West Star Aviation’s Chief Financial Officer Mike Shonka will be inducted into the Wichita Business Journal’s CFO Awards Hall of Fame March 3. Mike has had an extensive career as an executive in financial services and aviation, including Cessna Aircraft Co., where he was the CFO for 14 years. The Wichita Business Journal began inducting individuals into […]
Briefings
Burt Rutan returns to AirVenture for VariEze’s 40th anniversary
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — Burt Rutan, the visionary aircraft designer, will be back at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2015 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his iconic VariEze aircraft. AirVenture, the 63rd annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention, will be held July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Rutan’s designs have been groundbreaking for more […]
AOPA Air Safety Institute updates runway incursions course
The Air Safety Institute (ASI) of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has released a new version of its Runway Safety course, designed to help pilots avoid dangerous runway incursions. The 45-minute course takes participants through a series of airport trouble spots, including confusing signs, complex taxiway and runway layouts and unclear communications, all of […]
Groundbreaking held for new facilities for Clay Lacy Aviation at VNY
LOS ANGELES — Community leaders joined in Feb. 12 to break ground on Clay Lacy Aviation‘s new South Campus, a $10 million, six-acre expansion of its current headquarters facility at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). Attended by more than 100 students from NVOC-Aviation, a VNY-based aircraft mechanics school, the event celebrated local job creation and economic growth. […]
Goodyear donates blimp gondola to museum
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will donate the gondola from the Spirit of Goodyear blimp to the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum of the Western Reserve Historical Society. “Adding this gondola to our Setting the World in Motion display will allow us to continue telling a complete story of the innovators and […]
Landmark Aviation acquires EFD FBO
HOUSTON, Texas — Landmark Aviation has acquired Ellington Partners and Southwest Airport Services at Ellington Airport (EFD). With an existing location at George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH), this will be Landmark Aviation’s second FBO in the Houston area. The FBO was founded by Jim Bath in 1984. With two executive terminals and more than 150,000 square feet […]
Port clears path for airport project
BURLINGTON, Wash. — The Port of Skagit Board of Commissioners has approved the purchase of wetland mitigation credits so the port can improve the safety area on the west end of the main runway at Skagit Regional Airport (KBVS). The project, which will bring the Runway 11-29 safety area up to FAA standards for Class DII […]
First IMC Club chapter in Australia to open in April
Pilots will meet in April at the Narromine Aerodrome, approximately 200 nm west of Sydney, the capital of Australia, to establish the first chapter of the IMC Club International on that continent. IMC Club, through its worldwide chapters, provides organized “hangar flying” focused on building proficiency in instrument flying. The club brings IFR-rated pilots who fly […]
Japanese company buys Quest Aircraft
Quest Aircraft Co., which manufactures the KODIAK, has signed an agreement to be acquired by Setouchi Holdings, a member of the Tsuneishi Group, based in Hiroshama, Japan. The Tsuneishi Group is involved in shipbuilding, transportation and related industries. “We are very excited to have a strong organization such as Tsuneishi Group believe in Quest, our products and […]