Honeywell and BendixKing Unveil New Technologies at NBAA ‘21

Bright days are in the cards for the business aviation industry. That’s the assessment of Honeywell and BendixKing sales team members who attended the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA/BACE).

“It was great to get back to an in-person event this year after the show was cancelled in 2020,” said Bill Hurst, Vice President of Aftermarket Sales for business aviation at Honeywell. “Overall attendance was down compared to 2019 but we were still able to have high-quality discussions with serious customers and prospects, who showed great interests in the products and solutions we bring to the table.”

Leading the way

Honeywell’s booth on the exhibition floor was a popular destination for NBAA/BACE attendees interested in peering into the future of business aviation. The company displayed a wide range of innovations, including new flight deck technology, Urban Air Mobility and Unmanned Aerial Systems, advanced weather radar, high-speed connectivity and much more.

Honeywell made headlines with Honeywell Anthem, its groundbreaking sixth-generation flight deck that can be tailored for virtually any type of aircraft or flying vehicle.

“Customers and the aviation trade press were very impressed with Honeywell Anthem,” said Product Line Director Jason Bialek. “In all, we showed the new flight deck display installation and industry-leading safety features to more than 75 people, including several senior executives from major aircraft manufacturers. It was great to reinforce how much Honeywell is innovating, with capabilities like always-on cloud connectivity and the most intuitive pilot interface ever developed.”

“Honeywell Anthem will transform the pilot experience, while also making monitoring and supporting the aircraft easier for dozens of company employees, FBO personnel, mechanics and passengers that typically are involved in each mission. Anthem supports safer missions that are easier to fly and more enjoyable than ever before,” Bialek concluded.

A look into the future

Now in its 30^th year, Honeywell’s eagerly-awaited Global Business Aviation Outlook helped set a positive tone for NBAA/BASE. The survey forecasts up to 7,400 new business jet deliveries worth $238 billion from 2022 to 2031.

In 2021, surveyed business jet operators reported a sharp increase in used jet purchase plans, 12% above last year’s report, equivalent to 800 additional used business aircraft. Business aircraft manufacturers also announced a strong increase in jet orders, indicating that the industry has almost completely shaken off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a time when new and used business aircraft are in short supply, operators are looking for ways to modernize and maintain their existing fleets. Honeywell team members met with many visitors  interested in learning about cockpit upgrades, including Honeywell’s Primus Elite upgrades that replace outdated CRT displays with modern, reliable LCDs.

BendixKing featured avionics products for light business jets and general aviation aircraft. Customers were eager to learn more about AeroCruze 230, a touchscreen autopilot upgrade solution for operators flying with outdated KFC 150 and KFC 200 autopilots.

Customer interaction at its best

Interacting with customers is one of the best parts of an event like NBAA/BACE, said Tom Neumann, Vice President of Operations for BendixKing. “It’s important to talk with customers face-to-face and show them what we have to offer,” he said. “For example, there was lots of interest in our upgrade solutions for smaller business jets, including our advanced AeroVue Integrated Flight Deck, so it was great to provide people with a hands-on demonstration.”

Honeywell also showed off its industry-leading capabilities in safety technologies, like the RDR-7000 advanced weather radar system, designed to help business aircraft pilots avoid thunderstorms and other severe weather to create a safer, smoother ride for their passengers.

Helping the industry take flight

Creating a better, faster, more reliable connected experience for passengers and flight crews is a priority for most operators these days. At this year’s event, visitors showed enormous interest in satellite communications systems, including Honeywell’s JetWave and BendixKing’s AeroWave, along with the Honeywell Forge cabin connectivity and flight services platform.

“We talked to a lot of people about our Maintenance Service Plan (MSP) offerings at this year’s show, because operators are flying their aircraft longer and they want a way to effectively manage their maintenance costs,” noted Paul David, Senior Director of Service Sales for Honeywell’s business aviation segment. “There were a number of inquiries about the newest addition to the MSP portfolio, nacelle coverage for HTF-series engines. Of course, there is continuing interest in the MSPs that provide peace of mind for propulsion engines, auxiliary power units, mechanical systems and avionics, too.”

NBAA/BACE 2021 was also memorable for Sales Director Frank Muscolino, who’s worked about 20 shows over his 25-year Honeywell career. “I think we were all holding our breath to see if people would show up and get back in the swing of things. Yes, the crowds were smaller and there were fewer exhibits this year, but it was a very busy show for us. We made quality contacts and we got a lot of business done. We’re feeling very positive about the business aviation industry going forward.”