Up to 599 business jets could be forbidden from flying when Stage 3 noise levels go into effect

At the end of 2015, business jet operators in 48 states in the USA will be forbidden from flying jets considering 75,000 lb (34,050 kg) or less that do not adhere to Federal Aviation Regulation 36 Stage 3 noise levels, a rule released in the US federal register on July 2nd. This could affect up to 599 business jets.

Congress included the noise requirement in a section of the US Federal Aviation Administration‘s Modernisation and Reform Act of 2012 in a relocate to minimize noise at flight terminals, and the last policy integrates the requirement into the code of federal air travel laws.

Data put together by the FAA reveals 599 business jets are influenced by the regulation, 382 of which can not be made compliant with Stage 3 policies since there are no adjustments readily available.

However, that number does not consist of hush kit modifications for Dassault Falcon 20s powered by General Electric CF700 engines, which the airframer and engine maker state are available to drivers to enable their airplane to comply with Stage 3 levels through a service bulletin. FAA analysis shows 69 Falcon 20s in the USA will be impacted by the rule.

“The hush kit for the Falcon 20 is not made,” mentions the FAA in the last policy document. Dassault and General Electric say there is a Stage 3 hush kit modification for the CF700 engine offered.

The FAA tells Flightglobal it did not consist of the Falcon 20 hush kit in its assumption of the number of plane that can not be modified to Stage 3 standards, due to the fact that it understood none had been produced because 2003.

“The approximated variety of plane that can not be modified to the Stage 3 requirements is based upon the Falcon 20 not having a hush kit,” says the company. “The FAA made that conservative assumption in 2012 when it spoke to GE to identify if there were any hush kits offered for the Dassault Falcon 20. At that time, the FAA was told the hush kit had not been produced because 2003, so the FAA estimated costs assuming it was not readily available.”.

The company states it is now mindful of a modification in situations: “The FAA has just found out that manufacturing of the hush kit started again in very early 2013 under a different manufacturer. This may have the result of lowering the estimated cost to abide by the ban Congress mandated on these aircraft.”.

An interaction from General Electric to CF700 overhaul stores in December 2012 shows the Falcon 20 engine adjustment consists of a new fan exit guide vane assembly with extra guide vanes, permitting the airplane to comply with Stage 3 sound requirements. The parts are offered via Noise Reduction Engineering, possessed by Michigan-based Kalitta Turbines and previously a business within EADS SECA.

The variety of aircraft the FAA estimates can not be offered Stage 3 standards could decrease further if a hush kit adjustment is presented for Bombardier Learjet 20s. The Learjet 23, 24, 25 and 28 models are included on the list of afflicted airplane kinds.

Bombardier says that while there is no hush kit installation offered for the Learjet 20 series, third-party companies are working on producing a modification before the rule is enforced to allow operators to continue flying the plane after 2015. Most of these models running in the USA are Learjet 25s and 24s, with at least 143 and 78 airplane respectively.

Even more than 200 Gulfstream II and III models would be affected by the final guideline, however there are hush kits offered for each through Quiet Technology Aerospace and Hubbard Aviation Technologies. The modifications are costly, with operators charged $850,000-1.5 million to set up the hush kits, says the FAA, using quotes from the companies. This goes beyond the ordinary pre-law retail value of the Gulfstream II, the agency includes.

The FAA says an unidentified number of Falcon 20, Gulfstream II and III and Learjets within the number of afflicted airplane may have already gotten hush kit modifications. Some Falcon 20s have actually likewise been retrofitted with Stage III-compliant Honeywell TFE731 engines, states Dassault.

Other models impacted by the sound limitations include the Israeli IAI 1123 Westwind, the Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar, and Rockwell’s Jet Commander plus its Sabre 40, 50, 60 and Sabreliner.

Besides purchasing hush kit adjustments for certain plane, drivers of the affected models have no other options but to sell them to parties outside the USA, scrap them or part them out.

Selling the airplane can prove hard in a limited worldwide market and numerous countries have actually currently passed their own sound constraints, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Switzerland.

Outside the USA, 392 of the afflicted aircraft types are registered in other nations, with nearly half based in Mexico. This concentration of aircraft in the region would make it hard for United States operators to sell the airplane acrooss the border.

“An absence of demand for the banned aircrafts will leave most owners without any selection besides to sell the aircrafts for their scrap value,” it mentions within the rule. A step by numerous operators to offer them outside the USA will cause “a glut in the marketplace”, it adds.

Gulfstream acknowledges the ruling can influence market characteristics in this method: “The secondhand market can see an uptick in the variety of offered GIIs and GIIIs once this ruling enters into effect. This, in turn, can affect returns.”.

“The estimated number of planes that can not be modified to the Stage 3 requirements is based on the Falcon 20 not having a hush kit,” states the agency. “The FAA made that conservative presumption in 2012 when it got in touch with GE to identify if there were any hush kits readily available for the Dassault Falcon 20. At that time, the FAA was told the hush kit had not been manufactured since 2003, so the FAA approximated bills presuming it was not offered.”.

Even more than 200 Gulfstream II and III models would be impacted by the final regulation, but there are hush kits available for each by means of Quiet Technology Aerospace and Hubbard Aviation Technologies. The adjustments are pricey, with drivers charged $850,000-1.5 million to install the hush kits, says the FAA, making use of estimates from the service providers.

More than 200 Gulfstream II and III could be affected by Stage 3 noise levels

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