KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
This year's NBAA convention coincides with the anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks, but has yet to shrug off their impact
As the international business aviation community gathers next week, from 10-12 September, for the 55th National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention, the mood may be in contrast to the venue, Orlando, in Florida's "sunshine state".
Although the 2002 NBAA convention is unlikely to be as sombre an event as last year's, postponed to December because of the terrorist attacks of 11 September, the mood will be cautious as the industry, suffering from the protracted economic slowdown, awaits signs of a recovery in customer confidence.
This year's event, to be held at the Orlando convention centre, falls on the anniversary of 11 September. "This is an unfortunate coincidence," says NBAA president Jack Olcott. "As there are only three convention centres in the USA large enough to host NBAA, we have to book the venues at least four years in advance."
The slowing of the market is reflected in this year's exhibition numbers. With the exception of the 140-strong static aircraft display at Orlando Executive Airport, Olcott says, booth space is down by around 8% and exhibitor numbers by around 5% compared with the doomed September 2001 convention. The rescheduled event in December was a greatly scaled down and subdued gathering with a number of leading manufacturers, including Cessna, Gulfstream and Raytheon, electing to stay away.
Olcott justifies the lower-than-expected uptake for next week's convention: "Companies are more cautious, and there has been a lot of activity in the industry since the last convention." He explains: "A few previously large exhibitors are no longer in existence. [United Airlines'] Avolar fractional ownership programme and Fairchild Dornier collapsed and Galaxy Aerospace is now part of Gulfstream. But most companies are returning to the convention, albeit with smaller booths."
Olcott says the cornucopia of seminar rooms will provide the backdrop for some lively debate on issues that have far-reaching implications for the business aviation community. Hot topics included security, air traffic control privatisation and airspace user fees, as well as a raft of regulatory mandates such as the December 2004 implementation of reduced vertical separation minima in domestic US airspace.
The exhibition halls and static display also promise some surprises as manufacturers attempt to stimulate demand by launching new products and parading their business aircraft families in a bid to lure potential buyers.
Citation unveiled
Continuing its tradition for unveiling new Citations at NBAA, Cessna will launch its new CJ3 light business jet. The aircraft is a stretch of the current CJ2, itself a stretch of the entry-level CJ1, with a 0.6m (2ft) fuselage plug, more powerful Williams FJ44 engines, a 10kt (20km/h) higher cruise speed and 450km (250nm) longer range. Price will be just under $6 million, compared with just over $5 million for the CJ2. The CJ3 will sit between the CJ2 and larger Citation Bravo, but it is unclear which of the two models, if either, the new aircraft will replace. Cessna, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, will also display its mid-size Citation Sovereign at the show for the first time.
Bombardier is expected to unveil an enhanced Global Express ultra-long-range business jet, its response to Gulfstream's improved GV-SP, as well as announcing the formal launch of the Learjet 40 light jet. The Learjet 40, unveiled at Farnborough in July, is a shortened version of the super-light Learjet 45 and is expected to replace the slow-selling Learjet 31A in Bombardier's line-up. Unveiling of an enhanced Global Express would follow the Farnborough launch of a higher performance Learjet 45, the 45XR. Bombardier will also bring the super mid-size Continental, now scheduled for certification by year-end.
Raytheon's super mid-size Hawker Horizon business jet will make its public debut with the display at NBAA of the third flight-test aircraft, which first flew in July. Certification is expected by the end of next year. Raytheon will also detail upgrades to its new Premier I light jet (Flight International, 20-26 August).
Gulfstream will display its expanded product line for the first time at NBAA. The family now includes the mid-size G100 and super mid-size G200, the former Israel Aircraft Industries Astra SPX and Galaxy business jets acquired last year. The GV-SP will also make its debut, with certification pending, and Gulfstream is expected to take the wraps off its plans for the G150, a wider-fuselage derivative of the G100 under study with partner Israel Aircraft Industries (Flight International, 13-19 August).
Embraer will display the recently certificated super mid-size Legacy, derived from the ERJ-135 regional jet, and may say more about plans for a corporate version of the Embraer 170 in the wake of the collapse of Fairchild Dornier, which had planned a Envoy 7 corporate version of its 70-seat regional jet, the 728.
A handful of new manufacturers will be present at NBAA, led by Eclipse Aviation. Its mould-breaking Eclipse 500 personal jet flew for the first time last week, and may yet make an appearance at the show. Rival Safire Aircraft may announce a replacement engine supplier for its S-26 personal jet, following its decision not to proceed with start-up company Agilis Engines. The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW600 and Williams International FJ33 are the main contenders. Sino Swearingen's SJ30-2 light business jet, many years in the making, will also make its first-ever appearance at the show.
Source: Flight International
