Our long national nightmare-winter-is mostly over as I write this. Daylight Savings Time has arrived to those locales embracing it and engine pre-heaters are getting a well-deserved rest. As spring arrives, along comes a list of real and potential changes with which we all may need to contend. User Fees We told you last month in this space about proposed changes to the ways in which the FAA is funded. In addition to giving major airlines substantial control over the agency, proposals under consideration would sharply hike the fees you and I pay. Congress will decide the issue later this year. In the meantime, the general aviation industry and the airlines are increasingly engaged in a classic “David and Goliath” battle. All signs-including an ATC-derived image purportedly showing bizjets clogging Florida skies the morning after this years Super Bowl-point to an ugly fight ahead. Very light jets Eclipse Aviation recently made two announcements, possibly changing the complexion of the emerging very light jet (VLJ) industry. First, the company 288
Change is in The Air
Our long national nightmare-winter-is mostly over as I write this. Daylight Savings Time has arrived to those locales embracing it and engine pre-heaters are getting a well-deserved rest. As spring arrives, along comes a list of real and potential changes with which we all may need to contend.
Key Takeaways:
- Proposed changes to FAA funding could significantly increase user fees for general aviation while giving major airlines more control, setting the stage for a contentious debate in Congress.
- Eclipse Aviation has announced a shift in its Very Light Jet (VLJ) avionics strategy, moving away from Avidyne to a multi-vendor approach, and has terminated its training agreement with United Airlines, impacting the developing VLJ industry and safety landscape.
- The arrival of spring brings aviation challenges such as decreased airplane performance in warmer weather, gusty crosswinds, increased wildlife activity necessitating thorough pre-flight inspections, and the importance of pilots refreshing skills for air show season.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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