What's New

Feed contents:

Adam Aircraft expects FAA certification in 2010
AAI Acquisitions Inc., the Russian-backed company that bought the rights to defunct Adam Aircraft this year, said it's on track with A700 flight testing and expects FAA certification of the twin-engine very light jet in the first half of 2010.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:43:49 EDT

Harrison Ford boosts Special Olympics
Do you have a Cessna Citation? The Cessna Aircraft Company would like for you to join actor Harrison Ford and other Cessna Citation customers to carry Special Olympics athletes to and from the Special Olympics in Lincoln, Neb., in July 2010.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:15:17 EDT

Seastar makes a splash at NBAA show
An unusual amphibious airplane, asleep for more than 15 years, may be resurrected under plans announced by Dornier Seaplane Company.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:04:07 EDT

Boyer wins prestigious NBAA award
AOPA President Phil Boyer credited the 415,000 AOPA members, the association's staff, and his wife Lois for his recognition Oct. 6 at the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:55:19 EDT

Diamond brings D-Jet prototype to jet show
Diamond Aircraft displayed its engineering prototype D-Jet at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 6.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:07:02 EDT

SkyCatcher under design review
Cessna's prototype SkyCatcher was on one of its final test flights when it entered an unrecoverable spin and crashed on Sept. 18, and the program is in the midst of a design review expected to last about 60 days, Cessna CEO Jack Pelton said Oct. 5 at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:20:34 EDT

Swearingen SJ30 jet on a comeback?
Emirates Investment and Development Company, called Emivest for short, has purchased 80 percent of what was formerly known as Sino Swearingen Aircraft and has plans for the jet's future.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 13:19:16 EDT

Hawker Beechcraft intros the new King Air 350i
Bearing in mind the Hawker Beechcraft mantra--"It's the cabin, stupid"--the company announced on Oct. 5 a new King Air, the 350i.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 13:16:26 EDT

A profitable Epic eyes the international market
Epic Aircraft is profitable despite the lackluster economy and high-profile failures among other start-up very light jet manufacturers, said Rick Schrameck, chairman and chief executive of the Bend, Ore., company.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 12:00:27 EDT

Comp Air Aviation to produce certified airplanes
Comp Air Aviation, a longtime manufacturer of utility kit airplanes, has received $150 million in financing to produce a pair of certified, single-engine turboprops, founder Ronald Lueck said Oct. 6 at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:46:27 EDT

Gulfstream's 'super' jets
Gulfstream revealed its new G250 super mid-size business jet at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 4. But the company is being coy about persistent rumors concerning its plans for bringing a supersonic business jet to life.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:12:29 EDT

Peek inside the Cessna CJ4
Cessna flew its Cessna CJ4 to Orlando, Fla., for the NBAA convention to show off the production interior for the largest of its single-pilot capable jets.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 11:47:28 EDT

Dassault Falcon Jet sees weakening market
The market for new business jets in the United States and western Europe is softening, while demand remains strong in Russia and the Middle East, said Charles Edelstenne, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 11:57:44 EDT

New wing design paves way for supersonic business jet
A breakthrough in aerodynamics research means that the Aerion supersonic business jet (SSBJ) may be more feasible than once thought.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:05:36 EDT

Cessna to 'muscle through' credit crisis
Cessna expects to "muscle through" the current credit crisis with a record $16 billion backlog of firm aircraft orders.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:20:34 EDT

Tata buys into Piaggio, builds new factory
Piaggio Aero now has a third co-owner. Tata Limited acquired a one-third stake in Piaggio to join Ferrari and Di Masi as owners of the Italian company.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 12:03:14 EDT

Phenom prices on the rise
Embraer officials on Oct. 4 announced price hikes for its new Phenom 100 and 300 twinjets.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:09:20 EDT

Hawker 450XP debuts
Hawker Beechcraft announced Oct. 5 that it would build a follow-on design to the company's Hawker 400XP.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 13:13:21 EDT

Honeywell predicts record business aviation sales in 2009
Growing international demand and a long backlog of firm aircraft orders will push business aviation sales to record levels in 2009, Honeywell predicted in its closely watched business aviation outlook report released Oct. 4 at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:20:34 EDT

