It seems difficult to imagine that so much could happen in a single 12-month span. Not surprisingly, this review only scratches the surface, touching on highlights that have punctuated the last year's ups and downs in Business Aviation.

Players like Eclipse Aviation and Adam Aircraft, looking strong as contenders in the industry, failed to reach their full potential. But there were successes, despite the economy's fickle roller-coaster ride, particularly Embraer and Socata, who proved their mettle in going the distance...

January

• Eclipse Aviation rang in the New Year with the announcement it has produced and certified 104 Eclipse 500 very-light jets since December 31, 2006,  making Eclipse the fastest general aviation jet aircraft manufacturer in history to produce its first 100 airplanes...
• A Piper PA-31 Navajo went down shortly after takeoff from Alaska's Kodiak Airport, impacting in a harbor just off the end of the runway; six of the ten persons aboard perished. Reports indicate the aircraft may have been attempting to turn back to the airport when it went down...
• Adam Aircraft completed a successful series of environmental tests of the A700 very light jet at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. During the five day testing exercise, the A700's Williams FJ-33 turbofans were exposed to freezing fog, freezing rain and blowing snow...

  

• The 2008 TBM 850 six-seat business aircraft was unveiled by Chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Léonard during a "Discovery Show" held at the company's factory in Tarbes, France. Upgrades to the latest TBM 850 variant included its Integrated All-Glass Flight Deck, based on the last-generation Garmin G1000 system...
• Bombardier announced the Learjet 85, formerly known as the Learjet NXT, will be built by Grob Aerospace in Germany -- starting with three prototypes. It will be the first Bombardier jet to feature an all-composite structure, and will also be the first all-composite business jet designed for type certification under FAR Part 25...
• Hawker Beechcraft Corporation announced the FAA certification of the new Beechcraft King Air C90GTi, the latest evolution of the popular twin-turbine Beechcraft King Air 90 series aircraft. It features an advanced, fully-integrated, Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite...
• After receiving numerous comments from both private and commercial operators of the Mitsubishi MU-2B turboprop -- as well as owner representatives, and the plane's manufacturer -- the FAA intends to go forward with its call for a Special Federal Aviation Regulation calling for new pilot training, experience, and operating requirements for the speedy aircraft...

  

• Cessna Aircraft Company announced it will proceed with developing a large cabin, intercontinental aircraft to add to the top of its line of Citation business jets. The Textron Board of Directors gave Cessna the approval for the program during the board's first meeting of 2008...
• In an updated factual report, the National Transportation Safety Board says poorly-coordinated maintenance practices by overworked maintenance personnel may have contributed to the fatal March 27, 2007 downing of a Robinson R44 operated by Silver State Helicopters. The NTSB noted the helicopter had just come out of maintenance, and was missing attachment hardware to its control system...
   

February

• A Rockwell Sabreliner 265 bizjet struck the propeller of a Cessna Caravan while taxiing on the ramp at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, setting off a chain of events that resulted in four wrecked aircraft, covered in fire-fighting foam...
• Cessna revealed details of its recently-announced large cabin, intercontinental aircraft, the Model 850 Citation Columbus, designed for intercontinental travel with a target range of 4,000 nautical miles at Mach .80, carrying eight passengers...

  

• Adam Aircraft Industries suspended operations at its facilities in Colorado, due to the inability of the company to come to terms with their lender for funding necessary to maintain business operations...
• Hawker Beechcraft Corporation achieved FAA certification for the newest aircraft in the Hawker family, the new light-midsize Hawker 750. It utilizes the fuselage and wings of the midsize Hawker 800-series, providing the largest cabin in the light-midsize aircraft segment...
• The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the February 1 crash of a Cessna Citation near Augusta, ME. The accident claimed the lives of businesswoman Jeanette Symons, and her 10-year-old son, Balan. NTSB investigators said Symons appeared to be confused about her surroundings from the time she started taxiing for takeoff until her final radio call to controllers just before the crash...
• Former Cessna exec Russ Meyer III joins Hawker Beechcraft Corporation as director of new product development. In his new role, he will be responsible for a number of new product development programs, including the management of risk sharing partners...
• Dassault announced its sales and financial results for 2007. For the third consecutive year, Dassault set a record for Falcon business jet sales with 212 firm orders worldwide...

