Latest from Gordon Gilbert
Safety
Business Aviation Safety
In the last 10 years, business aviation safety has improved dramatically.
Safety
NTSB Wants Ice Detectors on all Jet Engines
In the aftermath of four dual flameouts involving P&WC JT15D-powered Beechjets, the NTSB on Friday issued an urgent recommendation to help prevent furt
Aircraft
Citation CJ4 Will be Announced at NBAA Convention
Prompted by inquiries last week from AIN, Cessna today will confirm in a short press release that it is introducing the Citation CJ4 at the NBAA Con
Accidents
None Seriously Hurt in Hawker-Sailplane Midair
Remarkably, the two pilots and three passengers on a NetJets Hawker 800XP (N879QS) and the pilot of a Schleicher sailplane escaped serious injury when the
Avionics
RTCA Gets the Ball Rolling on Helicopter TAWS
On September 21, the FAA has scheduled the first
Airports
NATA Appeals to OMB on 15-percent Rule
In a letter to the Office of Management and Budget this week, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) requested the agency's intervention to ens
ATC
Lockheed To Disclose ADS-B Contract Team
Lockheed Martin is expected soon to make a surprise announcement about its bid for the FAA's forthcoming ADS-B contract, said to be valued at around $2 bil
Airports
GA and Regionals Affected by La Guardia Plan
General aviation operators at New York La Guardia Airport who are waiting eagerly for the expiration next January 1 of the reservation and slot program und
Aircraft
Beechjet Operators Receive AFM Changes
Raytheon Aircraft has provided operators of the Beechjet/Hawker 400XP with revised airplane flight manual (AFM) pages on the use of engine anti-icing proce
Charter & Fractional
No WAAS Capability for Honeywell’s GNS-XLS
A recent notice sent to Honeywell GNS-XLS owners confirmed what many had suspected all along: due to hardware limitations, the flight management system wil
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Raises the Stakes for Fractionals
Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options this morning launched Fractional First, which it describes as a “purchase and use program designed to de
Charter & Fractional
Start-up Magnum Jet Orders Small Jets
Embraer today said Houston-based Magnum Jet has placed an order for 50 Phenom 100s, with options for another 50 Phenom 100s and/or 300s.
Accidents
Wings Separated in Latest Two MU-2 Fatals
The NTSB reports that in the two most recent Mitsubishi MU-2 fatal accidents, the wings separated in flight.
Safety
Landing-assessment Rule Dropped–For Now
For the time being, air-taxi and fractional jet operators will not be required to add a 15-percent safety margin to actual landing distance as described in
Regulations and Government
New Rules for Air-tour Operators Move Closer
Controversial FAA regulations that would impose numerous new requirements on air-tour operators are one step closer to publication.
Airports
Boston Logan Taxiway Proposal Extended
The FAA extended to September 22 the public comment period for a draft reevaluation of a proposed centerfield taxiway at Boston Logan International Airport
Maintenance and Modifications
Boeing Acquisition of Aviall Moves Closer
Aviall, one of the largest independent distributors of new parts for business aircraft, said the European Commission “has not raised any antitrust issues”
Airports
FAA Weighs Future of Airport Advisory Service
The FAA is requesting public comments on the usefulness of airport advisory services now available part- or full-time at 20 airports in the continental U.S
Charter & Fractional
Wyvern Markets Audits Directly To Operators
After 15 years of auditing charter operators only at the behest of the companies or individuals who hire them, Wyvern Consulting, on Tuesday, announced tha
Charter & Fractional
Now NetJets’ Mechanics Start Picketing
First it was NetJets’ pilots who picketed and finally got a new labor contract; now it’s the fractional’s mechanics and other support personnel who on Frid
ATC
Canada, Playing Catch-up, Will Mandate TCAS
Transport Canada has proposed a regulatory amendment requiring installation of TCAS-I and TCAS-II, in line with current FAA rules.
Safety
Glider in Midair with Hawker Didn’t Turn on Tx
The Schleicher sailplane that collided with a NetJets Hawker 800XP near Smith, Nev., on August 28 was equipped with a transponder, but it was not turned on
Aircraft
Citation Mustang VLJ Obtains Full Certification
The Cessna Citation Mustang on Friday became the first of a new segment of aircraft known as very light jets (VLJ) to be fully FAA type certified.
Regulations and Government
Comments Due Monday on Two NPRMs
September 18 is the comment deadline for two separate notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
ATC
Approach Limits Raised in Canada
Responding to recommendations from Canada's Transportation Safety Board after at least two low-visibility landing accidents, Transport Canada will increase
Charter & Fractional
ARG/US Wins Injunction Against CharterX
A North Carolina judge issued an injunction recently against charter facilitator CharterX, its new Wyvern Consulting charter audit unit and a former ARG/US
Rotorcraft
Bell Warns Operators about BLR Strakes
A September 7 information letter from Bell Helicopter warns Bell 206 and 206L operators of potential problems with STC'd Boundary Layer Research (BLR) tail
Aircraft
Boeing Flies 737-900ER, Platform for BBJ3
On September 1 Boeing’s new 737-900ER, the platform for the new BBJ3, made its first flight.