Human remains found in Fossett's airplane wreckage
The Bellanca Decathlon flown by Steve Fossett on the day he disappeared in September 2007 has been found in California, rather than in Nevada where past searches have concentrated.
Fri, 3 Oct 08 9:36:16 EDT

Boyer advocates for GA, airports in Alaska
AOPA President Phil Boyer received standing ovations for his presentations to Alaskan pilots this week in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. But it wasn't just about the Pilot Town Meetings. Boyer also spent a considerable amount of time lobbying on behalf of general aviation.
Fri, 3 Oct 08 14:06:32 EDT

Houses and airports 'don't mix,' AOPA says
For the second time in a year, AOPA is asking officials in Sacramento County not to allow development of 208 homes less than 700 feet from the runway at Rancho Murieta Airport.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 10:23:18 EDT

Don't limit local zoning authority on cell towers, AOPA says
AOPA is urging the Federal Communications Commission to deny a petition that would limit local communities' zoning authority when it comes to sites for cell towers and antennas.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 13:29:40 EDT

GAO says no to user fees
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the FAA's plan to auction landing rights at New York-area airports is illegal. The GAO's opinion reinforces an earlier rebuke from Congress, which had already told the FAA that its "slot auctions" proposal violated the law and the intent of Congress.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 16:14:14 EDT

Changes to 51-percent rule unnecessary, AOPA says
AOPA is asking the FAA to enforce existing policies for amateur-built aircraft rather than creating new rules that could negatively affect homebuilders.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 10:27:05 EDT

WAAS up?
In July 2003 a wonderful new era began for aviation. That was when WAAS capability was added to GPS navigation. Today, someone with a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can shoot instrument approaches to altitudes as low as 200 feet above the runway's elevation.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 13:24:32 EDT

FAA issues final rule for Adirondack Airspace Complex
The FAA has finalized a special-use airspace complex near Fort Drum, N.Y. The new Adirondack Airspace Complex, which takes effect Nov. 20, reconfigures and renames military operations areas and restricted areas, slightly expanding the restricted airspace.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 10:31:23 EDT

AOPA opposes changes to Chicago Class B
Planned changes to Chicago's Class B airspace encompass unnecessary airspace and could create new safety problems, AOPA told the FAA in formal comments submitted Oct. 1.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 14:44:17 EDT

No user fees this year
On Sept. 30, the very day that FAA funding was set to expire, President Bush signed the "Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008," which means the FAA has the money to continue operating until March 31, 2009.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 13:32:06 EDT

Committee calls for changes to FAA's ADS-B plan
Almost one year after the FAA released its implementation plan for replacing today's radar system with a satellite-based surveillance system known as ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), the aviation rulemaking committee formed to review the proposal has called for sweeping changes that reflect many of AOPA's earlier recommendations.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 14:37:21 EDT

CAP Historical Foundation names new leader
Lt. Col. Jack Faas has been named executive director of the nonprofit foundation formed to honor the Civil Air Patrol's history of defending the Atlantic coast from German submarines during World War II.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 21:04:38 EDT

AV80R is bright, colorful, and capable
Bendix/King, long missing from the handheld GPS market, has other handheld manufacturers looking over their shoulders with its recently introduced AV80R, a touch-screen, handheld GPS that can be connected to an XM receiver.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 17:33:09 EDT

AOPA strong in changing times, Boyer tells Bonanza pilots
General aviation has evolved greatly since its inception. But one organization has withstood the test of time without changing its mission to protect GA, AOPA President Phil Boyer said Sept. 27 at the American Bonanza Society Convention in Lexington, Ky.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 11:26:45 EDT

Mooney names new CEO
Mooney named Robert B. Gowens its new CEO late last week. Dennis Ferguson will remain on as president.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 20:49:30 EDT

Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial and AOPA Pilot Facility
The Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills, N.C., where the brothers made their first powered flight, is a treasured landmark for general aviation pilots.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 8:36:57 EDT

Feed contents:

Gulfstream's 'super' jets
Gulfstream revealed its new G250 super mid-size business jet at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 4. But the company is being coy about persistent rumors concerning its plans for bringing a supersonic business jet to life.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:12:29 EDT

Harrison Ford boosts Special Olympics
Do you have a Cessna Citation? The Cessna Aircraft Company would like for you to join actor Harrison Ford and other Cessna Citation customers to carry Special Olympics athletes to and from the Special Olympics in Lincoln, Neb., in July 2010.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:15:17 EDT

