News

That’s the question raised by a Wall Street Journal commentary on Wednesday. The procedural rules that would allow it to happen are complex — the sausage factory analogy certainly applies — but according to the WSJ, Congress could pilfer the $10 billion per year raised by airline excise taxes (and GA fuel taxes) and use […]

“I heard this huge bang, and [the man next to me] said, that’s our engine that’s just fallen off. I couldn’t believe it. He had to repeat it to me,” passenger Ronel Derma told the Independent News. A Nationwide Boeing 737 was taking off from South Africa’s Cape Town International Airport on Wednesday afternoon when […]

At busy Newark Liberty International Airport, just outside New York, 73 flights landed after telling controllers they were operating with minimum or low fuel during six months this year, compared to just five flights making the same declaration during a similar period in 2005. An additional 10 flight crews declared an emergency fuel situation, requesting […]

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is working to strengthen its ability to detect radiation and nuclear devices in the international GA environment. The DNDO is evaluating equipment that it will use to support this mission, according to a “General Aviation Fact Sheet” published by […]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff made clear in a speech on Monday that he wants more scrutiny of general aviation aircraft that cross the U.S. border — but while his main concern appears to be with large corporate jets, his proposals don’t distinguish between the different types of GA activity. Chertoff discussed […]

A Learjet 35A operated by Reali Taxi Aereo in Sao Paulo crashed into a house shortly after takeoff from Campo de Martre airport in northern Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday. Killed in the crash were the aircraft’s pilot and co-pilot and six people, including a baby, who were inside the house. Details pending…

Washington, D.C., Monday hosted NATA’s annual aviation business roundtable, which included a roster of speakers ranging from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to Acting Administrator Robert A. Sturgell, to the Vice President’s wife, Lynne Cheney. Other speakers on the roster were Nicholas Sabatini, Associate Administrator of Safety at the FAA, […]

Home mortgage industry got you down? Well, now you can buy into a $550,000 airplane with only $12,500 down and about $1570 per month. The arrangement comes thanks to an agreement formed between T Bank and PlaneSmart Aviation. The two now offer various financial products designed for purchasers of PlaneSmart’s fractional aircraft shares. PlaneSmart hopes […]

Bombardier Aerospace not only expects to produce a new model Learjet (the Learjet NXT) but also reconfigure its Wichita plant over the next two years to the tune of $62.2 million … it’s also hoping Wichita will help finance the effort. Bombardier is seeking nearly $80 million in industrial revenue bonds. The bonds would allow […]

The FAA has announced that it has certified Chelton Flight Systems under the Organization Designation Authorization program for Supplemental Type Certificate projects. Translation: Chelton is now eligible to apply to the FAA to gain authority for certain aspects of future certification projects, with a theoretical reduction in time and expense required. Chelton hopes the ODA […]