Embraer’s Legacy 450 Executive Jet awarded Brazilian certification

Gulfstream G650ER

Global 6000 from Bombardier

Cessna Citation Latitude from Textron Aviation;

Falcon 2000LXS

“2015 would turn out to be a challenging year, to say the least.”

The 12th edition of the Latin American Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (LABACE) which was held in São Paulo, Brazil, from August 11 to 13, was a fairly successful show, with enthusiasm remaining high even though participation may have been affected due to strained economic reasons. This edition had fewer aircraft on display than prior years. Two years ago the number of aircraft was 68 and the number had come down to 48 this time. However there was a strong rallying by the Brazilian business aviation the community. In an opening session address, the Chairman of the Association of Brazilian Aviation General (ABAG), Eduardo Marson, noted that when he assumed chairmanship four years ago, Brazilian general aviation (GA) was growing at an annual rate of five to six per cent, above a world average of three per cent, and “last year we were down to the world average. 2015 would turn out to be a challenging year, to say the least.” The current Brazilian crisis, he said, is like a storm, but “we’ll come out the other side and once again be flying in blue skies.” The previous two editions were affected by rain.

Pinning Hopes on 2016 Olympics

It is hoped that the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro would give substantial boost to GA though Marson felt that there could be dampener in terms of strict operational restrictions on the use of business aircraft. ABAG Director General Ricardo Nogueira at press conference said that the forthcoming Olympics look to be at least as much of a disappointment for the business aviation community as last year’s World Cup soccer championship. “Years ago, when I was in the Air Force managing air traffic, there was a controllers’ slowdown, a protest about safety and I said ‘You’ve achieved safety. There’s nothing that makes air traffic safer than keeping all the planes on the ground,’” he said. “Well, for the World Cup there was maximisation of safety, achieved by minimising GA. It will be worse in August of next year,” he predicted, before divulging that at a recent meeting with Brazil’s Civil Aviation Secretariat he was shown plans for air space control for the Olympics, to which he commented, “You’re taking Rio off the map!”

LABACE Holds On

Be that as it may, Marson said that Brazil’s economic downturn has not dented what he said is Latin America’s main GA event. “All the big companies are here, all the manufacturers are here, all the big service providers are here. Brazil is the world’s second largest GA market.” This year there were 154 brands and 48 aircraft on display. Marson remarked that many companies had slashed their marketing budgets. “This year was difficult for the economy and for aviation. Everyone knows sacrifices need to be made. But all the big manufacturers and service providers were here. They may be less festive, they may be less in the mood to celebrate, but they are here.”

Second Largest GA Fleet

Brazil has the second largest GA fleet in the world after the US, according to the third-annual Brazilian Yearbook of GA released by ABAG. At the end of last year, the Brazilian general and business aviation fleet totalled 13,965 aircraft worth $13.4 billion. Business aviation fleet in Brazil grew 6.7 per cent last year, with long-range jets and helicopters representing the biggest growth areas at 16 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. Of this total, 84 per cent was for private use, although 75 per cent are conventional pistonengine GA aircraft as opposed to jets, turboprops or helicopters and with an average age of 30 years. The overall fleet in Brazil is younger and there has been a shift towards corporate aviation.

Embraer Going Strong

Embraer received type certification for its new ‘mid-light’ Legacy 450 from Brazil’s civil aviation agency, Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC), during a ceremony at the LABACE. The company also announced that the twinjet had exceeded many of its guaranteed performance specifications. “We are especially thrilled with the Legacy 450 certification, delivering on our commitment to reach this milestone just one year after the Legacy 500,” said Humberto Pereira, Embraer Vice President for Engineering and Technology. The two aircraft share 95 per cent commonality, Pereira said. Two Legacy 450s participated in the certification effort, the first with flight-test instruments and the second with a production-conforming interior. ANAC Deputy Director Dino Ishikura said the agency spent a total of 12,000 man-hours to process data and paperwork during the aircraft’s certification exercise. Embraer Executive Jets President and CEO, Marco Túlio Pellegrini, called the Legacy 450 a “game changer in the mid-light segment,” noting that the final version has better range (2,575 nm versus 2,500 nm) and field performance (take-off distance is 175 feet less, at 3,825 feet and landing distance is 217 feet shorter, at 2,083 feet). Embraer expects to receive FAA certification for the Legacy 450 in the ‘coming weeks,’ with EASA approval to follow soon thereafter. Production of the Legacy 450 has already begun and the first delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter.

Gulfstream debuts G650ER

At LABACE, the Savannah-based business jet manufacturer Gulfstream debuted its 7,500 nautical-mile G650ER (extended range). Gulfstream claims that it is the market leader in largecabin jets in Latin America. Gulfstream has improved its fleet in Brazil from 14 in 2009 to over 40 in 2015 and the company expects further improvement on that with G450 and G550 and the midsize G280 holding their own dominant positions.

