DUBAI AIRSHOW SLATED FOR RECORD DISPLAY
In a region playing host to one of the biggest surges in business aviation, the Dubai Airshow will host its largest ever static display, including 140 aircraft November 11 through 15 at the Airport Expo Dubai. The industry-only show (private individuals otherwise unattached to the industry aren't invited) will include close to 900 exhibitors from 50 countries. Aircraft in attendance will range from strike fighters to trainers to bizjets to cargo haulers, but will also include first time ever appearances by Cirrus, which is expected to show the SR22 G3, Grob, Henkel Aerospace (the company makes structural adhesives essential to composite aircraft construction), and more. More...

FAA GIVES CHELTON ODA BOOST FOR STC PROJECTS
The FAA has announced that it has certified Chelton Flight Systems under the Organization Designation Authorization program for Supplemental Type Certificate projects. Translation: Chelton is now eligible to apply to the FAA to gain authority for certain aspects of future certification projects, with a theoretical reduction in time and expense required. Chelton hopes the ODA certification will allow it to improve on product delivery times and customer service. The FAA's selection process for the ODA program, which was first established in August, 2006, focuses on manufacturers that have demonstrated a consistently high degree of detail in the documentation of parts compliance with regulatory standards, and a high level of experience with the production/certification process. Since the program began, companies have formed to support manufacturers in seeking FAA certification as an ODA. More...

NATA: 'FAA OVERREACHED' WITH AMI SUSPENSION
The FAA's emergency suspension and revocation of the air carrier certificate held by AMI Jet Charter has left NATA president James Coyne with a "sense" that in its action, "the FAA overreached" its authority. In target="_blank">a letter to NATA members, Coyne contrasted the FAA's own requirements (to act only if "an emergency exists related to safety in air commerce") with the fact that the FAA investigated accident/incident-free AMI for seven months before issuing the "emergency" suspension. Coyne takes aim in the letter at the FAA Chief Counsel's office, "which in recent years has not always acted solely in the public interest," and the FAA's failure to maintain responsibility for operational control oversight outside of that office. He further laments the apparent fact that current circumstance may prevent public disclosure of any meaningful details regarding the FAA/AMI revocation incident. More...

AVWEB'S SPECIAL BIZ PODCAST: NBAA'S ED BOLEN ON AMI JET CHARTER'S CERTIFICATE REVOCATION (AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN IN THE LONG TERM)
Earlier this year, the FAA enacted a rule that lays out the ownership and flight department management responsibilities for air charter companies, and last week AMI Jet Charter, one of the most respected charter operators in the U.S., had its operating certificate revoked under the provisions of the new rules. AVweb's Russ Niles talked with National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President Ed Bolen about how that decision has rippled through the industry and what might happen next. More...

BOMBARDIER AND LEARJET NXT LEVERAGING FUNDS
Bombardier Aerospace not only expects to produce a new model Learjet (the Learjet NXT) but also reconfigure its Wichita plant over the next two years to the tune of $62.2 million ... it's also hoping Wichita will help finance the effort. Bombardier is seeking nearly $80 million in industrial revenue bonds. The bonds would allow the company to bypass property tax on improvements and sales tax on purchases resulting from efforts to beef up its local facilities to accomodate final assembly, interior outfitting and flight testing personnel and facilities for the Learjet NXT. The company's schedule would see most of the money spent (roughly $62 million) in 2008 and 2009, bringing new jobs to Wichita as a result of its Learjet NXT program, but not necessarily as a result of the bond spending. The Learjet plant currently employs about 2,300 employees. More...

PLANESMART! OFFERS FINANCIAL AID
Home mortgage industry got you down? Well, now you can buy into a $550,000 airplane with only $12,500 down and about $1570 per month. The arrangement comes thanks to an agreement formed between T Bank and PlaneSmart! Aviation. The two now offer various financial products designed for purchasers of PlaneSmart!'s fractional aircraft shares. PlaneSmart! hopes the arrangement will help sculpt a lien-free environment for fractional share holders at a cost that makes the product more attainable. Said T Bank president, Patrick Adams, "accommodating the aviation community not only is an extension of our current business plans, but makes good financial sense." T Bank is a full service commercial bank headquartered in Dallas. More...

AON: INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE DOWN FOR AIRLINES
According to Aon, a risk management, reinsurance and "human capital consulting" group, the aviation industry average hull and liability lead premiums fell in the first nine months of 2007 by 15 percent. Of 112 programs for which the company has renewal data, Aon said that 55 percent had seen reductions in hull and liability premiums of more than ten percent while fleet values and passenger numbers have increased by 11 and 12 percent, respectively. Aon attributes the shift in part to insurers' relationships with airlines and the fact that aviation experiences a "relatively low level of incidents." Plus, Aon says passengers are seeing significantly improved chances of escape when compared to years past, according to a report by Thomson Financial News. More...

LEARJET HITS HOUSE IN BRAZIL, KILLS 8
A Learjet 35A operated by Reali Taxi Aereo in Sao Paulo crashed into a house shortly after takeoff from Campo de Martre airport in northern Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday. Killed in the crash were the aircraft's pilot and co-pilot and six people, including a baby, who were inside the house. Details pending... More...

NATA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Washington, D.C. Monday hosted NATA's annual aviation business roundtable, which included a roster of speakers ranging from Michael Chertoff, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to acting administrator Robert A. Sturgell, to the Vice President's wife, Lynne Cheney. Other speakers on the roster were Nicholas Sabatini, Associate Administrator of Safety at the FAA, and Rudy Guiliani, the Republican Presidential Candidate. The group targeted issues ranging from security to fuel prices, user fees, taxes and the environment with a goal of educating industry leaders on the latest issues affecting their business. More...

AVWEB ORIGINAL VIDEOS

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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.

The AVwebBiz team is:

Publisher
Timothy Cole

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings

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