On The Eve Of NBAA 2010, Let's Take One Last Look Back At
NBAA 2009...
By the time that you read this, the entire cast and crew of the
ANN and Aero-TV follies will be working their buns off in
Hotlanta... The 2010 version of the National Business Aircraft
Association starts (officially) on Tuesday but ANN's
Aero-TV and editorial teams are on the job right now -- and looking
forward to some interesting news and announcements. NBAA2010
will feature hundreds of exhibits at the Georgia World
Congress Center, a Static Display of Aircraft on DeKalb Peachtree
Airport, over 100 Education Sessions and Maintenance and Operations
Sessions (M&Os), and nearly 25,000 business aviation
professionals who are interested in seeing and learning about all
that is new in the world of business aviation.
Since it's just a few hours away, let's take one last look
back at a few of the highlights of NBAA 2009!
Rarely has anyone set a tone for an event as swiftly and as
dramatically as Hawker Beechcraft's CEO, Bill Boisture. Having
survived one of the toughest years in the history of aviation (much
less business aviation), Boisture showed up in military livery, as
did his entire staff and management team, using a strong military
metaphor to describe the year past as well as the attitudes that
may be necessary to weather the storm of the next few.
Boisture is no shrinking violet... he is a battle-worn veteran
of a number of companies and industry segments. In addition to his
current leadership role at HBC, W.W. (Bill) Boisture Jr. is the
former president of industry-leading companies NetJets and
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, bringing more than 30 years of
aviation experience to this particular battle.
Mind you, the military metaphor comes easily to Boisture, a true
veteran... he was the "real deal" -- a fighter pilot in the US Air
Force (USAF) and a graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School and
the US Navy Fighter Weapons School ("Topgun" school). He was
honorably discharged as a major after 11 years of service. Boisture
maintains a commercial instrument rating and continues to be an
active pilot.
But make no mistake, while the military motif may have seemed a
bit dramatic, it was certainly apt (and frightfully 'on target')...
the industry has been in a heckuva fight this year and has to be
prepared for much more, while the folks of HBC seem more than ready
and willing to meet and defeat all foes...
****************
The message from Lear's David Coleal is clear... the
internationally manufactured Learjet 85 IS on track. According to
Coleal and his staff, "Development of the Bombardier Learjet 85
aircraft continues on schedule for its announced entry into service
date of 2013.
Progress has been consistent and going
as planned. With the joint definition exit phase at hand, we have
completed two proof of concept fuselage sections as well as all
wind tunnel testing. The systems design, installation and
integration are on target, icing tunnel tests have begun, and we
have established certification protocols with the FAA."
The Learjet 85 offers a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.82 and a
transcontinental range of up to 3000 nautical miles. The quoted
Long-Range cruise is M 0.78, its balanced field length (at MTOW) is
4800 feet, expected Time to Climb to FL410 (MTOW, SL, ISA) is less
than 18 minutes and its maximum cruise altitude is 49000 feet.
A truly international undertaking (as so much with Lear is...),
Bombardier's Lear 85 program is currently expanding its production
site in Querétaro where a new building is under
construction, while their Wichita facilities are being enlarged in
preparation for the final assembly and delivery of future Learjet
85 aircraft.
****************
ANN does not have to tell anyone that aviation has not had a
good year... and one of the reasons for that, economics
notwithstanding, is the fact that our image has suffered dramatic
hits this year in terms of public, media and governmental
perceptions of who and what this industry truly is.
ANN's Jim Campbell has chatted with Gulfstream President Joe
Lombardo over the past year and noted an undeniable commitment to
not only improving the image of Gulfstream among all those who
matter, but in seeing that all of aviation gets a chance to show
off its true measure.
Lombardo was one of the most forceful speakers at this summer's
compelling Business Aviation day at Oshkosh 2009. Lombardo said
that, "The President and Congress attacked our image," and further
noted that he has been spending time talking to local, state, and
federal officials about the economic impact of business aviation.
He discussed NetJet, which is the nations oldest fractional
ownership company. Not only are companies like NetJet providing
jobs for pilots, dispatchers, and maintenance people, but the
economic impact ripples out to hotels, restaurants, caterers, and
others in the service and support sector. He said those in the
aviation community need to stay positive -- that they have to,
"Maintain a positive attitude, and take every opportunity to share
a positive message with the media, state, and local officials."
Lombardo continued that message at NBAA2009, and while only too
happy to crow (justifiably) about Gulfstream triumphs in a year
when many others have little to brag about, Lombardo showed that he
"has our back" in maintaining an aggressive tone about the message
GA and BizAv has to craft and send to avoid future setbacks,
embarrassments and misunderstandings.
****************
There is perceptible progress to be seen in the Stratos 714 jet
program... which is a lot more than other such projects can say at
this point. One of the first orders of business, though, at NBAA
2009 was to introduce a new boss. Stratos Aircraft introduced
Alexander Craig as their new Chief Executive Officer during an NBAA
news conference.
The Stratos 714 jet is designed to meet the needs of a growing
number of performance-driven aviators 'who demand more speed range,
and luxury in an owner-flown turbojet.' The 714 was first
introduced last year and is the first VLPJ designed to bridge the
performance gap between VLJ aircraft and full size business
jets.
Stratos claims that the aircraft is a clean-sheet carbon
composite design, optimized to achieve cruise speeds of more than
400 knots, with a 1500 nautical mile range (NBAA IFR reserves),
with 4 people seated comfortably and ample baggage storage.
Reportedly, a leading aerodynamics company has validated the
primary performance targets of the Stratos 714 confirming their
mission of 400 knots, 1500 miles, 4 passengers.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.16.24)
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