QUARTZ SNAGS
Quartz Mountain Aircraft, which is reviving an updated version of the Luscombe Sedan, laid off about 20 of its 104 workers earlier this month, citing supply and training problems and a Federal Aviation Administration inspection bottleneck. The Altus Oklahoma-based company, which acquired the type certificate for the 1940s-vintage Luscombe 11A piston single 10 years ago, set up its production facility last year with about $40 million in government incentives and loans. Chief executive John Daniel told a local newspaper the company is not expected to receive production certification until September, but in the meantime each aircraft, designated the 11E, has to be inspected by the FAA and this is slowing down the process. Quartz Mountain hopes to ramp up to full production of the all-metal, four-seater by the end of the year.
AVANTI DELIVERY
Piaggio has delivered a second P180 Avanti to Polish air rescue service Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe. The first aircraft was handed over to the government-funded operation three years ago marking Piaggio's first government sale outside Italy and its first within central Europe for more than a decade.
BROADBAND OFFERING
Rockwell Collins and Arinc have sealed an agreement to offer broadband on helicopters and corporate aircraft. Under the terms of the contract, Collins will supply airborne broadband hardware and after sales support, while Arinc will provide the SkyLink Ku-band-based satellite service.
CESSNA CHUTE
Ballistic Recovery Systems has installed its parachute recovery system on a Cessna 172 piston single used by the US government. The aircraft, the 55th BRS system installed in a Cessna and the first in a Garmin G-1000-equipped aircraft, will be flown by the US Fish and Wildlife division for a variety of missions across the USA.
Source: Flight International
