PUBLICATIONS
Vol.50 | No.7
$ 9.00
JULY 2021 | a i n o n l i n e .c o m
End of the supersonic bizjet era? by Kerry Lynch Aerion Corp. had appeared to be on the precipice of realizing its 18-year dream of building what many anticipated would be the first purpose-built supersonic business jet, the AS2. The company had decided on a final design that had been proved out in wind tunnel tests, and dozens of patents had been secured. Then that facade came crashing down in late May, when the company confirmed it had ceased operations. Aerion had sought to de-risk development with well-established suppliers. Many of the industry’s giants signed on to the program, including Boeing, GE Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, Honeywell, Rosen Aviation, Universal Avionics, and Collins Aerospace. The company had held a groundbreaking ceremony in December for a $300 million, 2 million-sq-ft headquarters complex at Florida’s Orlando Melbourne International Airport (KMLB) that was to have housed facilities for research, design, production, and interior completions of the AS2 supersonic and future aircraft. As the progress was being made, the AS2
had generated enthusiasm regarding the possibilities for the market, with established operators such as Flexjet and NetJets publicly coming on board. In fact, Aerion claimed its order backlog had ballooned to $11.2 billion. Meanwhile, the company had already teased its next product, a near-hypersonic AS3 airliner that was to incorporate technologies developed through a joint research project with NASA. And, importantly, Aerion had helped convince regulators and lawmakers that the time was ripe to consider a fresh approach to certifying and accepting new-generation, more environmentally friendly supersonic aircraft.
Aerion knew from the beginning that its venture would be expensive, figuring it would take upwards of $5 billion to bring its supersonic business jet to market. Fort Worth financier Robert Bass—the key investor who backed the project, enabling it to launch in 2003—had early on set a limit on what he would spend, according to officials close to the company. Aerion knew it would have to line up other partners. It was able to attract the likes of Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and ultimately Boeing.
Dramatically Ramped-up Spending
Aerospace Progress
But while Aerion appeared to be moving forward with much momentum, it was also on the precipice of a dramatically ramped-up spend rate as it transitioned from being a design firm to an aircraft developer. At that critical juncture, the company’s investors decided that was too much for them to bear without significant outside support.
continues on page 31
Read AIN’s MID-YEAR REPORT
Airlines, aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, and lessors are looking forward to a post-pandemic landscape and a return to growth.
page 20
ith little prospect of securing W the funding needed to bring the AS2 supersonic business jet (left) to market, Aerion announced the sudden shutdown of its 18-year effort, just months after it broke ground on a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Florida, and unveiled the near-hypersonic AS3.
FBOs
Atlantic, Signature chains sold page 12
OEMs
Honda Aircraft unveils latest upgrade page 14
Regulations
FAA releases final pilot records rule page 17
Safety
Air Methods solves the IIMC problem page 28