Latest from Gordon Gilbert
Rotorcraft
Upgraded Helicopter Standards Planned
New and revised performance and handling qualities requirements for normal- (Part 27) and transport-category (Part 29) rotorcraft have been proposed.
Regulations and Government
Nav Canada Wants Excise Taxes Cut
Canada's private, user-fee-based ATC system–Nav Canada–believes that general aviation operators are double-charged for use of Canada's aviation infrastruct
Regulations and Government
In Reason Report Unreasonable?
"Business aviation should support the shift to user fees," urged Reason Foundation director of transportation studies Robert Poole, "if it is part of a com
Aircraft
Eclipse 500, Citation Mustang in Tight Race
It's going to be a photo finish between the Eclipse 500 and Cessna Citation Mustang in the race for full FAA type certification (TC).
Regulations and Government
UK To Rule on Foreign Aircraft Registration
The UK Department for Transport expects to publish next month the long-awaited findings of its proposal to set restrictions for foreign-registered aircraft
Avionics
Connexion Shutdown Raises Questions about eXchange
Boeing’s plans to shut down its Connexion satellite Internet service after failure to turn a profit in six years of operation put a damper on what should h
Charter & Fractional
FAA Pushes Ahead with New Charter OpSpec
The FAA is moving forward with a plan to release Charter Operations Specifications A008 (OpSpec 008) and associated guidance on August 31.
Security
Customs Procedures Changing at Some Airports
NBAA has received reports of changes to customs clearance procedures at some airports for international general aviation aircraft arrivals.
Aircraft
Sino Slips on SJ30 Production Ramp-up
On Friday, Taiwanese-backed Sino Swearingen furloughed 100 production-line workers at its San Antonio final assembly plant for the SJ30 light jet, as well
Avionics
MagnaStar Customers Weigh Options
It didn’t take long for Iridium resellers to start targeting MagnaStar customers after service provider Verizon Airfone announced plans to exit the general
Airports
Chicago O’Hare Slot Program Final Rule
A long-awaited interim final rule will be published in the next day or two extending through at least April 2008 the FAA’s mandated flight-reduction progra
Regulations and Government
FAA Cutting Back Mailing ADs and SAIBs
In what it said is “part of our transition to full electronic distribution of ADs and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins,” the FAA today began imp
Aircraft
Initial Hawker 4000 Customers Might Face Retrofits
Operators that take delivery of Hawker 4000s during the exemption period face a mandatory retrofit if any design changes are necessary.
Aircraft
Hawker 4000 Exemptions Granted with Conditions
The FAA has granted, with conditions, Raytheon Aircraft’s request that the Hawker 4000 be temporarily exempted from having to meet certain Part 25 fuel tan
Engines
Williams-powered Citation Conversion Gets STC
Citation modification specialist Sierra Industries last week received an STC for its Stallion conversion, a Citation 500/501 powered by Williams FJ44-2A tu
Safety
Icing Training Mandate For Caravan Pilots?
A long-awaited interim final rule will be published in the next day or two extending through at least April 2008 the FAA’s mandated flight-reduction progra
Safety
Business Aviation Safety
In the last 10 years, business aviation safety has improved dramatically.
Safety
NTSB Wants Ice Detectors on all Jet Engines
In the aftermath of four dual flameouts involving P&WC JT15D-powered Beechjets, the NTSB on Friday issued an urgent recommendation to help prevent furt
Aircraft
Citation CJ4 Will be Announced at NBAA Convention
Prompted by inquiries last week from AIN, Cessna today will confirm in a short press release that it is introducing the Citation CJ4 at the NBAA Con
Accidents
None Seriously Hurt in Hawker-Sailplane Midair
Remarkably, the two pilots and three passengers on a NetJets Hawker 800XP (N879QS) and the pilot of a Schleicher sailplane escaped serious injury when the
Avionics
RTCA Gets the Ball Rolling on Helicopter TAWS
On September 21, the FAA has scheduled the first
Airports
NATA Appeals to OMB on 15-percent Rule
In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget this week, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) requested the agency's intervention to ens
ATC
Lockheed To Disclose ADS-B Contract Team
Lockheed Martin is expected soon to make a surprise announcement about its bid for the FAA's forthcoming ADS-B contract, said to be valued at around $2 bil
Airports
GA and Regionals Affected by La Guardia Plan
General aviation operators at New York La Guardia Airport who are waiting eagerly for the expiration next January 1 of the reservation and slot program und
Aircraft
Beechjet Operators Receive AFM Changes
Raytheon Aircraft has provided operators of the Beechjet/Hawker 400XP with revised airplane flight manual (AFM) pages on the use of engine anti-icing proce
Charter & Fractional
No WAAS Capability for Honeywell’s GNS-XLS
A recent notice sent to Honeywell GNS-XLS owners confirmed what many had suspected all along: due to hardware limitations, the flight management system wil
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Raises the Stakes for Fractionals
Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options this morning launched Fractional First, which it describes as a “purchase and use program designed to de
Charter & Fractional
Start-up Magnum Jet Orders Small Jets
Embraer today said Houston-based Magnum Jet has placed an order for 50 Phenom 100s, with options for another 50 Phenom 100s and/or 300s.
Accidents
Wings Separated in Latest Two MU-2 Fatals
The NTSB reports that in the two most recent Mitsubishi MU-2 fatal accidents, the wings separated in flight.
Safety
Landing-assessment Rule Dropped–For Now
For the time being, air-taxi and fractional jet operators will not be required to add a 15-percent safety margin to actual landing distance as described in
