UK-based Britten-Norman, which is set to resume manufacturing its piston-powered Trislander regional/utility airplane, production of which was suspended in 1980, also disclosed that it is offering new customers of its Islander piston twins the option of choosing diesel engines. The airframer is evaluating the new 300-hp SR305 diesel under development by France’s SMA and believes the powerplant c more

The FAA now doesn’t expect domestic commercial air travel to return to pre-9/11 levels until 2006, and its earlier forecasts that U.S. airlines would be enplaning one billion passengers a year by 2010 have been pushed back to at least 2014. The FAA’s soothsayers also didn’t take into account the effects of the war in Iraq, further terrorist acts and corresponding security measures, as well a more

Dr. Sam Williams, chairman and CEO of engine manufacturer Williams International, is this year’s recipient of the NBAA Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation. This award recognizes an individual who “by virtue of a lifetime of personal dedication, has made significant, identifiable contributions that have materially advanced aviation interests.” Byron “Skip” Reed, chairman of Steer Sa more

New Orleans-based Entergy Services, which operates three Citation 650s, has become the first U.S. company whose flight department has been issued an International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) certificate. The certificate was presented to Oliver Townbridge, Entergy’s manager of aviation and travel, by the International Business Aviation Council. IS-BAO is a code of best prac more

Duncan Aviation of Lincoln, Neb., has received RVSM group certification for the Westwind 1124 and RVSM equipment certification for the Astra series. Basic equipment installation for the Westwind (including air-data computers and IS&S altimeters) costs $160,400, depending on aircraft configuration. A pneumatic standby altimeter is an additional $12,000 (installed). Basic prices on the equipment more

UK-based Avionics Mobile expects to complete by the end of the month an RVSM equipment and operational package for the BAC 1-11. In addition to verifying the RVSM capability of the aircraft’s original Elliott autopilot, the package includes air-data displays from IS&S and flight-test evaluations from Aeromech. Meanwhile, Thunder Avionics, a division of the Thunder Aviation FBO at Spirit of S more

CitationShares, the fractional aircraft ownership venture between Cessna and TAG Aviation USA, claims to be the first fractional operator whose aircraft are all RVSM-compliant. CitationShares currently operates 34 CJ1s, Bravos and Excels for some 300 owners. The Greenwich, Conn.-based company also said all 140 of its pilots are RVSM-qualified. A company spokesman said that all its aircraft are del more

Guidelines for flight crewmembers regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have been published by the Centers for Disease Control. Crewmembers who are concerned that a passenger traveling from a SARS-infected area may be seriously
ill with a respiratory illness should separate the ill passenger from other passengers as much as possible, and either provide a surgical mask for the il more

Buyers of new Gulfstream 200s now will receive a five-year or 2,500-hour maintenance and training program, similar to what Gulfstream has been offering buyers of new G400s and G550s since last September. Under the extended plan, all covered maintenance, inspections and parts are provided by a Gulfstream or General Dynamics service center, and includes the cost of labor. The extended plan is in add more

Naples Airport Authority (NAA) officials have appealed the FAA’s ruling, announced in early March, against the Florida airport’s ban on Stage 2 aircraft operations. With the FAA action, Naples Airport is now restricted from receiving federal funding and from collecting airline passenger facility charges, though NAA executive director Ted Soliday said he believed the funding could be reinstated more