Honeywell, $270bn worth demand for business jets in 10 years

As a slow growth economic environment takes hold across many global markets, the business aviation industry is not immune to its impact.

In its 24th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook released, Honeywell Aerospace forecasts up to 9,200 new business jet deliveries worth $270 billion from 2015 to 2025, with a 3 to 5 percent reduction over the value noted in the 2014 forecast.

"While emerging markets like Brazil continue to be a bright spot for business aviation over the medium term, we have seen weaker demand across other key growth markets, which may affect near-term order and delivery levels," said Brian Sill, president, Business and General Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace. "And while the sluggish economic growth and political tensions are driving a more reserved approach to purchasing, we are seeing operators invest in retrofits and upgrades for their existing aircraft, especially around connectivity, boosting aftermarket opportunities."

There are key global findings in the 2015 Honeywell outlook include deliveries of approximately 675 to 725 new jets in 2015, a single-digit percentage growth year over year. The improvement in deliveries expected in 2015 is largely due to new model introductions and an increase in fractional-usage type of aircraft deliveries.

Moreover, 2016 deliveries are projected to be slightly lower reflecting weaker emerging market demand partially offset by deliveries to fractional operators and operators surveyed plan to make new jet purchases equivalent to about 22% of their fleets over the next five years as replacements or additions to their current fleet.

The total new business jet purchase plans, 19% are intended to occur by the end of 2016, while 17% and 20 % are scheduled for 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Operators continue to focus on larger-cabin aircraft classes, ranging from super mid-size through ultra long-range and business liner, which are expected to account for more than 80 percent of all expenditures on new business jets in the near term. Also, the longer-range forecast through 2025 projects a 3% average annual growth rate despite the relatively flat near-term outlook as new models and improved economic performance contribute to industry growth.

Source and image: Honeywell

Czech Military Eyes New Helos, Transport Aircraft

The Czech Ministry of Defense has invited producers from other NATO member states to supply offers for the delivery of 12 multipurpose helicopters for the Czech military with the aim to replace its outdated Soviet-designed helos.

Other plans include the acquisition of new transport aircraft to significantly increase the Czech Air Force's air transport capability, the ministry said in a statement.

“In the field of helicopters, it is our priority to buy 12 multipurpose helicopters to replace the Mi-24s and Mi-35s, which currently don’t comply with the requirements for deployment to foreign military missions,” Col. Jiri Vavra, the director of the ministry’s Air Force Development and Planning Department, said. “By 2025, we are also expecting to purchase two medium-size transport aircraft, which will significantly increase our air transport capability and enable the transport of vehicles and major gear.”

The Czech government has announced it will intensify its efforts to replace Soviet- and Russian-made military gear with weapons and equipment supplied by NATO member states following Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine.

The new transport aircraft are to replace the Czech military’s Yakovlev Yak-40 planes. The Mil Mi-24 and Mi-35 helicopters are built by Russia’s state-run Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant.

Senator Mike Sonko Endorses And Praises Hon Raila Odinga

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko in a public speech praised Hon Raila Odinga for his fight against corruption and public looting by government officials.

Mike Sonko, who is a vocal supporter of the Jubilee government made the rare remarks that have since gone viral across YouTube.

In the speech, Sonko praises Raila saying that he has never had Raila insult the president. This comes after the likes of Moses Kuria have persistently insulted Raila even threatening to sue Raila over his comments on demanding accountability from the government on behalf of the Kenyan people.

Sonko went ahead to say that through Raila’s pressure, officials who have been behind these mega corruption schemes have been arrested a testimony to the good work Hon Raila is doing.Raila has been summoned to appear before the commission tasked with investigating the Eurobond scandal. It is not yet clear if he will honor the summons. It has been alleged that the timing may collide with several commitments Hon Raila has for tomorrow.

He however said will make a decision on whether to honor the summons or not. Raila said that his decision will be based on the best interests of Kenyans.

VIP flight attendant: a dream job or a Pandora’s box?

  Being a flight attendant is a dream job for many, but being a VIP flight attendant is close to a pure fantasy even for all those already in the business. They fly less hours, visit the most amazing places on earth and, according to the Daily Mail, earn from 2 to 8 times more than their commercial counterparts. However, great rewards come with unprecedented responsibility and the so called Bond-style life, where the phone ringing in the middle of the night is just another call to mission.

According wikiHow, becoming a corporate flight attendant is easy. You just have to follow 4 simple steps – have a passport (not a step, really), undergo training, apply for a job and show up for an interview. However, in order to learn how to do this job properly and to understand the executive clients you would be working for, you need to obtain far more knowledge and experience than the one provided during this 4 step program. Whilst scrolling through various VIP attendant job ads, it seems that fluency in languages, training and experience are all equally important for the role. Nevertheless, the truly crucial traits are versatility, knowledge and just shier devotion of a person.

