Raytheon Aircraft Sales Up, Hawker 4000 Nearer

“Overall, Raytheon Aircraft had the best quarter” in its history in terms of financial performance, said William Swanson, chairman and CEO of parent Raytheon Company. According to the company’s first quarter results released this morning, Raytheon Aircraft delivered 44 business jets and turboprops compared with 27 in the same period a year ago. In the quarter, the company booked orders for 45 turbine airplanes versus 34 last year. No orders were shown in the first quarter for the Hawker 4000, which has yet to receive full certification. Nevertheless, this was the “best first quarter for bookings in six years,” said Raytheon Aircraft chairman and CEO James Schuster. “Turbine aircraft are about 70-percent sold out for the year, well ahead of where we were at this time last year,” he added. Meanwhile, Schuster addressed the continuing delay of the Hawker 4000. “I’m happy to report that we are about done.” He said the super-midsize jet should complete the final 15 hours of a 150-hour function and reliability test next week and the company will then hand in all the paperwork for FAA review. “It’s been a long haul, but we are just about there.”