Business Aviation

Icon Aircraft CEO and founder Kirk Hawkins is stepping down as CEO.

Bombardier’s announcement that it will cut about 5,000 jobs in the next 12-18 months came as a “shock” to the Machinists Union, which represents 20,000 Bombardier workers in Quebec.

Describing it as “non-core,” Bombardier is to sell its Q400 regional turboprop program to Longview Aviation Capital, parent company of Canada’s Viking Air.

Longview Aviation Capital entered the picture in 2016, when it was formed to manage a portfolio of long-term investments in the Canadian aerospace industry.

The U.S. Transportation Department inspector general has initiated an audit of the FAA and industry program to provide timely, automated authorization of drone flights near airports.

CAE is to acquire Bombardier’s business-aircraft pilot training activities in an $800 million deal.

Satcom Direct plans to take its Gulfstream GIV around the world to demo the connectivity found in its cabin through what it calls the SD Xperience.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is hoping to propose its conformal airborne early warning (AEW) derivative of the Gulfstream G550 business jet to the UK RAF.

Diamond Aircraft Industries has flown the first multi-engine hybrid-electric aircraft, a demonstrator developed jointly with electric motor supplier Siemens.

Operators say Bombardier’s Global 5000 has the best cabin of any business aircraft in this range class, along with unsurpassed long-range cruise speed and nearly best-in-class runway performance.

Bombardier’s ultra-long-range Global 7500 has received FAA approval and will enter service by year’s end, the company announced.

A Sino-Czech team is close to launching preliminary design of a new nine-seat utility aircraft to rival the Cessna Caravan that could enter service in 2025.

After two decades here, Bombardier plans to host its 2019 Safety Standdown in Dallas, the company said.

Leonardo Helicopters has issued safety directives to operators of its AW169 helicopter to inspect tail-rotor components following a fatal crash.

ATR has released its first-ever market forecast focused on China, estimating the thus-far nonexistent market for regional turboprops in the country will need 1,100 aircraft, worth $25.6 billion, by 2037.

Acting FAA administrator Dan Elwell wants to see funding reform from Congress, noting the current practice of appropriating through continuing resolutions complicates planning and budgetary efforts at the agency.

The head of IATA, in a speech to Arab airlines and aviation organizations, continued his advice to governments to be cautious about turning to the private sector to solve their aviation infrastructure challenges.

The Skytrac system samples data from 500 parameters on the AW139 and sends exceedance data to engineers.

Israeli startup Eviation Aircraft has selected Hartzell Propeller as a development partner for its all-electric small regional aircraft, called Alice.

Bell has selected battery developer Electric Power Systems (EPS) to provide energy storage for eVTOL and on-demand mobility aircraft now under development.

Executive AirShare, a fractional ownership and charter company based in Lenexa, Kansas, has changed its name to Airshare as it works to attract more customers.

Terrafugia has chosen BRS Aerospace’s whole aircraft parachute system for its flying car, the Transition, now under development.

NASA has rolled out its Grand Challenge plan to help guide, foster and enable the coming generation of urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles.

Aircraft utilization in business aviation rose 5.7% in the third quarter compared to a year ago, averaging more than 30.3 hr., according to Jet Support Services’ Business Aviation Index.

Qatar Airways plans to grow its fleet of for-charter business jets to 35 from the current 14 and replace the seven Bombardier Global 5000s and 6000s that it now operates with Gulfstream G500s, Group CEO Akbar Al Baker says.