Tag: May (Page 5 of 5)

Pilatus Reopens PC-24 Super Versatile Jet Order Book

May 20, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Pilatus has already handed over 30 PC-24s since the first customer delivery in February 2018. The PC-24 fleet leader, serial number 101 belonging to PlaneSense, has already flown over 1,100 hours in its first 15 months of operation. The PC-24 fleet as a whole has clocked up over 5,000 hours of safe airborne time – an impressive result for the newly launched business jet by Pilatus.

The PC-24 Super Versatile Jet takes off! All in all, 30 PC-24s are currently in operation around the world, including three PC-24s used as medevac aircraft for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Pilatus plans on delivering about 40 PC-24s in 2019, and on stepping up production to 50 aircraft the following year.

Oscar J. Schwenk, Chairman of Pilatus, is delighted with the success of the PC-24: “Demand for the PC-24 is phenomenal. From day one, there has been keen interest from various customer segments all over the world. Feedback from the first 30 PC-24 operators is extremely positive, with special mention for the aircraft’s versatility, its spacious, quiet cabin and the incredible performance of the PC-24. These remarks plus the high degree of attention which the aircraft commands all confirm our chosen PC-24 strategy.”

Certified for unpaved runways and steep approaches

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have already certified the PC-24 for use on unpaved runways. Work to obtain post-certification for other surfaces, including grass, is currently underway. The PC-24 has also been certified for steep approaches as required for e.g. the approach into London City Airport.

The very first PC-24 of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS Central Operations) with serial number 118 arrived in Australia on 29 April 2019. A few days later, the first landings on unpaved strips went ahead in Kingoonya, a small and almost totally abandoned farming settlement in the central outback of the Australian state of South Australia.

Order book reopened

In 2014, Pilatus sold 84 PC-24s in the space of one and a half days. The order book was subsequently closed until receipt of feedback from the first PC-24 operators.

Pilatus and its Authorised Pilatus Centres are now taking orders for the PC-24 again, with delivery positions programmed for late 2020 and 2021. The base price of the PC-24 is 10.7 million US dollars.

The PC-24 Super Versatile Jet will be on display at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) from 21 to 23 May in Geneva, Switzerland. Reservations for personal visits can be made on site or at any Authorised Pilatus Centre.

Embraer Praetor 600 Jet Makes Its First Transatlantic Crossing

May 20, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Melbourne, Florida, May 17, 2019 – Embraer’s new Praetor 600 super-midsize business jet has completed its first transatlantic crossing, powered by Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF). The aircraft arrived yesterday in Farnborough, having departed from Teterboro Airport in the U.S. The first transatlantic flight of the Praetor 600 covered about 3,000 nautical miles with about 15,000 lb of fuel, of which 3,000 lb was SAJF.

Embraer will debut its new Praetor business jets at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 21 to May 23. The new midsize Praetor 500 and super-midsize Praetor 600 business jets were launched in October 2018.

On static display at this year’s EBACE will be the entry-level Phenom 100EV, the Phenom 300E light jet, the midsize Praetor 500, the super-midsize Praetor 600, the large Legacy 650E and the ultra-large Lineage 1000E. All aircraft will arrive at EBACE fueled with SAJF.

Prior to arrival at EBACE, Embraer will participate at a business aviation biofuel event to be held at Farnborough Airport on May 18. This event will mark the first anniversary of the launch of the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF), at EBACE 2018, and the 10th anniversary of the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, announced in 2009.

The “Fueling the Future” event will gather business aviation and civic leaders to discuss the path forward for the continued adoption of SAJF in business aviation, in order to fulfill the coalition’s goal of reducing emissions through investments and innovation. Several manufacturer’s business aircraft will be fueled with SAJF before departing to EBACE.

On May 8, the Praetor 600 began its journey to EBACE at São Paulo International Airport in Brazil and arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a six-passenger equivalent payload of 1,200 lb (544 kg). This was the aircraft’s longest flight to date, covering 3,904 nm (7,230 kilometers) over an air distance of 3,678 nm (6,812 kilometers), having faced up to 43 knots of headwinds and descended into Miami’s distinct air space pattern.

The Praetor 600 is the best performing super-midsize jet ever developed, surpassing all its main design goals and becoming capable of flying beyond 4,000 nautical miles in long-range cruise speed or beyond 3,700 nautical miles at Mach .80 from runways shorter than 4,500ft, complemented by an outstanding payload capability.