Seastar makes a splash at NBAA show
An unusual amphibious airplane, asleep for more than 15 years, may be resurrected under plans announced by Dornier Seaplane Company.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:04:07 EDT

Boyer wins prestigious NBAA award
AOPA President Phil Boyer credited the 415,000 AOPA members, the association's staff, and his wife Lois for his recognition Oct. 6 at the National Business Aviation Association's annual convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:55:19 EDT

Diamond brings D-Jet prototype to jet show
Diamond Aircraft displayed its engineering prototype D-Jet at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 6.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:07:02 EDT

SkyCatcher under design review
Cessna's prototype SkyCatcher was on one of its final test flights when it entered an unrecoverable spin and crashed on Sept. 18, and the program is in the midst of a design review expected to last about 60 days, Cessna CEO Jack Pelton said Oct. 5 at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:20:34 EDT

Swearingen SJ30 jet on a comeback?
Emirates Investment and Development Company, called Emivest for short, has purchased 80 percent of what was formerly known as Sino Swearingen Aircraft and has plans for the jet's future.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 13:19:16 EDT

Hawker Beechcraft intros the new King Air 350i
Bearing in mind the Hawker Beechcraft mantra--"It's the cabin, stupid"--the company announced on Oct. 5 a new King Air, the 350i.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 13:16:26 EDT

Proposed releases of airport property
These airports are seeking release of airport property. If your airport is listed, you should review the request and file your comments.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:00:38 EDT

A profitable Epic eyes the international market
Epic Aircraft is profitable despite the lackluster economy and high-profile failures among other start-up very light jet manufacturers, said Rick Schrameck, chairman and chief executive of the Bend, Ore., company.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 12:00:27 EDT

Comp Air Aviation to produce certified airplanes
Comp Air Aviation, a longtime manufacturer of utility kit airplanes, has received $150 million in financing to produce a pair of certified, single-engine turboprops, founder Ronald Lueck said Oct. 6 at the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:46:27 EDT

Phenom prices on the rise
Embraer officials on Oct. 4 announced price hikes for its new Phenom 100 and 300 twinjets.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 14:09:20 EDT

Peek inside the Cessna CJ4
Cessna flew its Cessna CJ4 to Orlando, Fla., for the NBAA convention to show off the production interior for the largest of its single-pilot capable jets.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 11:47:28 EDT

Dassault Falcon Jet sees weakening market
The market for new business jets in the United States and western Europe is softening, while demand remains strong in Russia and the Middle East, said Charles Edelstenne, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 11:57:44 EDT

New wing design paves way for supersonic business jet
A breakthrough in aerodynamics research means that the Aerion supersonic business jet (SSBJ) may be more feasible than once thought.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:05:36 EDT

Cessna to 'muscle through' credit crisis
Cessna expects to "muscle through" the current credit crisis with a record $16 billion backlog of firm aircraft orders.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:20:34 EDT

Tata buys into Piaggio, builds new factory
Piaggio Aero now has a third co-owner. Tata Limited acquired a one-third stake in Piaggio to join Ferrari and Di Masi as owners of the Italian company.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 12:03:14 EDT

Honeywell predicts record business aviation sales in 2009
Growing international demand and a long backlog of firm aircraft orders will push business aviation sales to record levels in 2009, Honeywell predicted in its closely watched business aviation outlook report released Oct. 4 at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 10:20:34 EDT

Hawker 450XP debuts
Hawker Beechcraft announced Oct. 5 that it would build a follow-on design to the company's Hawker 400XP.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 13:13:21 EDT

Adam Aircraft expects FAA certification in 2010
AAI Acquisitions Inc., the Russian-backed company that bought the rights to defunct Adam Aircraft this year, said it's on track with A700 flight testing and expects FAA certification of the twin-engine very light jet in the first half of 2010.
Mon, 6 Oct 08 16:43:49 EDT

Airports where Airport Support Network volunteers are needed
AOPA is recruiting Airport Support Network volunteers for these airports.
Fri, 3 Oct 08 16:53:55 EDT

'AOPA ePilot'
The October 3, 2008, issue of AOPA's weekly e-mail newsletter.
Fri, 3 Oct 08 8:58:36 EDT

