Recent Updates

Bombardier chalked up a $600 million aircraft order at NBAA on Monday but the customer was a familiar one. Flexjet, which until six weeks ago was owned by Bombardier, converted an option for 30 Learjet 85s to a firm order. The option was part of a huge order made by the new Flexjet LLC when […]

NBAA President Ed Bolen and Carey Matthews, general manager of Shanghai Hawker Pacific told the NBAA convention in Las Vegas that business aviation in China is progressing but still in its infancy, and baby steps are serving as important milestones for future growth. Bolen noted that the country’s roughly 180 airports are few for a […]

A study by St. Louis University senior researcher Matt Vance seeks to discover key factors that would encourage or discourage travel on unmanned autonomous airliners and, while the results aren’t yet complete, Vance told AVweb Thursday that he expects at least one pattern to emerge. Vance performed a pilot study in March that included 44 […]

Geographically, technologically, and spiritually, Xi’an is poised to be the heart of general aviation in China’s emerging GA market – much as Wichita, Kansas is to the U.S. GA scene. Perhaps that’s why Wichita is opening a bureau in Xi’an. AVweb spoke with Cessna’s William J. Schultz and Wichita mayor Carl Brewer at the China […]

China is building new, modern, and capable airports at a blistering pace, and many of these will eventually serve the developing general aviation market. AVweb’s Tim Cole visited Peucheng Airport in east central China and filed this video sampler of what’s on the flightline there. view on YouTube

Bloomberg is reportingthat Beechcraft is for sale again and that Cessna might be one of the interested parties. Bloomberg quotes unnamed sources and Beechcraft spokeswoman Nicole Alexander said the company does “notcomment on market rumors or speculation about the company.”The Bloomberg story says Credit Suisse Group AG is actively shopping the storied Wichita planemaker around […]

AOPA has released 12 employees as part of an effort that will cut costs and make the organization “focus on grassroots events and reaching out to our members in real and tangible ways,” said AOPA spokeswoman Katie Prybil. “We are focusing on creating member value in everything that we do. The changes announced today will […]

This summer, a company called Universal Helicopters was called on to fight fires in Canada using the Bell 407, an aircraft often associated with executive or VIP transport, and AVweb spoke with one of the aircraft’s pilots about his experience. Geoff Goodyear said the aircraft was contracted to serve as a firefighter because clients found […]

As China struggles to expand its aviation infrastructure at a breakneck pace, it’s seeking help from every corner of the globe, and the European Union is stepping up expertise in airport design. AVweb’s Tim Cole interviews Norbert Gronak of Aviare Consult GmbH about China’s airport design needs. view on YouTube

AVweb speaks with Universal Helicopters pilot Geoff Goodyear about his experience flying the Bell 407 to fight fires in Canada this summer and the advantages helicopters bring to the task. Duration: File Size: download here