More than the usual number of reporters descended on the Pentagon January 5, hopeful of learning how, specifically, the Department of Defense will cull billions of dollars from its budget over the next decade. Would the troubled F-35 program be further restructured or reduced? Would the V-22 get clipped?
After four decades in aviation, having seen the best–and worst–of the industry, I am still moved by some of the unheralded work of the folks who work in and around aviation. While the heroes of flight (yes, Sully, you are one of them) do get the recognition they justly deserve, there are others in all kinds of occupations who do amazing work for little, if any, public recognition.
In my last blog post, I covered five of the most memorable moments from interviews I’ve conducted over the years for Business Jet Traveler. Here are another five. Just click on the names to read the full articles on Pascucci, Trump and Orman.
Aviation novels and novelists are rare. Even more rare are aviation novelists who are also corporate pilots and fighter pilots.
The Transportation Security Administration may finally be getting it. In November, the agency announced it is resuscitating the long-dormant Aviation Security Advisory Committee (Asac) and the Obama Administration said that the business aviation community will continue to have a seat at the table.
Bedeviled by political gamesmanship and misfortune, it’s a wonder the FAA gets anything done—never mind accomplishing the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). With the latest transition in FAA leadership, we’ve come full circle to the situation that prevailed when President George W. Bush left office three years ago, with an interim administrator and no reauthorization.
There are things that belong in a business jet cabin. Things like high-speed Internet, a shower and on-demand high-definition video. There are also things that do not belong there. In the interest of launching 2012 with sound advice, I offer the following list of those things that do not belong:
I have been following with interest the developing story of how Iran has reportedly managed to capture some of the U.S.’s most sensitive surveillance technology, and I still have to shake my head at what a waste it was.
This year we could finally find out whether China will fully realize its potential as the world’s most dynamic new market for business aviation. For all the high-octane speculation about growth in China, 2011 closed with fewer than 200 business aircraft registered in the country and continuing difficulties in getting them imported and flying for the new jet-set in the People’s Republic.
Oh, Alec! You’ve gone and done it now. When you got kicked off that American Airlines flight on December 6 because you didn’t want to turn off your phone and stop playing Words With Friends and got mad at the flight attendant and slammed the bathroom door, well, you exposed the airlines’ dirty little secret, didn’t you?
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