  

• Eclipse Aviation announced the FAA has certified the new Eclipse Aviation Weather Radar System, a color radar system designed by Eclipse and Japan Radio Co., Ltd...
• Police in Albuquerque, NM apprehended two men on charges of pointing a high-intensity laser at a department helicopter, the second time in three years a police helicopter has been targeted over the Southwestern city... 

March

• Enstrom Helicopter Corporation announced the latest addition to its North American dealer network, Travland Helicopters of Austin, TX. Enstrom noted Travland already sold and delivered its first aircraft, a fully loaded 280FX Shark, to a private customer in Dallas...

  

• Honda Aircraft Company announced the expansion of sales of its HondaJet throughout North America, with a direct sales and US service support plan for Canada, and the selection of a retail sales and service representative for Mexico...
• TrueNorth Avionics, Inc. completed its first MagnaStar upgrade on a Gulfstream aircraft, working with Duncan Aviation to install the Simphone (pronounced 'symphony') airborne telecommunications system at Duncan's Battle Creek, MI, facility. The Simphone Duo system included three easy-to-use, menu-driven handsets, along with PBX functionality and two all-digital channels of integrated Iridium service for worldwide voice and data...
• Gulfstream Aerospace announced the introduction of its all-new Gulfstream G650 ultra-large cabin business jet, which offers the longest range (7,000 nautical miles), fastest speed (0.925 Mach), largest cabin and the most-advanced cockpit in the Gulfstream fleet...
• Western Aircraft began work to launch a full-service "Interior Re-Completion Center" this spring at its Boise, ID facility by spring 2008. The shop will provide interior upgrades on large business jets and turboprop aircraft...
• Dassault announced the delivery of the first new Falcon 2000DX  to a customer in the Western United States. The standard-equipped Falcon 2000DX has exceptional airport performance, with a low approach speed of 112 kts and the ability to land with the fuel tanks nearly full -- allowing short hops from city to city to pick up passengers and then continue on long missions without refueling...
• A Bombardier Challenger made haste back to Colorado's Grand Junction Regional Airport after the cabin door fell off the aircraft shortly after takeoff. According to the FAA Preliminary Report, the aircraft entered downwind for Runway 29 at the airport, squawking 7700. Tower controllers were apparently caught a bit off guard at first, but things became clearer when "as [the plane] rolled past, the tower noticed the main cabin door was missing..."
• It was one year ago that Hawker Beechcraft Corporation took the helm of two leading aircraft manufacturers, obtaining the storied Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft lines from former owner Raytheon. The company reports a record backlog in 2007, record international sales, an increased workforce to over 9,000 employees, and an expanded product line with five new aircraft certified during the year...

  

• Reports of the downing of a Cessna Citation 501 business jet in Farnborough, England said two former automobile racers were among the five victims onboard the stricken aircraft. The Citation I had departed Biggin Hill Airport in Kent, bound for Pau, France. The jet was less than five miles away when the pilot issued a mayday call, and attempted to steer the plane back to Biggin Hill...

April

• Less than two months after Adam Aircraft Industries announced it would enter Chapter 7 liquidation, a possible buyer has emerged that might allow the A500 inline piston twin aircraft and its A700 VLJ sibling to return to the skies...

  

