BUSINESS AND GENERAL AVIATION

Quest to double Kodiak production

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Quest Aircraft is seeking to almost double the production rate of its $1.75 million Kodiak single-engined unpressurised turboprop -` from 16 in 2011 to 30 this year.

Victor shares business jet booking platform with German-speaking market

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:13:00 GMT

Victor has expanded its realtime business jet booking platform to the lucrative German-speaking market six months after its official launch in the UK. Expansion to other European and international markets - notably the USA and the Asia Pacific region - is also planned.

Citation Mustang gallops to its fourth century

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Cessna's 400th Citation Mustang has rolled off the production line in Independence, Kansas, about five years after the entry level business jet entered service.

Amateur-built aircraft under NTSB microscope

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:26:00 GMT

The US National Transportation Safety Board said it will complete a comprehensive study of experimental amateur-built (E-AB) aircraft this spring.

The Private Jet Company breaks ground on VIP terminal as Manx business soars

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Business aviation services provider The Private Jet Company has broken ground on the Isle of Man's first dedicated VIP passenger terminal at its base at Ronaldsway airport.

Airbus Corporate Jets hoping for improved 2012

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Airbus Corporate Jets is hoping for a better 2012, as it looks to recover from several cancellations last year and aims for 200 total sales for its airliner-derived business aircraft.

Aviamost to acquire up to 300 Skylander turboprop twins

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Moscow-based tourism company Aviamost plans to acquire up to 300 GECI Skylander SK-105 twin-engined turboprops in a bid to become a major player in the local air transport market.

Jet blemish can’t cool Gulfstream sizzle

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:44:00 GMT

The hot large cabin sector continues to lift Gulfstream Aerospace despite continued poor performance at the company's Jet Aviation completions business and a "soft" midsize market.

Lufthansa Private Jet makes foray into North America with NetJets’ help

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:37:00 GMT

German flag carrier Lufthansa has expanded its top-end Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ) brand to North America through an agreement with leading US fractional ownership and charter company NetJets. Services are set to start 1 February.

Qatar Executive seeks to become global player

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Qatar Executive is seeking to become a "truly global player" in the business aviation services industry and is set to expand its fleet of large-cabin and long-range aircraft to exploit demand for business aircraft in the flourishing markets of the Middle East, Russia, West Africa and Asia.

Hawker 900XP midsize jet gets green light from Russia

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Hawker Beechcraft has received Russian validation for its Hawker 900XP business jet, bringing the number of countries where the midsize aircraft is cleared to operate commercially to more than 50.

Al Bateen sees surge in business aircraft traffic

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Abu Dhabi's only dedicated business aviation airport Al Bateen Executive recorded an 11% hike in commercial aviation movements in 2011 and a 50% surge in business aviation traffic, bringing the total number of take-off and landings for the period to 8,775.

More to share at Jet-Share Canada

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:06:00 GMT

Fractional operator Jet-Share Canada has added a third Cessna Citation to its fleet, bringing the total number of managed aircraft for the Toronto-based company to four.

Comlux sees modest charter market for VIP widebodies

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:47:00 GMT

Comlux foresees a modestly growing charter market for corporate versions of widebody passenger jets as more governments turn from owning aircraft in the...

ST Aerospace to build new general aviation hangar

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:49:32 GMT

Singapore-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firm ST Aerospace will build a new hangar to focus on general aviation work. To make room for...

PrivatAir signs for up to 10 CS100s

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:46:00 GMT

Bombardier has received a firm order for up to 10 CSeries CS100 aircraft from PrivatAir, which will be delivered in an all-business class configuration. The...

PICTURE & VIDEO - Citation Ten takes to the skies

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:32:00 GMT

First flight for Cessna 'Ten' prototype

Kestrel to move to Superior Wisconsin

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Kestrel Aircraft chief executive Alan Klapmeier said the inability of Maine officials to come up with the full slate of agreed economic development funds led to the company's decision to build a $100 million production plant with 600 potential jobs for the Kestrel single-engine turboprop elsewhere.

Booming economies propel VistaJet expansion

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Luxury charter operator VistaJet plans to double its fleet and revenues within four years as it targets expansion across the fast-growing countries of Brazil, Russia, India, Nigeria and China (BRINC).

Australia grounds three Beechcraft models on flight control fears

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:16:00 GMT

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued airworthiness directives that ground all Beechcraft Bonanza, Debonaire and Baron aircraft pending mandatory inspections of flight control cables.

