news when Switzer-land’s VistaJet added afurther Global Express XRSto the fleet of aircraft ordersit revealed on Tuesday.

Embraer’s new Phenom 100very light jet (VLJ) hassuccessfully completed windtunnel testing. The three-stage test employed a 1:6scale model in various flightconfigurations and checkingcontrol surfaces. The testsconfirm the aircraft’sexpected characteristics anddesign specifications

“The company says thatprevious wind tunnel testshave proven to be veryprecise for the Embraer 170and Embraer 190 aircraft,where results have comewithin one percent offlight test numbers.

Henrique Langenegger,senior program manager,Phenom 100 and Phenom300 says: “The Phenom100 wind tunnel resultsgive us a high degree ofconfidence that itsprojected range, maximumspeed and field perform-ance will be met”.

The VLJ’s PW617Fengine has also justcompleted its first enginerun in Canada.

The UK has ten Falcon 7Xs on order and is Dassault’s number one European market.

Versace: de rigeur for cabins of the rich and famous.

90% of our customers are owner-pilots, says EADSSocata’s Gerard Bodin.

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