Mooney International, which restarted production about a month ago after a five-year hiatus, is refreshing the Acclaim Type S and making plans to reintroduce the Ovation3 this year as well.
Embraer remains on track to win certification of the delayed Legacy 500 around mid-year and expects to deliver between three and six of the midsize business jets by the end of 2014.
Leading Chinese business aviation company Deer Jet aims to open four to six fixed-base operations (FBOs) this year, adding to its current four. The new 2014 FBOs do not include one at Beijing, though Deer Jet already has the building for it. The company is not sure the Beijing operation can be opened this year. It does not identify the locations of the new FBOs, but Deer Jet notably lacks such facilities at Shanghai, Guangdong and Chengdu.
Bombardier is kicking off the long-awaited flight-test program for its first mostly composite business jet, the Learjet 85, with the April 9 first flight from Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport. The aircraft, flight test vehicle one (FTV1), departed at 8:19 CST and flew for 2 hr. and 15 min., reaching an altitude of 30,000 ft. and speed of 250 kts. Bombardier says the flight controls performed as expected.
While FAA continues to progress on the ground infrastructure for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), nearly 98% of general aviation aircraft have yet to equip with approved systems. FAA in May 2010 gave a 2020 deadline for all aircraft that fly above 10,000 ft. msl or in Class B or C airspace to install approved equipment for ADS-B Out.
Landmark Aviation is gaining a significant foothold in the U.K. with the acquisition of RSS Jet Centre Limited. The acquisition gives Landmark three locations in the U.K.—London Luton Airport (EGGW), Manchester Airport (EGCC) and Glasgow Prestwick Airport (EGPK). The newest bases expand Landmark’s reach in Europe to 13 facilities, with the remaining 10 in France.
Aircell has completed the launch of Gogo Biz in Canada, marking the largest expansion of its geographic coverage since the broadband inflight Internet service was introduced in the U.S. in 2009. The expansion covers the southern portions of Canada and up the west coast to Alaska, where the service was added in 2010. The service covers the most populous regions in Canada. But it also provides seamless coverage for flights between the Continental U.S., Alaska and Canada. Aircell is providing the coverage with a single monthly service plan.
China’s first business aviation airfield should be under construction east of Beijing by year’s end. The planned airfield at Sanhe is a project associated with Minsheng International Jet, which has broad ambitions in business aviation. It has been designed for Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault and Embraer aircraft, says Minsheng Jet Chairman Mo Lijun. This suggests that users of Boeing and Airbus business jets will have to go to Beijing Capital International Airport, where congestion is demanding an alternative for private flying.
An FAA/industry safety panel is establishing a one-year pilot project to bring a safety data program that has proven successful in commercial aviation to general aviation. The General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC) recently met with members of the general aviation community in Phoenix to roll out an Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) demonstration for the general aviation community.
Airbus Helicopters and its Chinese partner Avicopter have signed an agreement for the production of up to 1,000 EC175/AC352 helicopters over the next 20 years. Airbus Helicopters – formerly Eurocopter – began joint development work on the EC175, which is designated AC352 or Z-15 in China, in 2005. Avicopter produces the airframe, with Airbus providing most of the aircraft’s dynamic components. Final assembly takes place on two separate production lines in France and China.
Training orders continue to drive single-engine sales, with the latest agreement coming from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for 57 Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The multiyear agreement with Cessna calls for 29 of the aircraft to be delivered in 2014 and the remainder in 2015. The new Skyhawks will enable Embry-Riddle to swap out older Skyhawks in the university’s flight training program at both its Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., campuses. The sale continues a 15-year relationship between Embry-Riddle’s flight training program and Cessna.
FAA is planning a formal rulemaking effort that will consider whether to recognize a driver’s license in place of a medical certificate for certain pilots, the agency announced April 2. FAA plans to formally outline its timeline for the Private Pilot Privileges without a Medical certificate rulemaking shortly.
A two-year extension of 50% bonus depreciation for certain assets —including qualified business aircraft —took a step forward with the April 3 approval of the provision by the Senate Finance Committee, as part of a larger “tax-extenders” bill. The bill must receive full Senate clearance and House approval. Likelihood of House action, though, is less clear, with House leaders preferring more permanent tax reform.
FAA’s revisions to its planned sleep apnea guidance goes a long way toward addressing industry concerns, and possibly may enable the agency to sidestep a prolonged rulemaking process. The agency March 28 asked aviation medical examiners (AMEs) to review the new draft guidance that would require pilots at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to undergo testing and treatment if necessary.
CHRISTOPHER ADAMS was appointed senior director, business development and marketing, government for FlightSafety International. Adams will pursue new business opportunities for government and military training services and flight simulation equipment worldwide. He joined FlightSafety in 1998 as a product marketing manager at the company’s facility in Wilmington, Del. Adams was promoted to director, product marketing in 2000 and became director of marketing in 2012.
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services is expanding its maintenance operations to accommodate an increased demand from both in-house and transient customers at its Long Island MacArthur Airport (KISP) location. It has added a second shift to provide extended hours seven days a week at the facility. The location has been an FAA-approved repair station for nearly 30 years and employs 20 technicians and support staff. The facility, which supports ExcelAire’s fleet of more than 20 aircraft, is a factory authorized Embraer Legacy service center.
Piper Aircraft handed over its 550th Meridian single-turboprop aircraft to a Swedish customer. The customer, Aston Harald CEO Hakan Svensson, is the first operator to place the aircraft into service in Sweden.
Bombardier received an order valued at $73.7 million from the government of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada for two Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft. The first aircraft is slated to be delivered shortly, with the second following in 2015. The order continues a nearly 20-year relationship between the Canadian manufacturer and the Newfoundland and Labrador authorities. The province first purchased a CL-215 in 1995, and added the 415 to the fleet in 2010.
