The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) late last month issued an advisory urging private jet owners and general aviation airports to review security measures after a message was posted in Arabic on a Web forum on April 13 urging all Muslims to destroy American business jets. In response to the advisory, Gulfstream sent a maintenance and operations letter to all its customers saying that more

Trajen FBOs are about to be folded into the Atlantic Aviation network. Macquarie Infrastructure, a New York subsidiary of Australia- based Macquarie Bank, late last month entered into an agreement to purchase Trajen Holding, including its network of FBOs, for nearly $339 million. Trajen operates 22 facilities and is in the process
of acquiring two more. When Macquarie completes the purchase, more

Transport aircraft manufacturers, including business jet OEMs, will be required to develp operational limitations for all future Part 25 designs, under a proposed rule intended to eliminate "widespread fatigue damage" (WFD) as aircraft age. However, for existing type certificates, this proposal would apply only to jets with mtows of more than 75,000 pounds and opperated under Part 121 U. more

In proposed special certification conditions for the Citation Mustang published last month in the Federal Register, the FAA revealed some weights for the VLJ that Cessna has not disclosed. The notice listed the mtow as 8,395 pounds; max landing weight, 7,850 pounds; zero fuel weight, 6,500 pounds. Cessna would not confirm the numbers, saying they would “not be final until certification, more

Legendary 1950s/1960s test pilot Scott Crossfield died alone in his Cessna T210 when it crashed in Georgia on April 19. He was 84. The first man to fly at Mach 2 (in November 1953) and at Mach 3 (seven years later), Crossfield is remembered not only for his missions in the X-15 four decades ago but more recently for the active role he played in the preparations for a younger pilot than he to fly a more

The FAA issued proposed special conditions for certification of AmSafe inflatable seatbelts, which will help the company obtain STCs in additional general aviation airplanes. The comment period on the proposal ends May 22. Phoenix-based AmSafe also said it is discussing with OEMs application of inflatable seatbelts on business jet divans, to make them approvable for takeoff and landing. AmSafe sai more

The controversy over Teterboro Airport (TEB) operations seems to be cooling down. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns and operates the airport, has been calling for a 10-percent reduction in operations, and Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) has been demanding a 25-percent reduction. A working committee, composed of operators on the field and Port Authority officials, met late last more

At the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition early this month in Geneva, Boeing Business Jets president Steven Hill will reveal product development activities, including “the exploration of a new BBJ family member.” Hill also planned to discuss the status of the BBJ 3 (a 4,765-nm executive version of its new 737-900ER) and a VIP version of the 787 (Dreamliner).
more

Garmin introduced the GNS 430W and GNS 530W WAAS-capable navigators at the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Convention in Palm Springs, Calif., last month. Scheduled to be available in the third quarter, the units carry list prices of $10,750 for the GNS 430W and $16,496 for the GNS 530W. Also at the AEA Convention, EMS Satcom introduced the HSD-440 high-speed-data satcom terminal and AMT-35 more

Piaggio Aero Industries is preparing to launch a jet program before year-end. The Italian airframer is debating which of two designs to take into development, but early last month it said it first had to reach agreement with a strategic partner it needs to make the project a reality.

On April 19 that hinge appeared to be secured, with the announcement that Mubadala Development (an i more