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:

General aviation in 2018 was marked by significant regulatory battles, including successfully stymieing the privatization of air traffic control, addressing the complex integration and regulation of drones, and facing the looming ADS-B equipage deadline.
The year also celebrated key industry triumphs, such as the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet winning the Collier Trophy, advancements in low-cost digital retrofit avionics for GA planes, and a robust hiring frenzy for airline pilots.
Aviation achieved its safest year on record, while simultaneously grappling with emerging disruptive technologies like "Ubers of the Skies" (autonomous air transport) and the persistent issue of high FBO ramp and fuel fees.

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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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