Business & Commercial Aviation

The Pointing-and-Calling method used by Japanese train engineers combines looking at something, pointing at it, calling out the observation and listening to your own voice.

BCA readers share their opinions on articles we published.

Questions for Ian K. Walsh, CEO and President, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., Goose Creek, South Carolina

For reasons expected and not, my summer has been absent those lazy, hazy days. Rather, it's been a period of propulsion, speedy and otherwise, along highways, railways, airways and seaways.

Drones are easy to fly and have numerous safety and fail-safe features such as a programmable return-to-home capability.

Nextant Aerospace has launched an upgrade program for Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet, but fitting the flight deck with Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics.

Aerion has selected GE Aviation to study engine development for its AS2 supersonic trijet.

VistaJet reports it has eliminated ferry-flight fees for new program customers, a potential savings of $10,000 or more per flight.

Flexjet reports that strong growth is prompting it to hire more pilots. The fractional operation said new business is up 50% during the first five months of this year compared to a year ago, and that is on top of 20% growth in new business last year.

Thrush Aircraft recently delivered its 100th 510G, an agplane powered by GE's H80 turboprop engine. The aircraft was delivered to Mid-Continent Aircraft Corp., Mayti, Missouri.

The diesel-powered Cessna 172 Turbo Skyhawk JT-A is now certificated by both the FAA and EASA, clearing the way for customer deliveries.

Citing the economic downturn and the inflexibility of the regulatory environment there, TAG Aviation is exiting the Spanish market after doing business there for many years and consolidating its several air operator certificates.

Bombardier is now offering Ka-band high-speed internet on new Challenger 650s and as a retrofit on in-service Challenger 604, 605 and 650 jets through its service network.

Using data from its proprietary customer database, the FAA and other industry sources, Duncan Aviation reports that as of March 31, roughly 10,000 U.S. registered business jets—73% of the fleet—have not yet been made compliant with the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate.

The first production Citation Longitude rolled off the Textron Aviation line in Wichita in mid-June. The super-midsize, $24 million jet is to join the company's demonstration fleet this summer and travel the world to showcase the clean-sheet design.

Innovative Solutions & Support has received the FAA’s Supplemental Type Certification for its non-FADEC turboprop autothrottle for retrofit in the Pilatus PC-12.

The world's most printed engine, GE's new Advanced Turboprop, in which additive manufacturing replaces 855 normally made parts with just 12 printed components, is on track to run for the first time this year. It will power Cessna's new Denali aircraft.

Helicopter maker Leonardo says it has entered exploratory discussions with the U.S. Army to investigate potential missions for its AW609 commercial tiltrotor.

Enstrom anticipates its new TH-180 single-engine trainer will win FAA and, possibly, EASA certification by year-end. The helicopter manufacturer has two prototype aircraft in the certification program.

Textron Aircraft has delivered the 2,000th Cessna Citation CJ light jet, a Citation CJ3+. The CJ family of aircraft, which currently includes the Citation M2, Citation CJ3+ and Citation CJ4, has reached nearly 5 million flight hours.

Honda Aircraft has received type certification for its HA-420 HondaJet from Transport Canada, clearing the way for deliveries to Canadian customers.

FlightSafety International has added master-level advanced training courses for the Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy and 900EX EASy series aircraft.

West Star Aviation has received FAA Part 145 repair station certification for its Denver satellite location at Centennial Airport, which opened in 2014.

More than ever, business jet customers are choosing which jet to buy based on criteria beyond how far the aircraft flies, said David Coleal, Bombardier Business Aircraft president.

Czech Republic-based airline Travel Service has become Textron Aviation's first European customer for the Citation Longitude super-midsize business jet, the company said. The aircraft will be used for business-aircraft charter services.