Aviation Observer

FlightOptions Personal Portfolio

Raytheon's Flight Options has the following personal portfolio view of themselves:

• Large dedicated maintenance network
• Offering either fractional, lease, or JetPass service plan options
• Over 150 aircraft available from light jets to legacy executive platforms

They also seem to be building around the following motto: Safety, Service, Stability.

Pilot Review by Aviation Now for Pilatus PC-12

Aviation Now has a detailed pilot's report by Fred George on the new Pilatus PC-12/47.  It is a great read.  Some take-a-ways:

• Range with full tanks and 7 passengers is 1,450 nm
• Main rival is the Raytheon King Air B200
• Standard integrated GPS is the Honeywell KLN90B but you can upgrade to the Garmin GNS530/430
• Sales continue to be brisk, and resale market profitable. A total 80 units sold in 2005.  Some 600 have been sold since introduction of this model.

Here is the Pilatus PC-12 product page.

Panasonic Aims To Bring Internet To In-Flight Passengers

Engadget is reporting that Panasonic apparently has plans to fill in for the recently announced cancellation of Boeing's Connexion Internet services for in-flight use on major airlines.

FAA Air Saftey Report Released

A new FAA report shows "air taxi" safety improving in 2005 vs. 2004.

New Additional Aircraft Hanger & Terminal Planned For Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes the rise in charter jets and private aircraft has created such a demand that a new hanger and terminal is going to be built at the Pittsburgh International Airport to support them.

Lease Firm Q Aviation For Sale?

Reuters is reporting that Q Aviation may be up for sale or looking for a specific new merger partner.  The company leases airplanes United, US Airways, and Northwest.

Business Travelers In US Get Higher Prices

Airwise is reporting that "US business travelers paid more for flights between April and June this year than at any time since the end of 2001, but these price increases are starting to deter some leisure travelers, according to a study on Tuesday (9-19-2006)."

Cessna Mustang Get FAA Certification

AviationNow.com is reporting that Cessna Aircraft's Mustang aircraft has been awarded FAA type certification.  According to the artcile over 250 orders have been placed and this would push production through 2009.  The 'list' price per Mustang is roughly $2.3 million.

Escape Florida Hurricanes Via Charter Jet

Seattle PI is reporting Galaxy Aviation's HelpJet Services out of West Palm Beach, Florida is ready to take its members out of hurricane zone via charter jet services.

More Charter Service Options In Missouri

The Kansas City Star is reporting that a Kansas company called "Kansas City Aviation Center" has created a new center called the "Midwest Aviation Center (MWAC)" at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri to support a host of aircraft services including charter aircraft.