Aviation News

At a meeting of the NBAA Safety Committee held during the annual convention earlier this month, committee members directly addressed issues related to training pilots of very light jets. With an eye toward the nonprofessional pilots expected to be flying many of these jets, recommendations centered on ensuring VLJ pilots had sufficient basic instrument flying […]

PlaneSmart, the Texas-based shared ownership company that manages a growing fleet of brand-new Cirrus SR22 turbocharged singles, is expanding its operation in an interesting way, offering managed shares in existing turbine airplanes. Under the plan, PlaneSmart works with existing owners to offer their late-model airplane-Socata TBMs, Pilatus PC12s and Piper Meridians are excellent prospects-under PlaneSmart’s […]

Undaunted by a skittish Wall Street, Gulfstream has launched its second all-new design this year-the super-midsize G250. Following on the announcement of the ultra-long-range G650 in March, the $24 million G250 is based on the G200 (née Galaxy) but features a completely new wing (with engine-driven deicing replacing the boots on the Galaxy); a new […]

King Air 350 buyers can now opt for the new 350i variant, with a new-design interior, the latest Rockwell Collins Venue cabin “infotainment” suite (compatible with iPods, XM Satellite Radio, Blu-ray DVD and Xboxes “for the kids”) and high definition displays throughout the cabin. Hawker Beechcraft’s “Serenity System” soundproofing is also included, said to lower […]

Honeywell Aerospace released its 17th annual 10-year forecast for business aviation at the NBAA show, and the Phoenix-based company remains bullish. At a preshow meeting with journalists, Honeywell addressed the obvious question: Do events of the past two weeks change the outlook of the forecast, which relies on data collected months ago? The answer is, […]

Actor and pilot Harrison Ford agreed during the NBAA show to serve as honorary chairman of the next Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift. The goal is to enlist more than 300 Citation owners with hopes of transporting 2,000 Special Olympics athletes to the national games in Lincoln, Nebraska. Incoming day will be July 17 and […]

Stewardship of Piaggio Aero, manufacturer of the P.180 Avanti II twin pusher turboprop, is now an international triad. Tata Ltd, a subsidiary of India’s Tata Sons, has joined the ownership complement that includes the Ferrari and Di Mase families of Italy and Mubadala Development, based in the United Arab Emirates. Financial terms were not released, […]

Grob Aerospace management chose to recall its participation in this year’s NBAA convention to focus on talks with an unnamed potential investor. German insolvency officials have extended the bankruptcy protection period for Grob; and a Swiss court has similarly extended the deadline for Grob Aerospace’s parent company, Grob AG, headquartered in Switzerland. Grob Aerospace had […]

The 61st Annual National Business Aviation Association Convention opened on Monday in Orlando, Florida, on the heels of what has been called the most profound financial crisis since the Great Depression. The prevailing analysis among business aviation’s movers and shakers is similar to that of political pundits. It’s too early to tell what this will […]

Last week, the Austin, Texas, zoning board voted in favor of a variance needed to substantially spruce up the feathers at Bird’s Nest Airport, which is located 13 nm north-northeast of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS). Austin’s general aviation pilots essentially lost two facilities when Robert Mueller Field closed in 1999. Austin Executive Airport closed soon […]