This press release just landed in my in-box. This makes 14 BBJ’s delivered by Greenpoint…

Greenpoint Technologies Delivers BBJ, Contracts A BBJ And Signs An LOI For A Bbj

May 21, 2008
Geneva, Switzerland
Greenpoint Technologies, Inc. (GTI) exhibits at this year’s EBACE in Geneva, celebrating its twenty (20) years, announcing a recent delivery, and new contracts.

GTI delivered a private BBJ in early May with a contemporary, timeless interior for a confidential client.
“This completion was a full VIP interior, nose to tail, and epitomized luxury and classic design,” states Sloan Benson, Executive Vice President.

GTI signed a contract for a green BBJ delivering in 2009 and signed a letter of intent (LOI) for an additional BBJ delivering in 2011.

Ms. Benson also states, “We recently delivered our fourteenth BBJ and demand for completions has never been greater. We have a significant VIP BBJ backlog and are currently negotiating several contracts for BBJs well into the future.”

For more information, please contact Christine Hadley at (425) 828-2777 ext. 7154 or by

e-mail at chadley AT greenpnt DOT com

GTI is an experienced BBJ Completion Center which provides VIP aircraft interiors for Boeing airplanes. GTI incorporates in-house capabilities of interior design, engineering, program management, and certification for aircraft interior installations and modifications. Established in 1988, GTI has a history of VIP completions for multiple heads-of-state, leading corporations, and private individuals. Driven by its nimble customer-focused culture, GTI’s strategic goals incorporate quality, commitment, and craftsmanship into every completion.

Vinod Khosla has been named the #1 VC by Forbes and Fortune labeled him as one the nation’s most influential ethanol advocates.

At the 2008 Future in Review Conference, he gave an insightful presentation at the opening dinner covering his investments and philosophies.

A member of the audience (not me!) asked about green jet fuel:

Can you explain how will see a replacement for jet fuel? Since cellulosic ethanol has lower energy density is it an option?

Khosla’s response was that biodiesel made from vegetable oil, palm oil, soybean oil has two problems, first — it’s an expensive crop that competes with food. More importantly, he doesn’t see how it has a decreasing cost with scale. It never reaches market competitive pricing without government subsidy.

Sugars which are produced from cellulosic (not from corn) material can be converted biologically into hydrocarbons. From that you can get jet fuel or diesel.

A second way is to find substitutes like Butenol. This is a solution that he and Richard Branson have invested in with a startup named Gevo.

A third completely different way is chemical conversion of biomass into biofuel which can be fed into existing refineries. This is the approach that one of his portfolio companies (KiOR) takes.

Bottom line is, you’re not going to use corn or vegetable oils to power your G5…

Off to FiRe in San Diego. More than 30 CEOs in attendance and a slew of Venture Capital types will be there as well, so hope to gain some insights from those that may be arriving in a bizjet. Historically, the event has hosted some aviation luminaries, including Lee Hall, Product Architect, Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, and Peter Diamandis chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. If any readers plan on being there, let me know!

Boeing has announced that it has begun work on the first of eight BBJ 3 aircraft on order. The new plane is based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range.) All new BBJ’s will offer several enhancements over previous models:

AviIT annouced that Bluebox Avionics Ltd. (in which AviIT is a 50 percent owner together with Phantom Media) has won its first customer for the bluebox wireless controlled, semi-embedded AVOD system with a VIP jet client in the United States. The system will be incorporated into a brand new Boeing [737-700C] being fitted out by cabin installation specialist Greenpoint Technologies, based in Seattle. Under the contract, the Bluebox units will be installed into seat arm mounts and can be removed by passengers and placed on the tray tables if desired with seat power being available for unlimited usage time. Delivering the latest generation DRM compliant content, the system utilizes the same hardware platform as the innovative bluebox lite portable unit but configured for full control via a crew management terminal, with all control functions being via an Ethernet 802.11 wireless system. As part of the system, cabin PA, pause, forced playback and system disable functionality will be available together with live, streamed mapping information from a Rockwell Collins Airshow system.

For thoses familiar with Alaska Airlines’ Digiplayer handheld movie player, the bluebox™ is all that and more. It gives long-haul private passengers the convenience of video on-demand from the pre-loaded library of movie content with the convenience of seat-mounted recharging, integrated PA announcements and real-time flight information and maps via Airshow.

Banyan has provided avionics for many mid-sized aircraft, but has recently branched out into larger airplanes, including Gulfstream IV SP, Falcon 900B, and a private Boeing 747SP. Tooled up and with additional factory trained technicians, Banyan says they can install a variety of systems, including entertainment, enhanced vision, and high speed data/wi-fi.

According to Brian Wilson, Banyan’s director of avionics:

“Companies always strive to expand their business capabilities and adding the larger aircraft to our resume is a perfect fit; High Speed Data/ WI-FI is what the business traveler wants and the cost and configuration is conducive to the larger corporate aircraft. The days of traveling on a corporate or commercial aircraft and arriving at your destination only to hurry to the hotel and hook your laptop to the DSL line are over, VIP clientèle desire better and now that technology has arrived. Now passengers enjoy the same Blackberry experience and Internet cruising they enjoy in their home or office.”

Boeing 737NG airplanes (including the BBJ) will soon have the option to use carbon brakes (retrofit kits will be available for existing aircraft).

According to Boeing, certification testing of the new carbon brakes was recently completed, and Boeing was able to verify equivalent performance with steel brakes. The carbon brakes are significantly lighter, and will hopefully reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions.