The HondaJet at LABACE 2017. Photo: Honda Aircraft Co.
The 15th annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE) came to a close Aug. 17. Here are some of the biggest announcements and headlines you might have missed.
Former Rolls-Royce Exec Joins Embraer
Embraer announced the appointment of Stephen Friedrich as the new chief commercial officer for its executive aviation business unit. Friedrich previously served as the vice president for sales and marketing for Rolls-Royce’s civil aerospace division. Friedrich will manage the Brazilian airframe manufacturer’s global sales organization for new and pre-flown aircraft.
Embraer recently reported a 29.5% increase in year-over-year revenues for the second quarter of 2017, also finishing the quarter with an $18.5 billion backlog. Between April and June, Embraer delivered 35 commercial and 24 executive jets.
HondaJet Earns Brazilian Certification
Honda Aircraft received a type certificate for the HA-42 HondaJet from the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) at LABACE 2017. The manufacturer had already received certification for the aircraft in the U.S., Europe, Mexico and Canada.
“We are eager to respond to customer interest in one of the largest business jet markets in the world,” said Michimasa Fujino, president and CEO of Honda Aircraft.
Honda Aircraft delivered 24 aircraft to customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and countries in Europe during the first six months of 2017. The company is steadily ramping up production to meet customer demand and is currently manufacturing the aircraft at a rate of about four per month at its world headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The HondaJet will continue a tour of the Latin American region following LABACE.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Designates New Maintenance Shop
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) said it has appointed its second designated maintenance facility (DMF), RICO Taxi Aéreo Ltd., under the company’s new global network expansion model. Based in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, RICO will serve customers of PT6A engines which power Cessna Caravan and Embraer Bandeirante aircraft.
RICO joins newly appointed ABA Manutencao de Aeronaves LTDA., Barreiras, Brazil to serve P&WC customers in the country. ABA serves P&WC’s agricultural aerial application customers in Brazil. Both DMFs will provide a wide range of maintenance services and solutions, including hot section inspection as detailed in P&WC’s engine maintenance manuals. As part of the company’s strategic investment and expansion in Brazil, P&WC has appointed a new Brazil general manager of business development, Renato Rafael, who has extensive industry experience and deep knowledge of the region and customers.
Bombardier Announces New Latin Challenger, Learjet Firsts
Bombardier announced its first Challenger 350 delivery in Argentina and its first Learjet 75 aircraft in Brazil.
Latin America is the third-largest market for business aviation deliveries, with Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela making up more than 80% of the regional fleet, according to Bombardier.
Excluding the light jets segments, Bombardier claims to have the largest business jet fleet in service currently in the Latin American region.