Alberta Aerospace is in "serious negotiations" with three major flight-training operations, two in the USA and one in the UK, to sell the Phoenix Fanjet turbofan-powered trainer.
The Phoenix, formerly the Promavia Jet Squalus military trainer, is being certificated by the Canadian company for the airline-pilot-training market. Calgary-based Alberta Aerospace says that flight schools are attracted by the promise of training students more quickly using a jet-powered aircraft. The firm adds that three potential customers are interested in "half a dozen aircraft each".
The company demonstrated the Phoenix to airlines and training companies, including FlightSafety International, in early September. The company plans to begin deliveries in the first quarter of 1999 and aims to produce two a month for the first two years, then to increase the rate to four a month. Alberta Aerospace says that it is evaluating bids from four suppliers to fabricate airframes for assembly at a new plant near Calgary, until it can tool up for full production itself.
The company claims that it has reached agreement with Honeywell to certificate the Phoenix Fanjet in mid-1998 with the US manufacturer's Primus 1000 integrated avionics installed, including flat-panel displays. The likely price with this equipment will be around $2.2 million.
Source: Flight International