IN FOCUS: Bahrain proves its worth as offshore base to tap Saudi Arabia's lucrative business aviation market

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Although Dubai is the undisputed hub of the Middle East's business aviation sector - with the free zone next to its international airport housing a cluster of brokers, charter providers and fixed-base operations - Richard Gaona had no hesitation in choosing Bahrain two years ago as Comlux's Middle Eastern base.

VistaJet aims to double in size by 2015

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

VistaJet has announced plans to double in size within four years as it targets expansion across BRINC (Brazil, India, Nigeria, China) countries and other fast-growing markets.

ImperialJet steps up marketing drive and prepares to quadruple fleet

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:03:00 GMT

Lebanese fractional ownership and charter company ImperialJet plans to more than quadruple its fleet during the next three years as part of a wider strategy to exploit flourishing demand for business aircraft in its target regions of Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Russia.

Victor raises investment and plots global expansion

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Victor, the realtime booking platform for business jet travel, is seeking to raise £1.5 million ($2.3 million) to fund the next phase of its expansion programme.

Spoilers suspected in Cessna Citation roll control emergency

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT

The pilots of a 1995 Cessna Citation VII (N877G) that experienced severe roll control problems on departure from Fort Lauderdale Executive airport on the morning of 28 December used a combination of alternative control techniques to bring the twin-engine business jet, with eight people on board, back to the airport.

Lion Air’s private jet unit to operate four Hawker 900XPs

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Space Jet, the business aircraft charter start-up of Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air, will begin operations later this year with Hawker 900XP twin jets, but said it may add other types to the fleet at a later date.

BUSINESS AVIATION: In Brief

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

OXFORD GROWTH London Oxford airport recorded a 12% rise in its movements in 2011 to 6,000 take-off and landings and says it now ranks fifth in the...

IN FOCUS: Embraer's investment set to transform Portugal's fledgling aerospace industry

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Five hundred years ago, Portuguese pioneers ventured to Brazil to seek their fortune in the young colony. Now Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is on a transatlantic mission in the other direction to create its first overseas manufacturing outpost.

China's AC313 achieves type certification

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:34:00 GMT

The Avicopter AC313 has achieved type certification in China, clearing the way for it to enter the commercial market. The helicopter underwent four...

IN FOCUS: Piper’s Simon Caldecott sees safety in numbers

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Although Piper Aircraft's new owner lives halfway around the world, new chief executive Simon Caldecott never has to look farther than his conference room wall in Vero Beach to see who he works for.

PPG electrocoat primer to optimise corrosion protection

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:09:00 GMT

PPG Industries has developed a water-based corrosion protection primer that is applied to aircraft metal parts using an electrocoating dipping process, eliminating...

Icing a key suspect in Teterboro TBM crash

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:25:00 GMT

The instrument rated private pilot of a Socata TBM 700 that crashed shortly after departure from Teterboro airport near New York City on the morning of 20 December was attempting to climb out of icing conditions at 17,000ft (5,185m) minutes before the aircraft spiralled into the ground, killing all five on board.

FAA: Business jet activity continues to hustle

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Domestic and international business jet operations continued to ramp up in 2011 as part of an ongoing upward trajectory that began in early 2009, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration's enhanced traffic management system count database.

China's Nanshan takes delivery of first BBJ

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Boeing Business Jets has delivered a BBJ to Chinese charter operator Nanshan Jet, rounding off a strong year of orders and deliveries to Chinese customers for the US airframer.

EBAA protests 'unfair' ETS burden on business jets

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

Anti-competitive aspects of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) discriminate against the business aviation community on several grounds and must be addressed, said the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).

2011 – The Year in Review: Anniversaries

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Hunters' 60th anniversary The Hawker Hunter (Mk. 3) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its first flight on 20 July. This aircraft is now displayed at the Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, West Sussex. RIAT 40th Air Show The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) marked its 40th anniversary with exceptional flying displays, involving aircraft from various nations. A Da

2011: The Year in Review: Most Downloaded Images from AirSpace

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This image of the first Qantas A380 being rolled out in Hamburg is the most downloaded image on AirSpace in 2011. Qantas Airbus A380 VH-OQA in full livery at Hamburg ...uploaded by user Rear Loader. Image courtesy Airbus/C. Brinkmann