Cessna Delivers First Citation Mustang

Cessna Aircraft Company has just delivered its first Mustang business jet.  This followed the awarding b y the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the production certificate (PC) for the aircraft's Independence, Kansas, assembly line. The aircraft  was delivered to Mustang Management Group, based in Fresno, California.

Cessna plans to deliver 40 Mustangs in 2007, and production will ramp up through 2009. The six-place Mustang has a top speed of 340 ktas (nearly 400 miles per hour), a range of 1,150 nautical miles (1,323 statute miles/2,1 km), and a service ceiling of 41,000 feet (12,500 m).  It is well-suited to get above most weather and commercial traffic, which will allow more efficient operation.

More On the Future of Aviation Worldwide

In the Very Large Aircraft sector, Airbus predicts a demand for 1,660 aircraft, valued at USD503 billion, of which 1,260 are new passenger aircraft.  Asia-Pacific will account for 56 percent of these. The top 20 airport hubs will account for more than two-thirds of the world's destinations of Very Large Aircraft.

There will also be a demand for some 400 aircraft over 120 tons of payload from the Very Large Freighter category. The requirement for twin-aisle passenger aircraft will continue to grow strongly, with some 5,300 new twin-aisle aircraft being delivered in the next 20 years. Valued at some USD1,009 billion, this makes up about 42 percent of the total value of all passenger aircraft delivered.

The largest segment will be in the 250 and 300 passenger seat market, with the need for some 3,750 new aircraft.

Another 1,550 larger twin-aisle aircraft will be needed in the 300 to 450 passenger seat category.

"This forecast shows that aviation is a strong growth industry and one which is also vital for the development of the world economy," according to John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer.

(NOTE: The Airbus Global Market Forecast is the result of a detailed analysis of today's and tomorrow's drivers of air transport, that quantifies airline demand over the next 20 years.)

Surge in Air Freight Demand Means More Pilots Needed

According to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast, freight tonne kilometres (FTKs) are forecast to increase by six percent annually over the period from 2006 to 2025, generating the need for 3,580 freighter aircraft deliveries of which 800, or 22 percent, will be factory-built freighters.

Most significantly, this time period will be marked by an increasing demand for new more fuel-efficient airlines, to help address airline operating costs and evenironmental concerns.  This factor will lead to a higher replacement rate of over 12,000 aircraft.

"Over the next 20 years the number of passenger aircraft will more than double. Since 2000, new operators as well as strong economic growth, especially in emerging economies, has fueled expansion of nearly 30 percent in available seats," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer.  He goes on to say that this trend is continuing, with the Asia-Pacific region expected to grow to a third of the worldwide market by 2025.  Transpacific, Europe to Asia and Transatlantic long-haul routes will increase by 60 percent. Meanwhile, the hub cities, will see their traffic nearly doubling over the next 10 years.

What's the Future of Commercial Aviation?

Here's what the experts are saying about the future of commercial aviation.  You'll want to read this, if you are considering being a commercial pilot for a career.  It's pretty awesome information!

Between 2006 and 2025, some 22,700 new passenger and freight aircraft valued at USD2.6 trillion will be required by aircraft operators, according to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast. This represnts an increase of some 5,400 aircraft compared with their previous forecast.  Of the newly produced airliners, Airbus forecasts that some 21,900 new passenger aircraft of more than 100 seats will be needed, creating an average delivery close to 1,100 passenger aircraft per year, up from around 800 two years ago. 

....Imagine how many new pilots will be needed to fly these aircraft!

This requirement results from an average annual traffic growth in revenue passenger kilometres of 4.8 percent, leading to passenger traffic growth of around two and a half times -- and an increase in the world aircraft fleet of some 14,600 aircraft.

Call Phoenix East's Admissions office to learn more about your future as a commercial pilot, flying throughout the world! Phone 1-800/868-4359 (US) or 386/258-0703 worldwide.

Saudi Arabian Airlines Introduces New Low-Cost Services

Saudi Arabian Airlines has just announced the airline's plan to operate low-cost flights.  The decision was made after seeing the success of low-budget airlines in the Gulf region. Two other Saudi private airlines, which are to be newly licensed soon, have also expressed their readiness to start low-cost service.

According to Abdullah Rahaimy, president of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), most Saudi investors who have applied for licenses to operate private airlines in the Kingdom have opted for budget airline operating models.

New Low-Fare Start-Up Airlines

Commercial aviation continues to grow. Here are three new start-up airlines just announced:

L'Avion, a new low-fare, business-class airline, will begin flying passengers between Paris' Orly Airport and Newark, New Jersey's Liberty International Airport, this month. The Boeing 757-200s will accommodate 90 business-class passengers, in planes with a capacity of 200. Originally branded Elysair, the France-Dutch operator changed its name to the French word for airplane after conducting a poll on both sides of the Atlantic.

It joins other start-ups like Silverjet. The UK-based carrier will transport business travelers between New York and London, starting January 2007.

They join other business-class only start-up airlines such as MAXjet Airways and Eos, which offer services on links to key European commercial centers. 

Also, Air France-KLM aand Transavia.com announced the creation of a new international mid-haul airline named Transavia.com.  This low-cost airline plans to service nine Mediterranean destinations by mid-year 2007.