The business aviation industry, as well as the associated companies, grow when confidence is high and retract when it’s low. As the economy slogs along for the third year in a row, with matching weak confidence, the time is now for the business aircraft manufacturers to announce bold plans for new models at the 2011 NBAA Convention next week in Las Vegas.
After all, models announced today won’t be in service for several years–upgraded variants being about two or three years away, while clean-sheet designs are five to seven years out into the future. The economy will most likely be better in this future time frame, so the manufacturers will need new models to compete–and win–in the marketplace.
Following are some general comments about the six major OEMs, as well as what I would like to see them announce at the show:
• Bombardier. While Bombardier made a splash at NBAA 2010 with its Global 7000 and 8000 jets, it must do more. Its super-midsize Challenger 300 is definitely ripe for an upgrade, and its large-cabin Challenger 605 is in need of outright replacement. It should do both post-haste. Bombardier is addressing the upper end of its Learjet line with the in-development Model 85, but it has all but abandoned the lighter end. The Montreal-based aircraft manufacturer must either double down on announcing new clean-sheet light jets to replace the Learjet 40/45 and 60, or just cease production of these struggling models.
Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group. He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion, the student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot magazine, he joined AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.
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