High Performance Aircraft in bankruptcy
High Performance Aircraft (HPA), German developer of the TT62 Baltic pressurised diesel twin, has filed for bankruptcy protection following the decision by a prospective investor to pull out of the programme. "We are completely shocked," says HPA. "We thought the company was 90% secure, but we plan to seek additional investment to continue with the programme." Zirchow-based HPA was last year forced to redesign the TT62, formerly dubbed the Alekto, following the discovery during flight testing that wash from the rear-fuselage mounted propellers disrupted airflow over the pylons. Work on the redesign is continuing on a piecemeal basis, says HPA, until the bankruptcy administrator decides the company's fate.
Canadian Cormorant operations limited
Canadian Forces CH-149 Cormorants - AgustaWestland EH101s - have been restricted to search-and-rescue (SAR) missions only after a helicopter crashed in the Atlantic off Nova Scotia during a training flight, killing three of the seven crewmembers. The reason for the 13 July crash while rescue-hoist training with a coastguard ship is unknown. The helicopter has been recovered for examination. In June, the Canadian Forces relaxed restrictions on the Cormorant imposed after the discovery of tail-rotor half hub cracking, increasing permitted flight duration from 2h to 3h. Half hub life is limited to 100h, with inspections every 50h.
Alpha to open 10 pilot training schools
New UK company Alpha Aviation is launching a pilot training school in the Philippines, near the former Clark Airbase outside Manila. Set to open in September, the school's initial intake will be 18 students a month and each will start with five months' ground school, followed by 70h of flight training in a single-engined aircraft and 170h of flight-simulator training. The school's first device will be an Airbus A320 level B full flight simulator from CAE, which will be installed in January 2007. Alpha is "close to finalising" the purchase of seven single-engined training aircraft for delivery next January, says chief executive Mark Pearson. Kingfisher Airlines and Air Deccan of India are the school's launch customers.
India blames regulator for GSLV failure
Investigating the 10 July failure of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) soon after lift-off, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says there was "a small malfunction in one of the regulators, which led to the automatic shutdown of the engines". The GSLV was carrying India's Insat 4-C communications satellite. The launcher was destroyed 60s after lift-off when it deviated off course after pressure in one of the liquid-propellant strap-on stages dropped to zero. This was the first time the first stage of GSLV has failed in flight, says ISRO.
Heath leaves Pratt & Whitney
Todd Kallman, former vice-president of corporate strategy and development for Pratt & Whitney parent company United Technologies, has been named as the new president of the engine maker's Commercial Engines company following the unexpected retirement of Steve Heath. P&W says Kallman "will work closely with Heath and his team over the next several months to ensure a successful transition". Heath, 56, was previously president of International Aero Engines as well as vice-president customer service and vice-president of marketing for P&W, which he joined in 1973.
Astrium, SSTL collaborate on mini-SAR sat
EADS Astrium and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) have agreed to design and construct a small satellite equipped with a phased-array radar. The satellite combines Astrium's AstroSAR-Lite payload technology with an SSTL platform and is expected to have a mass less than 500kg (1,100lb). Called the AstroSAR-UK it could provide several synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) surveillance modes.
Source: Flight International
