Business & Commercial Aviation

West Star Aviation is expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is offering free scheduling software and other tools to flying clubs available through its AOPA Flying Club Network.

This year’s National Business Aviation Association’s convention was a “resounding success,” drawing 27,000 attendees, 1,100 exhibitors and 100 aircraft on display.

Embraer Executive Jets delivered the first Phenom 100E in China.

Gulfstream Aerospace delivered the first of up to 30 Gulfstream aircraft to Qatar Airways on Dec. 11.

On Dec. 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed S. 571, known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2.

FlightSafety International is adding to its Cessna Aircraft training programs as it redistributes some of the training to meet customer needs.

Fractional-ownership giant NetJets recorded a 37% drop in earnings during the third quarter of 2015.

Business aviation departures in Europe declined 2.5% in November, to 56,200 departures, when compared to a year ago, according to WINGX’s Business Aviation Monitor.

StandardAero recently completed its first certified ADS-B solution for an Embraer Legacy 650 aircraft at the company’s Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) MRO facility.

Embraer Executive Jets announced an order for a new Legacy 650 to an undisclosed customer, based in the Middle East.

Aviation Partners, Inc. is partnering with FlexSys to certify, commercialize wing-morphing adaptive control surfaces to potentially boost airfoil performance.

The news that Gulfstream Aerospace is eliminating 1,100 jobs is not surprising, given the company’s desire to manage costs, an aviation analyst has said.

Pentastar Aviation launched a rebranded website featuring a refreshed look and upgrade to responsive design technology.

Zetta Jet has purchased a Bombardier Global 6000 ultra-long-range aircraft with options for four additional Global 6000 business jets.

The Aerodrome and its partner, the City of Boulder City, Nevada, announced in early December the world’s first commercial droneport and teaching facility in Boulder City.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. said it has received approval from the FAA to install the Gogo Business Aviation UCS 5000 smart cabin system on Gulfstream GV and GIV aircraft.

Global Jet Capital announced that it has completed approximately 90% of its acquisition of GE’s fixed-wing Corporate Aircraft financing portfolio in the Americas.

Bombardier threw down the gauntlet in front of Gulfstream when it announced the Global Express in December 1993, officially launching the battle between Montreal and Savannah for King of the Heavy-Iron class.

The subject of what constitutes a small drone commercial operation can’t be broached without relating the story of “FAA v. Raphael Pirker.”

“I wasn’t going to fly a toy and lose my ticket. I’ve been flying 35 years and have never gotten a violation and always followed the regs. Why would I jeopardize my livelihood?” Why, indeed? So reasoned Bob Howie, Gulfstream V captain at a Houston charter/management company, when he purchased a couple of DJI Phantom Pro 3 drones and contemplated starting a commercial operation. What attracted him to the small UASs that seem to have burgeoned overnight was a lifelong love affair with model aircraft.

Registration may identify some small drone operators, but it won’t keep those intent on mischief, terrorism or just plain stupidity from flying their UASs irresponsibly, illegally, or even malevolently.

Modesto, California, resident Tom Davis’s background includes 25 years as a scientific programmer during which he developed software apps and performed software engineering for high-speed computer systems. Having been raised on a farm in California’s Central Valley, he also was familiar with mechanized agriculture. And since his father had been an air traffic controller and flight instructor, this spawned an interest in aviation.

While BCA was refused an interview with an FAA small UAS manager, the administration did respond to a slate of questions.

Appointments, promotions and honors in the business aviation community.