Aviation News

The first prototype of Cessna’s light sport aircraft entry, the model 162 SkyCatcher, made its inaugural flight recently from Cessna’s R&D facility in Wichita. Cessna test pilot Dale Bleakney was at the controls for the one-hour flight, during which he checked out the airplane’s basic controllability and stability. Cessna planned to continue development flight testing […]

Embraer’s entry into the light jet market took a giant leap forward last week with the first flight of the company’s Phenom 300. The first flight was reportedly at least two months ahead of schedule, and the computerized design format is credited with the advanced stages of the program. Three more test articles are planned […]

While most eyes are on smaller and smaller jets, Cessna has taken a leap forward with its CJ program. The first CJ4, the largest of the series at eight seats, took place last week from Cessna’a Pawnee engineering facility adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base outside Wichita, Kansas. The two hour, 22-minute flight incorporated some […]

Littleton, Colorado-based JETTECH, which has developed reduced vertical separations minimums (RVSM) solutions for early Citations and Cheyenne turboprops, has a new product. Teaming with Sandel, JETTECH is now offering glass cockpit capability to operators of those aircraft. The core of the system is Sandel’s SA 4550 LED primary attitude unit working with the SA 4500 […]

The Senate plan for funding the FAA does not include general aviation user fees, but rather an increase in the federal tax of jet fuel to 36 cents per gallon from 21.8 cents per gallon-a 64 percent hike. Congressional proponents of user fees and opponents of the concept, including Sen. Max Baucus (D- Montana), have […]

On January 4, 2007, at about 8:30 p.m. EST, a Cessna 182P with three aboard left Newport News, Virginia, for Columbia, South Carolina. Rain and fog were forecast for Columbia, and the pilot, a 7,200-hour ATP, had filed an IFR flight plan earlier in the evening. The right-seat passenger, himself an instrument-rated commercial pilot and […]

L3 announced it has simultaneously received an FAA supplemental type certification (STC) and parts manufacturer approval (PMA) for its IRIS (Infra Red Imaging System) enhanced vision system for most models in the King Air 90, 200 and 300 series. The L3 IRIS system includes a KMD-850 multifunction display, but the STC allows King Air operators […]

Swiss airframer Pilatus announced it has received FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval for its Next Generation Pilatus PC-12, to be designated PC-12 NG. The central element to the new version of the popular turboprop single is the Primus Apex avionics suite, and a new cockpit design from BMW Group DesignworksUSA. The Pilatus […]

The National Business Aviation Association announced during Sun ‘n Fun 2008 that it will hold its first Light Aircraft Convention & Exhibition (LAC&E) next spring in San Diego. Set to run March 12, 13 and 14, the event targets business owners who use light aircraft-up to and including very light jets and cabin class turboprops. […]

The 34th Annual Sun ?n Fun Fly-In is set to get underway. This year?s special guest stars, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds precision flight demonstration team, is scheduled to headline. The show runs from Tuesday, April 8, through Sunday, April 13. Like AirVenture, Sun ?n Fun got its start as a small, local event that […]