The Praetor 600 is the first super-midsize jet with full fly-by-wire technology, which powers the Active Turbulence Reduction that not only makes every flight the smoothest but also the most efficient possible.

Dassault Aviation at the EBACE 2019 Event

May 17, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The Dassault Aviation group is delighted to be presenting its dual civil and defense know-how at the 2019 edition of EBACE, Europe’s primary business aviation event, to be held in Geneva from 21 to 23 May.

Saint-Cloud, France, 17 May 2019 – The Dassault Aviation group is delighted to be presenting its dual civil and defense know-how at the 2019 edition of EBACE, Europe’s primary business aviation event, to be held in Geneva from 21 to 23 May.

Three Dassault aircraft will be presented in the static display:

a Falcon 8X tri-jet,
a Falcon 900LX tri-jet,
a Falcon 2000S twin-jet.

The Falcons designed and built by Dassault Aviation are a family of business aircraft which have earned a reputation for handling, operational flexibility, low consumption and technological innovation. © Dassault Aviation – All Rights Reserved

On its stand, Dassault Aviation will also be presenting:

a full-scale mock-up of the cabin of the Falcon 6X, the new Falcon twin-jet currently under development. Visitors will be able to enter this mock-up, which is fully representative of the features and comfort of the actual cabin;
a mock-up of the Rafale, the multi-role combat aircraft, which has proven itself in numerous theatres of operations. The Rafale is a candidate for the Swiss Air Force’s combat fleet renewal program;
a mock-up of the nEUROn stealth combat UAV demonstrator built under the project leadership of Dassault Aviation, in cooperation with companies from five European countries, including Ruag of Switzerland;
a representation of the new capabilities of Dassault Aviation’s Falcon maintenance networks, notably following the acquisition of MRO activities of TAG Aviation in Europe and ExecuJet in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

As well as being the lynchpin of a strategic industrial network comprising hundreds of companies in France and around the world, Dassault Aviation is also the core industrial shareholder of the Thales Group and the leader of the new-generation European combat aircraft program.

Thomas Cook Sets May 7 Deadline for Airline Interest

May 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

LONDON (Reuters) – Thomas Cook has set a deadline of May 7 for expressions of interest in its airline business, with Indigo Partners and Lufthansa among the likely bidders, sources said.

The heavily-indebted British travel group put its profitable airline business up for sale in February after profit warnings in 2018 left it needing to raise cash.

Thomas Cook’s airlines business consists of Germany’s Condor, as well as British, Scandinavian and Spanish operations.

A sale of the business, in whole or in part, would enable the world’s oldest tour operator to invest more in its own hotels and improve its online sales.

A source familiar with the discussions said that Indigo and Germany’s Lufthansa appeared most interested in the business.

British Airways owner IAG should not be ruled out and easyJet has engaged in talks but is seen as less interested, the source added.

It is not clear whether Ireland’s Ryanair would bid.

Another source said that private equity groups KKR and Apollo might also look at taking over the whole of Thomas Cook.

The airlines business would provide access to valuable European slots linking Britain to Spain, Greece and Turkey.

Thomas Cook, Indigo, IAG and easyJet declined to comment, while Lufthansa and Ryanair were not immediately available.

Lufthansa executives have said repeatedly that the German airline wants to “play an active role” in consolidation.

Indigo, the private equity firm managed by Bill Franke, the veteran U.S. low-cost airline investor, has previously made investments in several airlines including Hungary’s Wizz.

Thomas Cook has been revamping different parts of its business this year, closing high street stores and reviewing its money division as it focuses on holidays.

The company was hit badly in 2018 when a hot European summer deterred customers from booking holidays through the year.

One banking source said the airline would fetch less than 1 billion euros (£859 million). Thomas Cook has a current market value of just over £400 million.

Sources said that competition issues could influence which parts of the business different suitors go for.

Sky News has said China’s Fosun International, a Thomas Cook shareholder, was interested in its tour business.

(Reporting by Kate Holton and Clara Denina in London; additional reporting by Alistair Smout and Georgina Prodhan in London and Arno Schuetze in Frankfurt; Editing by Alexander Smith)

Pilatus Reopens PC-24 Super Versatile Jet Order Book

Embraer Praetor 600 Jet Makes Its First Transatlantic Crossing

Dassault Aviation at the EBACE 2019 Event

Thomas Cook Sets May 7 Deadline for Airline Interest

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