Today’s Top Pick is a 2000 Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1.

Cessna’s 525 CitationJet was designed to fill a gap in the company’s lineup resulting from the end of Citation I production during the 1980s. The original Citation I pioneered the successful formula of a light jet with short-field performance that allowed it to use the same runways as light piston twins. The downside was a relatively low cruising speed compared with larger  models in the growing Citation family of aircraft.

Cessna held onto the notion that there was enough demand in the market to make a new four- to five-passenger jet worthwhile. The resulting 525 CJ1 was based on the original but had a new wing design, T-tail, and better cruise performance.

This 2000 CitationJet CJ1 has 5,816 hours and 6,559 landing on the airframe and 5,750 hours on each of its Williams FJ44-1A engines. The panel features Collins Proline 21 avionics with Dual Garmin GTN 750s, dual GTX-345 transponders, GDL 69A Weather, Honeywell CAS-66A TCAS, Fairchild GA-2100 CVR, and Shadin fuel flow instrument.

Pilots interested in a reliable, economical light jet with a time-tested design for business or personal travel should consider this 2000 Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1, which is available for $1.9 million on AircraftForSale. 

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 2000 Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 Is a Time-Tested ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

On Monday, it announced the debut of the Phenom 100EX—the latest edition to the light jet segment from the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. The jet has received type certification from the FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Brazil’s ANAC.

At the company’s customer delivery facilities in Melbourne, Florida, on October 2, FLYING had a preview and a demo flight on the new jet ahead of the show. Primary among the updates I was able to experience in flight were the implementation of Embraer’s runway overrun awareness and avoidance system (ROAAS) as well as upgrades to the interior and cabin layout. The 100EX will be the first in the segment to incorporate the ROAAS, meant to address the incidence of runway overrun accidents.

Also, Flight Stream 510 on board the Phenom 100EX will now allow the pilot to connect their portable devices to the aircraft, an important time saver. Pilots can also download data from the airplane, allowing for thorough and timely analysis. Additional improvements to the Garmin G3000-centric flight deck include automatic 3D volumetric scanning with lightning and hail prediction, stabilized approach protocols, and predictive wind shear.

“We are proud to announce the Phenom 100EX—an aircraft designed to experience excellence with superior comfort and disruptive technology that enhances safety,” said Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. “This product reimagines the entry-level flight experience, offering enhanced comfort, empowering pilots, and enriching journeys to deliver more value to our customers.”

Flight Demo: ROAAS

One item that may not trigger a “wow” until you feel the difference in flight is Embraer took owner-pilot feedback on the relative openness of the cabin to the flight deck and improved it by paring down the divider behind the pilot’s seat. In our demo, I sat in the sideways “jump” seat for the approach and landing and felt much more able to converse with the pilots during that portion of the flight.

That came in especially handy as we hauled down final at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) for the ROAAS trial. The pilots had spoofed the system into thinking we only had 3,000 feet available instead of the 10,181 feet of pavement comprising KMLB’s Runway 9R. The system uses real-time aircraft and weather data to update the length of runway required for the current aircraft state. A series of alerts chime progressively if the runway length doesn’t match what’s needed, prompting the pilot to either fix the problem or go around.

• WATCH: The Embraer Phenom 100EX Launch 

The cabin updates stem from Embraer’s “Design DNA,” with improved seat design, new upper tech panels for cabin controls, and use of sustainable materials throughout. Also, the pilot’s seat now has additional seat tracking for better legroom and easier ingress and egress from the left seat. Flush-to-the-wall tables maximize workspace, and thoughtfully detailed passenger amenities complete the updated experience.

Embraer has sold out of its 2024 positions on the Phenom 100EX, with deliveries available in 2025. Base price has been held to $4.995 million, with the new features a combination of standard equipment and options.

The post Embraer Reveals the Phenom 100EX Ahead of NBAA appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

On Tuesday, the OEM revealed that development continues on the project, with its official “commercialization” or plan to pursue type certification on the clean-sheet light jet. Intended to be a midsize jet in a light jet’s body, the HondaJet 2600 is aimed at a 2,625 nm range (four passengers and one pilot, NBAA IFR) and 450 ktas maximum cruise speed—but at 20 percent better fuel efficiency than other light jets, and a 40 percent improvement over midsize models. 

The company targets FAA type certification in 2028, with entry into service as a single-pilot-operated platform. Up to 11 people can be seated on board, with the option for nine or 10 passengers depending on crew requirements.

