CESSNA CITATION XLS+ TAKES FLIGHT
The "world's best-selling business jet model" has its latest version in the Citation XLS+, which made its first flight last week. The development program saw its one hour 30 minute-long test flight completed at Rockwell Collins' facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with the aircraft "performing as expected," according to program manager Kevin Steinert. Outfitted with new Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics and Pratt & Whitney Canada full authority digital engine control, the aircraft's development is progressing on schedule for type certification in early 2008 with first deliveries expected next summer. The price point for the 440-ktas, 1,800-nm aircraft is set near $11.6 million. According to Cessna, the XLS+ should offer a climb direct to 45,000 feet in less than half an hour, with landing capabilities suitable for 2,700-foot strips. More...

RICK ADAM NO LONGER AT ADAM AIRCRAFT
Adam Aircraft is still moving toward a complete type certificate for its A700 very light jet, but when that day comes it will be without founder Rick Adam. On Monday, the company's board of directors announced that John D. Wolf has been named chairman and CEO effective immediately. "Rick's entrepreneurial spirit and vision was the driving force that put Adam Aircraft on the map. We are indebted to his efforts over the past nine years as he grew the company from one employee to over 700 employees currently working at Adam Aircraft. We wish him the best as he pursues his next entrepreneurial adventure," the company said. Now John Wolf and president Duncan Koerbel, who both joined Adam Aircraft in February, will attempt to bring the project to its certification goals and establish manufacturing capabilities for the company. Wolf, whose resume includes management and vice president positions at McDonnell Douglas Electronics and McDonnell Aircraft, said he plans "to significantly improve the span time, cost and quality of the production process as well as strengthening our relationship with our suppliers." More...

DAE ACQUIRES STANDARD AERO AND LANDMARK AVIATION
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) will merge both Standard Aero and Landmark Aviation as a business enterprise within DAE Engineering after acquisition of both maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) providers for $1.9 billion. Paul Soubry Jr. has been appointed as president and CEO of the combined companies. DAE will divest the Landmark Aviation Airport Services division -- 33 FBOs that also include aircraft sales, charter and MRO operations -- as part of the acquisition. The sale of the FBO unit will be conducted by Merrill Lynch. HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of DAE, called the move "an important step in the business and investment relationships between Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and the United States" and said his company "is quickly establishing itself as a significant player in the global aerospace industry." More...

DAYJET FACILITATES ITS DEBT, PRE-OPERATIONAL GROWTH
DayJet -- the "per-seat on-demand" air taxi that plans to begin service later this month in Florida using Eclipse 500s – on Tuesday announced it "has closed debt facilities totaling $140 million" for the acquisition of its very light jet fleet. Perhaps shedding some light on the company's previously and widely reported "orders" from Eclipse, the company stated, "The facilities include senior debt on the aircraft and financing of pre-delivery deposits." DayJet has so far raised more than $200 million pre-operational dollars in anticipation of services yet to be provided with aircraft yet to be delivered for a VLJ air-taxi market yet to be proven in practice. More...

PAYING FOR THE CITATION JOYRIDE
Daniel Wolcott last Thursday pled guilty to a federal charge of interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, specifically a Citation twinjet. He has already spent nearly two years in jail awaiting the outcome of this case and now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. It was October 9, 2005, when (then) 22-year-old Wolcott, according to authorities, stole a Pinnacle Air Cessna Citation from the St. Augustine/St. Johns County Airport in Florida and flew it to Gwinnett County (Ga.) Airport with five others aboard ... after a touch and go at Winder (Ga.) Airport. He landed with approximately 500 pounds of fuel aboard, according to reports published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time. Wolcott's day at St. Augustine began earlier as the copilot of a charter flight and, after landing and inviting some friends along for the Citation joyride to Georgia, he hopped a commercial flight back to Jacksonville, found his way to St. Augustine and claimed his right seat on the charter for the return trip. More...

SENTIENT JET PAIRS WITH TIMBERS RESORTS
Resort properties and private jet travel -- the marriage is one Sentient Jet Membership and Timbers Resorts have arranged to provide a new level of service for Timbers Resorts owners. Through the arrangement, the owners have access to the Timbers' corporate Membership with Sentient for travel to and from any of the Timbers Resorts properties. The pairing facilitates transport between most departure points and destinations like Snowmass, Colo.; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Tuscany, Italy; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; and Steamboat Springs, Colo. More...

