Dave Higdon/WICHITA
A lingering legal issue over the rights to the Jet Squalus has been resolved, clearing an obstacle to efforts by Alberta Aerospace to produce the two-seat single-turbofan aircraft as the Phoenix Fanjet.
The Canadian company has also announced an order for three examples of its planned four-seat derivative of the Squalus design.
Alberta Aerospace has completed negotiations with the trustees of bankrupt Promavia, which developed the Jet Squalus, opening the door to a C$5 million ($3.5 million) investment in the Phoenix Fanjet programme.
The cash infusion by Canadian mining company Mill City Inter-national was postponed in early December after Promavia founder Andre Delhamande filed suit against Alberta Aerospace. The trustees have agreed to terminate the litigation, and Mill City has agreed to provide C$2 million by the end of May, and the balance within a further 60 days.
Calgary-based Alberta Aerospace had planned to certificate the two-seat Phoenix Fanjet trainer in mid-1998, with the four seat version to follow. The legal challenge forced a halt to development work, and certification is now hoped for by year end, at a projected cost of C$7.5 million.
McCall, Idaho-based Earth Search Sciences, meanwhile, has placed a launch order for three four-seat Fanjets, worth C$8.3 million, for delivery beginning in the third quarter of next year. The aircraft will be used for aerial survey work and transport duties.
Source: Flight International
