In major management changes at NetJets, two longtime senior executives are returning to lead the private jet company, following the June 1 resignation of its chairman and CEO.
Jet Aviation Basel has just taken delivery of the world’s first Boeing BBJ 787-9 variant of the Dreamliner to be outfitted with a VVIP interior. Delivery of the aircraft to the Middle Eastern customer is expected in 2018. "We have invested heavily in research and development in recent years and are now ready to tackle the next generation of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic aircraft such as the 787," said Matt Wollaston, vice president of completions, sales and marketing.
As flight tests of the AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor accelerate, certification requirements are pushing the company’s pilots to explore flight regimes uncharted by past programs. Much of the work is taking place in the United States where AW is working closely with the FAA to certify the AW609 in the powered lift category. The first two prototypes have so far flown 1,200 hours and recently began certification flight testing with the aim of gaining FAA approval and service entry by the end of 2017. Two more prototypes are being assembled.
The FAA is staging ground collisions between representative aircraft wings and landing gear with approach lights and landing aids to develop standardized test procedures for evaluating the “frangibility” of landing aids and light towers near runways.
MHI has painted the fifth aircraft in the colors of launch customer All Nippon Airways. In a photograph issued by Mitsubishi Aircraft, the outer wing boxes have not been attached to the inner wing box, however.
Encouraged by the success of Man, which has nearly 800 entries on its M-register, the Irish Aviation Authority has, with preferred marketing and support partner Shannon Airport’s International Aviation Services Center (IASC), unveiled a new register targeted at corporate and business jets.
A notice of proposed rulemaking that would eliminate costly and time-consuming requirements for operators to develop and submit a separate maintenance program for equipment required to fly in reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace has been welcomed by the National Business Aviation Association.
SNC—which holds the type certificate for the two aircraft models through recently purchased Germany-based subsidiary 328 Support Services GmbH—has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications to upgrade and build the two aircraft in Turkey.
Textron Aviation and union representatives of hourly workers at the Wichita Hawker Beechcraft Services facility are working to set a date to open contract negotiations.
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has signed a definitive agreement to sell 100% of StandardAero to an affiliate of Veritas Capital, a private equity firm, DAE announced May 26.
