All General aviation articles – Page 564
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Alberta gets Phoenix FanJet go-ahead
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Alberta Aerospace (AAC) has been given the green light by a Belgian court to proceed with certification of the Phoenix FanJet. This follows a protracted battle with former investors in bankrupt manufacturer Promavia over the rights to the single-engined aircraft, formerly known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. ...
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Australian airlines target degree pilots
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS Australian carriers want more airline pilot recruits to hold or obtain university degrees involving management skills. They are planning a tailored course to achieve this. Ansett and Qantas, with input from major regional carriers, are close to agreement on a scheme whereby 10-20% of pilot recruits would ...
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Cirrus hands over first four-seat SR20
Cirrus Design delivered the first single-engined SR20 on 20 July, while the second aircraft handover is imminent. Duluth, Minnesota-based Cirrus has clocked up more than 320 orders for the $179,400, four-seat 160kt (300km/h) aircraft, which is fitted with an airframe parachute system as standard. Cirrus plans to deliver 100 Teledyne ...
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Groen takes first orders for gyroplane
Groen Brothers Aviation (GBA) has begun selling its Hawk 4 gyroplane, which is under development with a first flight planned for August. Four dealers and two private customers have placed deposits on 86 aircraft, worth over $26 million. The company expects to announce further US dealerships soon. The first ...
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New engines
Reg Technologies has completed a short test run of a new "winged-rotor" diesel engine being developed through NASA's Small Business Innovation Research programme. Vancouver, Canada-based Reg also seeks a $600,000 grant to design, fabricate and test a 185kW (250hp) Rand Cam engine built to power light aircraft. The engine borrows ...
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Eurocontrol delays steps to taking regulatory powers
Emma Kelly/BRUSSELS Eurocontrol's Council has delayed until October a decision on whether to approve plans to consider granting the air navigation organisation regulatory powers to force member states to make urgent air traffic management (ATM) improvements. The move comes as Europe's air traffic control (ATC) system is facing a summer ...
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Eurotilt consortium drives for tiltrotor funding from EC
A consortium of European companies led by Eurocopter has requested funding from the European Commission (EC) for a new 19-seat tiltrotor ground test programme. The consortium comprises 33 companies from nine countries, including Spain's CASA and Fiat Avio of Italy. The European rotorcraft technology integration for a long-range transport ...
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SabreTech faces ValuJet murder charge
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC SabreTech, the maintenance contractor for the former ValuJet Airlines, says it will "vigorously defend" itself against murder and manslaughter charges brought by Florida state prosecutors. It also faces federal grand jury criminal indictments. The charges relate to the crash of a ValuJet McDonnell Douglas ...
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Cessna may welcome Skylane RG back to single-engined fold
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON The continued buoyancy of the single-engined aircraft market in the USA has prompted Cessna to consider resurrecting the retractable gear (RG) variant of its four-seat 182 Skylane after a 13-year moratorium. "We are not overly anxious to introduce new models, but the market is strong, and ...
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Atlantic seeks to end limit on regionals jets
Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) is pressing United Airlines for unlimited use of regional jets under 50 seats as it places a conditional order with Fairchild Aerospace for up to 110 328/428JETs to replace British Aerospace Jetstream 32 and Jetstream 41 turboprops. The United Express carrier wants to phase out ...
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UK ambulance service expands
The National Association of Air Ambulance Services (NAAAS) is extending its operational coverage within the UK and has issued a tender for two new helicopters to cover two key regions. "The minimum requirement will be for twin-engined helicopters with the ability to transport two patients and two attendants as well ...
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Airsat deliveries
AlliedSignal has begun initial shipments of the new Airsat 1 satellite communication avionics for use with the Iridium satellite system. The single-channel Airsat 1 will provide voice communication services on corporate and general aviation aircraft. The system costs $29,500, with telephone calls priced from $3.50/min within the same country to ...
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Vagabond four-seater aims for home with private operators
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON A four-seat general aviation aircraft aimed at private operators is being developed by Italian design and engineering company Etruria Technology. The Vagabond piston single is in the design phase, says Etruria. "We are about two years away from the maiden flight of the first [of three] ...
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US AOPA warns on safety after Loran delays
The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has warned that general aviation safety will be seriously undermined by any further delay in the decision on the continuation of the Loran-C navigation system and any plans to bring forward the shut down of Loran-C transmitters in the USA. AOPA ...
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Turkish row triggers Piaggio take-over by Italian investor group
Andy Nativi/GENOAA group of Italian investors has taken control of general aviation aircraft maker Piaggio in a move prompted by an Italian/Turkish political row. Aero Trust has acquired a 16% stake in the company from Turkey's Tushav holding group (which previously held 51%), taking its share to 60%. The trust, ...
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Cessna inspections
The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airworthiness directive ordering 50h inspections beyond the 500h inspection period, of stainless-steel exhaust systems on about 9,500 turbocharged Cessna twins. Inspections are required until 2,200h, or engine removal for overhaul, whichever occurs first. Source: Flight International
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Service centre sale
Oxford Aviation Services (OAS) of the UK has acquired Bournemouth Airport-based Cessna Citation service centre IDS Aircraft for an undisclosed sum. OAS, which owns engineering and training company CSE Aviation, has renamed the company CSE Citation Centre. Source: Flight International
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Resurrected Luscombe heads for approval
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Renaissance Aircraft's Luscombe 8F light aircraft is on target for certification and first deliveries by the fourth quarter of the year, nearly four decades after production of the piston single was halted. "The first production aircraft is flying and we are taking orders," says Renaissance. Monkton, Maryland, ...
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UK police Islander will test anti-noise propellers
In response to growing environmental concerns over noise from general aviation aircraft in Europe, the UK's Britten-Norman plans a six-month trial of new generation propellers on a BN2B light utility piston-engined Islander. The test is part of a UK Government-backed programme. Designed by US propeller manufacturer Hartzell as part ...
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Italian amphibian
The Italian Civil Protection Agency is in negotiations with Bombardier for the acquisition of up to five Canadair CL-415 amphibians, to add to its current fleet of 10. The aircraft will be used to fight fires in the Reggio Calabria, Trapani, Olbia and Ciampino areas. The aircraft will be operated ...