News

Runway incursions continue to rank among the most persistent hazards in civil aviation, the FAA says, and to increase awareness the agency has published an InFO, or Information for Flight Operators, alert. Awareness of pertinent FAA regulations and a clear understanding of every taxi clearance are essential defenses for pilots against incursions, the FAA alert […]

NASA over the weekend awarded $250,000 to participants in the Personal Air Vehicle competition, which promotes the use of personal aircraft for fast, safe, efficient, affordable, environmentally friendly and comfortable on-demand transportation. Four teams competed at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in California. The $100,000 Vantage Prize went to Vance Turner of Rescue, […]

The S-33 Independence very light jet, under development by Spectrum Aeronautical, will be powered by a Williams International FJ33-4A-19 engine instead of the previously planned FJ33-4A-15, the company said on Monday. “This will give the jet a substantial step up in both thrust and efficiency,” said Spectrum Chairman Linden Blue. “The Independence already had the […]

North American Jet Charter Group at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling, Ill., on Tuesday received FAA approval as the first U.S. Part 135 very light jet (VLJ) operator using an Eclipse 500. Operations are expected to begin Wednesday under the company moniker Q, for Quintessential Traveler service that offers an air limo at half the […]

The FAA has published a final rule that introduces new airworthiness standards for evaluation of performance and handling of Part 25-certified airplanes in icing conditions. The FAA through this action intends to require “the same maneuvering capability requirements at the minimum operating speeds in the most critical icing conditions defined in appendix C of Part […]

International Jet Management (IJM) has acquired Pylon International, expanding IJM’s operations to the West Coast. IJM provides charter, management, sales and maintenance services, while Pylon is a Part 135 charter operator based out of Van Nuys, Calif. IJM hopes to use Pylon’s fleet of light through large-cabin jets to create cost savings for its combined […]

Spectrum Aeronautical’s S-33 Independence very light jet will be even faster, roomier and have a better than 2,000-nm range mostly due to a switch in powerplants from the Williams International FJ33A-4A-15 to the more powerful FJ33-4A-19. The airplane is also now scheduled for certification behind its larger GE Honda HF120-powered sibling, the S-40 Freedom. According […]

Lin Yu-fang of Taiwan’s Nationalist Party this week has demanded that his government sell its majority share of Sino Swearingen Aircraft. The San Antonio-based aircraft manufacturer received FAA certification for its SJ30 twinjet in November 2005, some nine years after the Taiwanese government acquired a stake in the company. However, Sino Swearingen has experienced numerous […]

According to reports from Reuters, French authorities have limited helicopter flights to Saint-Tropez after receiving numerous aircraft noise complaints. The decision to close the helipad that accounts for about 30 percent of helicopter traffic to the exclusive resort came after a voluntary agreement failed to curb the number of flights, local official Francoise Souliman told […]

The Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE) made a comeback late last week after the 2006 event was canceled due to airport construction at Congonhas Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Like the previous three LABACE shows, this year’s three-day event was held in Sao Paulo and jointly organized by the U.S. National Business […]