Business Aviation

Selected accidents and incidents in May 2017. The following NTSB information is preliminary.

The Pointing-and-Calling method used by Japanese train engineers combines looking at something, pointing at it, calling out the observation and listening to your own voice.

News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community.

Drones are easy to fly and have numerous safety and fail-safe features such as a programmable return-to-home capability.

For reasons expected and not, my summer has been absent those lazy, hazy days. Rather, it's been a period of propulsion, speedy and otherwise, along highways, railways, airways and seaways.

BCA readers share their opinions on articles we published.

Questions for Ian K. Walsh, CEO and President, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., Goose Creek, South Carolina

Piaggio Aerospace is setting ambitious goals for the new P.180 Avanti Evo, making it quieter, more economical and more comfortable.

P.180 Avanti and Avanti II aircraft are flying Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Maseratis in a world awash in Fiat- and Ford-like turboprops.

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

A series of high-altitude rolls by a Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet following a wake encounter with an Airbus A380 over the Arabian Sea on Jan. 7, 2017, is causing aviation safety experts to reconsider separation standards and best practices when cruising near super-weight category aircraft.

Aerion has selected GE Aviation to study engine development for its AS2 supersonic trijet.

Nextant Aerospace has launched an upgrade program for Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet, but fitting the flight deck with Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics.

VistaJet reports it has eliminated ferry-flight fees for new program customers, a potential savings of $10,000 or more per flight.

Flexjet reports that strong growth is prompting it to hire more pilots. The fractional operation said new business is up 50% during the first five months of this year compared to a year ago, and that is on top of 20% growth in new business last year.

Here are some statistics from the European Business Aviation Convention Exhibition held in Geneva May 22-24: 13,000 attendees from nearly 40 countries; more than 400 exhibitors in the Palexpo halls; 56 aircraft on static display.

Thrush Aircraft recently delivered its 100th 510G, an agplane powered by GE's H80 turboprop engine. The aircraft was delivered to Mid-Continent Aircraft Corp., Mayti, Missouri.

One Aviation has selected the Williams International FJ33-5A-12 turbofan as the engine for its new Eclipse 700 light jet known as Project Canada.

The diesel-powered Cessna 172 Turbo Skyhawk JT-A is now certificated by both the FAA and EASA, clearing the way for customer deliveries.

Delivery of a Supervan 900 to National Skydive Center Teuge, the third for the European operator, marked the 100th Honeywell TPR331-12JR installation by Texas Turbine Conversions.

Citing the economic downturn and the inflexibility of the regulatory environment there, TAG Aviation is exiting the Spanish market after doing business there for many years and consolidating its several air operator certificates.

Bombardier is now offering Ka-band high-speed internet on new Challenger 650s and as a retrofit on in-service Challenger 604, 605 and 650 jets through its service network.

The first production Citation Longitude rolled off the Textron Aviation line in Wichita in mid-June. The super-midsize, $24 million jet is to join the company's demonstration fleet this summer and travel the world to showcase the clean-sheet design.

Using data from its proprietary customer database, the FAA and other industry sources, Duncan Aviation reports that as of March 31, roughly 10,000 U.S. registered business jets—73% of the fleet—have not yet been made compliant with the FAA's ADS-B Out mandate.

Jet Aviation has redelivered a ACJ330 and ACJ319 to its customer in the Middle East after extensive renovations. Work was completed in Basel, Switzerland.