At last, the Phenom 100 has been certified today by ANAC or Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil, Brazil’s version of FAA or the Federation Aviation Administration.

Embraer is probably the happiest aviation company in the world. They were able to deliver what they promised to do four years ago.  They are beaming with pride as they were not only able to meet the original specifications that they conceptualized on the Phenom 100 Executive Jet; they were able to surpassed them resulting to a more dependable aircraft.

Most of the original key features of the Phenom 100 were enhanced such as it has a longer range; it is a little bit faster that it was originally designed. Even the takeoff and landing capabilities were upgraded. It has been certified without restrictions. It can fly day or night and even on ice.

We will just wait for the FAA certification and it is ready to fly especially since Embraer made sure that the first 100 Phenom customers were already trained regarding its mechanical and technical capabilities. The different Embraer aviation centers around the world are already equipped to give support for the new aircraft.

Owners I believe are quite excited by this news. After the FAA certification in the United States, expect aircraft deliveries soon.

Photo Credit: Embraer

China’s continuing development gearing towards the fast-paced luxury lifestyle of the rich and famous will be up a notch next year as the country’s first business aviation center is expected to be opening its doors in Shanghai to all incoming private jets.

Photo Credit: bunmun

A groundbreaking ceremony was held a few days ago heralding a new era for the Chinese elite. The idea of having a private jet hub or a business aviation center catering to different types of luxurious private aircrafts in China is definitely inconceivable in the past decades especially during the Cold War.

Anyway, the $11.6 million aviation center will be built in the Hongqiao Airport and is expected to provide a wide range of services for every private jet coming to China from aircraft maintenance, repair, leaing of hangar space and office space or conference rooms provinding the businessmen needed tools to operate their businesses while they are in China.

 
Photo Credit: Hong Kong dear Edward

This venture was a result of a partnership between Shanghai Airport Authority and Austalia’s Hawker Pacific targeting the private aviation market that is growing quite steadily in the country. It is also a preparation for the World Expo in 2010 wherein around 4,000 private aircrafts are expected to come in as Shanghai will be hosting the said event.

The Chinese government believes that the aviation industry in their country will continue to grow each year even if we are all experienceing global economic difficulties.

The team handling the most anticipated jet, Cirrus Vision, from one of the newest personal aircraft manufacturers in the industry, Cirrus Design , is quite positive that everything is going as planned in the development of the new aircraft.

Cirrus Vision

The CEO of Cirrus Design himself along with the company’s Vice President announced recently regarding updates and new information about Cirrus Vision. We learned that the new aircraft was under the test pilots for around 120 hours and they are quite happy of its performance. Although there are still tests that are being done, they said that some of the features of the aircraft were adjusted to improve all its functions. There are some parts of the aircraft that will be removed such as the right side door to lessen the weight and there are some things need to be added to make it more safe and spacious. It will have the capability to fly at 1,100 nautical miles at a maximum speed of 300 knots.

They also announced that they will be seeking for a type certificate in the next two weeks from the FAA but will not yet get certification from the EASA for Europe commands high fees on jets in the Cirrus Vision weight category.

If you are one of those who likes personal jets, this single-engine aircraft is definitely one to watch out for. Right now the base price for a Cirrus Vision Personal Jet is amounting to $1,000,000.00. However, we all know that with the recession, inflation and other economic factors it will change when ithe time that it is already available in the market.  Although, the management said that they will try their best to have the final price close to that amount.

Reserve you position now with $100,000.00 and be among the first to experience the Cirrus Vision in 2011 or 2012.

Photo Credit: Cirrus

Virgin Charter, one of Sir Richard Branson’s successful businesses recently announced that they are going to use GetThere, online travel procurement solutions, so that they can provide a better online booking system to the flying public.

The Virgin Charter is the very first private aviation company that will avail of this program. The online booking system that GetThere will be providing will make sure that corporations can access Virgin Charter flight availability fast, safe and easy. Flight details can be easily managed directly from your very own laptop or PC.

Photo Credit: James Willamor

GetThere is the leading travel procurement solution in the world and it has the right technology capability and long industry experience to be able to make the online travel booking system very efficient with the use of a user-friendly and award-winning interface that will not intimidate the consumers even those who are not that good with online business transactions.

This partnership would only mean that there would be more private travel options and multiple quotes available with just a few clicks in the computer. Now, you can avail of the hot flight deals that Virgin Charter can offer like the best empty leg flights available in your point of origin or destination.

The ingenuity of e-commerce is truly amazing. Booking private aircrafts is easier these days.

It is quite incredible but amazingly correct when aviation experts say that this is the right time to try private aviation. There is a global economic recession and they say it is the right time to try to fly via private jets. Why? Was it only a week ago when the GM’s of the Big 3 of the automobile industry were lambasted by the Congress for having used their private jets during times like this?

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The answer is simple. Every aviation company in North America and Europe may it be from the manufacturers or charter operators or fractional jet card providers are trying their best to continue to stay afloat by offering the best deals to the consumers.

While it is true that the flow of money is limited, these aviation companies have thought of ways to adapt to the current economic climate. There are some aircraft manufacturers which offers extra perks, discounted prices to sweeten the deal and convince prospective buyers to purchase their aircraft. One of them is Diamond Aircraft which offers one whole year of free fuel for those who will purchase the DA40 before the year ends. That is one nice package.

Photo Credit: Flexjet

Even those private aviation operators who have fractional ownership or jet card programs like Flexjet. They readjusted their policy to help their clients from losing money like letting them sell their unused flying hours to other owners.

Today, people from North America and Europe are readjusting their business strategies to utilize the existing market the best way they could.  So before you charter a flight, make sure you check all your options, prices are dropping, card restrictions are loosening and the name of the game is bargaining. There is no better time than today to bargain your way in.