POST-CRASHES, BRAZIL SWAPS HEAD OF AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim on Saturday announced that the head of Brazil's airport authority would be replaced this week in a move that marks the second major personnel shift since the July crash on landing of a TAM Airbus A320 killed 199 people in the nation's worst ever aviation disaster. Jobim himself was appointed just eight days after the jetliner slid off the runway at Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport’s recently resurfaced runway. The runway had not yet been grooved and reports indicate it was wet at the time of the accident. Brazilian newspapers have quoted internal Airbus statements indicating that data recorders recovered from the crash did not indicate any functional flaws with the aircraft, and early reports suggest that the throttle of the aircraft's right engine was set to accelerate the aircraft rather than reverse thrust. More...

FAA'S FRIENDLY REMINDER ON MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
A U.S. commercial flight scheduled to operate from Paris to a U.S. destination was ramp checked by French civil aviation authorities, and as a result we all have a reminder from the FAA about first-class medical certification requirements for SICs in commercial operations, which in Europe includes both charter and corporate aircraft operators as well as airlines. In short, the InFO (information for operators) recently released by the FAA reminds us that in flag and supplemental operations, the SIC needs "to hold an airline transport pilot certificate when assigned to crews of three or more pilots, and requires the SIC to hold a first-class medical certificate." Further, U.S. pilots flying in foreign airspace are required to meet the requirements of the respective country. More...

TIME IS MONEY ... SO WHY NOT TRAVEL BY BLIMP?
Worldwide Aeros Corp. is applying an expanded notion of comfort and luxury to executive air travel albeit with the sacrifice of time. The company's Aeroscraft ML866 is set to make a bid at offering the "private air yacht" experience to corporate air travel at the National Business Aviation Association's 60th annual convention to be held next month in Atlanta. In a market flooded with higher faster and farther business jet options, the future Aeroscraft's projected 120-knot top speed hopes to be offset by its 5,000-square-foot unpressurized cabin that would provide "ultimate comfort" for a few or "a computerized office, videoconferencing capability, communications package, and a conference room that while on the ground will accommodate up to one hundred people, transformable interior and personal state room." More...

AVWEB ORIGINAL VIDEOS

Contact AVweb contributing editor Glenn Pew.

AVWEB'S MONDAY PODCAST: THE BIG ENGINE MAKERS (IN THIS CASE, LYCOMING) ADDRESS GREEN TECHNOLOGIES
At EAA AirVenture, a recurring theme was "green" aircraft engine intitatives from virtually unknown companies. But the larger established engine manufacturers don't plan to miss out in this movement, as AVweb's Mary Grady discovered when she spoke with Lycoming Engines Vice President and General Manager Ian Walsh at the show. More...

AVWEB'S FRIDAY PODCAST: AVIDYNE'S PAUL HATHAWAY ON THE FUTURE OF AVIONICS
At the recent EAA AirVenture, AVweb Editor-in-Chief Chad Trautvetter had a one-on-one discussion with Avidyne director of product marketing Paul Hathaway on the future of avionics. Hathaway first discusses the design philosophy of the Avidyne system before getting into a bigger-picture talk. More...

BONUS VIDEO! AVIATION CONSUMER VACUUM PUMP REVIEW: WET VS. DRY
Are wet vacuum pumps as good as their owners seem to say they are? Aviation Consumer recently set out to find the answer to that question. In this video product review, you can get a look at the inside of a wet pump and decide for yourself if the claims are true. (Click through to watch.) More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: CORPORATE WINGS

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Corporate Wings at KCHS in Charleston, S.C.

AVweb reader Val Nasano said the FBO's staff really delivers:

"I have been using Corporate Wings CHS since I started traveling to Charleston on business in 2006. I receive the same royal treatment in my C182 each time I taxi in as any bizjet or large corporate client. Last trip in, the crew at Corporate Wings went above and beyond. I always rent a car through the FBO and when I ended up with a flat tire on the side of the interstate at 9 p.m., I called the FBO for the number of roadside assistance. Not only did they call the car rental company for me, one of their lineman went out on his own, located our car and changed the flat for us so we could get off the busy highway in the dark. I can't say enough about this crew. I nominate them for FBO of the year!"

Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

MEET THE AVWEBBIZ TEAM

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.

Today's issue was written by Contributing Editor Glenn Pew.

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