News

Working to streamline its processing of business aviation and charter passengers, the U.S. Customs Service has developed a Web page dedicated to the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). While it is currently only informational in nature, this page has documentation for UN Electronic Data Interchange for Administration Commercial Trade (EDIFACT) implementation, US EDIFACT issues, as […]

New routings in California could be a boost for RNAV equipped aircraft but are really meant to aid area controllers. Effective March 31, the Los Angeles ARTCC will begin using new preferred routings from California’s Ontario International (ONT), Van Nuys (VNY), and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena (BUR) airports for RNAV-equipped aircraft destined to San Jose International (SJC) and […]

NBAA is reporting that, effective January 1, 2004, all turbojet-powered aircraft will be required to have Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). All installations of the ELTs (including turbine-powered airplanes) must comply with either TSO C126 or C91a. Because search-and-rescue satellites will not support VHF after 2009, NBAA suggests the C126 units be used for all new […]

Now that it has dealt with its engine-replacement predicament, Eclipse Aviation has moved on to deal with another part of a jet program that always requires attention: fundraising. The Albuquerque-based manufacturer needs a total of about $300 million to move its Eclipse 500 jet through the FAA certification process. Eclipse has already raised $238 million […]

The first LABACE Has Come And Gone … The first annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE) was held last week amid much fanfare. The only Latin American event of its kind to focus exclusively on business aviation, LABACE was held from March 13 to 15 in So Paulo, Brazil. The exhibition featured […]

Flight Testing Going Well … Dassault Falcon reports that it is in the final stages of certification for the new Falcon 2000EX. The total flight time accumulated on the Falcon 2000EXs has surpassed 435 hours. While the flight test program took longer than originally anticipated, Dassault says it was able to react quickly enough to […]

On March 6, Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation announced that its SJ30 certification program continues on track. The second new SJ30-2 conforming twinjet lifted off at 9:10 a.m. that day to join serial number (S/N) 0002 in the FAA flight test program. The SJ30-2 is a new high-performance, seven-seat twinjet being readied for worldwide distribution.At the […]

Charlie Johnson Takes The Reins At Cessna-Wichita … Cessna recently had a changing of the guard in Wichita. As of March 10, Charlie Johnson took charge of Cessna’s Wichita operation. He reports directly to Textron Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Loranger. “For more than 20 years, Charlie has been a major contributor […]

Bell’s Commercial Tiltrotor Flies For First Time … On March 10, the Bell/Agusta Aerospace 609 (BA609) achieved its maiden flight at Bell’s Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas. The BA609 hovered at an altitude of 50 feet, performed left and right peddle turns, both forward and aft flight maneuvers, four take-offs and landings, nacelle position […]

Users Get Busy Signals … While the final Twelve Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) has promised several benefits, the TSA is concerned that its access may be at issue. The program — which is accessible at the TSA Web site — has been available to Part 135 operators for several weeks. Charter operators who requested […]