Avia Blog

Honda Aircraft is preparing to begin test flights in November of the first conforming prototype for its seven-seat light jet. The North Carolina-based…

The Gobosh 700 light sport aircraft caused a stir when it appeared at Lee airport. What is it like to fly?

Labor politics continues to prevent passage of the FAA’s funding reauthorization. The Senate passed its version of the bill some time ago but the House remains stalled on a provision that would make it easier for FedEx employees to unionize. The House voted Tuesday to extend the current funding authorization of the FAA for a month. It was due to run out on Friday. The one-month extension of the current reauthorization might suggest the matter is inching to the upper priority levels in the House, but at least one Capitol Hill publication suggests there’s little interest in reconciling the differences between the House and Senate bills.

The FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (big PDF) that would impose extra icing certification requirements on Part 25 (transport category) aircraft that weigh less than 60,000 pounds and would also amend rules for larger aircraft. The rule has been in the making since the 1994 icing-related crash of an ATR 72 in Roselawn, Ind. For smaller aircraft, the rule focuses particularly on ice caused by supercooled large droplets, which can coat surfaces beyond the normal ice protection systems on existing aircraft. “These regulations will help ensure future aircraft can operate safely in some of the toughest icing conditions,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in statement.

Business consulting firm AlixPartners predicts consolidation in the corporate aircraft sector as prolonged slow growth becomes the “new normal” in the aerospace sector in general and the bizjet market in particular. The firm released a study on the industry’s outlook on Tuesday and says the future looks especially hard for business aircraft makers. “Business jets face an even tougher environment, while also still trying to shake the ‘politically incorrect’ stigma of a year ago,” spokesman Phil Toy said in a news release. In an interview with Dow Jones Newswire, Eric Bernardini, managing director of the firm, said there are too many bizjet companies fighting over too few orders.

It’s been three years since International Lease Finance Corp. ordered a new aircraft and it’s now poised to dip its toe in the water again. In fact, the company may make a splash with an order for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft. ILFC’s new CEO Henri Courpron told Bloomberg there are no plans to sell off any more of the company’s portfolio and wouldn’t rule out the possibility that the A380 order will be announced at or before the Farnborough Air Show, which starts July 19. “We still have a $13 billion portfolio,” Courpron told Bloomberg. “We have plenty of planes on order coming down the pike and we have engaged some fairly focused exchanges with the original-equipment makers to possibly complement that.” ILFC is owned by American International Group, which received a major bailout from the federal government in 2008, but Courpron described ILFC as being robust. “I’m not worried about the outlook for ILFC,” he said.

Cessna and Bell Helicopters will introduce new models and upgrades of existing aircraft as early as 2012 as parent company Textron boosts investment in the two companies to coincide with an expected industry turnaround next year. In an interview with Bloomberg, Textron CEO Scott Donnelly said work is already under way on the recovery plans. “The programs are there, the teams are working, so we’re going full-speed ahead,” Donnelly told Bloomberg. “You will see some refreshes, some block changes to some aircraft, and we also have a couple things in there that will be brand-new aircraft.” His comments are sure to fuel speculation that the Columbus large-cabin business jet shelved 18 months ago will be among the first to be revived.

There’s a chance the Boeing 787 will make its airshow debut at this year’s AirVenture Oshkosh. EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski has confirmed that Boeing has been invited to show off its latest design and is considering the idea. “The Boeing folks have an open invitation to join us, and we have had discussions about them attending,” Knapinski said Tuesday. He noted that the participation of the Dreamliner and its extent will depend on the aggressive flight-test schedule Boeing has set for the aircraft. The schedule hit a minor setback last week when “workmanship issues” were discovered in the horizontal stabilizers of the five test aircraft.

General aviation is up in arms over an FCC decision to end the use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters.

RIZON JET – one of the Middle East’s newest business aviation players – is preparing a soft opening in July of fixed-based operations at its Doha, Qatar headquarters and in the UK at London Biggin Hill, and is seeking to fill a host of positions.