Business Aviation

Tower controller loses track, and a Sabreliner and Cessna Skyhawk 172 collide.

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

An aircraft fire in flight is one of the most deadly aviation hazards imaginable. The earlier you can detect the fire, the faster you can snuff it or get the burning airplane safely on the ground, the better the situation. Last year was a signal one for high-profile aircraft fires. In June, a Milan-bound Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER experienced engine problems en route from Changi Airport (SIN) and returned as a precaution. The engine and wing caught fire on final approach, a frightening condition that was filmed by passengers and later posted on social media.

General aviation delivery trend lines decline again in 2016 as the industry’s year-long freeze continued.

BCA readers share their opinions on articles we published.

These are disruptive times. New technologies are challenging and changing the ways we communicate, conduct business and socialize. Nothing is immune to the new economy, and the vanguard for general aviation change may reside in the charter segment as FAR 135 operators embrace the “shared economy” movement.

Wheels Up was named by Aviation Week Network editors as the 2017 winner of the Laureate for Business Aviation. Founded four years ago with the promise to “democratize” travel by business aviation, the once disruptive start-up has grown into an operation with about 4,000 members. Membership is even available through Costco stores. Membership growth has come faster than anticipated expected -- up 72% from 2015 to 2016.

If it’s your first transoceanic crossing, or the first in a long time, there’s much to do in preparation.

The Theory: The sky is so vast and your aircraft so small, there’s almost no chance of a “midair” encounter. Of course we all know this theory is invalid and would never embrace such a blind course of aircraft avoidance. And yet so many of our actions validate the theory that we needn’t look outside our aluminum tubes to see others that might share our airspace. The classic “beak-to-beak” midair collision scenario came from the U.S. Air Force in the 1970s. It featured an F-4 Phantom II heading right at you, the closure speed was on the order of 900 kt. and you didn’t stand a chance.

Bell Helicopter has delivered its first Bell 505 Jet Ranger X to Scott Urschel, a private operator based in Chandler, Arizona, and the owner of Pylon Aviation.

The Women in Aviation International's 28th annual convention, held March 2-4, drew 4,500 attendees from 19 countries to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The third and final Pilatus PC-24 prototype, P03, took flight for the first time March 6 when it launched from Buochs airfield near the company's headquarters in Stans, Switzerland.

The FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency have granted steep approach certification for the Cessna Citation Sovereign+ and Cessna Citation Latitude.

Safe Flight Instrument Corp.'s Angle of Attack Stall Protection System has been chosen by Textron Aviation for installation in its new Cessna Denali single-engine turboprop.

The Global 7000/8000 program's second flight test vehicle flew for the first time March 4, and Bombardier says the 7000 is on track to enter into service in the second half of 2018.

Northrop Grumman is proposing that the Gulfstream G550 serve as the platform for the U.S. Air Force's next Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-Stars).

Bombardier Business Aircraft has established five new line maintenance stations in Europe to support customers of Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.

Delta Private Jets has added five light and midsize jets to its private jet travel and management business to keep up with growing demand.

The latest companies to join the General Aviation Manufacturers Association as members include CAMP Systems, Pipistrel and Tamarack Aerospace. New associate members are Ascent Vision Technologies, SmartSky Networks and Uber.

Embraer is cautiously optimistic about its executive jet segment amid a used aircraft market that remains challenging, the company said March 9 as it released 2016 financial results.

VistaJet reports it has conducted more than 100,000 flights carrying 250,000 passengers to 1,600 airports in 187 countries since the charter operator's founding in 2004.

Honeywell has selected Bird ExecuJet Airport Services at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to enhance maintenance, repairs and upgrades for customers in India.

Bell Helicopter signed a purchase agreement with the Arizona Department of Public Safety Aviation Bureau for a Bell 429 light twin-engine aircraft.

Smyrna Air Center in Smyrna, Tennessee, is now Hollingshead Aviation. Jeff Hollingshead is president of the fixed base operation.

Weston Aviation, based in the UK and Ireland, has expanded its Business Aviation Center at Humberside Airport in the UK.