Aviation business in the Middle East proved to be resilient as a total of $1.5 billion deals were inked among buyers and manufacturers at the recent Middle East Business Aviation Expo in Dubai last November 16-18, 2008.

While the aviation industry in some other parts of the world is experiencing heavy loss and difficulties, the Middle East proved to be quite unaffected by it judging from the way orders was announced during the 3-day event. It is absolutely great news for the industry because it would probably save up some jobs in the production department.

The organizers of the Expo was extremely happy with the result especially when exhibitors said that there are more people that went to the Expo which tripled last year’s event.  The partnerships and agreements that were made between aviation companies during the event were made possible because of the financial security that the Middle East aviation business is enjoying right now.

The business climate in the aviation industry in the Middle East is way different from what we are seeing in the West. Cessna for one must be rejoicing since they took home a deal worth $90 million comprised of 3 Cessna Columbus, two CJ’s, a Citation and a Caravan. At this global economic slump, orders like these are hard to come by.

Photo Credit: MEBA

When a company reportedly told the workers to go home and advised them not to come back until they are called is a sure way of announcing to the world that they are on a verge of closing down. The grim situation is even more obvious when the management cannot handle the payroll.

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No money, no production, no delivery, no refunds, plenty of lawsuits left and right is the perfect recipe for complete business destruction. Some aviation analysts believed that Eclipse Aviation, makers of Eclipse 500 aircrafts may turn out to be one of the worst managed aircraft manufacturer in the aviation history.

Eclipse Aviation was once regarded as one of the fast rising, innovative aircraft manufacturers in the world. Business analysts who studied the plight of Eclipse Aviation said that it was not the aircraft that is the root of the problem (although it sure has some controversy) but the business plan itself. It was a very risky plan with unrealistic, yearly production rate.

Photo Credit: FlyGuy92586

The company needs to produce a thousand aircrafts a year to be able to sustain itself. Apparently, this figure is insane because if you add the total number of aircrafts produced in 2007 from different manufacturers globally, you will come up with just around 4,000.  It also did not help that the aircraft certification was involved in a major scale controversy. FAA was accused of rushing the certification for Eclipse during a congressional hearing.

Right now, it was reported that employees were asked to report back to work last November 17 and was paid their salaries the next day but there is still no assurance at all for the next payday.

Some says that the company may be able to get more financing but only to sustain itself until around 2009 after which they say it will take quite a miracle or Divine Providence to make the company work its way out of its misery.

The global economy is at risk with different countries succumbing to recession and almost every industry is in peril. The aviation industry is no exception. We have seen the cutdowns from aircraft manufacturers and the commercial airliners/private aviation operators are thinking of ways to make the people still continue to want to fly. Inspite of these economic difficulties, we still see a silver lining in every type of crisis and one of them is buying aircrafts, used or brand new.

Photo Credit: Jay Dugger

While there is quite a serious problem with credit crunch, it is not a problem for those eligible aircraft buyers as long you are not picky with the terms and interest rates given to you.

Today, since the availability of funds is limited, those who need them badly will definitely make a go for the extra luxury items in their list, the spare ones usually go first. This is the best time to find nice deals or great bargains for aircrafts. The word on the street is that the toll on the economy is creeping in and so these luxury toys are on the trading list.

Photo Credit: Djenan                                           Photo Credit: rastafabi

It is not only the used aircrafts that offers high valued deals, most general aviation manufacturers these days are cutting down the prices to gain more buyers. They do not only offer a more reasonable, lower price, the purchase also comes with many perks such maintenance and flight training for free or a better insurance incentive.

Is it really the best time to buy an aircraft?  Maybe but it also depend on your ability to purchase.  If you love flying and you have money to spare, why not?!

The DHS or Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff just released new rules for additional security measures they will be undertaking to provide safety to United States. They will be requiring passenger information on those that will be flying private jets.

Photo Credit: James Willamor

Barely two months before administration will change hands, the DHS present leadership is making sure that they will be leaving the department with a more secured aviation industry.

The new rules will require a manifest of data from both crew and passengers an hour before arriving in and departing from the U.S. from the whole general aviation industry.

These measures have been implemented already in the commercial aviation but the DHS feels that they need to cover every possible area that can be used by terrorists. They said that it will lessen the vulnerability of the United States from any attack may it be foreign or local.

Photo Credit: WTL photos                                   Photo Credit: alex-s

They need the extra 60 minutes to make sure that all passengers and members of the crew can be checked with the security database so that they will be assured that no potential dangerous person is aboard a private plane.

Aside from these new security measures given by the DHS, the mail coming in and out of the U.S. will also undergo heavy radiation scanning to make sure they won’t pose any threat to Americans.

I guess those who want to fly at the very last minute may very well change their nasty habit.  DHS wants your name on the list an hour before you leave.  It is America, the last remaining superpower, what do you expect?!  They do not want a repeat on the 9/11 tragedy.

Have you heard of this amazing “Two Weeks to Taxi” aircraft program by Glasair Aviation?  Yes, you read it right!  Builders only need two weeks to have the aircraft ready taxing at the runway.

This program is being offered by Glasair Aviation. It is amazing as well as controversial because it is quite unbelievable to have an aircraft ready to fly just after building it for two weeks. However, future owners of this Glasair Sportsman aircraft need not worry because it has been officially endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Production and Airworthiness Division.

FAA said that after one week of checking the system and process in which the Glasair has been implementing in building the aircraft, they concluded that it is well inside the framework of Part 21 of Section 21.191. It only means that yes; they can effectively build the Glasair Sportman aircraft in just two weeks and they are safe.

Go to the Glasair Aviation site and purchase a kit so you can enjoy taxing your new aircraft in just two weeks.

Photo Credit: Glasair