The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has hired Michael France as its new manager, regulatory affairs. France, who attended Ball State University, previously worked with Volo Aviation in Manassas, Va., as a quality control and training coordinator. In his new position, he will be responsible for handling issues that affect the association’s FBO and general […]
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New company to offer Eclipse maintenance
A group of Eclipse Aviation workers has launched a company called Eclipse 500 Services to provide maintenance for Eclipse 500 very light jets, according to its Web site. “This site is set up so that we can bring all parts of the organization back together, and keep you in the air,” the site states. According […]
Cessna committed to SkyCatcher LSA
Cessna Aircraft Company said on March 25 that it is fully committed to its Model 162 SkyCatcher program, despite two prototypes lost during the flight test program. “The need for a modern, cost-effective two-seat trainer aircraft has never been greater, and we believe we are well positioned to meet that need,” said Cessna’s chairman, president […]
Second SkyCatcher crashes
The delivery schedule for Cessna’s Light Sport Aircraft, the SkyCatcher, is being re-evaluated following the March 19 crash of the second flying prototype. “The crash happened during flight testing,” said Doug Oliver, a Cessna spokesman. “The pilot was not hurt and the ballistic parachute deployed as it was supposed to deploy.” This is the second […]
Former pilot-union boss to lead FAA
Randy Babbitt, a prominent aviation consultant and former head of the largest U.S. commercial pilots’ union, is expected to be nominated as the next head of the Federal Aviation Administration, according to industry officials and others familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 25. Babbitt served as president of the Air […]
Hawker Beechcraft names new CEO
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has named W.W. (Bill) Boisture Jr. its new chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The former president of NetJets and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. brings more than 30 years of aviation experience to HBC. Boisture was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from the USAF Fighter Weapons School and the […]
Illinois proposes bizav luxury tax
Business aviation groups are concerned about a proposed Illinois state tax on business aviation that would inaccurately classify business aircraft as luxury items and impose a five percent “luxury” tax on aircraft valued at more than $500,000. The new tax would be levied in addition to existing state and local use taxes and would drive […]
Artist Sam Lyons offers screen savers
Well-known aviation artist Sam Lyons’ Lyons Studio has introduced a new feature “that will make sitting in front of your computer a pleasure,” according to Mindy Lyons, who spread the word on March 24. “Now you can download select images of Sam’s popular aviation art and use them as your computer background,” she said. “All […]
AOPA cautions against assumptions in PC-12 crash
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation warned on March 24 that it is “too soon to be making guesses about the cause of Sunday’s accident in Montana,” saying investigators are still in the data collection phase, which is only the first in a long series of steps toward determining a cause. “It’s important to remember that, […]