Business aviation consultant Brian Foley, president of Brian Foley Associates, used an intriguing metaphor to explain the issues effecting Chinese business aviation: “Imagine if there was a 22-percent tariff on imported cars, drivers had to ask permission to drive a day in advance and they could drive only to specified cities via a suboptimal route with few services. Driving to a city not on the approved list would require a ‘navigator’ to ride along.”
General Aviation
News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
April 17, 2013 - 5:30am
Symbols are important, especially in China, and Avion Pacific Ltd. (Chalet 370) has chosen a precious 20-carat diamond to symbolize the preciousness of each of its 20 years of operation as a general aviation service and support center in China.
April 15, 2013 - 3:35am
Cessna Aircraft (Chalet 190) announced here at ABACE 2013 yesterday that sales are up 50 percent in China from 2011 through 2012, and up in Asia Pacific overall. Meanwhile, the company is making rapid progress with its efforts to operate in China through joint ventures formed with China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co. (CAIGA) in Shijiazhuang and Zhuhai. The joint venture with CAIGA involves building Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EXs (Shijiazhuang) and Cessna Citation XLS+ business jets (Zhuhai) for the Chinese market.
April 11, 2013 - 3:30pm
As expected, President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2014, released yesterday, includes a proposed aviation user fee–just as previous budgets have since 2007 when the Bush Administration first floated the idea.
April 11, 2013 - 7:55am
Flying to the Bahamas from the U.S. should not be daunting, if you ask Dennis Dames, assistant superintendent of police for the Royal Bahamas Police Force and officer-in-charge of air support service for the force. Dames was on hand to answer attendee questions at the Bahamas Booth in the Federal Pavilion, located in the Florida Air Museum at Sun ’n Fun 2013.
April 10, 2013 - 10:55am
Three regional Diamond aircraft dealers in the Eastern U.S. launched a DA 40 XLS/XLT shared-ownership program today at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Fla. Dubbed DiamondShare, the program offsets the cost of aircraft ownership by providing two or three “members” who pay a fixed monthly fee to the aircraft owner for access to the airplane. The participating dealers are Great Lakes Diamond Aircraft Sales, Premier Aircraft Sales and Dominion Aircraft Sales.
April 10, 2013 - 10:45am
The message from New Mexico-based Aspen Avionics (Booth B-078) delivered by v-p of marketing Brad Hayden was loud and clear: there is no longer a reason for closed architecture in the interconnection and data sync of avionics in certified aircraft cockpits. “Aspen’s Connected Panel technology is certified, and it allows our panel-mounted equipment to exchange data with non-TSO’d equipment such as iPads and tablets.
April 9, 2013 - 4:25pm
At Sun ’n Fun 2013 Continental Motors (Booth D-097) announced that it has increased TBO up to 400 hours on its Gold Standard factory-produced engines, which it introduced in 2012. The increased TBO is for nearly all Continental Motors factory-produced engines as designated by Serial Number 1006000 and higher. These engines were produced in February 2012 and beyond. Aircraft owners who operate their engines more than 40 hours per month stand to benefit the most from the TBO extension, allowing them to postpone their TBO time by up to 400 hours.
April 9, 2013 - 12:15pm
UK-based CAE Oxford Aviation Academy placed an order for 35 Piper airplanes today at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Fla. The agreement includes firm orders for 22 Archer TX piston singles and 13 piston twins, as well as parts and service.
April 8, 2013 - 3:45pm
Diamond Aircraft (Booth No. MD-023B) is introducing a new version of its DA40 piston single–the XLT–with an improved, “premium” interior this week at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-in in Lakeland, Fla. The new XLT features several detail enhancements, including molded seat patterns with integrated Diamond embossed padded headrests and improved lumbar contour in both the front and rear seats. All seats are covered with “infrared controlled technology” leather that reflects IR rays in direct sunlight and maintains 20 degree C lower surface temperature than traditional leathers.
