Business & Commercial Aviation

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

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.

There was a roar of approval, streamers popping and some 2,000 workers, dignitaries and suppliers applauded when Michimasa Fujino announced to those gathered on Dec. 9 in the gleaming white hangar that the HA-420 HondaJet had been granted an FAA Type Certificate. Long in coming, Honda’s first-ever aircraft had up until that moment been flying under an Experimental certificate.

Phoenix Air has a history of adapting business aircraft to unusual applications to service government contracts.

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.

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.

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

BCA readers share their opinions on articles we published.

A bill for third-class medical reform for pilots is gaining momentum. On Dec. 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed S. 571, known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2. It will now go to the full Senate for consideration. The bill has strong support in the Senate, with 70 co-sponsors, and in the House, where it has 151 co-sponsors, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Since it was introduced in the House and Senate in February, the bill has undergone some major modifications to address concerns by Congress and others.

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

Flying-car developer Terrafugia has received FAA authorization to fly three 1/10th-scale radio-control models of its next-generation TF-X.

Superior range, speed and cabin comfort are the main reasons why business aircraft operators were motivated to upgrade to the Bombardier Global 5000 from smaller, slower and shorter-range business aircraft. It simply delivers on those requirements.

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

A Windecker Eagle, the first composite aircraft to be awarded a type certificate by the FAA, is flying again.

“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.

Honeywell acquired Copenhagen-based Satcom1 the leading provider of routing software that optimizes the inflight connectivity experience and is already an existing distribution partner for Honeywell’s JetWave terminals and Inmarsat’s GX Aviation program. The company, whose 2015 revenues were expected to be approximately $25 million, provides inflight airtime, satellite communications services and software for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Honeywell says the acquisition will facilitate “a seamless experience with an all-in-one connectivity solution.”

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.

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

We share 17 stories hand-picked by our staff. These articles are our favorites from BCA's last 12 months and deserve another read.

Doug King, CEO of Epic Aircraft, discusses his pursuit for FAA certification of an improved LT model, designated the E1000.

Teterboro Airport was the business aviation airport searched the most worldwide on acukwik.com in November 2015, according to an analysis of AC-U-KWIK site traffic. The top airport outside the United States was the second most searched airport overall: Paris Le Bourget Airport.

In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to fly anywhere over the planet in an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast environment affording benefits equally to flight crews, operators and air traffic controllers.

Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder users requested quotes for flights to Los Angeles International Airport more than any other airport in November 2015, according to an analysis of aircharterguide.com data. Two airports in Las Vegas were in the top five list of requested departure airports.

On BCA Digest's first birthday, we are pleased to unveil a new mobile-responsive newsletter design. Thank you for reading during the past year. We hope you enjoy the improved reading experience on your phones and tablets.

The chatter within the inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) industry is increasingly about the “passenger experience” — broadly meaning the gestalt of interaction between the passenger and the flight, from booking, to the terminal experience, to the cabin environment.