Issue 24: Aircraft Census Provides Interesting Insight Into the Use of Corporate Aircraft

The executive jet field though, is not entirely the domain of Lear and Cessna. Boeing are a big supplier to this market and to date have 114 aircraft wearing corporate livery. This astounding total comprises 31 7078, 58 7278, 24 737s and one 747 though two more 747s are soon to enter corporate ranks later this year for the Saudi royal family. In addition to the Seattle jets there are 43 BAC 111s, 6 DC-Bs, 12 DC-9s, 14F2Bs, one VC-10 and seven Caravelles. Internationally the breakup of jets to turboprops is 5468 against 7235-no doubt the supremacy of the turboprop will further improve in the coming decade as more and more turboprops attain near- jet cruise speeds.

On the propeller-driven side of the fence Beech are undisputed world leader with a secure 43% of total world market. There are some 3132 Beechcrafts registered to corporate owners, of which 2738 are King Air 90 and 200 models. Until the radical Starship arrives Beech will seek to retain their top position with the improved King Air Series 300 as outlined in our June issue Newsdesk.

Gulfstream come second with a total of 1175 aircraft on line including 506 of the Commander 690 and 183 Gulfstream I. This latter aircraft is a prime replacement sales target for the new generation of super commuters which offer larger cabins and vastly reduced fuel bums compared with the old Gl. Piper, like Cessna with their jets, left their run with turboprops late with their first Cheyennes only becoming available in 1974. Nevertheless, Piper have to date rolled out over 885 Cheyennes made up of 205 IAs, 506 ls, 72 IIXL and 98 Ills. The 400 mph cruise Cheyenne IV, due for initial customer delivery as you read this, will no doubt take the line well past the thousand mark before long as this aircraft already has a considerable number of paid deposits against it.

Mitsubishi has been around longer than most people appreciate and over the years have sold 6-40 aircraft though nowadays, with Marquis and Solitaire production closed, they are specialising on the Diamond jet which Itself is running into hot competition from a revitalised Citation IIS. Cessna, big in jets but not big in turboprops, has built 195 Conquest Is and 329 Conquest lls, though without a higher performance turboprop in the wind Cessna will probably be overwhelmed in the later eighties by the new generation of jet-speed turboprops from Beech, Learavia, Piper and Lear- Piaggio. On the other hand, the development of such an aircraft could well erode their excellent sales base so far achieved with the reliable and proven Citation II.

Fairchild are the late runners with 382 aircraft comprising 176 Merlin Ills, 112 Merlin Ils and 83 Merlin IVs. Fairchild have revamped both their models in recent months to produce quieter, more fuel-efficient high speed cruise aircraft though abroad their commuter market is being rapidly eroded by an international reluctance to embrace SFAR 41 FAA regulations, From a manufacturer’s point of view the ray of hope for the future is that these 12,700 aircraft must at some time be replaced. The FAA estimates that between now and 1993 there will be a market for 3000 new jets and 5000 new turboprops in the US alone. Whether they are right or wrong only time will tell, though the more salient point in the years ahead is how the aircraft is financed and what effect will the new generation of high cruise speed turboprops have on traditional jet sales in view of ever-lengthening ATC delays, Only time will tell!