Business & Commercial Aviation

Solar Impulse 2 has completed its first test flight following a battery system upgrade and ahead of restarting its solar-powered round-the-world flight attempt in April from Hawaii.

GE Aviation has created a digital organization that brings digital operations from across its aviation businesses into one.

Duncan Aviation has been selected as the exclusive aircraft-on-ground (AOG) service partner for inflight connectivity specialist Gogo Business Aviation.

Banyan Air Service signs an agreement with Aircraft Technical Publishers to transition Banyan’s technical information library from CD-based services to the ATP Aviation Hub.

The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that the probable cause of the fatal Oct. 30, 2014, crash of a King Air B200 into the FlightSafety International training center in Wichita was the pilot’s “failure to maintain control of the airplane after a reduction in left engine power” and “inappropriate rudder input.”

Honeywell Aerospace forecasts demand for 4,300 to 4,800 helicopters for civilian use over the next five years. That’s roughly 400 aircraft lower than last year’s five-year forecast.

The FAA this month begins weighing recommendations from an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) regarding its handling of light or “micro” unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Bombardier’s Challenger 650 business jet has been granted full type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

Key business jet market indicators, measured by a monthly UBS Business Jet Market Index survey, point to a weakening global market and have fallen back to levels tracked in 2008-09.

China will likely overtake Japan this year as the largest civil helicopter market in the Asia-Pacific region, even as its rapid growth of the recent past abates to more realistic levels.

VistaJet experienced double-digit growth in passenger and flight traffic in 2015, the European private jet charter and aircraft management company said.

Germany aircraft manufacturer REMOS plans to unveil the next generation of its high-wing composite GX aircraft at the Aero Friedrichshafen 2016 trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Bombardier Business Aircraft delivered its 75th Model 75 Learjet in late February, two years after the first Learjet 75 entered service.

Australian International Aviation College has added eight Diamond Aircraft to its fleet of DA20 C1 and DA40 CS aircraft.

Business aviation departures in Europe rose 2.3% in February when compared to the same time a year ago, due to a boost from the leap year, according to WINGX’s Business Aviation Monitor.

SKYTRAC has joined with Flight Data Services for enhanced Flight Data Management Services.

SOPs — Timely Topic I thoroughly enjoyed your article “ Sticking With SOPs,” (March 2016, page 52) You nailed it! I’m having it scanned and distributed within NTSB. Just wanted to thank you for ad–dressing this important and timely topic. Robert Sumwalt Member National Transportation Safety Board Washington, D.C. Get Out of the Way

Meridian adds a Falcon 7X (N221HJ) to its charter fleet of business jets. This ultra-long range aircraft was completed in 2008, and seats up to14 passengers. It also has the capacity to sleep up to seven for long-haul trips.

Sabreliner Aviation reaches significant milestone with the AeroVue integrated flight deck program. With the completion of critical design review, Sabreliner begins cockpit preparation on the initial aircraft.

West Star Aviation receives an STC for the upgrade of the Honeywell CAS-81A/TPA-81A or CAS-100A/TPA-100A with 7.0 software to the CAS-100B/TPA-100B with 7.1 software.

AW&ST is working on its 100th anniversary issue and has asked Business & Commercial Aviation to identify the most significant business aircraft ever.

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas received more departure requests than any other airport, and it was tied as the most popular destination airport, in Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder itineraries during February 2016, an analysis of aircharterguide.com data found.

Teterboro Airport was the business aviation airport searched most by acukwik.com visitors in February 2016, an analysis of site traffic shows. The third most searched airport overall, Paris Le Bourget Airport, was the top airport outside North America. Travel to TED talks in Vancouver caused Vancouver International Airport to soar into the top 50 in February as well.

Out of the ashes of the Hawker 4000 as well as drawing from its all-new Citation Latitude, Textron Aviation is creating a super-midsize jet with what could be a bright future.

The former head of North American sales for Bombardier business aircraft describes the market conditions, challenges and rewards of the pre-owned business aircraft business.