News

Last year at the annual NBAA convention, Piper rolled out its proposed PiperJet, a Williams turbofan-powered single built up from its turboprop-powered Meridian. At the time, neither Piper nor Williams would say much about the personal jet’s powerplant except that it would be designated the Williams FJ33-3AP. Now, Williams has released some additional details on […]

Flight Options, the Raytheon Company’s fractional ownership operation, said yesterday the FAA selected it to partner and participate in the proof of concept phase of the development and implementation of a formal Safety Management System (SMS) for all air service providers. Flight Options added that it is the only fractional operator — and the largest […]

It used to be that the major aviation trade shows — with exception of Farnborough and the Paris Air Show — were all in the U.S. during the spring, summer and fall. Not anymore. Now, with EBACE, LABACE, and shows in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia, it’s more a matter of which show is being […]

Aviation security was back on the congressional agenda during a hearing earlier this month before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The Jan. 17 hearing — called to review recommendations of the 9/11 Commission — featured one witness, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Director Edmund S. “Kip” Hawley, who told senators his agency is […]

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Marion C. Blakey yesterday announced her agency will propose increasing the mandatory retirement age for U.S. airline pilots from 60 to 65. Her announcement was made in a luncheon speech at the National Press Club and follows last year’s formation of a rulemaking committee that basically punted on the question it […]

The FAA will propose a new rule that would raise the retirement age for airline pilots to 65, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said today. During a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Blakey reiterated the history of the age-60 rule, and said, “This is a change whose time has come.” Issues of […]

The FAA has issued a Notam restricting flight in the Miami area during the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 4. There will be a 30-nm-radius TFR centered on the FLL VOR’s 214-degree radial at 8.4 miles, extending up to FL180. It will be in effect from 4 p.m. until 11:59 p.m EST on Sunday. Also, […]

This July 23 to 29, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., will host aerial performances from Sean D. Tucker, Patty Wagstaff, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team, Kirby Chamblis, Matt Younkin and Kyle Franklin; all (and more) have already signed up for the EAA show. The performers “come together at EAA AirVenture to make an all-star roster of […]

Sales of Socata’s TBM 850 are up 35 percent compared with last year as the company pits the economy of its 320- ktas (at FL260) turboprop against a fledgling very light jet (VLJ) market and rides a 21 -percent rise in revenue. Socata aims to deliver 50 of the turboprop singles this year, with a […]

Gulfstream Aerospace said last week one of its G550 bizjets established three new city-pair records before 2006 ended, bringing to 10 the total number of records established by Gulfstream-operated G550s last year. The three new records were established by the same crew flying the same airplane more than 13,000 nm in eight days; Gulfstream senior […]