Business & Commercial Aviation

The Pilatus PC-12 NG has been approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency for commercial operations in Europe. The decision means the single-engine turboprop can be operated commercially at night and under instrument flight rules across all 32 EASA member states.

Tecnam has launched a slot-deposit program for its P2012 Traveler. The high-wing, 11-seat piston twin lists for $2.35 million. A deposit of $107,000 allows customers to take delivery positions in 2019 and freezes the pricing.

In a sense, aerospace provided a platform for worldwide recognition of LEDs when film director Stanley Kubrick teamed with watchmaker Hamilton to create a clock with glowing red digital numerals for his 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Jet Aviation's maintenance center in Vienna has gained FAA repair station approval and is registered to provide line and base maintenance services to all N-registered aircraft it is allowed to support. The Vienna facility provides maintenance support to owners and operators in Eastern Europe, where about 10% of all N-registered aircraft in EMEA and Asia are based or operating.

Quest Aircraft's Kodiak 100 has received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The award raises the total number of countries in which the utility single-engine turboprop is certified to more than 50. The award will allow European operators with large payloads to access many more airstrips and locations that would previously have proven difficult, said Quest CEO Rob Wells.

BCA subscribers, log in to download the entire 2017 Purchase Planning Handbook, including airplane comparison tables as well as Avionics Marketplace charts, which are available only in digital format.

The FAA has issued its first airspace restrictions that specifically apply only to unmanned aerial vehicles, banning flights under 400 ft. AGL within the boundaries of 133 military facilities. The special security restrictions took effect April 14. The agency warns that violations could result in criminal charges, civil penalties and the revocation of certificates and authorizations to operate UAVs. More restrictions may be coming.

Firing an employee is one of the most unpleasant of all managerial tasks. It is emotionally draining, and there is an additional administrative burden involved to ensure that laws and company policies are followed in the process. Review the issues at play from the perspective of a director of maintenance.

With a vote on March 9 by their respective stockholders regarding the proposed acquisition of B/E Aerospace, Rockwell Collins moved a step closer to establishing a major presence in aircraft lighting.

For an aircraft to be listed in the Purchase Planning Handbook, a production conforming article must have flown by May 1 of this year. The dimensions, weights and performance characteristics of each model listed are representative of the current production aircraft being built or for which a type certificate application has been filed. The basic operating weights we publish should be representative of actual production turboprop and turbofan aircraft because we ask manufacturers to supply us with the average weights of the last 10 commercial aircraft that have been delivered.

According to the Aircraft Electronics Association's year-end market report, total worldwide business and general aviation electronics sales for 2016 amounted to some $2.2 billion, which was down 6.4% from 2015 figures.

Heritage Aviation announced the development of Heritage Aware, a remote aircraft maintenance-monitoring portal that allows customers real-time access to updates and work-in-progress reporting.

Ross Aviation (KLGB) in Long Beach, California, was named as a gateway FBO through the DCA Access Standard Security Program, granting flights leaving the operator the ability to fly directly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (VABB) was the most requested departure and destination airport requested with the Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder by brokers and travelers shopping for charter flights during the last 12 months.

ADS-B installations are a small part of Duncan Aviation’s business despite market outreach ahead of the 2020 deadline. President and CEO Aaron Hilkemann explains operators’ reasons for delaying the upgrade—and the consequences.

Jet-A and avgas per-gallon fuel prices—March 2017

News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community.

Compare Jet-A and avgas fuel prices by region based on a survey conducted in March 2017 by Aviation Research Group/U.S. Inc. and an analysis of the lowest fuel prices reported by FBOs on acukwik.com.

Aircraft leasing company Milestone Aviation Group Ltd. in February announced a contract for six Leonardo AW139 and three AW169 helicopters for delivery this year and next. Milestone leased seven AW169s and 11 AW139s in 2016. The latest deal is valued at $96 million.

Gulfstream and BAE Systems set out to reintroduce the intuitiveness of mechanically coupled flight controls by integrating electronically coupled sidesticks on the G500 and G600 business jets, set for certification this year and next year, respectively. Gulfstream G500 and G600 business jets will be the first commercial FBW aircraft with active sidesticks in service. For that achievement Gulfstream and BAE Systems were awarded the Aviation Week 2017 Technology Laureate during a gala in Washington.

Gulfstream Aerospace's second G600 flight-test aircraft flew for the first time Feb. 24, joining the manufacturer's flight-test program. The flight lasted 4 hr. 26 min. The first G600 aircraft had its first flight Dec .17 from Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. Since then, the aircraft has flown more than 150 hr. The aircraft is undergoing flutter testing, and is expanding the flight envelope.

BCA shares news of the latest products and services for the business aviation industry.

XTI Aircraft Co., a Denver-based startup aircraft manufacturer, is hoping to build a hybrid-electric ducted-fan vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) business aircraft. It recently teamed with electric propulsion specialist Bye Aerospace to develop the TriFan 600.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. saluted the U.S. Coast Guard's fleet of HH/MH-65 Dolphin patrol and search and rescue helicopters as they recently passed 1.5 million flight hours. “This is an enormous accomplishment for the U.S. Coast Guard, and for Airbus,” said Chris Emerson, president of Airbus Helicopters Inc. “We are proud of the great work the men and women of the Coast Guard perform with these aircraft. They have saved countless lives and guarded our nation’s borders and ports.”

AvFab has received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval for pleated window shades on Beechcraft King Air 200, B200 and B200GT aircraft. The shades replace the factory-installed polarizers and can be closed when the aircraft is parked. The shades are flame retardant, have an antibacterial coating, provide Sun protection, reflect heat and are available in several colors.