Rosaviatsiya validates Ansat helicopter high-altitude operation

press release




Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) certified the increase in take-off/landing altitude of Ansat helicopter to 3,500 m. Major change approval is issued on the basis of trials conducted in summer 2018 at Mount Elbrus. The document allows Ansat to operate in high-altitude conditions.



Before that the helicopter take-off and landing altitude was limited to 1,000 m, restricting its use in elevated areas. During certification tests Ansat successfully completed a series of take-offs and landings at altitudes up to 3,500 m, including simulation of one engine failure and autorotation mode, thus confirming its capability to operate in high-altitude conditions.



“The major change approval for increase of take-off and landing altitude of Ansat gives us new opportunities to bring in new customers from countries with such complex terrain. For example, during the South Asian Heli Tour conducted in late 2018 we saw interest from potential helicopter operators in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. We received approximately 30 requests for delivery of Ansat helicopters, and improvement of flight performance will benefit our subsequent customer negotiations", noted Andrey Boginskiy, Director General of Russian Helicopters Holding Company.



"Ansat is one of the main strategic projects for the Corporation. Successful flight tests at the altitude of over 1000 meters have proven reliability and the highest standards of equipment efficiency," said Industrial Director of Rostec's Aviation cluster Anatoly Serdyukov. "We plan to continue to upgrade and improve Ansat's performance".



Ansat is a light twin-engine utility helicopter serially produced at Kazan Helicopters. As per the type certificate, the helicopter design makes it possible to carry out quick conversion from cargo to passenger version capable to transport up to seven people. In May 2015 a major change approval was obtained for EMS version of the helicopter. Ansat is certified for operation in ambient air temperatures from minus 45°С to plus 50°С. In July 2018 a major change approval was obtained for extension of service life of Ansat assemblies.



JSC “Russian Helicopters”, part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies.



Rostec State Corporation is a Russian corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of eleven holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and four holding companies working in civilian industry, as well as over 80 directly managed organizations. Rostec's portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Concern Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, UralVagonZavod, etc. Rostec companies are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to the markets of more than 100 countries. In 2017 the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached 1 trillion 589 billion rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 121 and 305 billion rubles respectively. In 2017, the average salary in the Corporation was 46 thousand rubles. According to Rostec's strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec's key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.

Bombardier to acquire Global 7500 aircraft wing program from Triumph Group Inc.

press release

• Bombardier enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Triumph’s Global 7500 wing manufacturing operations and assets
• Acquisition will secure the production ramp-up and long-term success of Bombardier’s Global 7500 program
• Bombardier will continue to operate the production line and integrate the employees currently supporting the program at Triumph’s Red Oak, Texas facility
• Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 for a nominal cash consideration
• Acquisition will strengthen Bombardier’s position as a leading aerostructures manufacturer
• Transaction is not expected to impact Bombardier’s consolidated 2019 EBIT and free cash flow(1) guidance, and 2020 targets

Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Global 7500 wing program from Triumph Group Inc. (NYSE: TGI). The acquisition will strengthen Bombardier’s position as a leading aerostructures manufacturer and secure the production ramp-up and long-term success of Bombardier’s flagship business jet.



The acquired operations will be incorporated into Bombardier’s Aerostructures and Engineering Services segment. To support a seamless transition of wing production and deliveries for the Global 7500 program, which successfully entered into service in December 2018, Bombardier will enter into a lease agreement for Triumph’s Red Oak, Texas, facility and continue to operate the production line with the employees currently supporting the program.



“This acquisition is a perfect strategic fit for Bombardier Aerostructures,” said Danny Di Perna, President, Bombardier Aerostructures and Engineering Services. “It will allow us to bring our extensive technical expertise to one of the industry’s biggest growth programs, while solidifying our position as a leading wing provider. We look forward to welcoming the Triumph employees to Bombardier and ensuring the success of the Global 7500 program.”



The acquisition of the program’s assets and obligations for a nominal cash consideration is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, subject to certain closing conditions. Bombardier will assume ongoing working capital investments and usual costs associated with the program’s production ramp-up, which are expected to fall within Bombardier’s consolidated 2019 EBIT before special items and free cash flow guidance ranges, and 2020 objectives.



On a business segment level, Aerostructures revenue guidance for 2019 is adjusted upwards to between $2.25 billion to $2.50 billion, reflecting additional intersegment revenues. The segment’s 2019 EBIT margin before special items(1) guidance is also adjusted to approximately 7.5%, reflecting marginal earnings from these additional sales during the program ramp-up. For 2020, the EBIT margin before special items objective of 9% to 11% remains unchanged.



