Textron Aviation and Special-Mission Market, Business Jet Deliveries and More

Textron Aviation announced yesterday at the Farnborough International airshow that its entire range of Beechcraft and Cessna products is now available in special-mission configuration. All 20 current-production aircraft “fit numerous mission profiles, including aerial survey, air ambulance, flight inspection, aerial surveillance, training and utility transport,” the company said. “With the combination of the Beechcraft and Cessna products within Textron Aviation, we now offer the largest proposition of special-mission platforms in the industry,” said Textron Aviation special missions vice president Dan Keady.

Preliminary data suggests second-quarter results for business jet deliveries “will not be impressive,” according to J.P. Morgan North American Equity’s latest business jet monthly update. While its analysts note there are aircraft still missing from the database used to track deliveries, “Preliminary indications are that deliveries will fall short of estimates, with the possible exception of Gulfstream,” noted J.P. Morgan lead aerospace analyst Joseph Nadol III.

Bombardier Aerospace’s latest 20-year market forecast, released on Sunday at the Farnborough Airshow, shows a significant drop in anticipated deliveries of business jets compared with its forecast from last year.

The current forecast, which spans from 2014 to 2033, calls for deliveries of 22,000 business jets worth $617 billion. Last year Bombardier predicted demand for 24,000 business jets worth $650 billion from 2013 to 2032. These numbers are for aircraft segments in which the manufacturer competes, with its Learjets, Challengers and Globals.