News

Grapevine, Texas,-based PrestoSIM, one of four U.S. companies authorized to provide FAA Part 142 simulator-based training in Cessna Citation aircraft, last week said it has won FAA approval to provide training on the Cessna Citation Ultra and Encore aircraft featuring the Primus 1000 avionics suite. Established in 2004, PrestoSIM operates a 30,000-square-foot facility in Grapevine, […]

Global Aircraft Solutions Inc. (GACF) yesterday announced it has acquired a 20% interest in and entered into an exclusive service agreement with Global Aircraft Leasing Partners (GALP). GACF is an integrated aviation company engaged in aircraft trading and aircraft parts sales plus maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for commercial airlines, charter airlines and aviation […]

If you crew a turbojet airplane and regularly depart the McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nev., your regular departure procedure may change. According to Keith S. Gordon, business aviation representative for Las Vegas Airspace Users, RNAV-capable turbojets departing LAS to the north and northeast over initial fixes such as MLF, BCE, DVC or […]

Despite the NTSB’s data showing that GA hours are down since 1990, activity levels in certain segments of civilian non-scheduled aviation are up. Perhaps chief among them is the business aviation segment, as evidence by last year’s record-setting sales numbers. With that in mind, and perhaps recognizing there’s never too much of a good thing, […]

Civil aviation safety continued to improve in 2006, according to NTSB numbers released yesterday. According to those statistics, the number of accidents throughout all segments of civil aviation in 2006 was less than in 2005, with general aviation recording the lowest number of accidents and fatal accidents in the 40 years of NTSB record keeping. […]

During congressional consideration of the 1982 FAA authorization bill, the user-fee issue got the lion’s share of attention, with some proposals even calling for a tax on the new avionics general aviation aircraft would be required to carry for access to the nation’s most-congested airspace. A complicated user-fee system was envisioned, with conventional and Mode […]

To many, this year’s battle in Congress over the FAA’s pending reauthorization legislation — which pitches the agency and airlines against general aviation pilots/operators and airframe manufacturers — is eerily reminiscent of a similar fight waged in the early 1980s. At the time, the playing field was a bit different, with the August 1981 firing […]

COLUMN INDEX CEO of the Cockpit #68: Animal StoriesThe airlines have gone to the dogs. Dogs are going on airliners. And AVweb’s CEO of the Cockpit has seen it all. Pilot Workshop #3: Improving Rudder SkillsRudder pedals are not meant to be footrests. In this 15 minute workshop, Wally Moran explains the importance of good […]

As U.S. aircraft manufacturers continue to complain about the shortage of FAA inspectors and certification staff on home turf comes word that the agency is reaching out to China to speed development of its new regional jet program. The FAA opened an office in Shanghai last Friday aimed at funneling U.S. technology into the new […]

Air Accident Digest says changes may be made to the Federal Flight Deck Officer program to encourage more airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. According to the Web site, issuing badges would allow armed pilots to instantly identify themselves to other law enforcement officials and establish authority during an incident. Another change being […]