Top 10 General Aviation Stories Of The Year

Here are the blockbuster aviation stories of a remarkable 2018 for GA.

Plane & Pilot

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 05:08 AM ET

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Plane flies by control tower.

Key Takeaways:

Aviation in 2018 saw both triumphs, such as the Cirrus Vision Jet winning the Collier Trophy and general aviation experiencing its safest years on record, along with the introduction of more affordable digital avionics.
The industry faced significant challenges, including a successful fight against ATC privatization, persistent issues with excessive FBO fees, and the looming ADS-B equipage deadline with many aircraft still unprepared.
New technologies like drones emerged as a major disruptive force, prompting ongoing regulatory and safety debates, while concepts for autonomous "Ubers of the Skies" gained attention for future air mobility.
The airline industry experienced a major pilot hiring frenzy driven by demographic trends and increased demand, leading to significantly improved wages and benefits for pilots.

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2. Cirrus Jet Wins Collier

Cirrus Aircraft SF50 Vision Jet, photographed on March 27, 2017 from Wolfe Air Cessna O-337.

It’s not often that general aviation gets a big win, but in April Cirrus Aircraft took home aviation’s highest honor when it was awarded the 2017 Collier Trophy for its groundbreaking SF50 Vision Jet. Competing against a field of nine aircraft and spacecraft, including the favorite for the prize, the Boeing 737 MAX, and several other noteworthy nominees, the Vision Jet became the first light aircraft to take home the prize since 2005, when the Eclipse 500 twinjet won the honors. Cirrus delivered the SF50 in December of 2016 and has by now delivered almost 100 of the jets and has orders for hundreds more.

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