The Weekly of Business Aviation

The massive fiscal year (FY) 2018 spending bill the U.S. Congress is attempting to push through this week would increase FAA funding nearly 4% over FY17 figures, including a 13.8% jump in Facilities and Equipment (F&E) spending, where most NextGen air traffic control modernization program spending resides, and a boost in airport grant funding.

Canadian air charter and medevac services provider Discovery Air has started a court-monitored liquidation.

Israel’s Elbit Systems is completing the acquisition of privately-owned Universal Avionics Systems Corp., the companies said March 22.

Drone data provider Skycatch and manufacturer DJI are to deliver a fleet of 1,000 small UAVs to Komatsu Smart Construction to map and model job sites.

The pilot of a Hawker Hunter jet that crashed during aerobatic maneuvers at the Shoreham Airshow, killing 11 people on the ground, will face criminal charges.

After a fatal New York City helicopter crash, the NTSB is urging the FAA to prohibit commercial flights that use harness systems that are not easy to release.

A coalition of aviation groups has written a letter to congressional leaders to reassert the vital role of contract air traffic control towers.

Germany’s Lange Research Aviation is developing a fuel-cell-powered surveillance aircraft with 40 hr. endurance when flown unmanned.

A Florida man pleaded guilty in District Court March 6 to operating an aircraft without an airman’s certificate, wire fraud and falsification of records.

JetMembership.com has launched what it says is the first “zero commission private jet charter membership model in the United States."

Production of Russia’s new-generation agricultural aircraft is planned to begin this year, state corporation Rostec says.

Slovakia’s flying-car developer Aeromobil has unveiled its concept for an electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) air taxi.

U.S. startup Dorsal Aircraft plans to make intermodal shipping containers an integral part of an aircraft’s structure.

View the February 2018 Business Aircraft Activity In The U.S., Canada And The Caribbean chart in PDF format.

Parker Aerospace has received the FAA’s Supplemental Type Certificate to install new main wheels and brakes.

Safe Flight Instrument has received a U.S. patent for its new Tailstrike Warning System.

Hartzell was selected by Vulcanair to supply two-blade aluminum constant speed propellers for new V1.0 four-seat utility aircraft.

Prescott Support Co. has received FAA approval for its fully functional Safety Management System (SMS).

Launch Technical Workforce Solutions, an aviation staffing services firm, has received a significant investment from equity firm Argentum.

light Safety International has designed a new leadership workshop for flight department personnel called Leadership Elements for Flight Department Professionals.

Dynon Avionics has received its first FAA STC for the installation of the SkyView HDX avionics system.

NetJets has expanded its partnership with the Corporate Angel Network.

Boston-based Magellan Jets is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a limited number of special 10-hr. jet cards available during the last 10 hr. of each quarter.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Limited Model PC-7 airplanes.

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