• Cessna announced it will build the Citation Columbus plant in Kansas, a $780 million investment that will create 1,010 new direct jobs with an annual payroll of $74 million...
• Pilatus Aircraft announced the receipt of EASA and FAA certification for its PC-12 NG. The NG features a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system, a completely new cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P engine...
• Embraer formally introduced its new midsize Embraer MSJ and the new midlight Embraer MLJ. An estimated $750 million will be invested in research and development for the new models, expected to enter service in the second semester of 2012 and 2013, respectively...
• Business Jet Technologies announced its 60th Quiet Technology Aerospace Stage 3 Hush Kit installation was completed on a Gulfstream IIB business jet. Now free to access airports with Stage 2 noise abatement restrictions, the aircraft equipped with the QTA kit will also provide passengers with a quieter cabin than ever before...
• A subpoena was filed by the Superior Court of California in Santa Clara County ordering Google to provide information about 29 anonymous posters to the "Eclipse Aviation Critic NG" attack blog, hosted by Google Blog service. Eclipse wants to know if some or all of those posters are current or former employees or others bound by non-disclosure agreements with the company...
• The FAA took legal action to overturn a ban on Category C and D jets at California's Santa Monica Municipal Airport. The ban was passed unanimously by Santa Monica City Council in November, and would include many popular business aircraft -- including the Gulfstream IV, Challenger and Citation X -- with approach speeds of 121 knots or more...
• Employees at Cessna celebrated the roll out of the first production Citation XLS+ at the company's primary design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita, KS. FAA certification is expected by mid-year, with deliveries starting before the end of 2008...

  

• Embraer's Phenom 300 successfully took to the air on its maiden flight from the company's Gavião Peixoto test runway. In the coming months, the first Phenom 300 will participate in the flight test campaign along with three additional Phenom 300 jets and is expected to enter service in the second semester of 2009...

May

• Eclipse Aviation announced it has received certification to register and operate the Eclipse 500 in India and Australia, and anticipates receipt of EASA certification later this year...
• The NTSB issued its preliminary report on a Citation Mustang runway accident at McClellan-Palomar Airport, Carlsbad, California. After landing long, the plane sustained substantial damage following the pilot's intentional ground loop maneuver. The pilot said the PFD and the autopilot failed en route, and he was 'fatigued' on landing...

  

• A University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight crew was lost when their helicopter crashed in LaCrosse, WI shortly after takeoff...
• Embraer announced plans to invest an estimated $50 million for the establishment of a new facility in Melbourne, FL dedicated to its executive jets business, and creating approximately 200 skilled positions by 2011...
• XOJet Inc. bucked the recent trend of fledgling aircraft operations experiencing problems with obtaining investment capital after securing $2.5 billion in financing from Canada and the Middle East...
• The 2008 NATA Air Charter Summit on June 10 will provide exclusive insight into emerging threats to charter operators from the illegal drug trade. William C. Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the US DEA Aviation Division, will discuss the increased focus on air charter, and how operators can best ensure they are not targets of drug runners...
• FlyRight Inc. received FAA certification as the country's newest 142 Flight Training Center. FlyRight's 142 Training Center certification enables the company to offer initial, ATP, and recurrent training programs entirely in-house, using its King Air B200 and Raytheon 1900D Level-C full motion simulators...
• Effective immediately, new orders for the Eclipse 500 are priced at $2.15 million, in June 2008 dollars. The planemaker blamed the hike in part on escalating costs to produce the 500, many tied to the current slump in the US dollar, and production issues to date...

  

• At the company's 10th Anniversary "E-rrival" owners gathering, Eclipse Aviation announced the single-engine Eclipse Concept Jet, rebranded the Eclipse 400, will be brought to market in late 2011, and current customers will have the first shot at reserving their own jets...

June

• As part of the Optimal and Friendcopter program, primarily concerned with the reduction of noise pollution, Eurocopter conducted research into the reduction of aerodynamic noise through the development of active noise control systems for main rotors, and reduction of engine noise through studies on engine integration, the shape, position and design of tail pipes and the air intake...
• With FAA approval in hand, construction will begin August 1 on runway 10L/28R at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, MN as part of a $20 million project to improve accommodations for corporate jets...
• The FAA granted type certification to Cessna's Citation XLS+. The plane features a fully integrated Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite and electronically controlled (FADEC) engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada...

