News

Eclipse Aviation’s self-imposed June 30 deadline for FAA certification was looming large in Albuquerque this week as the company worked to clean up details and heave itself over the finish line. All signs — public and private — point to a photo finish later this month when company officials hope both the stars and its […]

NetJets Aviation last month announced it has appointed Mark Bianchi to the position of Senior Vice President of Aircraft Maintenance. In his new position, Bianchi will be responsible for daily aircraft maintenance operation and administrative functions for the 378 aircraft in the NetJets fleet. Responsibilities include maintenance availability and reliability of all NetJets Aviation aircraft, […]

At the same time it enhanced its warranty for spare parts, Dassault Falcon announced actions intended to improve its support of in-service aircraft. The company also was recently awarded the NetJets Fleet Base Maintenance Award for Base Maintenance performance during the First Quarter of 2006. By merging its help desk and field technical representatives within […]

Gulfstream last week said it is introducing three new enhancements to its computerized maintenance tracking program, CMP.net. The new enhancements involve the work order module, inventory purchase order module and smart cards, which are designed to facilitate, capture and report day-to-day aircraft maintenance activities. “More than 40 years ago, Gulfstream was the first business-jet manufacturer […]

Dassault Falcon last week announced it was increasing the duration of the warranty it offers on all Dassault Falcon replacement parts. Beginning June 1, all new parts are warranted for 24 months from time of installation, or 30 months from time of purchase. The announcement was made before a crowd of 1300 Falcon operators at […]

Also, Eclipse Aviation last week provided updates on its efforts to certify a new airplane, its eclipse 500 VLJ. The company said certification is “on the horizon” and noted that its six flight-test prototypes have accumulated more than 2,000 hours of flight time while and completing the majority of required FAA certification testing. The company […]

Raytheon Aircraft Company last week said it has completed a close-to-final phase of testing required for FAA certification of its forthcoming Hawker 4000 “super mid-size” business jet. The Hawker 4000 is being billed as the “flagship” of Raytheon’s Hawker line and features performance that may live up to its billing: The 4000 should be capable […]

Cessna last week updated the industry on the company’s progress toward certifying the Citation Mustang very light jet (VLJ). Cessna’s entry into the coming VLJ sweepstakes — projected to occur after the Eclipse 500 — is on schedule, according to the company, and will mark the first jet aircraft produced at the company’s Independence, Kan., […]

A recently decided enforcement case involving an FAA-certified mechanic and service-bulletin compliance may drastically increase operator costs and call into question airworthiness of thousands of in-service aircraft. A decision in the case, Administrator v. Law, was adopted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on April 28, 2006. The NTSB is the federal agency responsible […]