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.
Rotorcraft
Air Methods Upgrades with Honeywell Sky Tracker III
The system enables phone and text services through the Iridium satellite network, including in areas without cell phone coverage.
Rotorcraft
FAA Clears Super Pumas for Return to Service
EASA had previously permitted the helicopters to return to flight.
Maintenance and Modifications
Constant Aviation Ups Its Winter AOG Service
Just in time for ski season, the Ohio MRO has expanded its U.S. coverage with two additional Colorado locations.
FBOs
Meridian Hosts Grand Opening at California Location
The New Jersey-based service provider has completed the first phase of its West Coast development in the San Francisco Bay-area.
Aircraft
Gulfstream Achieves G600 First Flight Ahead of Schedule
The first G600 took off from Savannah on December 17, with two other prototypes set to join the test program soon.
Rotorcraft
FAA SAFO Stresses Hover Checks
The agency attributes a number of accidents to pilots' failure to follow checklists.
Regulations and Government
Huerta: GA Entering 'New Era' with Part 23 Release
Huerta announced the release of the Part 23 rule, which culminated a nearly decade-long effort, saying it represents a fundamental shift in certification.
Regulations and Government
FAA's Part 23 Rewrite Ready for Release
U.S. FAA holding a briefing on December 16 on new rule.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Signs 30-helicopter Chinese HEMS Deal
This follows an order for 25 AW119Kx singles from Sino-US placed earlier this year.
Avionics
AEA Survey: ADS-B Fueling Growth at Avionics Shops
89 percent of avionics shops expect their businesses to grow in the next 12 months, up from 81 percent in last year’s survey.
Aircraft
Young Pre-owned Business Jet Inventory Stable, Says UBS
At 2,326, the number of pre-owned business jets available for sale at the end of last month was roughly unchanged from a year ago.
Aircraft
Bombardier Banking on Global 7000 To Boost Revenues
The new Global 7000 is expected to drive up Bombardier Business Aircraft’s revenues by $3 billion between its service entry in 2018 and the end of 2020.
Avionics
West Star Wins STC for Falcon 900B Datalink Install
CPDL-C improves communication capabilities in areas that usually require third-party HF communication relay, such as oceanic and en route airspace.
Rotorcraft
FlightSafety, Air Methods Open Colorado Learning Center
The facility is expected to have four simulators by the end of next year.
XOJet Partners with Etihad Airways on Joint Services
Passengers from both companies will receive special benefits
Charter & Fractional
JetSuiteX To Start Air Service at Santa Monica Airport
Flights will connect Santa Monica with Carlsbad and San Jose, California, starting February 6, and Las Vegas beginning on February 10.
Aircraft
Embraer Delivers First Florida-assembled Legacy 450
The fly-by-wire midsize jet was delivered to an undisclosed U.S. customer, who currently owns an Embraer Phenom 300.
Airports
FAA Orders City of Santa Monica To Halt FBO Evictions
This order is intended to maintain the status quo at SMO until the FAA completes its investigation.
Maintenance and Modifications
Mena Technics Forms Alliance with Inter-Tec
The partners will offer precision engineering design services.
Charter & Fractional
JetSmarter Raises $105M To Fund Further Expansion
With round of funding, JetSmarter will expand its current shared private jet flights in cities across the U.S., Europe and Middle East.
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet Aviation Singapore Gets ACJ Mx Nod
The Seletar Park faciliity can now perform full line and base maintenance on the ACJ 318-321 series.
Sam Hill To Retire from Quest Aircraft
Hill retires with a 50-year aviation background that also included stints with Embraer and Honda Aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Fruity Chutes Can Prevent Drone Destruction
Expensive drones can be rescued from harm by parachute recovery systems.
Maintenance and Modifications
Aircraft Technical Publishers Buys CaseBank Technologies
The merger of the two maintenance information providers will serve to improve customer productivity and reduce aircraft down time due to maintenance issues
Charter & Fractional
ExecuJet Africa Adds Helo Charter at Cape Town FBO
It will offer commercial helicopter charters for various scenic flights to surrounding vineyards and other tourist attractions.
Regulations and Government
Stopgap Bill Passes as ATC Funding Debate Renews
Congress pushed full funding bill for most government agencies until early 2017.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Cyber Security, Hypoxia Added To SM4 AvSafety Program
Global Aerospace has committed more than $3.5 million to support SM4 and help its aviation insurance clients pursue higher levels of safety since 2010.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Swiss Banks Provide Gulf Bizjet Financing
A number of Swiss banks are financing business jets in the UAE
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
Aircraft Finance 2016
New names, new practices emerge as the industry adapts to the current market.
Maintenance and Modifications
BLR Aerospace STCs FastFin for Airbus H125
FastFin uses advanced airflow management to increase the effectiveness of the H125 anti-torque system and yields certified performance improvements.
