Mark Phelps

In its briefing on last year’s sales figures, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported an increase in billings compared with 2007 (up 13.4 percent). But that’s where the flow of good news comes to a screeching halt. Overall the picture looks bleak, said GAMA Chairman Mark Van Tine, president and CEO of Jeppesen. “Many of […]

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have joined forces again to promote the message that business aviation is a productive business tool rather than just another lavish parcel of an overpaid executive’s compensation package. First coined in 1993, the ‘No Plane No Gain’ message has some 21st century […]

The NTSB is continuing its investigation into the crash of a Q400 twin turboprop near Buffalo on February 12th that killed all aboard the airplane and one person on the ground. In a startling development, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times have reported that the Board is looking at the possibility of […]

With orders lagging for its piston-powered products, Cirrus expects to reposition some of its workforce in developing its Vision single-engine jet. New CEO Brent Wouters calls the Vision Cirrus’ “future engine for growth,” while looking to overseas markets in Indonesia and elsewhere in the Far East for new opportunities to sell SR20 and SR22 piston […]

If the most dangerous words in aviation are “Watch this,” then the second most dangerous could be, “Show us how it’s done.” I heard those exact words on the frequency last week. The wind was the worst I had ever seen it in these parts, blowing 90 degrees directly across the only runway in operation […]

Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department released a series of restrictions to executive compensation aimed at companies receiving government bailout money. Named specifically in the language were AIG, Bank of America and Citigroup. The measures call for tighter controls on “luxury expenditures,” though they do not specifically prohibit ownership or use of corporate aircraft. According […]

Late last year, the FAA notified helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operators that it was making changes to OpSpecs A021, which regulates the industry. And also to OpSpecs A050 covering the use of night vision goggles. Further guidance from the FAA ramping up safety measures emerged recently in advance of last week’s four-day hearings by […]

Jim Schuster, president of Hawker Beechcraft, announced in a letter to employees last week that 2,300 can expect pink slips by the end of the year. The letter was a follow-on to a letter sent earlier warning employees of the impending job losses. He said the majority of those who will be let go will […]

In an interview with Katie Couric aired on CBS’s 60 Minutes Sunday night, US Airways Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger eloquently described his thoughts and emotions as the drama of Flight 1549 unfolded over New York City. He calmly related how he saw the flock of birds filling his windscreen, too late to take evasive action; […]

Textron CEO Lewis Campbell told an investment group on Tuesday that he might be forced to sell either Bell Helicopter or Cessna Aircraft to raise cash. Textron, which owns both manufacturers, has faced deep losses in its financial sectors, leading to the departure of Chief Financial Officer Ted French and the head of the Textron […]