At Business Aircraft, the 2019 EBIT margin before special items guidance of approximately 7.5% remains unchanged. For 2020, Business Aircraft now targets 50 basis points of margin growth to approximately 8%, the low-end of the previously provided objective, reflecting the short-term impact of maturing the Global 7500 wing production process.

Bombardier Extends Learjet Aircraft Engine Maintenance Intervals as the Fleet Celebrates 25 Million Flight-hour Milestone

press release

• Learjet 70 and Learjet 75 aircraft operators benefit from extended engine inspection intervals, further reducing operating costs and downtime
• The ultimate business tools, Learjet aircraft feature industry leading performance and direct bottom line benefits
• Bombardier’s Learjet fleet celebrates 25 million flight hours
• Learjet 75 aircraft features the quietest and most private cabin in its class, an eight-seat double-club configuration, a smooth ride and the only flat floor in its segment

Bombardier announced that Learjet 70 and Learjet 75 aircraft operators now benefit from lengthened intervals between recurring major powerplant inspections, which have been extended from 3,000 to 3,500 engine hours. This interval extension directly benefits the bottom lines of operators by reducing the number of repeat inspections over the lifecycle of the engine, thereby decreasing operating costs over the lifecycle of the aircraft. This announcement comes as Bombardier’s fleet of trailblazing Learjet aircraft has surpassed the 25 million flight-hour mark, adding yet another achievement to an impressive string of Learjet milestones and firsts. The first Learjet business aircraft entered service in 1964, creating the experience and defining the industry of private flight.



“This is a significant milestone for our pace-setting Learjet aircraft family and for the industry. The Learjet platform is designed to deliver immediate returns as a business productivity tool. Reliability and longevity are two of the reasons customers among Fortune 500 companies continue to choose Learjet as the most trusted light jet platform,” said Peter Likoray, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Bombardier Business Aircraft.



As the best-equipped and best-performing aircraft within the light category, the Learjet 70 and the Learjet 75 aircraft bring the features of a much larger jet to a light aircraft platform. Both aircraft are certified to Part 25 airworthiness standards, the industry’s highest safety standards, applicable to transport category aircraft and commercial airliners.



Bombardier is continuing to invest to support its in-service fleet and the Learjet family. Bombardier recently announced a comprehensive Garmin G5000 avionics upgrade, which will allow customers to optimize their routes and will pave the way for future technological enhancements. The upgrade will be offered as forward and retrofit for in-service Learjet aircraft.



Since acquiring the Learjet Corporation in 1990, Bombardier has introduced an impressive eight new models, including the best-selling Learjet 75 aircraft, which entered service in 2013.

Embraer presents preliminary forecast for 2019 and 2020

press release




Embraer presents its preliminary forecast for 2019 and 2020 at a meeting with investors at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). For 2019, Embraer expects to deliver between 85 and 95 commercial jets, 90 to 110 executive jets, including light and large jets, 10 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and two multi-mission KC-390 aircraft. Total consolidated revenues should be between US$ 5.3 billion and US$ 5.7 billion. See full press release on PDF  Download

Embraer and SkyWest, Inc. Sign Contract for Nine E175 Jets

press release




Embraer and SkyWest, Inc. have signed a firm order for nine E175 jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2019. The order has a value of USD 422 million, based on current list prices, and was already included in Embraer’s 2018 fourth-quarter backlog. SkyWest Airlines will operate all nine E175s, featuring a 76-seat configuration. "Since 2013, SkyWest has purchased a total of 158 E175s, including these nine, in order to expand their large existing fleet of Embraer aircraft,” said Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation. "We are extremely proud of their ongoing support for the E-Jets program and the fact that the E175 continues to outperform in North America. Without a doubt, the E175 has become the backbone of the regional aviation market in the U.S." “We’re pleased to continue adding new E175 aircraft under long-term contract to our increasingly efficient, agile and flexible fleet,” said SkyWest Chief Executive Officer and President Chip Childs. “We appreciate Embraer’s strong partnership and remain impressed with the Embraer product.” Including this new contract, Embraer has sold more than 565 E175s to airlines in North America, since January 2013, earning more than 80% of all orders in this 70-76-seat jet segment. SkyWest, Inc. is a premier regional airline company and the holding company of SkyWest Airlines. SkyWest holds a long history with Embraer as early customers for the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop aircraft. Since entering revenue service, the E-Jets family has received more than 1,800 orders and over 1,500 aircraft have been delivered. Today, E-Jets are flying in the fleet of 70 customers in 50 countries. The versatile 70 to 150-seat family is flying with low-cost airlines as well as with regional and mainline carriers.