Mark Phelps

Declining deliveries of business jets, lower demand for commercial and military aircraft, and administrative costs from a staff reduction program all added up to first quarter losses for Embraer. The losses amounted to $23.4 million, compared with last year, when the Brazilian airframer posted a net profit of $85 million in the same timeframe. Embraer […]

A footnote in the Obama administration budget plan has grown to become a serious threat to those opposed to user fees to support the FAA budget. According to the Transportation Department, cost-based user charges are expected to yield $9.6 billion of the FAA operating budget for Fiscal Year 2011. Details are under development, according to […]

Reno, Nevada-based Aerion announced it is proceeding with plans to develop a supersonic business jet. The company reported it is continuing discussions with possible manufacturing partners. The design-study, proof-of-concept phase is expected to cover nine to 12 months. Aerion hopes the initiative will lead to an agreement to go forward with full-scale development and ultimate […]

As general aviation advocates learned the bad news on user fees, mayors of close to 70 U.S. cities placed their signatures on a letter to President Obama extolling the benefits of GA. The letter also urged the president to help reverse a trend toward negative press that, they say, is helping cripple the industry. The […]

According to a report from Piper’s former owner American Capital, it realized a $31 million gain from the sale of Piper Aircraft to Asia-based Imprimis. American Capital said inception-to-date realized gains were $48 million with compounded annual rate of return (including interest and fees) of 19 percent over the life of its investment. American Capital […]

According to news reports, the widely known and well-respected pilot stopped by an outdoor party last weekend and asked several guests if they’d like to go for a ride. Later that day, his Beech BE95 Travel Air twin buzzed low over the party several times, initiated a steep turn and then crashed into a nearby […]

Greensboro, North Carolina-based HondaJet doesn’t expect to fly its conforming aircraft until next year, and now expects first deliveries in Q4 of 2011. The company cites delays in deliveries of subassemblies for the slip in its schedule, which amounts to approximately one year from the originally projected timeframe. Honda noted the “ongoing global aerospace industry […]

The air traffic controllers’ union expressed optimism that a three-year breakdown in negotiations with the FAA could be on the way to resolution. Last week, the Obama administration announced plans to establish a mediation team to address a long-standing contract dispute between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the controllers’ union. […]

Cirrus announced last week it has ramped production back up to six aircraft per week. For the last six months, the rate had been three to four per week. The company will continue to assess production on a month-to-month basis, and no laid off workers have been called back. The increased rate of production has […]

American Capital has sold its 100 percent interest in Piper Aircraft to Imprimis, a corporate finance and management company with offices in Bangkok, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. Piper President James Bass said he is confident the change in ownership is a highly positive development for the airframer. Imprimis has revealed it expects to leverage its […]