Business Aviation
News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.
Adam raises $93M in new funding
Adam Aircraft of Englewood, Colo., last month completed a $93 million funding round led by venture-capital firm DCM, a new investor in the start-up manufac
Aircraft
Hawker 4000 exemptions OK’d with conditions
The FAA has granted, with conditions, Raytheon Aircraft’s request that the Hawker 4000 be temporarily exempted from certain Part 25 amendments to enable th
Aircraft
Eclipse, Cessna race to VLJ certification
Not to rain on Eclipse’s parade, but…the July 27 waving of the checkered flag in the very light jet (VLJ) race might have been premature.
FBOs
Former Trajen FBOs Now Atlantic Aviation
Macquarie Infrastructure, a New York subsidiary of Australian-based Macquarie Bank, late last month closed on an agreement to purchase the Trajen network o
Aircraft
Need to Find or Unload a Hangar?
A new Web site called HangarTrader.com seeks to bring together hangar owners and potential buyers or renters.
Safety
NTSB urges changes for Saab 340s
The NTSB wants the FAA to attend immediately to “deficiencies” in the cold-weather operating procedures for Saab 340s, as well as the aircraft’s performanc
Charter & Fractional
Charter broker aims for cleaner skies
Executive charter broker Flightplan has started making voluntary payments to offset the environmental impact of flights it books on behalf of clients.
Aircraft
Business Aviation in Latin America
For years the business aviation market in Latin America was distinguished by little more than wishful thinking as manufacturers watched signs of interest t
Regulations and Government
FAA no nearer to new plan for agency financing
Despite assurances from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey that the agency was near a new financing plan, user-fee storm clouds continue to roil on the horizo
Aircraft
Business Aviation in Latin America
Brazil’s largest business aviation services company, Líder Aviação, continues to spread its wings into new areas and anticipates a revenue increase of 40 p
Safety
Look closely at FMS-provided runway data
About six months ago, someone–either a customer or an aircraft manufacturer–queried Rockwell Collins about a runway with a displaced threshold in a Pro Lin
Company exec to take the helm at Embraer
Embraer has turned to a long-serving company insider to succeed Mauricio Botelho as its president and CEO.
Regulations and Government
Nav Canada Wants Excise Taxes Cut
Canada’s private, user-fee-based ATC system–Nav Canada–believes that general aviation operators are double-charged for use of Canada’s aviation infrastruct
Rotorcraft
Upgraded Helicopter Standards Planned
New and revised performance and handling qualities requirements for normal- (Part 27) and transport-category (Part 29) rotorcraft have been proposed.
Aircraft
Farnborough F1 Kestrel Flies At Last
Some seven years of development finally led to the first flight of the Farnborough Aircraft F1 Kestrel on July 29.
New Citation Customer Support Boss Named
Former v-p of Citation sales Mark Paolucci has replaced Ron Chapman as senior v-p of Citation customer support.
Aircraft
Gulfstream G150 enters service, with longer legs
Gulfstream’s newly outfitted G150 officially entered service last month in Dallas, coming in with longer legs and lower weight than the company had origina
Aircraft
Sino Swearingen customers still await SJ30 deliveries
While the SJ30 light jet received FAA certification in late October last year, the production certificate has still eluded San Antonio-based Sino Swearinge
FBOs
Cutter Grows to Eight FBOs
Cutter Aviation, headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M., added its eighth FBO with the August 11 purchase of the former Colorado Aviation at Colorado Springs A
FBOs
Love Field FBO Is DCA Gateway Facility
Business Jet Center (BJC), a Dallas Love Field FBO, is now authorized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as a gateway for general aviation
Eclipse 500, Citation Mustang in Tight Race
It’s going to be a photo finish between the Eclipse 500 and Cessna Citation Mustang in the race for full FAA type certification (TC).
Embraer’s Executive Jet division Gathers Momentum
Embraer has announced that ABC Táxi Aéreo is the Latin American launch customer for its new Phenom 100 very light jet and Phenom 300 light jet.
FBOs
Flying group loses appeal
The Paris appeals court has rejected Flying Group’s appeal over its claims that the Euralair group reneged on a deal to sell the assets of its Le Bourget A
Safety
Third dual flameout raises questions about Beechjet
The third Beechjet dual engine flameout in less than two years has left NTSB investigators, as well as aircraft manufacturer Raytheon and engine maker Prat
Aircraft
Raytheon justifies requests for Hawker 4000 FAR exemption
The long-anticipated type certification of the Hawker 4000 (née Horizon) super-midsize business jet was imminent at press time–but only if the FAA approved
Aircraft
HondaJet gets green light to enter VLJ fray
Honda announced on July 25 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., that it will “enter the HondaJet into the growing very light jet market.” According to proje
Aircraft
Farnborough F1 Kestrel flies at last
Some seven years of development finally led to the first flight of the Farnborough Aircraft F1 Kestrel on July 29.
Cessna Jet sales, deliveries climb
Cessna delivered 76 Citations in the second quarter, bringing the first-half total to 142 compared with 118 in the same six-month period last year.
