John was editor of Aviation Week's ShowNews for nearly two decades. He retired in 2020. His background in business journalism before joining Aviation Week includes stints at Reuters, the American Banker daily banking newspaper and as business news editor at the Milwaukee Journal and the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A lifelong aviation enthusiast, John has been a private pilot for 34 years and won an award at EAA Oshkosh for his restoration of a vintage British Auster army spotter aircraft. He is currently building a 1920s Staaken Flitzer biplane from plans. John attended his first Farnborough Air Show in 1952, when just eight months old.
Who would have guessed the market for business aircraft would grow as big as that for jet fighters? Honeywell Aerospace, in its latest forecast (revised downward slightly after September 11) predicts deliveries of 8,400 business jets over the next 10 years valued at $130 billion. In contrast, analysts at Teal Group put the potential fighter market at 2,938 combat aircraft worth $134.4 billion in the same period.
The NBAA annual meeting and convention is many things to many people. More than 30,000 professional visitors will flock to business aviation's Mecca, in New Orleans September 18-20 to hear major announcements by major manufacturers--and to see Richard Hafner's carpet.
The Battle of Britain will be fought all over again at this year's NBAA Convention in New Orleans (September 18-20), as FBOs ringing the U.K. capital slug it out to attract transatlantic traffic. Congestion, limited slot availability and high landing fees at Heathrow and Gatwick airports have conspired to brighten the business aviation prospects of London's satellite fields -- with Biggin Hill the latest to shine.
