NBAA Expo Focuses On ATC Proposal
The business-aviation world gathered in Las Vegas in October for their annual convention, and topping this year’s agenda was the fight against efforts in Washington to turn over the FAA’s air traffic control services to a private nonprofit corporation. Opponents argue the system would favor the airlines at the expense of business flyers and private pilots. Also at the show, Bombardier brought the new Global 7000 large-cabin corporate jet for the first time, and Cessna displayed the first production-conforming prototype of its super-mid-sized Citation Longitude. Dassault officials said they have a clean-sheet design in the works for a new business jet, but no details yet. Pilatus said it will start deliveries of its PC-24 twinjet this year.
Santa Monica Shortens Runway
The single runway at Santa Monica Airport has long been a focus of controversy, with neighbors saying the jet traffic there is dangerous and noisy, while aviation advocates argue the historic airport benefits the community. The city got the go-ahead from authorities in October to shorten the runway from 5000 feet to 3500 feet. The destruction was stopped by a restraining order, but then resumed a week later after a court decreed “the legal complaints raised lack merit,” according to the city’s airport director, Stelios Markrides. The city plans to shut down the airport completely in December 2028.
