Business & Commercial Aviation

Aerion has begun the search for a site for final assembly and testing of its $120 million AS2 supersonic jet. Last month, it hired a large site-selection firm to aid in finding a location. One place it will consider will be sites near the ocean or coastline. Since the jet will fly faster than the speed of sound, it will be advantageous to be near the ocean or coast for flight-testing, said Aerion Co-Chairman Brian Barents. Shipment of large assemblies will require a deep seaport, he said. Barents has said that it is looking to the U.S. to produce the jet.

Setouchi Trading Asia Pacific named Sydney, Australia-based Utility Air as its exclusive Kodiak sales representative for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the South Pacific Islands. “I am proud that Utility Air has been selected to distribute the Kodiak in the Pacific,” said Stephen Pembro, Managing Director of Utility Air.

Air Charter Guide, the worldwide guide for on-demand charter services and part of the Aviation Week Network, has combined forces with FlyEasy, the technology-based platform for empty leg charter flights and jet charter data, to offer a streamlined feed for empty legs.

In October, BCA’s editors hosted a two-day gathering of sales engineers representing nearly a dozen makes of business aircraft in downtown Los Angeles to review procedures, definitions, and applicability when producing the specifications and performance figures for the listed, in-production aircraft presented in the magazine's annual Purchase Planning Handbook.

Teterboro Airport was the most searched business aviation airport around the world on acukwik.com in October 2015, according to an analysis of site traffic. Outside of North America, Paris Le Bourget Airport, Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, London Luton Airport and Jebel Ali Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai were popular.

Teterboro Airport was the most searched North American business aviation airport on acukwik.com in October 2015, according to an analysis of site traffic. And three Texas airports ranked among the top 10.

We flew the first flight test aircraft to evaluate the progress of the program, to gauge how well Dassault is meeting the trijet’s stated weight, performance and cabin comfort goals and to sample its handling qualities.

David Rimmer, President of JFI Jets, discusses the acquisition of ACP Jets in Florida.

The FAA will evaluate technology to detect unmanned aircraft near airports under a Pathfinder program with developer CACI International.

The Falcon 8X flight deck features a growth version of the Falcon 7X’s EASy II system, powered by Honeywell Primus Epic avionics with four, 14-in., portrait configuration flat-panel displays.

In the 12 months from Sept. 1, 2014, through Aug. 31, 2015, more business aviation flights departed from the Southeastern United States — the FAA's Southern region — than any other U.S. region, ARGUS International Inc. says. Comparing the regional, state and city data reveals a number of conclusions. For example, Teterboro Airport accounts for 71 percent of business aviation departures in the state of New Jersey.

The FAA’s new Compliance Philosophy does not contain the phrase “promote and foster aviation.” There are, of course, a few troubling aspects, particularly the accepted belief that “policy” has the force and effect of regulation. But if the FAA succeeds in implementing this philosophy, the sometimes-strained relationship between agency and operators will improve, and safety will continue to improve.

Tables show results of a price survey of U.S. fuel suppliers performed in October 2015 at over 200 fixed base operators located within the 48 contiguous United States.

Daher has appointed Exec Aero at Orlando Executive Airport as the TBM service center serving TBM aircraft customers based in Central Florida and visitors to the area.

Corporate Eagle, a small, membership-based fractional and managed business aviation company, has taken delivery of the first of four Falcon 2000s as it expands its fractional fleet.

JFI has grabbed attention for flights into Cuba. An important market?

Piper Aircraft is delivering its first Piper M500 single-engine turboprop to a customer in Poland.

OneJet will select an aircraft capable of carrying seven or eight passengers update 1,000 mi. in the fourth quarter and has selected SkyWorks Capital for help in structuring and closing the transaction.

Readers share opinions on FAA enforcement, twin takeoff performance, safe aircraft refueling.

The recent rebound in used-aircraft sales and generally positive flight-activity figures from major markets bodes well for business-jet aftermarket providers, according to the recently released Aviation Week Intelligence Network Business Aviation Fleet & MRO Forecast.

Rockwell Collins received an FAA supplemental type certificate for Future Airspace Navigation Systems (FANS) 1/A upgrade for Pro Line 4 avionics-equipped Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft. With FANS 1/A, Challenger 604 aircraft operators will have access to preferred wind-efficient transatlantic routes to save both time and fuel.

Astra, an African flight support company, has signed ground handling agreements with National Aviation Services at Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The FAA will abolish 950 jobs by June 30 without a single “layoff,” adhering to a cost-saving mandate from President Johnson. Annual FAA turnover is about 8% , which means 3,200 jobs will be vacated this year, not all of them to be filled.

Flexjet and its sister company, Flight Options, will be recognized as a single carrier within its parent company, Directional Aviation, the National Mediation Board ruled on Sept. 30.

Jet Aviation St. Louis has received FAA approval for the Supplemental Type Certificate for installation of its Future Airspace Navigation System for the Bombardier Challenger 604.