Search Results for: general aviation inc

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is embracing general aviation as part of its disaster planning preparations after conducting a successful large-scale disaster drill that included private aircraft dealing with a simulated national emergency. “Our GA ‘ready fleet’ performed superbly,” said Marianne Stevenson, president of AERObridge, a group that coordinates use of private aircraft […]

Industry leaders hailed the strong turnout for the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva this week as an indicator that the market may indeed finally by turning a corner after more than two and half years of decline. “Cautiously optimistic,” was how several top executives put it when describing their prospects for […]

For pilots making their way through the world of ratings independently, as opposed to through a highly structured training program, the instrument ticket generates more anxiety per flight hour than all the other ratings combined. It should come as no surprise that it does. To go from the world of VFR flight (which is how […]

Sadly, it was a rare sight (and sound) over Geneva this week: a lone, single-engine airplane scooting overhead as a group of journalists together with our gracious dinner hosts from Rockwell Collins enjoyed the view from La Perle du Lac restaurant overlooking Lac Leman. A few miles away inside the city’s Palexpo Center, the site […]

Fly cross-country, land off-airport, and splash into lakes—all in a kit aircraft you can build in just two weeks.

In Aprils “Using Ground Effect,” I think the author made an inaccurate and misleading statement concerning the aerodynamics of ground effect. The article wrongly asserts Newtons equal and opposite force has different effects when operating close to the ground as opposed to at altitude. He states, “At altitude, of course, theres no reaction between this downward forced air and the wing because theres nothing against which it can react.” If this were true, an airplane wing would not be able to fly when at altitude and only achieve lift when close to the ground.

In the last five years, a new crop of small light jets (I promise not to call them VLJs, or very light jets) has entered the marketplace. Aircraft such as the Cessna Model 510 Mustang, Embraer Phenom 100, and yes, the Eclipse 500 are now out there in the hundreds, and they have carved a successful market niche, albeit not the one envisioned by some observers. These airplanes are designed to be flown by single pilots and its fair to ask whether or not our training and safety model for these airplanes will be up to the task. The record so far looks good but we need to look below the surface for the entire story. We should be looking at a cohort of airplanes that are destined for an excellent safety record, if we assume they will reflect the record of previous turbojet models certified for single-pilot operations.

Hawker Beechcraft issued a mixed-bag earnings report on Monday, highlighting an increase in deliveries, but a decrease in sales and operational income sparked largely by the continuing underperformance of business and general aviation. During January through March of this year, the company made a total of 45 deliveries, a significant increase from the 34 deliveries […]

The United States Forest Service is revising its National Forest System (NFS) land management planning process, a move that could restrict backcountry flying. A series of roundtable discussions have taken place around the country to collect public input, leading to issuance of a draft rule. AOPA and the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) have participated in […]

A group of private U.S. investors led by aviation market analyst Brian Foley now appears unlikely to submit a formal counter bid for the assets of Cirrus Design prior to its sale to Chinese interests. “The initial investor response was swift and encouraging,” Foley said in a statement to the press. “We’ve since had time […]