At LABACE, Gulfstream announced that it had resumed flight testing on G500 after a short break. The company is preparing large cabin, long range business jets for flutter tests. The G500 underwent a number of modifications, says Gulfstream, including the installation of winglet and horizontal flutter vanes and the aircraft’s attitude recovery chute. “During the modification period, Gulfstream used simulators to help our pilots prepare for the flutter tests,” it adds.

The G500 and the G600 are also undergoing tests with more than 36,000 hours completed to date. The aircraft are packed with advanced technologies including full fly-by-wire flight controls.

Bombardier Showcases Three Jets

Bombardier Business Aircraft showcased three business aircraft from its leading portfolio – Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Global 6000. “LABACE is gaining momentum every year and once again we are proud to participate in full force with aircraft from our three product families,” said Stéphane Leroy, Regional Vice President, Sales, Latin America. “Our customer base in the region is constantly expanding and Bombardier is in a strong position with the perfect product line-up to cater to the needs of our customers in Latin America.” Bombardier is currently the market leader with over 1,900 aircraft in the region. Over the next decade, Bombardier Business Aircraft forecasts over 850 business jet deliveries valued at $24 billion for the overall business aviation industry in Latin America. The fleet in the region is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of three per cent over this period. With the industry’s most comprehensive product portfolio and a commitment to customer satisfaction, Bombardier Business Aircraft continues to grow its leadership position in key regions around the world.

HondaJet First Public Appearance

The HondaJet, the world’s most advanced light jet, made its first public appearance at LABACE 2015. The HondaJet was met with an enthusiastic welcome from business and private jet users with Honda Aircraft Company receiving multiple orders for the HondaJet after the first day. “We are extremely pleased with the early response to the HondaJet by customers in South America,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “In addition to receiving multiple orders, many more individuals at LABACE have expressed interest in the HondaJet, saying they are impressed with its class-leading performance, comfort, fuel efficiency and overall fit and finish.”

The company recently expanded sales of the world’s most advanced light jet to South America and appointed Líder Aviação as the exclusive dealer to provide sales, service and support for the HondaJet in Brazil. Based in Belo Horizonte, Líder operates more than 23 fixed base operations (FBOs) throughout Brazil. A production HondaJet was on static display. Honda and Líder conducted a demonstration tour to showcase the aircraft’s performance capabilities to Brazilian customers. “There is strong market potential in Brazil, and Honda Aircraft Company is committed to creating a higher standard for the light jet market in South America,” said Fujino.

Demand for Bell Helicopters

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc company, headlined the show with the Bell 429WLG, the Bell 407 GX and the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X mock-up para-public configuration. Bell Helicopter said that demand for the Bell 505 is intensifying around the world, with nearly 350 letters of intent worldwide and 35 from customers throughout Brazil. Interest also continues for the Bell 429 with nearly 60 aircraft operating in Latin America, while the Bell 407GX has more than 200 aircraft in the region configured for a range of operations including corporate, para-public and general/utility.

“Bell Helicopter is a major player in the Latin American region and we continue to make investments to support our current and future customers,” said Jay Ortiz, Bell Helicopter’s Vice President, Commercial Sales in Latin America. “Our commitment to this market is evident by our growing local presence of personnel.”

Cessna and Beechcraft in Full Flow

Textron Aviation also had on display its nearly clean-sheet design Cessna Citation Latitude business jet, as well as its upgraded Citation CJ3 Plus business jet and Beechcraft King Air 250. “Since our appearance at LABACE last year, we have demonstrated our leadership in certifying and bringing new products to market, which is evidenced by the debut this year of the Citation Latitude, Citation CJ3 (Plus) and Beechcraft King Air 250 with Pro Line Fusion,” Bob Gibbs, Textron Aviation Vice President, Sales for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dassault Features Falcon 7X

Dassault Aviation featured the top-of-the-line Falcon 7X and the new Falcon 2000LXS/Falcon 2000S twinjet at the show. “The long-range Falcon 7X is the most popular large-cabin business jet in Brazil, with 15 units sold,” said John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet. “We’ve also seen very strong demand for the Falcon 8X in Brazil since we first announced the programme just over one year ago with three of the first 20 aircraft scheduled to be delivered in here. That’s given Dassault a great deal of confidence in the future of the Brazilian market.” Brazil remains one of the largest markets for the Falcon 7X which can connect São Paulo with Los Angeles or Paris while the Falcon 8X will reach Seattle or Moscow.

Additionally, the Falcon 2000 family remains a category leader in Brazil with more than 20 aircraft in operation. The performance of the Falcon 2000 is especially appreciated in Brazil and South America where short airfields, elevated runways and high temperatures are common. Though all GA manufacturers have pegged their hopes on the market reviving, they are right now cautious in their marketing strategies. Brazil like other emerging economies hold a lot of promise as the economies open up.