July 2008

Web-based program gives Part 91/135 operators OK to go

By Matt Thurber

If the FAA’s crackdown on charter operational control has taught operators anything, it’s that the number of compliance items that a Part 135 certificate holder must monitor, manage and triple-check has exploded. To help charter and even Part 91 and fractional operators meet all the requirements to ensure a flight is legal, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has developed a new Web more

---

Registration NPRM draws industry fire

By Paul Lowe

A proposal by the FAA to mandate that aircraft registrations expire every three years has elicited a mixed reaction from the industry, with lobby groups supporting the agency’s goal of improving the accuracy of the aircraft registry but raising concerns about the feasibility of the proposed method.

According to the FAA, the proposal is based on the need to increase and maintain the accu more

---

In the Works: Cessna Citation Columbus

By Matt Thurber

Engineers at Cessna are finishing architecture and layout planning for the Wichita OEM’s largest jet, the fly-by-wire Columbus, and the company revealed new details about vendors and facilities. The Columbus will be assembled at new facilities in Wichita, and Cessna plans to break ground on the factory later this year.

The manufacturer previously said that Spirit AeroSystems will build more

---

In the Works: Bombardier Learjet 85

By Matt Thurber

Bombardier has chosen its facility in Querétaro, Mexico, to manufacture the composite structure for the Learjet 85. This facility, which began operations in 2006, already manufactures wiring harnesses and structural components for other Bombardier aircraft.

As with its other airplanes, Bombardier is responsible for design and certification of the Learjet 85 and is partnering with other more

---

In the Works: Dassault Falcon 900LX

By Matt Thurber

Dassault added another wing-letted model to the company’s lineup, the Falcon 900LX, which will replace the Falcon 900EX following certification in the first half of 2010. Initial flight testing has demonstrated a drag reduction of up to 7 percent. Climb performance should improve by 10 percent, according to Dassault, and maximum range will climb to 4,800 nm. The winglets were originally designed b more

---

In the Works: Cessna Citation XLS+

By Matt Thurber

Cessna received FAA certification of the Citation XLS+ on June 2. New features of this upgraded version of the Excel/XLS series include Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, fadec-controlled Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545C engines, seven-knot faster  maximum cruise speed, extended nose contour and expanded seat widths. Deliveries of the $11.595 million XLS+ should begin by year-end.
more

---

In the Works: Viking Air, Spectrum Choose Apx

By Matt Thurber

Two more OEMs–Spectrum Aeronautical and Viking Air– have selected Honeywell’s Primus Apex avionics suite. Spectrum selected Apex for its S-40 Freedom midsize jet and Viking Air for the resurrected DHC-6-400 Twin Otter. This brings to four the number of airplanes that will feature the Primus Apex suite, the other two being Grob’s SPn and the new Pilatus PC-12 NG, which is the first Primus Apex-equi more

---

Avionics News Update: N.H. antenna maker secures funding

By Stephen Pope

AeroSat, the Amherst, N.H. supplier of broadband satcom and direct-broadcast television antennas for airliners and business jets, announced last month that it has received an additional $14 million in investment funds, money that will be used for expansion of the company’s product line and production capacity. Funding was supplied by private equity firms CAI Managers, AeroEquity and PAR Capital Ma more

---

Avionics News Update: Icom gains experience with OLEDs

By Stephen Pope

OLED technology has been offered for the last couple of years in the small displays used in some business jet cabin management systems, but now Icom America has added them to its panel-mount VHF radios. The IC-A210 VHF Air Band transceiver includes an OLED display that Icom said is brighter and sharper than comparable LCD screens and which also boasts a much wider viewing angle than conventional d more

---

Avionics News Update: West Star gains STC for standby

By Stephen Pope

West Star Aviation last month announced the receipt of an STC covering the installation of L-3 Avionics’ GH-3100 standby instrument and magnetometer in the Cessna Citation 550 and 560 models. The STC applies to Citation 500 S/N 550-0809 and higher and Citation 560 S/N 560-0401 to 560-5000. The L-3 standby display replaces three current instruments for backup attitude, altitude and airspeed with a more

---