Business Aviation

The airplane industry is eager to push into emerging markets, and that’s evident this week with robust attendance at the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, taking place in Shanghai Tuesday through Thursday. Organizers said they had registered a record 6,284 people to attend the event, with more than 180 exhibitors on site and 34 […]

The Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) recently targeted and shot down an aerial drone in testing; meanwhile another aircraft-mounted laser system (this one for self-defense) may commence testing in 2014. The Navy’s test involved a destroyer-mounted laser that successfully tracked and engaged a flying drone. The aerial vehicle caught fire in flight and crashed into […]

A section of President Obama’s proposed 2014 budget aims to “reduce the deficit and more equitably share the cost of air traffic services” through a “$100 per flight fee” payable to the FAA, with exceptions. The fee would not apply to piston, military, public, or air ambulance aircraft as detailed on page 43 of the […]

A bipartisan group of senators will introduce legislation to stop the FAA from closing any control towers to meet its sequester cut requirements. “The Protect Our Skies Act, which is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 18 Senators, would prohibit the Department of Transportation (DOT) from closing any air traffic control towers, including those that […]

Don’t see a video screen?Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page.If that doesn’t work, click here to watch on YouTube. Pipistrel’s much anticipated Panthera four-place GA aircraft had its first flight April 4 and continues testing in Slovenia. The all-composite aircraft flew for 54 minutes from the airport at Cerklje ob Krki where the […]

Citing safety and logistical concerns, the FAA Friday announced it will delay until June 15 closure of 149 federal contract air traffic control towers. The FAA previously decided to begin tower closures on April 7, and to carry them out over a four-week period. According to transportation secretary Ray LaHood, “We will use this additional […]

The existence of a Pilatus jet project has been discussed in the European press since at least 2011 and Pilatus has confirmed its plans to show a mockup of its twinjet design, the PC-24, at EBACE, Geneva, this May. Earlier reports had forecast that deliveries of the new jet would reach customers by 2015 for […]

Tecnam produces aircraft ranging from light sport to certified twins, is responsible for more than 3,500 aircraft in the world, today, and has now added a single-seat aerobatic low-wing LSA, the Snap, to its offerings. Snap was previously available from Dallair, which has experience building sub-assemblies for Tecnam. And the Snap’s designer, Fabio Russo, is […]

On Tuesday, the FAA issued a safety notice noting that since 149 contract towers will close starting this Sunday, April 7, it is important for pilots “to increase our awareness of proper operating practices and procedures at airports without an operating control tower.”The FAA suggested that pilots should always check Notams prior to flight, communicate, […]

The NTSB said on Tuesday it will hold a two-day investigative hearing on April 23-24 in Washington, D.C., to focus on the Jan. 7 battery fire aboard a Boeing 787 at Boston’s Logan Airport. The hearing will focus on issues relating to the design, testing and certification of the battery system, the board said. Meanwhile, […]