VERY LIGHT JET REPORT :: MAY 26, 2008

Eclipse Taps Garmin GPS 400W
Eclipse Aviation said it is incorporating the dual integrated Garmin GPS 400W units into Avio NG, providing state-of-the-art GPS navigation to the Eclipse 500®. “The addition of the Garmin GPS units provides Eclipse 500 customers with a comprehensive GPS navigation solution,” said Vern...

Diamond Selects Mecaer America Inc. for D-JET Landing Gear
Mecaer America Inc., a Mecaer Group Company, was selected to supply the landing gear for the Diamond Aircraft D-JET. Mecaer America's scope of work includes design, certification testing, manufacturing and after-sale support of the nose and main landing gear. "Diamond Aircraft's expertise in composite...

Nearly 60 Percent of Professional Pilots Fail LOC Tests
After 50 percent of professioinal pilots and nearly 75 percent of general aviation pilots failed to recover from Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I) upsets, APS Emergency Maneuver Training, a division of Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS), developed unique training to help pilots cope with the leading...

EBACE – Embraer
Phenom Order Book Rises in U.S., M.E., Europe The hot business aviation market continues to contribute to increasing sales of Embraer’s Phenom worldwide. The company booked orders from customers in the U.S., M.E. which includes an air taxi company, and Europe for the Phenom as well as its Legacy and...

EBACE – HondaJet
HondaJet First European Customer, Service & Training Networks Honda Aircraft Company introduced F-1 racer and entrepreneur Jenson Button as the first European HondaJet customer during last week’s EBACE meeting in Geneva ushering in the launch of its European sales efforts. Button, who is forming a...

EBACE Watch – Cessna
Austrian Charter Operator Takes 24 Cessnas Austrian Charter Operator JETALLIANCE will take 24 Cessna aircraft including four the Cessna Mustangs, it was announced at last week’s European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE). The JETALLIANCE order brings year-to-date Citation orders...

Smart Air to be First D-JET Fractional Company
Smart Air S.A. announced the first fractional ownership solution in Europe for the Diamond D-JET. For its fleet, Smart Air has made an initial purchase of eight aircraft and secured options for more thereafter with deliveries to begin in the first quarter of 2010. "Smart Air's fractional ownership...

FAA Names Senior VP to Oversee Modernization Efforts
Vicki Cox was named senior vice president of NextGen and Operations Planning for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Cox, who previously served as a vice president in the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, will lead the effort to transform the nation’s airspace system by using 21st century...

FAA to Change Polished Frost Rule
After determining that operations with polished frost increases the risk of unsafe flight, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, proposing to remove provisions in its regulations that allow for operations with ``polished frost'' (i.e., frost polished to make it smooth)...

FAA Adopts New Taxi Instructions
Under new FAA procedures that take effect this week, air traffic controllers must provide specific taxi routes to pilots, instead of simply clearing operators to proceed to the runway through a series of taxi instructions. The procedures call for controllers...

DEA Official Will Address Threats to Industry at Air Charter Summit
The 2008 NATA Air Charter Summit scheduled for June 9 in Washington will provide exclusive insight into emerging threats to charter operators from the illegal drug trade. At a special luncheon on June 10, William C. Brown, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) Aviation Division, will...