Aviation News

Under attack in the media and on political fronts, helicopter tour operators will meet for three days next month in Las Vegas. The meetings, organized by the Helicopter Association International (HAI), will focus on the association’s Helicopter Tour Operators Committee (HTOC) and the Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS). For information on registration, go to […]

Most pilots who fly their aircraft for personal or business transportation know that their way beats the airlines on most counts. A recent story on Yahoo News indicates that truism is gaining further credibility. With business travel down, the trend toward service cuts by the major airlines is expected to continue. New capacity cuts are […]

The so-called NextGen air traffic control system is a step closer to ThisGen. On Monday, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood revealed plans to place ADS-B technology online in the Gulf of Mexico in December, covering more than 240,000 square miles of airspace where radar is unavailable. ADS-B is scheduled for implementation across the United States […]

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the National Air Transportation Association have both gone on record supporting President Obama’s choice to lead the Transportation Security Administration. Erroll Southers, who previously served as California’s deputy director of homeland security, is a former FBI agent, who currently serves as assistant chief for the Office of Homeland […]

It may be more gimmick than substance, but American Legend Aircraft Company is offering to match the government’s “cash for clunkers” program. The company will take any old aircraft in trade toward one of its Legend Cubs, and reduce the price by $4,500 – the same amount car dealers gave for gas-guzzlers in the recently […]

Learjet 60 operators may soon add 25 cubic feet of external cargo space capable of carrying up to 300 pounds. Tests show the latest aft fuselage locker from Seattle-based Raisbeck Engineering exacts zero drag or performance penalty, according to the company. Once certified, it is expected that the locker will be available as a post-production […]

An alliance of 13 towns in Connecticut has launched an appeal to halt FAA plans to redesign the airspace surrounding New York’s three major airports. The citizens’ groups object on the basis of noise, safety and pollution. The FAA claims the new airspace configuration will reduce delays, and also reduce fuel consumption and aircraft emissions. […]

When it won the $40 million Eclipse sweepstakes earlier this year, Eclipse Aerospace set modest initial goals. Reports now indicate the new company could help economize by outsourcing maintenance to third-party shops. Factory service centers that were expecting a rebirth of activity, including the Albany, New York, facility, might be facing a dubious future as […]

Citing significant interest in foreign sales and a growing customer base in Asia, Hawker Beechcraft has assigned a regional sales director for China and North Asia. Following the lead of several other general aviation manufacturers, Hawker Beechcraft views the region as one of the most promising growth areas for GA aircraft sales and operations.

Now owned by Brunei-based finance house Imprimis, Piper Aircraft announced last week it was expanding its reach in the Asian region. The Vero Beach, Florida-based airframer will hire a senior leader, likely to be based in Brunei, whose duties will include promoting general aviation in the region. That entails prying away control of travel and […]