Cessna’s Caravan 208 single-engine turboprop utility hauler is also the subject of a new powerplant retrofit with the announcement this fall that StandardAero would offer a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A exchange in place of the popular high-wing’s -114 engine.

Attending to the 1,000 light aircraft operators who are NBAA members, the business aviation advocacy group will inaugurate its first Light Business Airplane Exhibition and Conference in March 2009 at San Diego. “This is the NBAA’s commitment to the small aircraft owner/operator with educational sessions and exhibitors,” Doug Carr, NBAA’s vice president for safety, security and regulation, said.

If you can afford to operate an airplane, you should be able to afford to get good, high-quality training,” Richard Shine told Business & Commercial Aviation. “We have never skimped on training or maintenance. It’s very important to budget for it.”