• READ MORE: A Look at the HondaJet 2600 Concept

“The commercialization of our new light jet represents Honda’s next chapter of skyward mobility, which further expands the potential of people’s lives,” said Hideto Yamasaki, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft. “By building on the expertise behind our technological innovations, we will accelerate the development of the program with sustainability a key element throughout.”

Supply partners include Garmin, for the G3000 integrated flight deck, Williams International and its FJ44-4C engines, Spirit AeroSystems providing the fuselage, and Aernnova for other aerostructures and components. Fabrication of the first airframe is underway as Honda Aircraft completes initial engineering on the program.

On June 13 and 14,  Honda Aircraft will be hosting a supplier conference at its global headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, for those involved in the HondaJet 2600 program.

Specfications

The post Honda Aircraft Reveals Certification Plan for HondaJet 2600 Concept appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In 1998—25 years ago—Air Journey was founded to help pilots achieve dreams of long-distance travel with their airplanes. The company now leads globally with its escorted flying journeys. The first trip took four GA pilots flying their airplanes to the southern Caribbean islands of San Salvador, Stella Maris, and Andros. Now, Air Journey has grown to a company approaching $10 million in sales and itineraries ranging from 4 to 76 days, and visiting up to 27 countries.

To celebrate the anniversary, Air Journey plans an extraordinary adventure, Islands of the Indian Ocean and Beyond, to transpire from May 24 to July 22 this summer. The trip will bring pilots flying their own aircraft to the islands of the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, along with excursions to Europe and Africa, including gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

“On our Escorted Journeys, pilots fly their own airplanes in small groups on prearranged itineraries by the AJ Team to destinations across the world,” said owner and founder Thierry Pouille in a release. “Every journey is led by experienced Pilot and Journey Directors and each leg is expertly created to accommodate single-engine turboprop to light-jet aircraft, never exceeding 1,100 nautical miles.”

A Journey for Everyone

In its release, Air Journey highlighted a few of its milestone itineraries over the years. “In 2007, the company launched the first Around the World Journey at Sun ‘n Fun [Aerospace Expo] and took off in 2008 for its Eastbound Around the World [trip]. Milestone destinations to follow included Africa in 2011, Australia in 2017, and the Islands of the Indian Ocean in 2022.” This year, 2023, marks another special journey for Air Journey—the first roundtrip circumnavigation of Australia and New Zealand via Europe in April.

How It Works

The Escorted Journeys come thoroughly planned and executed by the Air Journey pilots and facilitators traveling with you. However, if you want to travel independently, Air Journey also provides its Concierge Service for assistance with planning and is reachable during the trip. In partnership with several pilot and owner associations, Air Journey also organizes Association Journeys where pilots can fly with like-minded companions in similar aircraft models.

To learn more about Air Journey and access the 2023 trip calendar, visit airjourney.com or call +1 561-371-6661.

The post Air Journey Celebrates 25 Years with Islands Trip of a Lifetime appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

FLYING reported last week that Embraer delivered 10 commercial jets and 23 executive jets in the third quarter, 10 percent more than it did in the same period the previous year. The commercial and executive revenue contributed $253.3 million and $271.7 million, respectively, and was up 4 and 6 percent year over year.

• READ MORE: Embraer Confirms Brazilian Financing Deal for SkyWest

Of the 23 executive jets it delivered, 15 were light jets and eight midsize jets. While demand is still strong this year, it still lags behind 2021. In the first nine months of this year, Embraer said the 79 commercial and executive jets it delivered pulled in a combined $1.35 billion in revenue, compared to the $1.58 billion it had during the same period in 2021. 

In fact, Embraer said that the strong demand for executive jets made its third-quarter earnings the second-best in the last decade.

• READ MORE: Embraer Illuminates Plans for Aviation’s ‘Future Ecosystem’

During this same period, however, Embraer’s Defense & Security segment has shrunk. So far this year, the segment’s $296.6 million in revenue is 38 percent less than it achieved during the same period in 2021. The company stated that as of the third quarter, there were four units of C-390 Millennium in the production line destined for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), two units for the Portuguese Air Force, and one for the Hungarian Defense Forces.

• READ MORE: Embraer C-390 Completes Flight Tests for Firefighting Missions

Supply Chain Woes, Still

While business is still strong, the company said supply chain challenges across the world still continue to affect its output. In its Services and Support segment, Embraer said these constraints were “affecting the availability of spare part inventories, delaying repair turnaround time, and increasing the quantity of back-ordered items.” 

