IS GA GETTING TOO VISIBLE FOR ITS OWN GOOD?
Just about each week these days, anyone perusing the general media can come upon yet another news item reporting the recent growth of non-scheduled aviation operations. Generally, those media reports portray that growth as some modern miracle of science and technology. News coverage goes on to attribute the post-9/11 airline security hassles well-heeled travelers must endure as one of the major reasons for that growth. To be sure, non-scheduled operations have experienced a well-deserved boost in numbers and in new-aircraft sales over the past few years. But with that growth has come the inevitable slew of problems, not least of which is -- in some segments, at least -- safety. According to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, a "decrease in GA accidents in 2004 continued a downward trend of overall and fatal GA accident rates, which are down about 25 percent over the past 10 years. This reduction in accidents continued even as the FAA estimates that GA flight hours have increased by about 200,000 hours in each of the last three years." But that's not good enough, especially as U.S. scheduled carriers are coming up on a five-year anniversary since their last major fatal accident. More...

VIABLE OPTION, OR SCAPEGOAT?
As evidence, AVweb offers Exhibit A: a lengthy article from the Orlando (Fla.) Business Journal slugged with the catchy phrase, "Central Florida seeing a rise in aircraft, pilots, runways -- and accidents." That article focused mainly on the lighter end of GA, and especially the high and growing level of flight training being conducted in that state. But, since it noted that "[m]ost general aviation flights do not require a flight plan," its value as a tool to pressure state or federal officials to "do something" about those scary little airplanes shouldn't be underestimated. Exhibit B comes from none other than the Air Transport World Daily News, which noted the "[n]umber of passengers willing to pay premium fares has dropped by half over the past five years, giving business aviation a major boost, according to a study by The Velocity Group.... Business aircraft now account for passenger levels equal to nearly a third of the number flying first, business and full-fare coach combined, according to the study." More...

AUSTRALIA WRESTLES WITH ADS-B; CAN THE U.S. BE FAR BEHIND?
Australian ATC provider Airservices Australia last week said it has canceled plans to purchase a large quantity of ADS-B-compliant avionics it had planned for use in that country's lower-level airspace. The plans involved buying and paying installation costs for some 1,500 aircraft. However, saying that use of ADS-B below FL300 is "a significantly more complex matter than [in] upper level airspace," the company retracted a Request for Proposal it had issued. In a prepared statement, Airservices Australia said the plan to install and use ADS-B in lower-level airspace "raises a number of operational and policy issues that require resolution before a decision to proceed can be made." Exactly what those issues were, Airservices Australia isn't saying. At least publicly, where we in the U.S. can figure it out. Whether the ATC provider's decision will have an impact beyond Australia -- say, to the U.S., where the FAA has taken steps to transition its air traffic control system to one based at least in part on ADS-B -- is not yet known. "There remains broad stakeholder support for the benefits of ADS-B technology, however deferring the introduction of ADS-B technology in lieu of en route radars is necessary to allow additional time to ensure full understanding and backing for the extension of this important new technology," Airservices Australia said in its statement. More...

ECLIPSE AVIATION RELEASES FINAL ECLIPSE 500 PERFORMANCE NUMBERS
Eclipse Aviation last week confirmed the industry's worst-kept secret -- it wasn't going to achieve FAA certification of its very light jet (VLJ) by its self-imposed target of June 30. In a June 25 statement, the company formally announced the delay and, as predicted, said "continued supplier delays have pushed the schedule back." The company said it was close to certification -- very close -- but that major milestone would have to be pushed back a few weeks. “We are on the verge of achieving FAA certification, and are thrilled to be gearing up to begin delivering airplanes to our customers,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse. “While the majority of our certification program has been completed, we have faced ongoing supplier delays to obtain TSOs for their systems that have pushed back our projected late June certification by another several weeks." In the bargain, however, Eclipse reminded industry its airplane would be the first VLJ to achieve FAA certification and used the opportunity to announce final performance numbers for the new jet. More...

500TH CESSNA CITATION XL/XLS DELIVERED
Cessna last week said it delivered the 500th Citation Model 560, or Citation XL/XLS, noting that more Citation XL and XLS aircraft have been delivered than any other corporate business jet in the world since deliveries began in 1998. The 500th example went to European Flight Service AB, the largest jet charter operation in Sweden. And it was a fitting customer. “European Flight Service was the first commercial company in Europe to put an XL into service in 2003,” said Cessna Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Whyte. “There have been many others that have followed suit. We took orders for 36 XLS aircraft in Europe for 2005 alone.” The operator's fleet includes a Citation XL, Citation VII and Citation Sovereign. European Flight Service has an additional XLS and Sovereign aircraft on order. According to Cessna, the XL/XLS worldwide fleet will near 1 million operating hours in October. More...

UPGRADED CITATION 501 MAKES FIRST FLIGHT
Sierra Industries late last month said an airframe incorporating its newest set of modifications to the venerable Cessna Citation 501 models made its first flight on June 14. The new modification, dubbed the "Stallion" by Sierra, features uprated Williams FJ44-2A engines offering greater speed and higher climb rates, among other benefits. The Stallion offering fits between the stock airframe and the Sierra Eagle II set of modifications in the company's product line. In addition to uprated engines, the Eagle II mods include a longer wing and greater fuel capacity. Company CEO Mark Huffstutler piloted the Sierra Stallion's first flight, noting, “The tradeoff between the higher performance of the Stallion against the longer range of the Eagle II is the perfect sweet spot for many of [our] customers.” More...

PILATUS MAKES CHANGES TO BOARD, MANAGEMENT TEAM
Pilatus Aircraft last week said it made a number of changes to its senior management during a scheduled meeting on June 27, 2006. Oscar J. Schwenk, formerly president and CEO, was elected as the new chairman of the board of directors. He takes over from Peter Kpfer, who is stepping down after eight years. Schwenk has been with Pilatus Aircraft in various managerial functions for some 25 years and has been a managing director since 1994. Members Gerhard Beindorff and Peter Ruof were re-elected to the board of directors; the new members are Gratian Anda, who was also elected vice chairman, and Björn Bajan. The board of directors further elected Thomas Bosshard as the new CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., effective July 1. More...

ADAM AIRCRAFT NAMES CHRIS NARO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Adam Aircraft last week said it appointed Chris Naro as its new chief financial officer with responsibilities for all finance and accounting functions within the company. In his new role, Naro will focus on raising capital and financial planning, as well as ramping up production of the A500 piston twin and A700 AdamJet. Naro also will join the company's executive team, helping to prioritize future markets and product development initiatives for Adam Aircraft. "We welcome Chris as an integral and timely addition to our team," said CEO Rick Adam. "As we enter a period of rapid growth and expansion, Chris' depth of experience in managing critical finance, manufacturing and strategic initiatives with high-growth enterprises will prove indispensable." More...

CUTTER NAMES MCKAY NEW SALES MANAGER
Cutter Aviation Phoenix late last month said it named 22-year industry veteran Roger McKay as its new regional sales manager of aircraft services. McKay began his aviation career in airport operations with America West Airlines in 1984. He was promoted shortly thereafter to the position of Western U.S. Sales Manager. Throughout his 19-year tenure with America West, he served in many sales management capacities, including responsibility for airline contract negotiations with small to midsize companies and many Fortune 500 corporations. More...

WATCH YOUR INBOX...
...the next issue of AVweb's BizAVflash will be e-mailed to you on July 19. More...

AVwebBiz is a twice-monthly summary of the latest business aviation news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.

Today's issue was written by Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside (bio).

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