PHENOM 100 PREPPING FOR FIRST FLIGHT
Embraer is currently performing the ground tests for the Phenom 100 very light jet at its Sao Paulo, Brazil, headquarters in preparation for the jet's first flight, which is expected in the "next month or so." According to the company, progress is "steady" as engineering teams test the functionalities and integration of the airplane's systems. "The Phenom 100 test campaign has begun and steadily advances," said Embraer Senior Manager of Phenom Programs Alexandre Figueiredo. "The ground tests prepare the aircraft for its first flight and provide results for the certification process, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-2008." The twinjet's Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F turbofans have already been powered up, and the focus is now on ground vibration tests that will verify the Phenom's aero-elasticity. More...

NBAA GIVES THUMBS UP TO HOUSE FAA BILL
The House of Representatives FAA reauthorization legislation (H.R.2881) has been received with open arms by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), thanks to the bill's support for ATC modernization without aviation user fees. NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen praised House leaders for understanding "that the aviation system must be modernized to meet capacity demands [and] that user fees shouldn't be mistaken for a modernization plan." In previous testimony before Congress, Bolen said user fees are costly for governments to administer, requiring a large, expensive bureaucracy. Additionally, NBAA said user fees come with an administrative burden for operators and cited International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that IATA members spend between $85 and $125 to process one invoice. The association said user fees can also be increased at any time to make up for declining revenue. More...

ATA POINTS FINGER AT BUSINESS AVIATION
The Air Transport Association (ATA), the airline lobby group that is currently pushing for aviation user fees, has taken another shot across general aviation's bow. On Monday, it asked the FAA to "temporarily create additional airspace capacity by imposing proportional level ground delay programs" at Teterboro Airport (N.J.) and other "nearby airports" – in other words, fields that predominantly serve general aviation, a list that includes Westchester County (N.Y.) and Essex (Caldwell) County (N.J.) Airports -- when ground delay programs are implemented at airline-dominated Newark Liberty International, La Guardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports. National Business Aviation Association Senior Vice President of Operations Steve Brown told AVweb that the ATA's move "is an attempt to politicize its own perspective" that GA traffic is the main cause of airline delays. In reality, he said, GA accounts for only 4 percent of operations at the nation's 10-busiest airports, with most airline delays caused by the hub-and-spoke system itself, weather, and crew or ATC staffing. More...

CIRRUS UNVEILS SEVEN-PLACE PERSONAL JET
Cirrus Design unveiled the mockup of its single-engine V-tail jet, with seating for up to seven people, at a media reception at its Duluth, Minn. headquarters on Thursday. The aerodynamically sculptured design includes a variety of innovations that will definitely make it stand out on any ramp, but its striking looks are a side benefit of some practical design, according to Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier. "We didn't do it just to make it look cool," Klapmeier told AVweb. "We wanted people to know that there are sound reasons behind the design." Cirrus designers opted to mount the engine on top of the fuselage for easy access, fire and turbine blade containment and for easy load balancing. The V-tail makes way for the thrust from the Williams FJ33 turbofan, which is expected to push the aircraft to about 300 knots. The engine is also mounted flush with the 20-degree slope of the aircraft's back and the thrust is vectored to point it in the right direction. More...

CIRRUS DESIGN'S THE-JET ROLLOUT: A FIRST LOOK
Cirrus Design's personal jet was shown for the first time, Thursday June 28, 2007. AVweb's Russ Niles was there. (Click through to watch.) More...

SAVE WITH DIRECT DULUTH ON TECH STOPS
Monaco Air Duluth (Minn.) is courting business jet operators by billing itself as a cost-effective international tech stop for Great Circle flights between the U.S. West Coast and Europe. The FBO has set up an online comparative analysis tool that allows users to choose between four European cities and four cites on the West Coast, with the resulting eastbound or westbound routing showing miles, time and cost savings of going "Direct Duluth" rather than making the traditional stop in Bangor, Maine. The Duluth Airport has a Cat. II ILS for easy access, and the FBO is promising 24-minute quick turns. Until Oct. 31 Monaco Air is offering an 80-cent-per-gallon discount for jet-A purchases over 2,000 gallons. In addition, the facility is giving out $100 American Express gift cards to the pilot and copilot during this promotion period. (A coupon, available through the link to the comparative tool above, is required for the fuel discounts and gift cards.) More...