CEO Francisco Gomes Neto told investors during the company’s earnings call Monday that with such challenges, especially during the fourth quarter which typically has the highest demand, it would be hard for the company to meet its 2022 goal of delivering 60 executive jets. Year to date, it has delivered 52, eight shy of its target.

“The problem now is that we have had more delays from suppliers with parts arriving late in the process,” Neto said. “We believe the deliveries will be on the lower end of the guidance.”

Looking ahead, the CEO said the company was taking strategic steps to improve production and lead time. For instance, Neto said Embraer was working closely with Toyota to reduce the production time for the wings of the E2 jets.

Big picture, Embraer’s operating profit for the third quarter this year was $50 million, up from $35.7 million last year. Its firm order backlog reached $17.8 billion during the third quarter, which is the same as in the second quarter of this year, but up 6 percent over the third quarter of 2021.  

The post Embraer’s Q3 Revenue Dips Alongside Defense Demand appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The baseline TC on the Elite II includes the maximum takeoff weight increase to 11,100 pounds, which enables a fuel capacity increase, driving the range out to 1,547 nm under NBAA IFR parameters and four occupants. The addition of a ground spoiler will optimize takeoff and landing performance at the increased weight. A palette of new color options and interior enhancements come with the new model as well.

Further updates to come for the latest of the HA-420 type in 2023—and not yet part of the TC—add an autothrottle and autoland functionality to the Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck and airframe. The addition of autoland will make for the first instance of the safety protocol in a light twin jet.

Focus on Customer Requirements

The improvements to make the Elite II from its predecessor, the Elite S, have been drawn very precisely and deliberately from customer feedback, according to the company’s president and CEO, Hideto Yamasaki, who took the reins from Michimasa Fujino upon his retirement in April.

“We want to make more focus on the current Elite II, which is, for me, the state of the art,” said Yamasaki in an interview with FLYING at NBAA-BACE. “That’s the completion of the [HondaJet] 420 [series] itself—beyond that I don’t see a good picture yet of how we can enable that aircraft. It’s more updating some of the little things [to keep the model current] that we might have to do.

• READ MORE: Honda to Add Autoland to Its New Model

“If you exceed [the customer’s expectations] by a little tiny bit, that’s okay,” said Yamasaki. “If you overstretch or overdo it, those values will not be appreciated by the customer. In a way, we are sacrificing what we are going to do, all the investment, all of the hours of work [that] is going to be lost, because those [efforts] are not going to be valued by those customers.”

The next time the industry comes together, Yamasaki foresees that the company will update on its plans for the Hondajet 2600 Concept, which debuted at NBAA-BACE 2021. “I’m trying to meet the customer’s voice…looking into what they are saying on the 2600,” said Yamasaki. He wants to understand more before making further decisions on the model—and since much development has already been accomplished on the larger concept, to confirm if its direction is correct.

The post Honda Aircraft Secures FAA Type Certification on HondaJet Elite II appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Of those, 10 were commercial jets, and the other 23 were executive jets (15 light and eight midsize). Moreover, for the first nine months this year, Embraer said it had delivered 27 commercial and 52 executive jets, a total of 79. 

Citing a strong rebound in commercial travel and high demand for business aircraft, the company said it expects to meet its 2022 deliveries guidance.

The Embraer E175 led the way in the commercial segment, with nine sold during the quarter. Meanwhile, SkyWest Airlines (NASDAQ: SKYW), the largest E175 operator in the world, shared last week with its investors that it took deliveries of two E175 aircraft to operate for American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) and another seven to support its contract with Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL). 

The regional airline also said it plans to accept delivery of eight more E175s by 2025, which will increase its fleet to a total of 240 E175 aircraft.

On the executive jet side, Embraer said it delivered 13 Phenom 300 to customers in the quarter. The Phenom 300 has been the best-selling light jet for a decade. In the midsize category, Embraer delivered customers four Praetor 500s and 600s.

Other third-quarter highlights include the delivery of the 1,700th E-Jet, a program which began nearly 20 years ago, in 2004. Embraer said the 195-E2 jet was acquired by the leasing company, Aircastle, and delivered to KLM Cityhopper, the regional carrier for KLM. 

At the end of the quarter, Embraer said its backlog reached $17.8 billion, or 297 aircraft. Of those, 188 are for the E195-E2 platform, which Embraer says is the most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft.