“Almost everything this industry covers has to be flexible and flight attendants are no exception. The ability to take care of safety and understand your in-flight operational responsibilities is just a tip of the iceberg,” says Vitalij Kapitonov, the CEO of KlasJet. “On top of the commonly known duties, an attendant must maintain awareness of all passengers’ food allergies as well as dietary restrictions and preferences. Moreover, the skills of a PA come in handy when you have to arrange, for instance, a frozen butterball turkey, no smaller than 33lbs, in a few-hour notice (real story, by the way). It might come as a surprise, but food is where the attendants’ know-how is most valuable for every employer.”

First off, the person must be skillful in culinary arts. After all, not only is he or she responsible for serving Michelin star plates, but also commonly in charge of finding, arranging and transporting food to the take-off airport. Such skills as the one of a sommelier are also highly appreciated in the industry. Apart from that, VIP crew must be acquainted with food safety and correct food handling techniques. No travellers, including CEOs, multibillionaires or pop stars, want to get sick because their beluga caviar wasn’t opened or stored the right way.

So the road to becoming a VIP flight attendant could be basically summed up in three words – learn, learn and learn. And if you work hard enough you are more than likely to get a call from a private jet operator offering you your fantasy spot. And you’ll be in for a treat. Having adjusted to the 24 hour notices, you’ll meet and chat with the brightest and the best as well as have the chance to literally see the world and your name on a $120 000 yearly paycheck.

Without a doubt, aside from the culinary education, industry-specific training also plays a big role in a flight attendant’s working in business aviation life. According to the KlasJet executive, almost all of the companies require candidates to have CPR, AED and first aid, in-flight cabin service, food catering, and FACTS Training. However, the main criteria remain the know-how and the ability to be flexible and organized. “In general, companies with extensive experience in the field offer the greatest conditions, however, that means you also have to be the best candidate,” concludes Vitalij Kapitonov, CEO of KlasJet.

Source and image: KlasJet

U.S. challenges China at WTO over aircraft tax policy

 The United States has launched dispute settlement proceedings at the World Trade Organization by requesting consultations with China over its different tax policy on foreign aircraft versus planes produced in China, a top U.S. trade official said Tuesday.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said that China imposes a 17 percent value-added tax (VAT) on imported aircraft generally weighing under 25 metric tons while exempting such aircraft made in China from the tax.

The Chinese government has also failed to publish its tax exemptions for domestically produced aircraft, he added.

"Transparency of laws and regulations impacting trade is a core WTO commitment that China must uphold, just as it expects other countries to do," Froman said. "For these reasons, the United States is filing a trade enforcement case to hold China accountable."

Consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process. If the United States and China are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultations, the United States may request that the WTO establish a dispute settlement panel to examine the matter.

In a briefing with reporters, U.S. trade officials said the United States exported about half a billion U.S. dollars' worth of small- to mid-sized aircraft to China in the past three years, and they see China's newly self-developed regional jet ARJ21 as a competitor against U.S. aircraft in the future.

The USTR's request came as U.S. House and Senate lawmakers are nearing an agreement on a trade customs and enforcement bill, which would help strengthen U.S. trade enforcement.

The House and Senate have passed different versions of the customs and enforcement bill, but have yet to reconcile their differences to pass a final measure.

"The case is an important confirmation that enforcement matters. At the same time, I will continue working through the customs conference committee to give USTR even more enforcement tools," said Dave Reichert, chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against trade protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.

Source and image: English News

Pilot killed in plane crash North of Council Bluffs

 The pilot of a single-engine plane was killed when his aircraft crashed in the median of Interstate 29 north of Council Bluffs on December 10.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said, ""Right now we have one deceased."

The Sheriff said the pilot left Eppley Airfield around noon. Moments later he radioed back saying he was experiencing problems with the plane. He requested permission to return to the airport. According to witness reports the plane then clipped a power line and crashed.

The plane went down near mile marker 58 east of Eppley Airfield and north of downtown Council Bluffs.

Darrell Wade was traveling along I-29 just before the plane went down. He told us, "I looked at the other two guys in the truck with me and said, 'Oh crap, he's gonna crash."

Wade said, "We were heading south on Interstate 29. Plane was flying on the other side, following the railroad tracks. Cut a hard right. Landing gear dropped. Clipped one of the power lines. Cartwheeled and landed face-first in the dirt."

Wade said, "When his landing gear came down I knew that he was having some kind of mechanical issue, obviously." He said he saw no fire but the wreckage was surrounded by fuel.

He told us he checked the pilot - the lone person on board and said, "No response. No pulse."

Traffic was interrupted after the crash but was moving again by 1 p.m.

Air New Zealand installs futuristic bag drops

 Air New Zealand is claiming another world first with its new electronic bag drops at Auckland International Airport.

The national carrier said checking-in would be faster with the new bag drops which featured "world-first biometric technology".

The technology was similar to that used by SmartGates, where passengers scan their passports and boarding passes to have their identities verified by a biometric camera.

Once identification has been confirmed passengers weigh their bags which are then processed through the airline's baggage handling system.

Five bag drops have been installed at Auckland Airport with eight more being installed in early 2016.

In November Air New Zealand claimed another first by introducing monitoring bracelets for minors, called Airbands.

The wristband is embedded with a chip which is scanned at stages of the journey, triggering text notifications to be sent to up to five nominated contacts.

Source and image: Lenta.ru