SEAGULL PREPARES
Aviation Industry Corporation of China's General Aircraft says it plans to roll out one of its four-seat, piston-engined Seagull 300s on 30 August and fly the light amphibious aircraft on the same day or soon after. "Completion of the aircraft factory in Zhuhai is in progress, but should be accomplished before November," says AVIC.
HELISTAR ADDS
Cambodian helicopter operator Helistar Cambodia has added a single- engined Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel to its fleet. It will be used for geographical survey work and employee and cargo transport for mining firms within the region.
NETWORK EXPANDED
Cessna has added seven flight training schools to its global network of more than 280 Cessna pilot centres in an attempt "to make flying more accessible and to re-energise pilot training", says the company. Meanwhile, the US airframer has delivered its 9,000th Independence, Kansas-produced single-engined piston aircraft following handover of a 182T Skylane to a private owner earlier this month. The first Independence-produced single-engined piston came off the line in November 1996.
NOISE APPROVAL
Mecaer Aviation has clinched US certification for its lightweight cabin noise and vibration reduction system called Silens. The system is designed to minimises cabin noise and vibration levels using a self-supported separation barrier between the passenger cabin and the fuselage, "allowing normal conversations between passengers without using headsets".
Source: Flight International
