News

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, vice chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, voted against the Nelson/Sununu amendment that would have stripped the $25 user fee out of S.1300, the Senates FAA reauthorization bill, but he secured an exemption for many Alaskan aviators. The hotly debated anti-user-fee amendment, supported by general aviation lobbying groups, […]

Reports of loose attachment fasteners found on engine cowling panels and the result of loose panels either peeling back or separating from aircraft during flight has led the FAA to propose a new Airworthiness Directive for Beech (Raytheon) Model 400, 400A and 400T series aircraft. The idea is to prevent failure of the fasteners and […]

Roll-Royce’s family of AE engines has exceeded 25 million hours in operation on corporate and regional aircraft. “There have been nearly 2,800 AE engines produced to date for all applications,” according to the company, sharing 70% parts commonality. The AE 3007A, designed and built by Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis, powers the Embraer ERJ-135/145 regional jet, the […]

Boeing Business Jets has grander plans for your business dollars — 5,667 square feet of cabin space with options for vaulted ceilings, video wall displays, and spiral staircases all with a range of 9,260 nm. This “fastest large-cabin business jet,” according to Boeing, is capable of cruising at Mach 0.86. The VIP version of the […]

L-3 has earned STC and PMA approvals for its IRIS infrared imaging enhanced vision system aboard King Air C90 twin turboprops. “The King Air C90 STC is just the beginning,” said L-3 Avionics president Adrienne Stevens. The company is currently working toward installation and certification for many different platforms. According to L-3, the current STC […]

The PW610F powerplant, currently flown on Eclipse 500 very light jets, will now enjoy extended support in Europe, according to engine maker Pratt & Whitney Canada. The company has announced it will offer its Eagle Service Plan (ESP) to European operators and is initiating the program’s rollout with a “10 percent discount on the hourly […]

Sino Swearingen has received FAA approval of its CFR Part 141 Pilot School Certificate for the seven-seat SJ30 business jet. The company believes factory flight training at San Antonio, Texas, provides better access “to Engineering, Production and Customer Support personnel with the hands-on knowledge to keep the training curriculum up-to-date, practical, and accurate.” The company’s […]

Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft is suing L-3 Communications in a lawsuit that arguably might directly involve neither company. Hawker Beechcraft alleges its predecessor, Raytheon Aircraft, mistakenly credited former Raytheon-owned Vertex Aerospace, which is now part of L-3, some $4.79 million, according to the Wichita Eagle. Vertex then used that credit in 2005 and 2006 to buy […]

Bombardier posted a $79 million profit in the first quarter, up from $24 million last year with corresponding revenues up from $3.5 billion to $4 billion. Aircraft orders clocked in at 174 versus 52 for the same period one year ago. Bombardier Aerospace’s backlog now stands at $15.4 billion and earnings have jumped from a […]

Gulfstream Aerospace is following on the heels of a nearly one million square foot expansion, which included the addition of sales, service, manufacturing facilities, plus roughly 1,100 new jobs, with another expansion. “We now expect the total investment and job creation to be far in excess of what was originally promised,” Gulfstream senior vice president […]