DESIGN APPROVAL
VIP aircraft outfitter Associated Air Center has received organisation designation authorisation from the US Federal Aviation Administration for its Dallas, Texas facility. The authorisation allows the Standard Aero subsidiary to expand its scope of approved tasks - including issuing supplemental type certificates for alterations and modifications on a range of transport-category VIP aircraft.
CORPORATE ANGEL
US business aircraft charter and management company Solairus Aviation has launched a programme to help fund Corporate Angel Network's continued efforts to provide cancer patients with free flights for treatment aboard corporate aircraft. Petaluma, California-based Solairus says it will give Corporate Angel a cash contribution equal to 1% of the first year's management fees for each new aircraft management client it signs up in 2010. Corporate Angel transports between 200 and 250 cancer patients a month using empty seats on participating corporate and fractional aircraft and has arranged more than 25,000 flights since it was founded in 1981.
BLUE SKY TRACKING
US global position and communications manufacturer Blue Sky Network has launched a portable, flight-following and messaging transceiver dubbed the D410A. The Iridium satellite-powered device - which made a demonstration flight on board an Embraer Phenom 100 from Brazil to the USA in early January - allows pilots to stay in touch via regular GPS reports and two-way texting capabilities. The "pocket-sized" D410A weighs less than 170g (6oz). It charts an aircraft's location and provides web-based message transmission via Blue Sky's SkyRouter web portal, says the company.
PAWAN APPROVAL
India's state-owned helicopter charter company Pawan Hans Helicopter has signed an agreement with the Indian Postal department to provide air transport services within the country. The contract comes as the Indian government approves the purchase by Pawan of seven Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphin helicopters to help support the company's offshore operations.
Source: Flight International
