Content Archive: February 2009
Regulations and Government
EPA extends SPPC RULE
According to the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed the effective date of the final rule amend
FBOs
Jet-A and avgas now available at Cleveland Jet Center
FBO Cleveland Jet Center at Ohio’s Cuyahoga County Airport has added jet-A and avgas supplied by Avfuel to its list of services.
Aircraft
In the Works: Embraer Phemon 100
Embraer officially became the third manufacturer to achieve entry-into-service of a very light jet, having delivered two Phenom 100s by the end of last
Engines
Business Aviation Turbine Technology
Turbofan engine makers active in business aviation– such as General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce and Snecma– all have their han
Charter & Fractional
XOJet Reports Year-over-year Revenue Increase
Despite the recession, XOJet has reported strong year-over-year increases in revenue, flight hours and customers.
FBOs
Augusta Airport ready for master golfers
Travelers flying to Bush Field in Augusta, Ga., for the Masters Golf Tournament April 6 to 12 at the Augusta National Golf Club will be able to secure Avfu
FBOs
Globalair homepage revamped
Aviation information Web site Globalair.com accomplished a major upgrade, making all of its useful tools and information sources easier to locate.
Avionics
Building a Better Nexrad Radar
While it might be a name unfamiliar to many pilots, Baron Services is well known in meteorology circles.
Airports
Ellington now an airport
The Houston City Council voted in January to change the name of Houston’s oldest airport from Ellington Field to Ellington Airport in an effort to “broaden
Avionics
Bombardier EVS Approved for 100-foot Landing Credit in Europe
Bombardier last month said its Global business jets have gained European operational credit for approaches to a 100-foot decision height when pilots use in
FBOs
Lakefront Terminal set for restoration
On February 11, Lakefront Airport officials celebrated the 75th anniversary of the New Orleans airport and launched the restoration of the famed art
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe buying airport near Frankfurt
NetJets Europe has agreed to acquire Egelsbach Airport near Frankfurt, Germany’s financial center, for an undisclosed sum.
Accidents
FAA Warns of Battery Fires
An FAA policy memo issued last month highlights the potential safety hazards associated with the rechargeable lithium batteries in electronic flight bag (E
Analyst: Recovery Will Begin Next Year
Sparta, N.J.-based Brian Foley Associates president Brian Foley foresees a recovery of the business aviation industry in the middle of next year, but not b
FBOs
FBO planned for Isle of Man
Ronaldsway Airport on the Isle of Man expects to award by the end of this month a contract to build and operate a new FBO to cater to the growing number of
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Foster+Partners Wins NetJets Europe Interiors Contract
Aircraft fractional shares operator NetJets Europe has recruited Foster+Partners, the firm of Pulitzer prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster, to desig
Avionics
Lufthansa’s Flying Weather Stations
Winter weather, freezing temperatures and snow, wind or thunderstorms can add significantly to a flight crew’s stress level.
Maintenance and Modifications
Start-up AMAC opens hangar, begins completions servicen
AMAC Aerospace inaugurated the main hangar of its new business aviation completions and maintenance operation at Switzerland’s EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-F
Avionics
Cockpit Datalink Weather
Pilots who have grown accustomed to flying with up-to-the- minute weather graphics and information broadcast to the cockpit through the XM or Sirius satell
Avionics
Iridium To Replace Lost Satellite
Iridium said it has begun taking steps to replace a lost communication satellite with one of eight in-orbit spares.
