Business & Commercial Aviation

Solar Impulse 2 has completed its first test flight following a battery system upgrade and ahead of restarting its solar-powered round-the-world flight attempt in April from Hawaii.

Duncan Aviation has been selected as the exclusive aircraft-on-ground (AOG) service partner for inflight connectivity specialist Gogo Business Aviation.

The buyers’ market for light jets is stronger than at any time in decades, with upward of 200 aircraft available. Well hidden among all that inventory

The FAA last month issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Part 23 that would overhaul airworthiness standards for small general aviation aircraft.

Germany aircraft manufacturer REMOS plans to unveil the next generation of its high-wing composite GX aircraft at the Aero Friedrichshafen 2016 trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Wichita-based True Blue Power, announced that its lithium-ion engine-start battery will power Bell Helicopter’s 505 Jet Ranger X.

SKYTRAC has joined with Flight Data Services for enhanced Flight Data Management Services.

Piper Aircraft recently received an order from ATP Flight School for 15 additional Archer TX training aircraft.

The FAA this month begins weighing recommendations from an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) regarding its handling of light or “micro” unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The National Transportation Safety Board has ruled that the probable cause of the fatal Oct. 30, 2014, crash of a King Air B200 into the FlightSafety International training center in Wichita was the pilot’s “failure to maintain control of the airplane after a reduction in left engine power” and “inappropriate rudder input.”

West Star Aviation receives an STC for the upgrade of the Honeywell CAS-81A/TPA-81A or CAS-100A/TPA-100A with 7.0 software to the CAS-100B/TPA-100B with 7.1 software.

Meridian adds a Falcon 7X (N221HJ) to its charter fleet of business jets. This ultra-long range aircraft was completed in 2008, and seats up to14 passengers. It also has the capacity to sleep up to seven for long-haul trips.

Sabreliner Aviation reaches significant milestone with the AeroVue integrated flight deck program. With the completion of critical design review, Sabreliner begins cockpit preparation on the initial aircraft.

When a hacker last year claimed to have tapped into an airliner’s entertainment system and then wormed his way into the flight control system, the major avionics companies were quick to internally debunk the claim, but they were less outspoken in public. That’s because the bourgeoning number of federated boxes that are increasingly common in connected cockpits are outside their direct control.

AW&ST is working on its 100th anniversary issue and has asked Business & Commercial Aviation to identify the most significant business aircraft ever.

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas received more departure requests than any other airport, and it was tied as the most popular destination airport, in Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder itineraries during February 2016, an analysis of aircharterguide.com data found.

Teterboro Airport was the business aviation airport searched most by acukwik.com visitors in February 2016, an analysis of site traffic shows. The third most searched airport overall, Paris Le Bourget Airport, was the top airport outside North America. Travel to TED talks in Vancouver caused Vancouver International Airport to soar into the top 50 in February as well.

Out of the ashes of the Hawker 4000 as well as drawing from its all-new Citation Latitude, Textron Aviation is creating a super-midsize jet with what could be a bright future.

The former head of North American sales for Bombardier business aircraft describes the market conditions, challenges and rewards of the pre-owned business aircraft business.

Jet-A and Avgas Per Gallon Fuel Prices February 2016

Privaira, a private air charter service, will relocate its Part 135 operation to Boca Raton Airport in Florida, which will allow it to have its own campus, office space and maintenance hangar facilities big enough to hold its midsize and large-size-cabin aircraft. Privaira is also partnering with Atlantic Aviation to support its operation at Boca Raton Airport and at its 70 other locations in its network. The relocation is planned for late February.

Advent Aircraft Systems has received FAA approval of its advanced-technology GPS/digital anti-skid braking system for installation on Beechcraft King Air B300 series aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line GPS 4000S or Garmin G1000/430W/530W avionics. Installation of the system, which may be ordered through Textron Aviation service centers as well as authorized King Air service facilities, involves no change to existing braking system components and requires minimal downtime.

With the snowstorms in the Northeast U.S., JetSmarter, a mobile market for private jet flights, created free private jet flights for members from New York to and from cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago and other cities. JetSmarter has been swamped with calls from those interested in getting out of New York. It has also created for new members a promotion to any warm weather destination to fly free with a friend.

Most professional pilots earn their instrument ratings sitting behind one or more propellers, after having learned textbook definitions of maximum endurance and range speeds.

The super-midsized Hawker 4000 (nee Hawker Horizon), in production from 2008 through 2012, suffered through one of the longest and most arduous gestations of any business aircraft yet built, requiring 12 years of development work and a $1 billion-plus investment.