Latest from Gordon Gilbert
Citation VI Involved in Drug Bust
A Cessna Citation VI owned by Irish businessman Jim Mansfield was involved in a major drug bust on September 26, when Belgian police impounded the aircraft
DOT IG Notes Gaps in Aging Aircraft Program
In its new study of the FAA’s aging air
Regulations and Government
Procedures Proposed for FBO Reimbursement
Procedures have been proposed for reimbursing FBOs and other providers of general aviation ground-support services at five airports in the Washington, D.C.
Finance, Taxes, Insurance
GAO Sees User-fee Option for Funding ATC
While the debate continues over how best to fund the next-generation air transportation system, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is of the opinio
Accidents
Business Jet Fatal Accidents Tripled
Business jets were involved in 18 non-fatal accidents and three fatal accidents during the first nine months of this year, compared with 16 non-fatal accid
Aircraft
Cirrus To Launch Jet Single at NBAA
Cirrus Design will officially launch its single-engine CirrusJet this month at the NBAA Convention in Orlando.
Regulations and Government
FAA Revises AD Mailing Policy
The FAA clarified a new policy to mail paper Airworthiness Directives applicable to engines only to owners and operators who have “registered” their engine
Raytheon Breaks Ground on Completions Expansion
Raytheon Aircraft broke ground today for a $16.3 million, 112,000-sq-ft expansion to its Hawker completions facility in Little Rock, Ark.
FAA, GA Officials Downplay VLJ Effect on ATC
Testifying last week before the Senate commerce aviation subcommittee, FAA and general aviation officials downplayed the extent to which the introduction o
Aircraft
Eclipse 500 Obtains Type Certification
On Saturday, Eclipse Aviation received FAA type certification for the Eclipse 500, nine months later than originally planned when the company announced in
Accidents
NTSB To Assist in Brazilian Midair Investigation
The NTSB is sending investigators to Brazil to assist in the investigation of the September 29 midair between a Boeing 737 and an Embraer Legacy 600.
Regulations and Government
Insulation Rule Still of Concern
Controversy continues to swirl around the FAA’s September 2005 aircraft thermal and acoustic insulation
Airports
New Florida Airport Cleared for Takeoff
A proposed new airport in Panama City, Fla., has cleared a final hurdle.
Airports
Bizav Plan Proposed for Berlin Tempelhof
Hartmut Mehdorn, chairman of German railway group Deutsche Bahn, has proposed that Berlin’s downtown Tempelhof Airport be redeveloped as a dedicated busine
AOPA Questions NTSB GA Focus
The NTSB is focusing its resources for general aviation accident investigation on four “broad GA safety issue areas,” Safety Board chairman Mark Rosenker s
Regulations and Government
FAA Forum To Review Age 60 Rule for Pilots
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey yesterday established a forum of airline, labor and medical experts to recommend whether the U.S.
EASA Further Delays For-hire Single-engine IMC
The saga surrounding European approval for commercial passenger-carrying operations of single-engine aircraft in IMC (SEIMC) continues.
Accidents
Hawker in Midair Had Seat Belt Failure
As the Raytheon Hawker 800XP that on August 28 collided with a sailplane in Nevada prepared to land, one of the jet’s passengers cinched up his seat belt a
Aircraft
Piper To Put Substance, at Last, To Years of Talk
Piper Aircraft will reveal details of its next-generation aircraft, widely believed to be a single-engine very light jet, during the NBAA Convention next m
Charter & Fractional
NetJets Europe To Nest 24 Falcon 7Xs
NetJets Europe has placed a “historic” $1.1 billion order for 24 Dassault Falcon 7Xs scheduled for delivery between the first quarter of 2008 through 2014.
FBOs
Bidding To Reopen for a Third FBO at Hanscom
Boston Hanscom Field may yet get a third FBO to compete against Jet Aviation and Signature Flight Support.
Airports
Chicago Settles with FAA over Meigs Destruction
The City of Chicago settled FAA enforcement action that arose after it bulldozed Meigs Field’s runway on March 30, 2003.
Engines
Falcon 50 Engine Upgrade Expected By Year-end
Premier Aircraft of East Alton, Ill., continues to work with Honeywell on an engine upgrade program for the Falcon 50.
Study: VLJ Market Worth $2.5 Billion through 2011
The market for very light jets (VLJs) will be worth $2.52 billion over the next five years, according to a new
Aircraft
Embraer's Bizjets Selling Phenomenally Well
Embraer today revealed the firm order backlog and production schedule for its business jets–the Phenom 100 and 300, Legacy 600 and Lineage 1000.
Aircraft
SJ30 Light Jet Shows Long Legs
Sino Swearingen's SJ30 (nee SJ30-2) production-conforming test aircraft (S/N 5) with two pilots aboard this weekend established several speed and range rec
