NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen condemned “disparaging” remarks about business aviation by President Obama in a presidential debate last night with Republican nominee Mitt Romney. During the debate, Obama called to eliminate some corporate tax breaks, saying in part, “Why wouldn’t we eliminate tax cuts for corporate jets? If you have a corporate jet, you can probably afford to pay full freight, not get a special break.” According to Bolen, “The President’s comments completely mischaracterized the businesses and groups that depend on a [corporate] airplane.”
Politics
October 1, 2012 - 3:25pm
A Syrian Arab Airlines A320 sustained serious damage September 20 when it collided feet with a Syrian military Mi-8 helicopter at 12,000 feet over Duma, Syria. At press time, sources still could not confirm whether the aircraft was on approach to Damascus International Airport (OSDI) or had just departed. The aircraft landed safely without injuries to anyone on board. The Airbus lost a significant portion of its vertical stabilizer. The helicopter, however, crashed, killing both pilots.
September 28, 2012 - 2:39pm
U.S. senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced the formation of the Senate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Caucus on September 27.
September 28, 2012 - 10:35am
Senior officials from EADS and BAE Systems are hastening to secure agreement for their proposed 60-40 merger from key governments, after the premature leaking of the deal. They must specify full details by October 10, to satisfy UK stock market rules.
September 28, 2012 - 8:19am
The Vaso factory of Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) is completing a pair of VIP-equipped Ilyushin Il-96 jets under a contract from the Russian government worth approximately $333 million. Both of the four-engined aircraft will be used by the office of Russian President Vladimir Putin and operated by the country’s Special Air Detachment.
September 25, 2012 - 3:15pm
Rockwell Collins appointed Robert “Kelly” Ortberg as the company’s president yesterday. He joins Clayton Jones, who continues as chairman and CEO, in the newly formed Office of the Chief Executive. The appointment is effective immediately. As president, Ortberg will be primarily responsible for the operational management of the company, including oversight of its commercial and government businesses and supporting functions.
September 24, 2012 - 8:13am
The first example of a VIP-configured Antonov An-148 regional airliner is due to enter service by year-end, after flying for the first time early in October. Three of the An-148-100EA versions of the twinjet are currently being completed at United Aircraft Corporation’s Vaso factory in Voronezh, Russia.
September 21, 2012 - 11:35am
Airbus Military says it hopes to resume, in November, the remaining 140 hours of function and reliability flight-testing that is required before its A400M airlifter can be granted a full type certificate. The flights with MSN6, the first production-representative aircraft, were suspended in July because of the repeated detection of metallic chips in the oil system of one of the TP400 engines.
September 19, 2012 - 1:50pm
Duncan Aviation has named Scott McKenzie to the position of avionics technical representative. McKenzie recently worked as an avionics line crew leader. In this new position, he will provide technical service and troubleshooting in support of avionics and instruments. In addition to supporting customers with their avionics and instrument questions, McKenzie will assist in expanding the Duncan Aviation avionics bench capabilities to include knowledge, skill and experience with the newer avionics systems.
September 18, 2012 - 3:20pm
The political momentum pushing for the European Union (EU) to abandon the unilateral imposition of its controversial emissions trading scheme (ETS) on non-European states increased last week, when four senior government ministers from France, Spain, Germany and the UK publicly called for the policy to be suspended or at least implemented more flexibly. The so-called “Airbus ministers,” representing the four partner nations in the Airbus consortium, made the announcement during a press conference at the ILA airshow in Berlin.
