Fractional operations involving small cabin aircraft are continuing to pick up significantly, jumping 26.8% in July compared with a year earlier, according to the latest report involving U.S. and Canada business aircraft operations from aviation researcher Argus. Small cabins were the only category in fractional operations to mark an improvement in July. Part 91 flights involving small cabins were also up on the month, by 4.4%, leading to an overall improvement in July flights for small cabins of 4% (Part 135 small cabin operations had dropped in the month), Argus reports.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 variant airplanes) [Docket No. FAA-2014-0488; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-141-AD; Amendment 39-17919; AD 2014-15-17] – requires revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate temporary revisions that introduce additional limitations for operation of taxi and landing lights. This AD was prompted by a determination that there is a potential for fuel leakage from auxiliary power unit (APU) boost pump component installations in the right-hand landing lights compartment.
FAA is taking the next step toward a rewrite of Part 27 and Part 29 standards, planning to establish an international “forum” to look at possible changes to the standards for helicopters. The agency in February 2013 solicited comments on potential interest for realigning the standards, including whether the weight- and passenger-based thresholds should be re-evaluated.
Surf Air, the upstart membership airline that operates Pilatus PC-12s among business aviation airports in California, anticipates such strong growth that it has placed a firm order for 15 new PC-12NGs along with options for an additional 50. If all options are exercised, the value of the deal is about $312 million. The aircraft, which carry a retail price of $4.65 million, are to be delivered over the next five years.
FAA is clarifying its policy on non-aeronautical storage at airports to emphasize that airport hangars should be used for aeronautical purposes, but also allows that limited “small incidental” non-aeronautical storage is permissible. The notice of proposed policy comes after FAA had sent a letter to the city of Glendale, Arizona, on the need to ensure that hangars are used for aeronautical purposes. That letter was widely viewed in the airport community as broad policy banning all non-aeronautical uses.
FAA has declared the Griffiss International Airport unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) test site in Rome, N.Y., as operational, making it the fifth of six sites to reach that status. In addition to the traditional UAS studies, the Giffiss site will also evaluate means of scouting agricultural fields through different types of sensors, including visual, thermal and multispectral equipment. “We are accomplishing two important missions with the launch of this test site,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says.
Embraer has secured Brazilian type certification for its newest business jet, the Legacy 500 midsize, and is making plans to begin delivery of the aircraft next month, the Brazilian manufacturer announced Aug. 12. Embraer is expecting U.S. FAA approval to follow in upcoming weeks, with European Aviation Safety Agency validation after that.
Quest Aircraft, coming off its best year yet, recently secured certification of the latest executive interior for its Kodiak aircraft as business and corporate interest in the single-turboprop continues to grow.
The Griffiss International Airport team was awarded a two-year certificate of waiver or authorization (COA) to use a 3-lb. PrecisionHawk Lancaster Platform UAS with a wingspan of about 4 ft. The UAS projects will include detection of insects, weeds, diseases, crop characteristics, crop biomass and background soil characteristics in two farm fields with flights occurring below 400 ft. and lasting 60 min.
General aviation manufacturers, particularly those involved in agricultural aviation, are re-evaluating their production plans for 2015 in light of the battle brewing over reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, industry leaders say.
The Griffiss International Airport team was awarded a two-year certificate of waiver or authorization (COA) to use a 3-lb. PrecisionHawk Lancaster Platform UAS with a wingspan of about 4 ft. The UAS projects will include detection of insects, weeds, diseases, crop characteristics, crop biomass and background soil characteristics in two farm fields with flights occurring below 400 ft. and lasting 60 min.
The owners of approximately 150,000 general aviation aircraft that will be required to install automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) avionics in their aircraft by Jan. 1, 2020, to keep flying are seeing a surge in new products available to meet the mandate. The increase in competition from new vendor entrants and products – most notably L-3 with its new Lynx line of ADS-B units – is expected to drive costs down for owners who are beginning to accept the FAA’s assurance that the deadline will not be extended.
Cessna Aircraft’s M2 entry-level jet was granted approval from the civil aviation authorities of Brazil and Argentina, clearing the way for deliveries to those countries. The approvals follow U.S. FAA certification in December and European Aviation Safety Agency validation in June. In a little more than six months since FAA certification, Cessna had delivered 31 of the model. Cessna’s Sovereign+, which gained FAA certification in December, is also on pace for delivery to Brazil shortly.
The Griffiss International Airport team was awarded a two-year certificate of waiver or authorization (COA) to use a 3-lb. PrecisionHawk Lancaster Platform UAS with a wingspan of about 4 ft. The UAS projects will include detection of insects, weeds, diseases, crop characteristics, crop biomass and background soil characteristics in two farm fields with flights occurring below 400 ft. and lasting 60 min.
Bell Helicopter received orders from the first two customers to take delivery of Bell 429s in Poland. The orders were taken through JB Investments, Bell’s independent representative in Poland. Bell previously had sold three Bell 407GX to customers in Poland. The 429s are slated for delivery in the first half of 2015.
