Business & Commercial Aviation

By Mal Gormley
BCA subscribers, log in to download the Avionics Marketplace charts exclusive to the digital version of the 2017 Purchase Planning Handbook.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
In May 1967, BCA reported on new controlling ownership of Lear Jet, Cessna’s Tandem Twin Super Skymaster and certification of the first Riley Turbo Heron owned by ... a former publisher of BCA.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
The FAA has issued its first airspace restrictions that specifically apply only to unmanned aerial vehicles, banning flights under 400 ft. AGL within the boundaries of 133 military facilities. The special security restrictions took effect April 14. The agency warns that violations could result in criminal charges, civil penalties and the revocation of certificates and authorizations to operate UAVs. More restrictions may be coming.
Business Aviation

By David Esler
The flow of relatively young, high-time business jets exiting the fleets of fractional ownership companies could allow whole ownership for first-time buyers while supporting a vigorous charter business that could nearly cover the cost of ownership.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
CIT Group marked the end of an era April 4 as the financial holding company exited the aircraft leasing market and closed the sale of its commercial aircraft leasing business to Avolon Holdings for a final purchase price of $10.4 billion.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
A years-long effort to rewrite European aircraft certification standards for many types of light aircraft is finished and the European Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) new CS-23 takes effect Aug. 15. In general, the new rules are in harmony with the FAA's new Part 23 regulations, which were published in December. Both regulations shift from design-specific requirements to consensus-based standards in helping determine compliance and airworthiness.
Business Aviation

By Mal Gormley
BCA subscribers, log in to download the entire 2017 Purchase Planning Handbook, including airplane comparison tables as well as Avionics Marketplace charts, which are available only in digital format.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Oil and gas helicopter operator CHC reports emerging as an economically robust and agile competitor, 10 months after filing for bankruptcy protection. The Canadian operator, which has its headquarters in Texas, says the court confirmed its financial restructuring on March 24. The new CHC is lighter to the tune of 80 helicopters, $1 billion of debt, and another $1.4 billion in lease obligations.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey
The ongoing fight over the privatization of the U.S. air traffic control system, an idea Cessna Chairman Emeritus Russ Meyer last year characterized as “a disaster for general aviation,” has produced some curious, possibly concerning, signs within the opposition.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Charles McKinnon, founder and retired manager of IBM's flight department, died March 30 in Trussville, Alabama. He was 101.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
The Pilatus PC-12 NG has been approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency for commercial operations in Europe. The decision means the single-engine turboprop can be operated commercially at night and under instrument flight rules across all 32 EASA member states.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey
Questions for Brandon Mitchener, CEO of the European Business Aviation Association.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
According to the chief economic adviser to President Donald Trump, air traffic control (ATC) reform—including privatizing ATC—could be a major element of the new administration's infrastructure buildup, but general aviation operators should not fear paying more for it. "We're probably not even going to tax general aviation," said Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council. "There's enough money in the aviation tax right now." Cohn made that comment during a so-called White House town hall on the U.S.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Heritage Aviation announced the development of Heritage Aware, a remote aircraft maintenance-monitoring portal that allows customers real-time access to updates and work-in-progress reporting.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
Ross Aviation (KLGB) in Long Beach, California, was named as a gateway FBO through the DCA Access Standard Security Program, granting flights leaving the operator the ability to fly directly to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
Business Aviation

Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (VABB) was the most requested departure and destination airport requested with the Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder by brokers and travelers shopping for charter flights during the last 12 months.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey
ADS-B installations are a small part of Duncan Aviation’s business despite market outreach ahead of the 2020 deadline. President and CEO Aaron Hilkemann explains operators’ reasons for delaying the upgrade—and the consequences.
Business Aviation

By Jessica A. Salerno
News of promotions, appointments and honors involving professionals within the business aviation community.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Jet-A and avgas per-gallon fuel prices—March 2017
Business Aviation

Compare Jet-A and avgas fuel prices by region based on a survey conducted in March 2017 by Aviation Research Group/U.S. Inc. and an analysis of the lowest fuel prices reported by FBOs on acukwik.com.
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
Aircraft leasing company Milestone Aviation Group Ltd. in February announced a contract for six Leonardo AW139 and three AW169 helicopters for delivery this year and next. Milestone leased seven AW169s and 11 AW139s in 2016. The latest deal is valued at $96 million.
Business Aviation

By James Albright
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.
Business Aviation

By Fred George
The Learjet 45 and 45XR, built from 1998 to 2012 and only the second clean-sheet Learjets since the 1963 Learjet 23, have a lot going for them
Business Aviation

By William Garvey, Jessica A. Salerno, Molly McMillin
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.
Business Aviation