NATA AIRS CONCERN OVER SAFOS
The National Air Transportation Association has sent a letter to FAA Flight Standards Service Director James Ballough seeking clarification of the obligation that Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs) place on air carriers, a group that includes Part 135 operators. NATA said it supports the use of SAFOs to relay what FAA documents say are "recommended (nonregulatory) actions," but said the agency implies that "failure to adhere to the SAFO recommended actions could result in an FAA determination that operations are not in compliance with their obligations as certificated air carriers." In short, NATA believes the FAA should not imply that air carriers are unsafe because they do not follow SAFO-recommended actions. More...

SANDEL ATTITUDE DISPLAY GETS FAA OK
Sandel Avionics' SA4550 Primary Attitude Display recently received STC approval from the FAA for Part 23 and Part 25 aircraft. The company said the modular, LED-backlit unit (introductory retail price $20,500) is ideal for retrofit installation in corporate jets ranging from Cessna Citations to Gulfstreams, as well as turboprops or other aircraft with 4-ATI and 5-ATI panel displays. When paired with the already-certified Sandel SN4500 Primary Navigation Display, the company says the SA4550 provides operators with a complete, modern primary flight display solution. "This certification confirms that our … displays will let corporate aircraft operators affordably update their old, unreliable ADIs and HSIs," said Sandel CEO Gerry Block. More...

DALLAS AIRMOTIVE MILLVILLE ADDS PW500 CAPABILITY
Dallas Airmotive has expanded the services of its Regional Turbine Center in Millville, N.J., with the addition of repair, hot section inspection and field service for Pratt & Whitney Canada PW500 engines. The turbofan engine powers the Cessna Citation Bravo, Encore, Encore+, Excel, XLS and XLS+. According to President and CEO Hugh McElroy, the New Jersey facility is the company's third regional center that's able to work on the PW500 series, adding, "We anticipate expanding this service to even more RTC sites." Dallas Airmotive's main facility in Dallas will continue to offer complete service for the engine. More...

A CHOPPER FOR A CHOPPER CREW
Silver State Helicopters of North Las Vegas recently formed a collaboration with Orange County Choppers, the custom bike shop featured in "American Chopper" on TLC. Under the deal, Silver State has customized a 1995 Bell 206-L4 JetRanger (N535SH) for use by the crew of Orange County Choppers, namely Paul Sr., Paulie Jr. and Mikey Teutul. According to Silver State, "They will use the helicopter to maximize production at their chopper shop and to transport the Teutuls and VIP and celebrity guests in an exotic and captivating style." When not being used by the shop owners or customers, the Rolls-Royce 250-powered helicopter will be available to the public for charter. In exchange, the Teutuls are building a custom-themed bike for Silver State Helicopters, which will be featured on an upcoming episode of "American Chopper." More...

NEW ECLIPSE 500 AVIONICS ON DISPLAY AT OSH
According to Flight International, International Solutions & Support will unveil the AvioNG avionics and flight management system for the Eclipse 500 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., later this month. The system was necessitated when Eclipse parted ways with its former avionics vendor Avidyne in February. Eclipse continues to build aircraft with the Avidyne system pending certification of the new setup, and those aircraft will be retrofitted once the new system is ready. Among the innovations expected is an electronic flight bag that automatically selects the right charts and shows the aircraft’s position on them. More...

ON THE FLY
NATA Air Charter Summit declared a success…
Long Beach Air Center offering introductory fuel discount…
Flight Options jet-card enrollment soars…
Registration opened for Safety Standdown. More...

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

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