Business & Commercial Aviation

Germany aircraft manufacturer REMOS plans to unveil the next generation of its high-wing composite GX aircraft at the Aero Friedrichshafen 2016 trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

GE Aviation has created a digital organization that brings digital operations from across its aviation businesses into one.

Bell Helicopter delivered 175 aircraft in 2015, including 99 Model 407s, 52 Model 429s and a dozen each of 412 twins and Long Rangers.

China will likely overtake Japan this year as the largest civil helicopter market in the Asia-Pacific region, even as its rapid growth of the recent past abates to more realistic levels.

Bombardier’s Challenger 650 business jet has been granted full type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The FAA last month issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Part 23 that would overhaul airworthiness standards for small general aviation aircraft.

Solar Impulse 2 has completed its first test flight following a battery system upgrade and ahead of restarting its solar-powered round-the-world flight attempt in April from Hawaii.

BendixKing has enhanced its inflight Internet connectivity for general aviation aircraft, according to BendixKing.

Piper Aircraft recently received an order from ATP Flight School for 15 additional Archer TX training aircraft.

Keystone Aviation in Salt Lake City, Utah, has expanded its North American sales territory for the Daher TBM turboprop aircraft. It has added four Canadian provinces and one additional U.S. state, Alaska, to its area of responsibility.

Petroleum Air Services has been appointed the first Bell Helicopter Authorized Customer Service Facility in North Africa, the helicopter manufacturer said. Petroleum Air Services provides fixed wing and helicopter transportation to the oil and gas and travel industries in Egypt.

The FAA this month begins weighing recommendations from an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) regarding its handling of light or “micro” unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Dassault Aviation’s new Falcon 5X business jet will not enter service until the first half of 2020 due to difficulties in developing the Silvercrest engine at Safran’s Snecma motors division.

Disabled Aircraft Services, based in Buffalo, Minnesota, has introduced upgrades to its line of PlaneSkate products designed to move aircraft with a flat tire from a runway, taxiway or ramp.

Sabreliner Aviation reaches significant milestone with the AeroVue integrated flight deck program. With the completion of critical design review, Sabreliner begins cockpit preparation on the initial aircraft.

Business aviation departures in Europe rose 2.3% in February when compared to the same time a year ago, due to a boost from the leap year, according to WINGX’s Business Aviation Monitor.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Campus and Universal Helicopters have extended a 2010 agreement to exclusively provide helicopter training to Embry-Riddle students.

Meridian adds a Falcon 7X (N221HJ) to its charter fleet of business jets. This ultra-long range aircraft was completed in 2008, and seats up to14 passengers. It also has the capacity to sleep up to seven for long-haul trips.

Jet Aviation will acquire Avjet Corp., a Los Angeles-based jet charter and management company, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will expand Jet Aviation’s aircraft management and charter services on the West Coast.

SOPs — Timely Topic I thoroughly enjoyed your article “ Sticking With SOPs,” (March 2016, page 52) You nailed it! I’m having it scanned and distributed within NTSB. Just wanted to thank you for ad–dressing this important and timely topic. Robert Sumwalt Member National Transportation Safety Board Washington, D.C. Get Out of the Way

Aviation Week & Space Technology’s 59th annual Laureate Award for business aviation went to the CEOs of Textron Aviation and Textron Corp.

AW&ST is working on its 100th anniversary issue and has asked Business & Commercial Aviation to identify the most significant business aircraft ever.

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas received more departure requests than any other airport, and it was tied as the most popular destination airport, in Air Charter Guide Worldwide Trip Builder itineraries during February 2016, an analysis of aircharterguide.com data found.

Teterboro Airport was the business aviation airport searched most by acukwik.com visitors in February 2016, an analysis of site traffic shows. The third most searched airport overall, Paris Le Bourget Airport, was the top airport outside North America. Travel to TED talks in Vancouver caused Vancouver International Airport to soar into the top 50 in February as well.

Out of the ashes of the Hawker 4000 as well as drawing from its all-new Citation Latitude, Textron Aviation is creating a super-midsize jet with what could be a bright future.