The global economy is at risk with different countries succumbing to recession and almost every industry is in peril. The aviation industry is no exception. We have seen the cutdowns from aircraft manufacturers and the commercial airliners/private aviation operators are thinking of ways to make the people still continue to want to fly. Inspite of these economic difficulties, we still see a silver lining in every type of crisis and one of them is buying aircrafts, used or brand new.

Photo Credit: Jay Dugger

While there is quite a serious problem with credit crunch, it is not a problem for those eligible aircraft buyers as long you are not picky with the terms and interest rates given to you.

Today, since the availability of funds is limited, those who need them badly will definitely make a go for the extra luxury items in their list, the spare ones usually go first. This is the best time to find nice deals or great bargains for aircrafts. The word on the street is that the toll on the economy is creeping in and so these luxury toys are on the trading list.

Photo Credit: Djenan                                           Photo Credit: rastafabi

It is not only the used aircrafts that offers high valued deals, most general aviation manufacturers these days are cutting down the prices to gain more buyers. They do not only offer a more reasonable, lower price, the purchase also comes with many perks such maintenance and flight training for free or a better insurance incentive.

Is it really the best time to buy an aircraft?  Maybe but it also depend on your ability to purchase.  If you love flying and you have money to spare, why not?!

The DHS or Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff just released new rules for additional security measures they will be undertaking to provide safety to United States. They will be requiring passenger information on those that will be flying private jets.

Photo Credit: James Willamor

Barely two months before administration will change hands, the DHS present leadership is making sure that they will be leaving the department with a more secured aviation industry.

The new rules will require a manifest of data from both crew and passengers an hour before arriving in and departing from the U.S. from the whole general aviation industry.

These measures have been implemented already in the commercial aviation but the DHS feels that they need to cover every possible area that can be used by terrorists. They said that it will lessen the vulnerability of the United States from any attack may it be foreign or local.

Photo Credit: WTL photos                                   Photo Credit: alex-s

They need the extra 60 minutes to make sure that all passengers and members of the crew can be checked with the security database so that they will be assured that no potential dangerous person is aboard a private plane.

Aside from these new security measures given by the DHS, the mail coming in and out of the U.S. will also undergo heavy radiation scanning to make sure they won’t pose any threat to Americans.

I guess those who want to fly at the very last minute may very well change their nasty habit.  DHS wants your name on the list an hour before you leave.  It is America, the last remaining superpower, what do you expect?!  They do not want a repeat on the 9/11 tragedy.

Have you heard of this amazing “Two Weeks to Taxi” aircraft program by Glasair Aviation?  Yes, you read it right!  Builders only need two weeks to have the aircraft ready taxing at the runway.

This program is being offered by Glasair Aviation. It is amazing as well as controversial because it is quite unbelievable to have an aircraft ready to fly just after building it for two weeks. However, future owners of this Glasair Sportsman aircraft need not worry because it has been officially endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Production and Airworthiness Division.

FAA said that after one week of checking the system and process in which the Glasair has been implementing in building the aircraft, they concluded that it is well inside the framework of Part 21 of Section 21.191. It only means that yes; they can effectively build the Glasair Sportman aircraft in just two weeks and they are safe.

Go to the Glasair Aviation site and purchase a kit so you can enjoy taxing your new aircraft in just two weeks.

Photo Credit: Glasair

America celebrates as Barack Obama becomes the first African-American President of the last remaining super power in the world. It is historic and euphoric indeed but how does it affect general aviation?

There are speculations and analysis that are cropping in from different parts of the general aviation industry. We all know that that it is already a fact that this industry won’t get much help from this coming administration since, understandably, their main focus will be the sagging economy.  However, one cannot help but wonder what is the President-Elect is thinking about the world of private jets. 

Photo Credit: cjwoolridge 

Yes, he did gave some answers on some key questions that the AOPA or the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association gave him but it was all quite general and since it was answered during a campaign, you really can’t tell.

There was also a shake up in the congressional committees as well. Some who were considered old allies of general aviation were ousted from their position. It will definitely be a whole new world out there.

Photo Credit: James Cridland

The only good thing about all of this is that new ideas and new views will come under a new management. Change is absolutely good.  Hopefully, President-Elect Barack Obama will turn out to be good friend of general aviation.

The aviation manufacturing industry continues to spiral down as Mooney reportedly announced that they are going to lessen or reduce production. The production department of the aircraft manufacturer took the biggest hit. Around 229 workers were laid off and it is quite a hard thing to do given that it is just less than a couple of months before Christmas.

The sad thing was that Mooney laid off workers were not given any notice about it since the management said that it was quite unexpected and beyond the company’s control.  The only good thing about it is that the other departments in Mooney will not change. It will be business as usual and they are still promising that aircrafts would be deliver as scheduled.

During the ongoing AOPA event, aviation experts said that since the U.S. economy is in a bad shape, they think that nobody in the government is thinking about the problems in aviation. People in D.C. will naturally focus on the economy.

Photo Credit: cliff1066

Mooney was not the only GA manufacturer to do some cutbacks. Last month we heard that Cessna, Cirrus and Hawker Beechcraft did the same thing. However, they all said that the moment orders are raking up again then the factory will need 100% workforce but until then, they do not have a choice but undertake these measures.

This is not a good way to end this year for the GA industry. I just hope they fare better next year.

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China or COMAC is dipping on the aviation market and just got its first major order from General Electric. They could not be happier because they were able to work out a $750 million deal for 5 jets and an option of 20 more.

