I hear that Boeing has finished work on the first BBJ 3, which is based on a Next-Generation 737-900 extended range aircraft. The BBJ 3 will now have a long-range auxiliary fuel system and head-up display installed before heading off to completion.

An article by Rhys Blakely of the Times recounts stories of luxury aircraft (at least 10 so far) impounded by Indian customs officers for failure to pay import duties.

The seized airplanes include an Airbus A-319 purchased by Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries, India’s largest private company) for his wife as a birthday gift. Mr. Abmani’s “archenemy”, Anil Ambani (they are brothers), also had an aircraft, a Global 5000 Bombardier, seized.

The article goes on to say:

“A source at one of the affected companies said: “They have declared war: officials say anyone who has bought an aircraft is fair game.”

Speculation abounds that a clamp-down on the ultra-rich may have political rewards in Delhi, where, in the run-up to elections, India’s Government is being attacked for failing to ensure that the poor benefit from the country’s economic boom.”

Okay, so for the a BIG business jet blog, profiling the eight passenger entry level Gulfstream G150 is admittedly a stretch. That being said, it’s a very impressive (and comfortable) aircraft, and the folks at Gulfstream were very accommodating to us and our cameras.

Some useful tidbits we gleaned: The G150 can cruise at mach .82, while long range cruise is .75. It generally consumes 2,000 pounds of fuel the first hour but can get down to as low as 1,500 after that. The lav has a standard Boeing fitting so just about any airport in the world can service it. Thanks to the lav sitting forward (and fuel being in the aft,) you can service the plane very quickly.

VIP Charter company, Comlux Aviation (a division of Comlux The Aviation Group), has ordered two ultra long-range Global Express XRS jets, which will result in a fleet of nine Bombardier business jets. Vicky Karantzavelou, of Travel Daily News, reports that Comlux’s Bombardier fleet comprises two Challenger 605, two Challenger 850, two Global Express, and one Global 5000.

Ettore Rodaro, head of Comlux Aviation, says:

“These new aircraft are part of our strategic development plan to become the leading long-haul charter services provider in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, and will be a complement to our Airbus corporate jet fleet.”

The Bombardier site describes the Global Express XRS as:

“Ready to fly with only 30 minutes warning, no other intercontinental business aircraft takes you faster, farther than the Bombardier Global Express XRS. Flying at altitudes of up to 51,000 ft (15,545 m), this high performance aircraft has exceptional range, carrying eight passengers and a crew of four 5,450 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.87, 6,150 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.85 and 6,500 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.82 — bridging Tokyo and New York, or Moscow and Los Angeles, nonstop. Superb, short-field capabilities allow access to the most challenging airfields, saving valuable executive hours and getting you even closer to your destination.”

NetJets is adding to its fleet of large-cabin Gulfstreams with the addition of four Gulfstream G450s and four Gulfstream G550s to be delivered each year from 2012 through 2016, as reported by Perspective Magazine.

Richard T. Santullis, chairman and CE of NetJets Inc. said:

“…These aircraft offer NetJets Owners premiere large-cabin amenities and the flexibility of intercontinental range. Gulfstream products provide our pilots and flight attendants with the best in next-generation technology and their service teams ensure we meet the high standards of performance and reliability NetJets Owners expect.”

The article goes on to state:

“NetJets has over 90% of the long-range cabin fractional market and is the largest operator of Gulfstream aircraft in the world. As of June 2008, NetJets’ worldwide Gulfstream fleet totals 110 and is comprised of 21 Gulfstream G550/V, 55 Gulfstream G450/400/IV-SP and 34 Gulfstream G200s.”

Zawya is reporting on a recent purchase of an Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft, which is one of the first orders for this new business jet. Royal Jet was selected by the Al Habtoor Group to handle the purchase, as well as the aircraft management.

According to the article:

“The Embraer Lineage 1000, which was only announced to the world in May 2006, is an ultra large business jet designed to seat up to 19 passengers. It has a range of 4,200 nautical miles - enough to fly directly from the UAE to London - and can fly at 41,000 ft. The interior divides into five separate zones, and this particular aircraft will incorporate a bedroom as part of its overall scheme…”

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.

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:

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.