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.

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.

Blogger Walkertb maintains a blog about the private jet lifestyle, and one of his recent posts also contains a list of the priciest jets (see my earlier entry).

Some highlights:

Boeing 767 - $118 million-$165 million *
Boeing Business Jet 3 - $68 million *
Most Expensive Long Range Business Jet – Bombardier Global Express XRS – 47.7 million

Michael, a blogger, has posted a list of large business jets, and a few pointers to keep in mind, including these bits:

“Your jet operator can look after all aspects of the management of the aircraft including certification for around $120k - $250k. They can also charter out the plane when not in use - so you will recoup some of the investment. For year end accounting purposes, depreciation will be a factor - Boeing estimate depreciation of $5-6m for their BBJ. With the price of oil heading higher, fuel charges will be considerable - expect to pay from $1,500 upwards per flying hour on fuel. So expect the total operational costs to be at least $2-3m for the year.”

If you have plans to travel to Russian, and you need medical assistance while there, be sure to ask about the new hospital in Moscow. The hospital can handle up to 50 VIP patients, and it hopes to attract both wealthy Russians and Westerners, since most hospitals in Russia use outdated equipment from the 1970s.

Roman Abramovich’s company, Millhouse LLC, acted as the project investor. Roman has his own private Boeing 767-33A/ER, which replaced a smaller Boeing 737-7CG BBJ.

Skycontrol.net posted an article recently on Royal Jet, a major business aircraft operator (with a 16% market share) in the Middle East.

Royal Jet is expecting to double its fleet of business aircraft from 12 to 20, and President and Chief Executive Shane O’Hare says revenue will increase five-fold (to US$500 million) by 2013. Five of its current airplanes are Boeing Business Jets (BBJ).

O’Hare is quoted in the article:

“In our current financial year ending December 2008, we are on track to meet a budgeted 25% revenue growth. Going by our track record we have witnessed over the last four years an average growth year on year of over 40%. We are still in the early stages of fleet evaluation but it is likely that future development will centre on large and medium-size commercial aircraft customised to our specialist market.”

PrivatAir has two 787-8 Dreamliner VIPs on order from The Boeing Company, and one additional purchase right. The additional purchase rights stem from a 2006 order. PrivatAir already has a fleet comprised of a 767, a 757, a BBJ2 and two BBJ1s, all configured for VIP or business class only. The two 7787-8 aircraft are due for delivery in 2012 and 2016.