  

• North American Jet Charter Group, LLC announced the delivery of its first Florida-based Eclipse 500 very light jet, available for on-demand air-taxi and charter. Based at Boca Raton Airport, the two pilot / four passenger VLJ offers service to the Bahamas and other regional destinations...
• The NTSB formally issued two urgent recommendations to the FAA to address a safety issue, concerning a failure that resulted in uncontrollable engine thrust in an Eclipse 500 and the lack of emergency procedures developed for that failure...
• Hawker Beechcraft announced the first delivery of its flagship Hawker 4000 super-midsized business jet to customers Gary and Donna Hall, one week after the composite-bodied bizjet received final certification from the FAA...

  

• On June 5, all static load testing was successfully completed on the first Proof-Of-Concept airframe, bringing the PiperJet one step closer to its first flight...
• The IAM, up in arms over alleged plans by Hawker Beechcraft to establish a full aircraft assembly plant in Chihuahua, Mexico, criticized the company's five-year plan, dubbed "Project Pelican," decrying plans to conceal the scope of the plan from the public, the press and employees at Hawker Beechcraft's Wichita, KS assembly plant...
• Linear Air announced the launch of its Eclipse EA500 flight service in the greater New York City area, touting the economy of the Eclipse 500 as a major selling point to potential customers. In addition to cost-savings, Linear Air said it serves 10 times more airports than traditional commercial airlines...

July

• An investigation underway by the DOT Inspector General involves allegations that the FAA's certification of the Eclipse 500 very light jet in 2006 came despite safety concerns raised by the engineers and test pilots who evaluated the plane...
• Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine has completed Phase II ground tests, and has been cleared for flight testing on Pratt & Whitney's 747SP flying testbed.  Reductions in fuel burn, engine noise, environmental emissions and operating costs make the Geared Turbofan engine a viable solution for the next generation of commercial aircraft...
• ANN's Aero-TV crew caught up with Vern Raburn right after he gave the public go-ahead for the Eclipse 400 program, and got some juicy details in a VERY FRANK discussion...

  

• The NTSB released its preliminary report on the June 29 midair collision of two emergency medical service helicopters near a hospital in Flagstaff, AZ. Four persons onboard one Bell 407 and three aboard the second 407 were killed when the aircraft collided on approach to land at Flagstaff Medical Center...
• Funded by a grant from the FAA, the National Air Transport Association announced the availability of a toll-free hotline for certificated operators to report suspected illegal commercial activity...
• For planemakers, the bad news is that demand for private jets in the United States has measureably softened as the US dollar's value has fallen, and credit tightened. The good news is that other markets have grown at a rate that is lessening the impact of declining sales in the US...
• Vern Raburn left the helm at Eclipse Aviation accompanied by a two-minute standing ovation from those in attendance at a press conference at AirVenture 2008. "These things happen in the world of business," Raburn told ANN after the applause wound down...

  

• At least seven people are reported lost following the crash of an East Coast Jets Hawker 800 on landing at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport in Minnesota. FAA officials identified the flight as East Coast Jets 81, inbound from Atlantic City, NJ...
• An Eclipse 500 VLJ involved in a crash near Brandywine Airport near West Goshen, PA was attempting to land when it overshot the runway, and skidded into a treeline off the departure end of runway 27. The two persons onboard, the pilot and his young daughter, were not injured... 

August

• AAI Acquisition, the Russian-backed successor to the former Adam Aircraft Industries, announced at AirVenture 2008 it plans to resume efforts to certify the A700 twin-turbofan, very-light jet -- at the expense of the A500 piston twin...
• The situation was tense outside the gates at Hawker Beechcraft's plant in Wichita, KS, with over 100 machinists on strike, working to prevent employees from crossing the picket line...
• Embraer, seemingly on a roll lately, confirmed it eliminated some 250 management and administrative jobs, as part of a larger restructuring effort...

  

• Boeing completed work on the first BBJ 3, a larger business jet based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER. Next stop is at DeCrane Aircraft in Georgetown, DE, where it will receive its long-range auxiliary fuel system and a heads-up display...
• German planemaker Grob Aerospace filed for insolvency, citing delays in the development of its all-composite Grob spn very light jet. "Under the circumstances, our current loan provider has elected to discontinue their support..."
• A Congressional hearing will be held next month to review the type certificate issued to Eclipse Aviation for the EA500 VLJ, following claims by some certification workers the jet was issued its TC by the FAA long before it was ready...
• A tragic accident killed all 10 persons on board as a Beech King Air A-100 impacted the ground close to the runway shortly after departure from the Canyonlands Field airport, approximately 18 miles northwest of Moab...
• Nearly 5,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Wichita and Salina, KS will soon return to work at Hawker Beechcraft, after winning a new contract that increases pay by four percent each year, while preserving health care benefits and the rights of new hires...

