The Weekly of Business Aviation

Buyers and owners of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and model aircraft must register their aircraft with the FAA beginning on Dec. 21.

Honeywell says it will begin offering a traffic-alert and collision-avoidance system (TCAS)-coupled autopilot option as part of a Primus Epic avionics-suite upgrade that will be available within the next two years.

The Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 will now go to the full Senate for consideration.

For the first 11 months of 2015, business aviation activity in Europe was down 0.8% as compared to 2014, with 5,700 fewer flights.

Gulfstream Aerospace delivered the first of up to 30 Gulfstream aircraft to Qatar Airways on Dec. 11.

Boeing is set to begin preflight tests of the first 737 MAX, following an unveiling event for employees at its Renton, Washington, facility on Dec 8.

Long in coming—its unique outlines were first sketched on the back of a wall calendar in 1997—the HA-420 HondaJet was awarded its FAR 23 Type Certificate on Dec. 8.

Textron Aviation is the “Wizard of Wichita,” with new products, increased sales efforts and rising operating margins and revenue.

Global Jet Capital—which provides financing for large-cabin private jets—has completed about 90% of its acquisition of GE’s fixed-wing corporate-aircraft portfolio in the Americas, it said.

Piper Aircraft, based in Vero Beach, Florida, has sold its first new diesel engine Archer DX into Scandinavia, the company said.

System-performance improvements, in part due to recent space-borne receiver software upgrades, should allow space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) provider Aireon to offer air navigation service providers (ANSPs) with both terrestrial and oceanic ADS-B surveillance capabilities.

Airbus Helicopters is flight testing Turbomeca’s Ardiden 3C turboshaft engine on its prototype H175/EC175 for its Chinese partner.

Airbus Helicopters has delivered its first H125 AStar single-engine helicopter from its newly established assembly line in Columbus, Mississippi.

Amazon has revealed the latest prototype of its Prime Air package-delivery small unmanned aircraft, and released a video suggesting ground and flight testing is well-advanced.

Etihad Airways has formed a partnership with Victor, an on-demand private-jet company. The partnership allows customers to charter a private-aircraft connection to and from their international Airbus A380 flights.

Daher has delivered its 100th TBM 900 single-engine turboprop, a milestone that comes 20 months after the company unveiled the aircraft in 2014.

The FAA has ruled to keep the Santa Monica Municipal Airport open through at least Aug. 27, 2023.

Fractional-ownership giant NetJets recorded a 37% drop in earnings during the third quarter of 2015 because of higher expenses and fees related to the cancellation of some aircraft purchases, parent company Berkshire Hathaway reported in a filing.

Kenny Dichter, co-founder and CEO of membership-based private aviation club Wheels Up, predicts a 50% boost in revenue next year and an 80% increase in revenue flight hours. Plus, FlightSafety International is adding to its Cessna Aircraft training programs as it redistributes some of the training to meet customer needs, the company said.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is offering free scheduling software and other tools to flying clubs available through its AOPA Flying Club Network. It allows flying clubs to schedule up to six “resources,” such as aircraft and flight instructors. It also has the capability to process credit card payments and create invoices. And it allows pilots to find flying clubs through its AOPA Flying Club Finder. It also offers a resource library about starting and operating a flying club.

DASSAULT AVIATION Model FALCON 7X aircraft. [Docket No. FAA-2015-5813; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-111-AD] —proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Dassault FALCON 7X aircraft, prompted by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) reporting of a fuel leak in the baggage compartment detected during fuel system pressurization of Falcon 7X on the production line. EASA said, “. . .

BOMBARDIER INC. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702);Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705); Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900); and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) aircraft. [Docket No. FAA-2015-4811; Directorate Identifier 2015-NM-104-AD]—proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the aforementioned aircraft to require replacing angle of attack (AOA) transducers installed in the stall protection system that are found to be incorrectly calibrated.

Tony Armstrong has assumed the role of vice president of marketing and sales of Raisbeck Engineering . Armstrong will continue his role as chief financial officer. Bill Cadow has been appointed to vice president of sales. Cadow most recently was with Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft division and Blackhawk Modifications.

Stephen Grimes has joined Superior Air Parts , based in Coppell, Texas, as quality assurance manager.

Andrew Wilson has joined Innotech Aviation as western sales manager for the U.S. and Canada where he will be responsible for sales of technical services.