Fred George

Chief Aircraft Evaluation Editor

San Diego, CA

Summary

Fred is a senior editor and chief pilot with Business & Commercial Aviation and Aviation Week's chief aircraft evaluation pilot. He has flown left seat in virtually every turbine-powered business jet produced in the past three decades.

He has flown more than 195 makes, models and variants, ranging from the Piper J-3 Cub through the latest Boeing and Airbus large twins, logging more than 7,000 hours of flight time. He has earned an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and six jet aircraft type ratings, and he remains an active pilot. Fred also specializes in avionics, aircraft systems and pilot technique reports.

Fred was the first aviation journalist to fly the Boeing 787, Airbus A350 and Gulfstream G650, among other new turbofan aircraft. He’s also flown the Airbus A400M, Howard 500, Airship 600, Dassault Rafale, Grumman HU-16 Albatross and Lockheed Constellation.

Prior to joining Aviation Week, he was an FAA designated pilot examiner [CE-500], instrument flight instructor and jet charter pilot and former U.S. Naval Aviator who made three cruises to the western Pacific while flying the McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II.

Fred has won numerous aviation journalism awards, including NBAA’s David W. Ewald Platinum Wing Lifetime Achievement Award.

Read more

Articles

Edited by David RimmerFred George, in San Diego
The FAA has granted Bombardier Aerospace Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) group approval for Learjet 35/36 aircraft, following completion of five aircraft STC modifications.

By Fred George
Ask Learjet 45 operators to name their five favorite characteristics about their aircraft and you'll find plenty of consistency.
Air Transport

Edited by James E. SwickardBy Fred George
The events of September 11 have, in essence, activated elements of the FAA's National Air Traffic Reduced Complement Operations Plan (RCOP). Much of the vital operational information is disseminated using the NOTAM process associated with FAR Part 91.139, particularly restrictions, prohibitions and authorizations for certain types of operations. As of September 21, general aviation aircraft were flying both IFR and VFR, but those operations were subject to Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR's). SFAR No.