It is definitely an advantage when your company is fully backed by your own government. When the economies of some powerhouse countries around the globe are in a very bad shape, it is such a relief for a company such as COMAC.

The final signing of the agreement was held at the Zhuhai air show in China. The Chinese aircraft manufacturer would be delivering ARJ21 passenger jets to GE. It is quite significant and historic as well since it would be the first time that a civilian aircraft researched, develop and manufactured in china will be sold in the United States.

GE reported that an aircraft will cost $30 million each and they are expecting that all the types of certification needed for the aircraft both from the U.S. and China will be given out by 2010.

COMAC said that the first test flight for the ARJ21 civilian aircrafts will be on November 16 and they are quite excited by it. They are planning to deliver the aircrafts to GE sometime in 2013.

This overseas deal with GE is quite important for them since most of the orders they received are from local buyers. Despite some global economic concerns, they remain positive and are moving forward in achieving their ambitious goal of competing with the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world such as Boeing and Airbus.

Photo Credit: Wiki, NewsTom

If you want to stay updated, see some new aviation innovations or just mingle with fellow aviators or flying enthusiasts, fly to San Jose California and participate in the 2008 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo.

This aviation event will start tomorrow, November 6 and will last until the 9th. The AOPA made sure that the expo will surely make it worthwhile. A bunch of seminars are scheduled for every single aircraft owner and pilot so they can be updated on the latest on general aviation technology and key issues affecting the aviation world.

The second day of the Expo, all the guests and the participants can get a thrill on watching an IMAX presentation, entitled “The Magic of Flight”, which will feature the history of flight starting from the Wright Brothers invention up to the different air shows that we have this year.

Another perk during the Expo is the chance to get into different interactive software and try the Microsoft Flight Simulators to help enhance your flying skills. Not to mention get an in-depth first hand look of various aviation products and services that will be exhibited there.

However, if you are not available to fly over at San Jose this year, you can get view all the latest happenings on the AOPA Expo by visiting their official website.

Photo Credit: AOPA

The latest fuel price cut is encouraging people from the aviation community to go on, celebrate and organize trade exhibits in different parts of the globe.  One of them is the Gulf VIP International Exhibit. It will still be held next year specifically in March at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. However, the organizers are so excited for this event and are trying to encourage more people to get involved as early as now.

 This Gulf VIP event will not only be about aviation. It will share the spotlight with luxury yachts and elite cars. Organizers promised that there will be a display of several aircraft interiors as this will be a chance for manufacturers to showcase their recent innovations.

The Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority teamed up with the Business Conventions International France to come up with this one-of-a-kind luxury essentials event. They are expecting around 150 exhibitors plus hundreds of VIP guests along with thousands of visitors and participants to gather in the 3500 sq. m. venue on March 3-5, 2009.

I suggest you better check out your travel options if you are interested to go to Bahrain next year.

Photo Credit: Gulf VIP

This coming November 5 - 8, 2008, AVEX Air Show, one of the most exclusive aviation expo and air show in the Middle East, will unfold at the Sharm El Sheikh International Airport in Janub Sina’, Egypt.

The four-day event will gather the who’s who in aviation world and it will no doubt be swarming with ultra high net individuals plus some members of the Royal families.  The Middle East aviation business is booming and so it can be expected that a lot of aviation manufacturing companies will participate and showcase their products.  Apparently as of this writing there are around 80 aviation exhibitors has signed up for the event.

It will be another event wherein one can view different magnificent aircrafts from leading aircraft manufacturers in just one place. Every single flying enthusiast will clear their schedule in the next two weeks just to attend this event.

The first couple of days dubbed as the “trade days” will mainly focus on the business side of the air show and is restricted from public visitors.  This is where negotiations and contracts are solidified.

The last two days is where all the fun begins.  Public visitors are invited to see different international aircraft aerobatic team such as Red Bull’s Flying Bulls, the Egyptian Silver Stars and the Royal Jordanian Falcons will display their spectacular aerobatic skills.

Avex Air Show Teaser Video

If you are interested to go to AVEX Air show and Aviation Expo, and you can’t decide where to stay, you might want to check the following hotels, the organizers of the event are recommending them: Savoy Hotel, Domino Coral Bay Hotel & Resort, Crown Plaza Sharma El Sheikh Hotel, Millennium Sharm El Sheikh Hotel, and Sierra Sharm El Sheikh Hotel.

Photo Credit: Avex06

Who would have thought that the day will come when planes can be flown using electricity charged batteries? Well, someone did and he called it ElectraFlyer-C. He had so much fun proving to every single flying enthusiast at the EAA AirVenture Airshow.

The electric aircraft was built by Randall Fishman. He modified a Moni motor glider into a single seater small aircraft which is powered by electricity via the large battery pack installed inside the plane.

ElectraFlyer-C received its certification for airworthiness last April. After Mr. Fishman showcased his electric aircraft in the EAA event, more flying aficionados are joining him in that vision of the possibility that more electric aircrafts can be developed and built.

It is quieter, no dirt or smelly gasoline, no carbon footprints and most of all it is affordable.  Although, it is still quite implausible to fly bigger planes using batteries but at least it is no longer unthinkable. Right now he is trying to modify it to become a two-seater plane.

To learn more about ElectraFlyer-C, watch this video: ElectraFlyer-C by CNN .

Photo Credit: ElectraFlyer