  

• Gulfstream Aerospace recently became the first Original Equipment Manufacturer to receive approval from EASA for all of its aircraft equipped with the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System to obtain operational credit for continuing approaches to 100 feet..

September

• Enstrom's 480B, a carefully updated and accomplished turbine helicopter may be one of the industry's best kept secrets, but Aero-TV was pleased to see that the secret seems to be finally giving way to more attention for a solid rotorcraft...

  

• A Bell 212 helicopter carrying foreign contractors crashed on takeoff from an offshore oil platform off the coast of Dubai, claiming all seven people onboard and sparking a fire on the platform that halted production indefinitely on the Rashid oil field, one of four located off the coast of the United Arab Emirates...
• The FAA agreed to act on the recommendations of a team that reviewed the agency's certification of the Eclipse 500 very light jet. The team found the airplane was certificated in accordance with safety regulations, but said policies and communication procedures used during the VLJ certification process could be improved...
• There's little argument that Cessna Aircraft Company has been good to Wichita, KS, and on the Wichita City Council has returned the favor, by authorizing a $5 million loan to assist with the planemaker's Citation Columbus business jet...
• Bombardier announced it has opted to build the upcoming composite jet on its own, "given the uncertainty surrounding Grob's insolvency" Grob Aerospace has "accepted" that Bombardier has cancelled the agreement with the company to continue the development of the Learjet 85 primary and secondary structure...

  

• Details are sketchy about the downing of a Learjet 60 business jet on takeoff from Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina. Both of the business jet's pilots were lost in the accident, as were two of the four passengers onboard. Officials said the two survivors of the crash are former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, and Hollywood party DJ Adam Goldberg...
• The Queen of England is reportedly in the market for a private jet, for exclusive use by the Royal Family... and its pets. For a price tag of seven million Pounds (nearly $13,000,000 US), designs from four major aircraft manufacturers -- Learjet, Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna and Gulfstream -- have reportedly been requested...
• A Maryland State Police medevac helicopter crashed outside Washington, DC, claiming the lives of four people onboard, including the pilot... but a fifth passenger survived. The helicopter was attempting to return to Andrews Air Force Base to avoid inclement weather, instead of continuing on to a hospital...
• Despite tremendous growth in the business aircraft market in recent years, the question on the minds of nearly everyone in the industry concerns how long the good times will last. Experts say warning signs are appearing that seem to indicate that a market downturn is on the way...

October

• A Gulfstream G-IV was seized in a July 16 raid at John Wayne Airport. The FBI said the plane was used to distribute ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine and other controlled substances from 1999 to 2007...
• Embraer will display its upcoming Phenom 100 VLJ and Phenom 300 light jet at NBAA 2008. The two new aircraft will join Embraer's Legacy 600 on the ramp at the Orlando Executive Airport...

  

• Gulfstream Aerospace announced at NBAA 2008 the introduction of its newest super mid-size business jet, the Gulfstream G250. An update to the Israel Aerospace Industries-sourced G200, the G250 will offer the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class...
• Diamond Aircraft has flown its D-Jet for the first time with the new Williams FJ33-5A engine, "an important milestone for the D-Jet program," said Peter Maurer, President of Diamond Aircraft...
• In a follow-up report on a recent Learjet 60 crash, the NTSB noted tire debris was found along the 8,600-foot runway at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, further supporting a working theory the Learjet's flight crew may have attempted to abort takeoff due to a blown tire...
• Pilot John Downhower and photographer Dave Garrett were killed when their Bell 206L-4 Long-Ranger helicopter crashed as it flew to the scene of a police-involved shootout near Magnolia, TX. Both were employed by Houston ABC affiliate KTRK...
• The Airship Ventures Zeppelin NT, on its way from Texas to California, will be the largest airship flying in the US. Once in the San Francisco Bay Area, the airship will offer the only passenger airship flight service in America, offering "Flightseeing" tours...

