Ibis Aerospace said today it expects to receive type certification of its Ae270 single-engined turboprop aircraft in December this year. The company said all the required changes for certification have been completed and it awaits final notification by civil aviation authorities in the Czech Republic. Since the Federal Aviation Administration has also been fully involved during the approval process, FAA certification is expected to follow shortly after.
In more good news for the company, it has completed an investment plan, which will be presented to an identified investor, with funding likely in 2006. The new investment will provide for continuation of the Ae270 development program and will carry Ibis through to the start of serial production.
Ibis owners Aero Vodochody and Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) agreed last month to continue to support the program depending on certification and acceptance of a new business plan for the post-certification modifications. The company needs the investment to fund the development of an improved variant. Ibis chairman Anthony Han, who represents AIDC on the Ibis board, has said that AIDC will not provide additional funding, but is willing to work on the redesign if a new investor steps up.
Source: Flight Daily News