French Accident Investigators Find Hole in EU Regs, Raise Ire of Air New Zealand
This week’s interim report by France’s Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses (BEA) on the November 27 crash of an XL Airways-operated A320 off the coast of Franc
Charter & Fractional
Platinum Jet execs indicted in Teterboro crash
Four years after a Challenger 600 operated by Platinum Jet Management crashed on takeoff from Teterboro Airport, resulting in a major FAA investigation of
Accidents
Burbank Night Curfew Inches Closer
The Burbank-Glendale Airport Authority last month delivered to the FAA the first-ever application for airport access restrictions that would apply to Stage
Airbus Retrenches, Rejects Ryanair’s Advances
Should anybody harbor any doubts, two recent events confirmed that the mid-decade airline-order boom has ended: Airbus announced A320 production cutbacks a
FBOs
TAC Air adds 13th FBO
In mid-January, FBO chain Tac Air added its 13th FBO with the purchase of a facility at Spirit of St.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
BaySys Plans Completion Hangar Large Enough for A380
BaySys International won’t say if it’s lobbying to be the first with an interiors contract for an executive version of the Airbus A380, but the Wallops Isl
2009 Order Tallies a Sign of the Times
A firm order announced on February 27 for six A330-200s from Korean Air helped ease the sting of an exceedingly sluggish sales year so far for Airbus, but
Environment
Biofuels for Business Aviation
As concern for the environment gathers urgency, a number of manufacturers are studying the use of biofuels, which they consider a low-CO2 alternative to pe
Q400 Crash Renews Scrutiny on Regional Airlines
The crash of a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 that killed 50 people outside Buffalo on February 12 once again has the industry group that represents U.S.
Cabin Interior and Electronics
Flying Colours Wins Flight Options Paint Contract
Flying Colours, an Ontario-based independent completion and refurbishment center, has been awarded a contract to manage the aircraft paint scheme refurbish
ATC
In-development satnav services could eclipse GPS
While GPS is currently leading the pack in terms of satnav system implementation, at a recent UN International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Sys
Media Campaign Tackles Bizjet Controversy
Hawker Beechcraft’s latest advertising campaign suggests that the Big Three Detroit CEOs “might have received a warmer reception from their legislative hos
Boeing “Feeling Good” About Production Plans
Boeing Commercial Airplanes plans to maintain current production rates through the end of this year and projects little likelihood that it would have to tr
Business Aviation in Asia
“Last year was a great year for business aviation in Asia, especially the Greater China Region.
FBOs
Six more for Phillips 66
Phillips 66 Aviation added six new FBOs to its branded dealer network, bringing the total to more than 622 in the U.S.
Engines
Business Aviation Turbine Technology
It seems unlikely that new engine architectures such as the geared turbofan or the open rotor will make it to business aviation in the near or even mid ter
Charter & Fractional
Ab Initio Pilots Join NetJets Europe
The first nine new pilots to complete NetJets Europe’s ab initio training program joined the company’s flight-crew roster in November and December, followi
Aircraft
In the Works: Spectrum Aeronautical
Work is progressing on Spectrum Aeronautical’s all-composite S.40 Freedom midsize jet, but the first-flight dates have been pushed back, from a previously
Mexico Growing Beyond a Bit Player on Aerospace Stage
The first decade of the 21st century has seen Mexico’s aerospace sector quietly expand at an impressive rate, and, according to its cheerleaders, the count
Maintenance and Modifications
Cessna Closes Toledo Service Center
Cessna is closing its Toledo, Ohio Citation service center at the end of this month “due to reduced customer operations in the region,” according to a spok
ATC
Europe plans for 2015 ADS-B avionics mandate
Taking a major step ahead of the U.S., the European Commission (EC) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) announcing its intent to mandate carr
Avionics
FlightSafety Adds SV-PFD to G450/550 Simulator
FlightSafety International has commissioned the first Gulfstream G450/550 simulator equipped with the synthetic vision-primary flight display (SV-PFD).
How Much for an Aircraft Type Certificate?
The EASA’s flat fee for a type certificate for a fixed-wing aircraft with an mtow of between 5.7 and 22 metric tons (encompassing the Cessna Citation CJ3 t
FBOs
Million Air Tucson grand opening
On January 12, the new Million Air Tucson FBO held its grand opening, marking the FBO franchise’s first presence in Arizona.
Brazilian Prosecutors Appeal Judicial Ruling
Prosecutors in Brazil are appealing the dropping of some accusations in the 2006 midair between a Gol Airlines Boeing 737-800 and an ExcelAire Embraer Lega
Airports
Obama TFR to choke Chicago airports
The FAA has released details of how general aviation traffic will be severely constrained when President Obama stays at his Chicago home.
Avionics
Duncan Adds Pro Line 21 to 50EX
Duncan Aviation has certified a Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 upgrade in the Dassault Falcon 50EX.
Aircraft
In the Works: Antilles Seaplanes
Decades after the last Grumman Goose rolled off the famed manufacturer’s assembly line, the G-21 Goose is nearly ready to come back to life.