• READ MORE: Embraer Flies Its E195-E2 With 100 Percent SAF Powering One Engine

TechLion to debut at Airshow China 

In a separate announcement Monday, Embraer said its E195-E2 jet with the “TechLion” livery would make its debut at the 14th Airshow China in Zhuhai on November 8. The OEM expects to also release its 20-year Chinese commercial and freight market outlook, which relies on fleet flexibility, inflight connectivity, and sustainability. 

“Data reveals that 1 billion people living in China’s second and third-tier cities have never taken a flight. That is where the growth lies,” said Guo Qing, managing director and VP of commercial aviation for Embraer China. “With the right sized capacity and the best emissions and cost efficiency, Embraer’s commercial aircraft go deep into the capillaries of the regional market to build connectivity and meet fast-growing local market demand in the post-pandemic era.”

The post Embraer Delivers 33 Jets in Q3 Amid Strong Demand appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Honda Aircraft Company announced Monday at the 2022 National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) that the updated Hondajet Elite II will have increased range and autothrottle—and, most exciting in our minds, Garmin’s Autoland system.

“The HondaJet Elite II once again pushes the boundaries of its category on all fronts of performance, comfort, and style,” said Hideto Yamasaki, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Company. “We are also excited to take our aircraft forward on the journey of automation by bringing new technologies to the market next year.” 

Safety—and Added Range

FLYING bestowed its 2021 Innovation Award on Garmin’s Autoland, which also secured the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy last year. The recognition stemmed from the advance in safety represented by the system, and Honda Aircraft cited this as a primary reason for its adoption on the Elite series.

In a statement released to FLYING, the company said, “This direction encapsulates the continuous effort to improve the HondaJet through automation, augmentation, and situational awareness technologies, to enhance operational safety and reduce pilot workload while aligning with global Honda’s commitment to advances in safety technology.”

Honda is also adding another key update to the Elite series, increasing the model’s range to 1,547 nm. It will retain its fuel efficiency as well, keeping its leadership position in the very light jet class. Ground spoilers will also come with the new model, improving takeoff and landing performance.

Performance, Avionics, and Style Updates

In total, the upgrades creating the Elite II form a substantial step up for the series. To summarize those features, we look at areas of performance, avionics, and style.

Performance

• Range: 1,547 nm, NBAA IFR with four occupants
• Increased fuel capacity: additional space to carry more fuel 
• Increased gross weight: maximum takeoff weight of 11,100 pounds 
• Ground spoiler: optimizes takeoff and landing field performance with increased weight 

Avionics

Based on the Garmin G3000 already found in the Elite model series, Honda Aircraft will add the following to its avionics suite:

• Stabilized approach, with aural and visual alerting
• Optional autothrottle, to automate power management based on desired flight characteristics, available in the first half of 2023
• Optional Emergency Autoland from Garmin, which activates in an emergency situation to autonomously control and land the aircraft without human intervention, available in the second half of 2023

Style

Along with the updates to the airframe and avionics, Honda also listed a slew of new color and interior options for the Elite II, including:

• New “Black Edition” 
• New Black Sable signature exterior paint schemes 
• New corporate paint scheme 
• New interior colors 
• Onyx: a rich and warm neutral greige cabin theme with mid-tone wood accents 
• Steel: a modern light cool grey theme with high contrast marble accents 
• New optional aisle flooring with hardwood herringbone and plank patterns 
• Acoustic Enhancement: nose to tail acoustic treatment for a tranquil cabin experience 
• Sheepskin covers available as an option for pilot seats
• Additional 3-inches of legroom configuration available for crew seat with extended seat track as an option 
• Interior multi-color LED lighting with soft indigo nighttime setting 
• Ground illumination on the main entry door 
• Integrated exterior lights 

The post Honda to Add Autoland to Its New Model appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

So it makes sense that the OEM is expanding its footprint in the U.K. and Europe. Earlier this spring, Cirrus Aircraft opened a regional operations office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, to join its sales office in Valenciennes, France, and it has named Oriens Aviation at Biggin Hill Airport (EGKB) near London, England, as a service provider in its network. Oriens joins Cirrus maintenance providers in Guernsey, Gloucestershire, and Leeds in the U.K., and hundreds around the world.

The Big Picture

FLYING spoke with Cirrus CEO Zean Nielsen in May regarding the new Rotterdam office and various market needs and challenges that the manufacturer faces in 2022.

Nielsen joined Cirrus three years ago, and he’s navigated the company through the changes wrought by the pandemic, supply chain issues, and market forces—and come through with a positive outlook on the company’s prospects.

