It seems to me a kind of stubborn unease has infected many in the business aviation community. They see post-recession conditions of tepid growth in flight hours, slack sales in general, low fleet valuations and business consolidations as the new normal, and harbingers of a difficult future. Pardon my optimism, but considering events in just the past month, I come away with a different view, heartened by developments that should help strengthen the industry.
Modesto, California, resident Tom Davis’s background includes 25 years as a scientific programmer during which he developed software apps and performed software engineering for high-speed computer systems. Having been raised on a farm in California’s Central Valley, he also was familiar with mechanized agriculture. And since his father had been an air traffic controller and flight instructor, this spawned an interest in aviation.
“I wasn’t going to fly a toy and lose my ticket. I’ve been flying 35 years and have never gotten a violation and always followed the regs. Why would I jeopardize my livelihood?” Why, indeed? So reasoned Bob Howie, Gulfstream V captain at a Houston charter/management company, when he purchased a couple of DJI Phantom Pro 3 drones and contemplated starting a commercial operation. What attracted him to the small UASs that seem to have burgeoned overnight was a lifelong love affair with model aircraft.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
A bill for third-class medical reform for pilots is gaining momentum. On Dec. 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed S. 571, known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2. It will now go to the full Senate for consideration. The bill has strong support in the Senate, with 70 co-sponsors, and in the House, where it has 151 co-sponsors, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Since it was introduced in the House and Senate in February, the bill has undergone some major modifications to address concerns by Congress and others.
Registration may identify some small drone operators, but it won’t keep those intent on mischief, terrorism or just plain stupidity from flying their UASs irresponsibly, illegally, or even malevolently.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
Global Jet Capital announced that it has completed approximately 90% of its acquisition of GE’s fixed-wing Corporate Aircraft financing portfolio in the Americas.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. said it has received approval from the FAA to install the Gogo Business Aviation UCS 5000 smart cabin system on Gulfstream GV and GIV aircraft.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
The Aerodrome and its partner, the City of Boulder City, Nevada, announced in early December the world’s first commercial droneport and teaching facility in Boulder City.
By William Garvey, Molly McMillin, Jessica A. Salerno
Aviation Partners, Inc. is partnering with FlexSys to certify, commercialize wing-morphing adaptive control surfaces to potentially boost airfoil performance.
In January 1966, the FAA was working on plan to set up complete backup emergency power for 100 key airports. Plus, the first production pressurized single-engine aircraft — Mooney Aircraft's Mark 22 "Mustang" — was scheduled to deliver in March 1967.
Teterboro Airport was the business aviation airport searched the most worldwide on acukwik.com in November 2015, according to an analysis of AC-U-KWIK site traffic. The top airport outside the United States was the second most searched airport overall: Paris Le Bourget Airport.
In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to fly anywhere over the planet in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast environment affording benefits equally to flight crews, operators and air traffic controllers.
