Over the past several years, the still relatively young House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses have emerged into some of the strongest and largest on Capitol Hill. The House caucus, which exceeds 250 members, is the largest in the chamber, while the Senate caucus stood strong at 40 members.
For $300,000 to $450,000, you can a buy a 1986 to 1989 Beechjet 400 (RJ-0001 to RJ-0065) that climbs directly to FL 400 to FL 410, that cruises at 440 KTAS and that can carry four passengers more than 1,600 nm. While there are plenty of choices in today’s pre-owned light jet market, few offer this aircraft’s blend of speed, cabin comfort and full-tanks payload. Of the 65 units built, around 50 remain in service.
NBAA’s 17th annual convention at Bal Harbour, Florida, exceeded even the most optimistic predictions as the most successful confab in the Association’s history. Registration topped 1,400 and the aircraft on display at nearby Opa Locka was estimated at $75 million in value.
"Every experienced international pilot has things on his or her personal checklist that they assiduously take care of, that they are careful about, so every pilot who’s had a problem with the lav will never have it again, every pilot who’s been under-fueled will never be again, and so forth,” observed Gary Tucker, Ball Corp.’s flight department safety officer.
On April 2, 2011, a Gulfstream 650 test crew perished while completing steps along that airplane’s road to certification under Title 14 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 25 (14 CFR 25). They had been hard at work, proving the aircraft could fly the very low takeoff safety speeds predicted by its designers.
Cirrus Aircraft has begun offering its Performance Braking System for operators of Generation 3 and newer aircraft from Cirrus Direct, the company owned parts distribution system. The high-performance, single-caliper brake system uses tubeless tires and redesigned wheel fairings to improve reliability and performance. The system is standard on new SR22T, SR22 and SR20 models. Cirrus is additionally developing the upgrade for earlier model aircraft. The system is priced at $15,300 for Generation 3 and newer models.
Parking on a distant ramp assessed at $4,000 a day. To tow an aircraft to the general aviation terminal: $1,000. Landing permits billed at $15,000 for one trip, plus $7,500 for ground handling “coordination.” More than $2,000 each for weather briefings and flight planning. And that was just the beginning. Maybe we should have stayed home.
Garmin has received approval for its angle of attack (AOA) system for a range of general aviation aircraft. Garmin has begun shipment of the systems, which comprise a GI 260 AOA indicator, GAP 26 angle of attack probe and GSU 25 air data computer. The GI 260 AOA indicator provides audible and visual alerts as the aircraft approach stall angle of attack. The system corrects for weight, g-loading, density altitude and airspeed, providing a higher level of accuracy than lift reserve indicators. The system is priced beginning at $1,499.
The Challenger 300 is a tough act to follow. When it made its debut in late 2003, it instantly became a modern day and more affordable successor to the Gulfstream II, with plenty of thrust, a generously sized wing and sporty performance. Similar to the GII, it had transcontinental U.S. range, a flat floor, room for eight in a double club cabin, inflight baggage access and rock-solid reliability. If it had wide oval cabin windows and a heavy-iron price tag, people might have thought it was built in Savannah, Ga., rather than Montreal.