'AOPA ePilot Flight Training Edition'
The October 3, 2008, issue of AOPA's weekly e-mail newsletter.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 21:51:00 EDT

AOPA opposes changes to Chicago Class B
Planned changes to Chicago's Class B airspace encompass unnecessary airspace and could create new safety problems, AOPA told the FAA in formal comments submitted Oct. 1.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 14:44:17 EDT

FAA issues final rule for Adirondack Airspace Complex
The FAA has finalized a special-use airspace complex near Fort Drum, N.Y. The new Adirondack Airspace Complex, which takes effect Nov. 20, reconfigures and renames military operations areas and restricted areas, slightly expanding the restricted airspace.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 10:31:23 EDT

WAAS up?
In July 2003 a wonderful new era began for aviation. That was when WAAS capability was added to GPS navigation. Today, someone with a WAAS-enabled GPS receiver can shoot instrument approaches to altitudes as low as 200 feet above the runway's elevation.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 13:24:32 EDT

No user fees this year
On Sept. 30, the very day that FAA funding was set to expire, President Bush signed the "Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2008," which means the FAA has the money to continue operating until March 31, 2009.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 13:32:06 EDT

Houses and airports 'don't mix,' AOPA says
For the second time in a year, AOPA is asking officials in Sacramento County not to allow development of 208 homes less than 700 feet from the runway at Rancho Murieta Airport.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 10:23:18 EDT

Human remains found in Fossett's airplane wreckage
The Bellanca Decathlon flown by Steve Fossett on the day he disappeared in September 2007 has been found in California, rather than in Nevada where past searches have concentrated.
Fri, 3 Oct 08 9:36:16 EDT

Don't limit local zoning authority on cell towers, AOPA says
AOPA is urging the Federal Communications Commission to deny a petition that would limit local communities' zoning authority when it comes to sites for cell towers and antennas.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 13:29:40 EDT

Boyer advocates for GA, airports in Alaska
AOPA President Phil Boyer received standing ovations for his presentations to Alaskan pilots this week in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. But it wasn't just about the Pilot Town Meetings. Boyer also spent a considerable amount of time lobbying on behalf of general aviation.
Fri, 3 Oct 08 14:06:32 EDT

GAO says no to user fees
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the FAA's plan to auction landing rights at New York-area airports is illegal. The GAO's opinion reinforces an earlier rebuke from Congress, which had already told the FAA that its "slot auctions" proposal violated the law and the intent of Congress.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 16:14:14 EDT

Changes to 51-percent rule unnecessary, AOPA says
AOPA is asking the FAA to enforce existing policies for amateur-built aircraft rather than creating new rules that could negatively affect homebuilders.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 10:27:05 EDT

Committee calls for changes to FAA's ADS-B plan
Almost one year after the FAA released its implementation plan for replacing today's radar system with a satellite-based surveillance system known as ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), the aviation rulemaking committee formed to review the proposal has called for sweeping changes that reflect many of AOPA's earlier recommendations.
Thu, 2 Oct 08 14:37:21 EDT

CAP Historical Foundation names new leader
Lt. Col. Jack Faas has been named executive director of the nonprofit foundation formed to honor the Civil Air Patrol's history of defending the Atlantic coast from German submarines during World War II.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 21:04:38 EDT

Mooney names new CEO
Mooney named Robert B. Gowens its new CEO late last week. Dennis Ferguson will remain on as president.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 20:49:30 EDT

AOPA strong in changing times, Boyer tells Bonanza pilots
General aviation has evolved greatly since its inception. But one organization has withstood the test of time without changing its mission to protect GA, AOPA President Phil Boyer said Sept. 27 at the American Bonanza Society Convention in Lexington, Ky.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 11:26:45 EDT

AV80R is bright, colorful, and capable
Bendix/King, long missing from the handheld GPS market, has other handheld manufacturers looking over their shoulders with its recently introduced AV80R, a touch-screen, handheld GPS that can be connected to an XM receiver.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 17:33:09 EDT

Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial and AOPA Pilot Facility
The Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills, N.C., where the brothers made their first powered flight, is a treasured landmark for general aviation pilots.
Tue, 30 Sep 08 8:36:57 EDT