  

• An orphaned fleet of 28 Eclipse 500 jets parked in Gainesville, FL following last month's collapse of air taxi company DayJet may soon have new homes. Light aircraft fractional provider OurPLANE tells ANN it has submitted a bid to purchase the aircraft...
• Forecast International has projected that production of the Eclipse 500 will soon end. The research firm believes the aircraft's manufacturer, Eclipse Aviation, will not attract new investment necessary to allow it to continue making the aircraft beyond the first quarter of 2009...

November

• Aero-News has confirmed Eclipse Aviation has pulled its planned booth and static display from this year's AOPA Expo in San Jose, a sign the company is circling the wagons as it continues to search for badly needed investment funding...

  

• The rush hour downing of a Lear business jet into a crowded Mexico City neighborhood claimed the lives of all onboard, including two prominent officials in the Mexican government...
• Aerospace workers who may have recently been let go from their jobs at Cessna or Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita, KS were encouraged to attend a job fair to be held by Piper Aircraft, currently in search of experienced engineers to work on the PiperJet...
• Since 1938, Executive Beechcraft, Inc. has been an integral part of the Kansas City and St. Louis communities. In recognition of the firm's 70-year anniversary, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Missouri Governor Matt Blunt declared November 15, 2008 to be Executive Beechcraft Day...
• Aero-News has obtained court documents from a filing for Chapter 7 liquidation made by now-defunct air taxi operator DayJet...

  

• Top executives from Detroit's Big Three automakers appeared before Congress to ask for a $25 billion industry bailout... but instead were dressed down for their lavish travel expenses to Washington, arriving in private jets...
• A complaint filed with the Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General has sparked a FAA investigation into the operation and maintenance of helicopters used by the Maryland State Police...
• Eclipse Aviation announced it is seeking court approval for debtor-in-possession financing and procedures for the sale of most of its assets under Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code...
• EADS Socata CEO Jean-Michel Léonard ceremonially placed the first stone for the industrial center of EADS Socata's Moroccan subsidiary, Socaero. The 54,000 sq.ft facility will work on elements for the Airbus A320 and A340, Eurocopter's AS 350/355 helicopters, the Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X business jet, and Socata's own TBM 850 business aircraft... 

December

• Executives at Ford Motor Company and General Motors caved in and bowed to public pressure and announced they will sell off their business jet fleets...
• Embraer broke ground on its first US aircraft assembly plant and customer center at Florida's Melbourne International Airport. Present at the ceremony were Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Melbourne City Mayor Harry Goode, along with Embraer President & CEO Frederico Fleury Curado...

  

• The Brazilian Air Force investigation into the September 29, 2006 mid-air collision of a Gol Airlines 737 and an Embraer Legacy 600 put much of the blame squarely on the two American pilots of the Embraer, stating they had inadvertently switched their transponder to standby mode...
• For the first time in over a year, there's been an accident involving a Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop aircraft. The pilot, who was injured in the crash, had problems shutting one engine down. It took several firefighters, spraying foam into the nacelle, to bring the turbine to a halt...
• Embraer announced the FAA has certified the Phenom 100, and first deliveries will begin next week...
• Customers of Eclipse Aviation announced the formation of an Ad Hoc Customers Committee to represent owners and position holders...
• The NBAA announced its inaugural Light Business Airplane Conference that will take place in San Diego, CA has been scaled back from a three-day conference to a two-day conference in response to the strained economy...
• The NBAA announced that economic conditions have led to the cancellation of the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition in 2009, originally scheduled to take place in Hong Kong in February...

  

• Ed Bolen, president of the NBAA, wrote a carefully-worded rebuke to Associated Press writer Stevenson Jacobs, whose December 21 article questioned the wisdom of corporate execs continuing to fly on business jets, over more 'economical' options...

FMI: www.aero-news.net