“Our international markets should represent somewhere between 20 to 30 percent of our total revenue,” said Nielsen in the interview with FLYING. “Now, the U.S. markets are…way more fortunate from an infrastructure perspective—there are 5,000 airports, fuel is readily available, you don’t have to tell ATC folks where you’re flying all the time—it’s way easier. We’re gated in terms of how fast we can grow in Europe by infrastructure.”

“What we can solve ourselves is that the planes are certified to fly, all the technology is available, and like most companies, you service your biggest market first and then you begin to implement the technologies in the international portfolio.”

The Vision Jet fulfills a unique position in that portfolio in terms of implementing those new capabilities. “The Vision Jet is an example—CPDLC is one of those things that Europe is just further along with, and it is a feature that we’re working on so you can get from 28,000 feet to 30,000, right? So it’s one of those corner cases, but we’re making sure that we’re there.”

The U.S. Keeps Growing—But…

He added,“When the U.S. is growing as fast as it is—which it is, [it’s] really been on fire over the last three years—then your international markets have to grow rapidly too [in order to keep that balance in sales].”

Cirrus is “happy with the partner network we have” in Europe, which takes care of sales, unlike the direct sales the company promotes in the U.S. But the company wants its own facilities to support the growth and what those partners can do. “We now need to have locals on the ground to support that partner network,” which led to the office opening in Rotterdam—a strategic location from which Cirrus representatives can reach customers on both continental Europe, in Germany, its biggest market, and the U.K.

The Rotterdam location will provide service, sales, and marketing support, “to make sure that Europe is a priority and not an afterthought—which it has never been,” said Nielsen. “It’s now becoming a larger portion. It’s to make sure that every day somebody wakes up and thinks about Europe,” and that it is composed of 28 small countries, not one homogenous entity. “You can tailor programs and content to be perfect for the market.”

“I’m European—I’m Danish—I moved to the U.S. 20 years ago, so I understand the complexity of Europe, which is why we chose the Netherlands, to be the anchor point for our support office.”

Labor rules are more reasonable in the Netherlands, and Nielsen finds the Dutch to be very “pro business.” Other key elements to the choice? English is broadly spoken as the second language, and Rotterdam’s central location will pay off in service access.

Oriens also plans growth tied to the Cirrus partnership: The company is looking to hire additional B1/B2 engineers to support the MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) work.

The post Cirrus Expands Sales Network, Adapts to Marketplace appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Based in Kinston, North Carolina, flyExclusive is the third-largest Part 135 charter operator in the United States. The company operates a fleet of 85 light to heavy jets, including Citation X, Citation Sovereign, Citation Excel/ XLS, Citation CJ3, and Citation Encore aircraft models.

“We continue to innovate in the marketplace with a fully owned and operated fleet and a vertically integrated business model that redefines what it means to fly private,” flyExclusive founder Jim Segrave said in a statement.

“FlyExclusive customers now have it all. They now have the choice of our Jet Club, Fractional, and Partnership programs. With flyExclusive Fractional, private flyers can purchase a fractional share in a brand-new Cessna Citation CJ3+ and unlock a world of possibilities for consistent, world-class private jet experiences on our versatile fleet.”

Adding to the Fleet

Textron Aviation’s president and CEO Ron Draper welcomed the deal and celebrated his company’s ongoing partnership with flyExclusive in an announcement Wednesday. 

“We appreciate customers like flyExclusive, who see the value in operating a broad range of jets from the Citation family,” Draper said in a statement.

“The operating economics of Citations, combined with the global network of service and support available through Textron Aviation, ensures continued productivity and enjoyment throughout the ownership experience.”

Segrave said the deal will help his company continue to grow and take advantage of the market’s strong demand for private air transportation. 

“We are proud to continue our relationship with Textron Aviation as we bring the CJ3+ into our esteemed fleet,” Segrave said. “The addition of these new CJ3+ aircraft will allow us to expand our capabilities to support our continuing growth as one of the industry’s largest private jet charter operators,” he said.

FlyExclusive is the second-largest owner-operator of Cessna Citation aircraft in the world. 

Delivery of the new jets is expected to begin in 2023 with five aircraft, and flyExclusive will have an option to purchase additional aircraft for deliveries through 2025. 

In the light jet segment, the single-pilot CJ3+ offers seating for up to nine passengers and can fly a range of 2,040 nm.

The post FlyExclusive Announces Addition of Fractional Business appeared first on FLYING Magazine.