And You Thought YOUR Last Flight Was Long...

Remember that commercial flight you were on recently? The one that was delayed for hours for maintenance and then had to hold for weather? Remember sitting in the middle seat with a Sumo wrestler on either side of you -- AND that they'd had garlic for lunch? Perhaps you're thinking that was the longest flight ever undertaken...

NOTAM: 5/0454 Issued: 11/09/2005 17:30 Effective: 11/13/2005 17:00 - 11/13/2005 19:00 State: NJ Facility: ZNY - NEW YORK (ARTCC),NY. Type: HAZARDS Description: MEADOWLANDS NJ

500s, Encores, XLSs All Needed For CSOA

Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton put the call out Wednesday for Citation business jet owners to help with a worthwhile cause -- flying athletes to and from the upcoming 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games in Ames, IA. And he has some pretty impressive friends to help him out.

Roger Woolsey, chief executive officer of Million Air Interlink has announced that Pentastar Aviation has become the newest member of the Million Air family. The addition increases Million Air's network of fixed-base operation (FBO) facilities to 33 members.

The Aerion supersonic business jet will have a state-of-the-art fly-by-wire control system, reducing aircraft weight, improving performance, enhancing safety, increasing reliability and augmenting stability across a transonic speed range.

Up to 96 airplanes to renew/expand fleet 

Air Canada has (finally) signed a contract with Boeing to upgrade the airline's fleet with up to 36 Boeing 777s and 60 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The conclusion of the order comes six months after the airline announced a widebody fleet renewal plan, subject to a number of conditions.

The Air Force's fiscal 2006 Aviator Continuation Pay program will offer about 750 pilots and air battle managers a monetary incentive to continue their service.

Precision Approach Capability Without Ground Installations

The Federal Aviation Agency has been preaching the gospel of GPS-based navigation for years, and the Holy Grail of satellite navigation has been a precision approach capability without an extensive investment in airport-specific on-ground equipment.

Pays Crash Damage Costs, Investigation Expenses

Aero-News has previously reported (most recently on November 1, originally on September 21) the case of unlucky Major Valery Troyanov, a Russian pilot who strayed off course and ran out of fuel.

Announces Huge Growth At NBAA

Wednesday at the NBAA 2005 Convention in Orlando, Iridium Satellite reported that it continues to experience rapid growth in the aeronautical satellite communications sector. According to the global mobile satellite communications carrier, aviation business for Iridium more than doubled in 2005.

AD NUMBER: 2005-23-11 MANUFACTURER: APU SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-23-11 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hamilton Sundstrand Power Systems (formerly Sundstrand Power Systems) auxiliary power units (APUs) models T-62T-46C2, T-2T-46C2A, T-62T-46C3, T-62T-46C7, and T-62T-46C7A, with compressor impeller assembly, part number (P/N) 4502020 or 4502020A, installed.

AD NUMBER: 2005-23-09 MANUFACTURER: General Electric SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-23-09 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1A1, -80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B turbofan engines.

User-Fee Assault Renewal Threatens GA, Again -- Unity Among Air Carriers Poses Different Threat Than Last Time

"That was then…this is now," warned NBAA Ed Bolen during the press breakfast that annually kicks off opening day of the National Business Aviation Association Convention.

Yeah, We Were Duped -- Sort Of

At a standing-room-only, model-studded press event held this morning in the exhibitor hall at NBAA 2005, Embraer literally took the wraps off their two upcoming light jet aircraft.

If nothing's broke, the saying goes, don't fix it. But if a better way comes along, well, that's a different colloquialism. Fifteen years after the introduction of Learjet's flagship, the 60, Bombardier updated its mid-size jet into a model that raises the bar yet again on performance while lowering further the costs of operations.

And The First One Is Already Done

The Fairchild Merlin was a workhorse of a turboprop in its day, fulfilling roles from executive aircraft to light cargo transport. The Fairchild Metro regional airliner once dominated the market for 19-passenger short-haul airliners.

Proposal Would Remake Agency In FAA's Image

If some members of Congress have their way, the TSA will soon get an extreme makeover worthy of a television special -- in the style of the FAA.

Stargazing Could Lead To 20 Years In Jail

A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he pointed a hand-held laser at the crew of a charter flight as it passed overhead, temporarily blinding both pilots.

Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC), has announced that twin PW308C engines will power Dassault Aviation's newest addition to the Falcon line of business jets, the Falcon 2000DX.

CAE is making strides in the development of its training program for Dassault’s Falcon 7X business aircraft, having achieved key milestones in the manufacturing of the simulators, the development of the training program, the appointment of key staff members, and the construction of a new business aviation training center in Morristown, New Jersey.

"The TSA does a lot of things that you would not consider businesslike. If this were to happen, they would use industrial engineering to make the tables [at the checkpoints] longer and find the right ratios between the metal detectors and the X-ray machines. And, maybe we can figure out how to weed out the grandmothers and other low-risk passengers." Source: House Homeland Security Committee staff member Adam Tsao, commenting on why he believes the Transportation Security Administration should be revamped in a style similar to the FAA -- by separating the public face of the agency (airport screeners) from its legislative aspects, thus presenting a more businesslike face to the public.