Aircraft

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Aircraft

In The Works: Raytheon Hawker 4000

On May 31, Raytheon Aircraft reached the FAA’s five-year time limit for certification of the Hawker 4000 (née Horizon) under Part 25 amendments that existe
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Aircraft

In The Works: Grob G180 SPn Utility Jet

Grob Aerospace recently announced significant enhancements to its G180 SPn light jet.
Aircraft

In The Works: Embraer Phenom 100

Early last month Embraer announced it cut the first metal for its Phenom 100 very light jet.
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Aircraft

Some Tires Need More Than a Kick

Reports of tread separations and bulges on Goodyear Aviation nosewheel tires on Gulfstreams and Global Expresses have resulted in a proposed Airworthiness
Aircraft

Pilatus Takes the PC-12 to Camp

Camp Systems is now the exclusive factory provider of maintenance tracking for the Pilatus PC-12.
Aircraft

Alerts Issued on Premier I Drain Holes

An FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin issued May 17 says fuel drain holes in the main landing gear bay auxiliary bulkhead might be missing on s
Aircraft

Aerion SSBJ Rocketing Forward

Reno start-up Aerion, which is developing a supersonic business jet (SSBJ), is evaluating different means of demonstrating full-scale supersonic natural la
Aircraft

Start-up hopes to outfox other VLJ competitors

Tony Fox, the 84-year-old entrepreneur credited by those with long memories as being the father of the very light jet, last month sold the 1970s-era Foxjet
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Aircraft

International Operations

When Charles Lindbergh single-handedly flew his airplane across the Atlantic in 1927, there was little for aviator to plan before the journey.
Charles Lindbergh
Aircraft

Pilot training essential to improve MU-2 safety

MU-2 operators can expect to have to complete a more stringent flight-training program, similar to a type rating, as a result of the FAA’s inquiry into the
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Aircraft

A look at the MU-2's Reputation

In his review of the MU-2 accident data, Greg Feith, a former NTSB investigator and aircraft safety consultant, tried to validate or dispel the following p
Aircraft

In The Works: Dassault Falcon 7X

Last month Dassault said its engineers have validated several improvements to the Falcon 7X– such as increased mtow, engine thrust, fuel capacity and wingl
Aircraft

In The Works: Excel-Jet Sport-Jet

Excel-Jet’s four-seat, single-engine very light jet, the Sport-Jet, flew for the first time on May 14 from Colorado Springs Airport.
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Aircraft

In The Works: Gulfstream QSJ

Gulfstream Aerospace president Bryan Moss dismissed the company’s long-discussed “Quiet Supersonic Jet” (QSJ) during last month’s EBACE, prompting the airc
Aircraft

VLJs Cause a Buzz on Capital Hill

The Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) vision of providing safe, reliable and affordable air transportation for every community in America will mo
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Aircraft

Dassault Offers EFB Option

Gulfstream was the first to add electronic flight bag portable computers to its options list, and now Dassault has followed suit by selecting the PilotView
Aircraft

EMS Satcom Antenna Will Fly on Bombardier Globals

Bombardier has selected the eNfusion AMT-3800 high-gain satcom antenna from Canada’s EMS Satcom as a factory option on the Global Express XRS and Global 50
Aircraft

HondaJet Will Linger at Oshkosh This Year

The HondaJet will make an encore appearance at this month’s EAA AirVenture, July 24 to 30 in Oshkosh, Wis.
Aircraft

Avanti Weighs in with Mtow Increase

The Piaggio Avanti has received an FAA-approved handbook change for a 550-pound mtow increase.
Aircraft

Pilatus Launches Regional PC-12 Meetings

Pilatus Business Aircraft, the Colorado-based subsidiary of the Swiss company, is launching a series of one-day regional conferences for owners and operato
Aircraft

Embraer thinks big with the Lineage 1000

Embraer delivered on its promise to expand its line of business jets with the introduction last month at EBACE of the Lineage 1000 jet derived from its fly
Aircraft

New Gulfstream to grow in girth?

When he announced first-quarter results, Nicholas Chabraja, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent company General Dynamics, said that new Gulfstreams will
Aircraft

Lack of recorders impedes probe

The final NTSB report on the Dec.
Aircraft

FAA OKs Avanti II

Piaggio Aero obtained FAA certification of its Avanti II turboprop late last month.
Aircraft

Will Hawker 450 Move to Front Burner?

Raytheon Aircraft might make a “formal announcement later in the year” on a new or derivative business jet.
Aircraft

Caravan Safety Initiative Launched

Cessna has joined with the FAA and the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) for a Caravan “educational and awareness campaign.” The coalition “w
Aircraft

Part 25 NPRM Aimed at Bizjet Interiors

The FAA is developing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) addressing special requirements for the interiors of transport-category business jets.
Aircraft

Dassault Ratchets Up Customer Support

A Falcon parts price guarantee program and a program to improve dispatch reliability are two of the latest efforts Dassault has launched as part of a plan
Aircraft

In the Works: Antonov

An-148–Due for imminent certification by Russian and Ukrainian civil aviation authorities, the An-148 stands nearly ready for delivery this year to Russian
Aircraft

In the Works: AVIC I

ARJ21–China’s AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) continues its deliberate march toward a 2009 introduction of the 90-seat ARJ21-700,
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