Business & Commercial Aviation

Northrop Grumman is proposing that the Gulfstream G550 serve as the platform for the U.S. Air Force's next Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-Stars).

The Women in Aviation International's 28th annual convention, held March 2-4, drew 4,500 attendees from 19 countries to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Embraer is cautiously optimistic about its executive jet segment amid a used aircraft market that remains challenging, the company said March 9 as it released 2016 financial results.

The Global 7000/8000 program's second flight test vehicle flew for the first time March 4, and Bombardier says the 7000 is on track to enter into service in the second half of 2018.

Bell Helicopter has delivered its first Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to Scott Urschel, a private operator based in Chandler, Arizona, and the owner of Pylon Aviation.

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.

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.

The third and final Pilatus PC-24 prototype, P03, took flight for the first time March 6 when it launched from Buochs airfield near the company's headquarters in Stans, Switzerland.

Bombardier Business Aircraft has established five new line maintenance stations in Europe to support customers of Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.

Robinson Helicopters is considering adopting a diesel engine for a future derivative of its R44 piston-engine light helicopter. The company is “holding strong to putting a diesel” in the R44 over the next 3-4 yr., CEO Kurt Robinson announced in a speech to the Western Museum of Flight in Hawthorne, California, late last year. The helicopter manufacturer is working with a “couple of different [engine] manufacturers,” Robinson says. “We have got to get the vibration loads right.

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.”

Pratt & Whitney Canada is working on a new 2,000-shp-class helicopter engine that could be ready for market by year-end. According to P&WC President John Saabas the company identified a gap in its product range between the 1,750-shp PT6C-67C/E and the 2,300-shp PW100 family of engines, and the new engine is likely to be a further development of the PT6C core. He says the engine would be ready to launch by year’s end, but is waiting for a launch application.

Pivoting to an unprecedented wave of new aircraft owners and pilots, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is now welcoming unmanned aerial vehicle pilots into the fold. “Drone pilots are seeking their place in the larger world of aviation and looking for opportunities to expand their experience,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. The association noted an FAA estimate that 1.3 million pilots will be certificated to operate drones under 14 CFR Part 107 by 2020.

Duncan Aviation completed a redesign of the Android version of its AOG Services app, which makes it easy for operators to find the nearest Duncan Aviation location to their current position.

FlightSafety International now offers FAA-approved Part 142 night-vision-goggle (NVG) initial training for the Airbus Helicopters H135, Bell 212 and Bell 412EP using Level D qualified simulators.

AirMed International has opened a Beechjet 400 base at Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport to serve air medical transportation and organ procurement and recovery flight.

CSI Aviation, a New Mexico-based, international air charter services and logistics company, has expanded its operating certificate to give the company the capability to provide flight services worldwide.

Jet Aviation’s maintenance Facility in Basel has concluded its first retrofit installation of Split Scimitar winglets on a BBJ1.

AirFlyte is now operating as Rectrix MRO Inc. The rebranding stems from the 2013 acquisition of AirFlyte by Rectrix and specifically markets the company for its maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

Textron Aviation has launched a new platform for its technical publications called 1View. There, customers can access maintenance manuals, flight documents and service information for Beechcraft, Cessna Aircraft and Hawker aircraft.

Jetliner manufacturers believe there’s merit in minimalism. They’re wary of distractions that could impede or derail pilot performance in high-stress situations. They’re also loathe to bury control of systems in multiple layers of submenus.

Today’s instruments enable pilots to better visualize their environment, but can also suffer subtle failures and lure the unprepared into hazardous situations.

After 20 years in development, Leonardo is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for its AW609 commercial tiltrotor.

National Transportation Safety Board vice chairman Robert L. Sumwalt tells BCA about two of the accidents most troubling to him and why he believes the Board does not need regulatory authority.

The Cessna Pilot Center network grew substantially in 2016, adding 24 flight centers as partners. Those include five international flight schools in Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Germany and Poland.