Spectrum Aviation Europe, the Luxembourg-based subsidiary of US light-jet developer Spectrum Aeronautical, has appointed its first African sales and maintenance company as it seeks to build up its customer support network ahead of the twin jet’s expected certification and first deliveries in 2009. It expects to sign similar deals in Europe soon.
The programme, owned by Utah, USA-based Spectrum Aeronautical, suffered a setback in July following the fatal crash of the Spectrum 33 proof of concept aircraft. The privately owned company says development is back on track, with first flight of the second aircraft set for the middle of next year.
Interjet Maintenance, based in Lanseria, South Africa, will support the Spectrum fleet throughout sub-Saharan Africa where Spectrum Europe anticipates strong demand for the aircraft. Spectrum Aviation Europe chief executive Stefano Sturlese says: “The aircraft is ideally suited to this region with its long range of 2,000nm [3,700km], its ability to transport a payload of up to eight passengers plus two pilots, or equivalent cargo, the rugged landing gear and its low acquisition cost of $3.65 million.”
Strulese says the company has already received interest from existing and start up operators “and despite the tragic accident in July demand for the aircraft continues to remain strong”, he says.
The aircraft crashed on the side of the runway while taking off from Spanish Fork Airport, Utah, killing the two test pilots. The US National Transportation Safety Board has indicated that the cause of the crash was due to misrigging of the aircraft’s ailerons. The next test aircraft will be closer to a “production configuration” and will be designed to ensure that the controls can never be misrigged, says Spectrum president Austin Blue, who anticipates a slip in the certification schedule of around six months compared with the original timetable. “The crash deeply saddened us all and it will live with us forever, but loss of the prototype will not hit the programme since we already gained relevant data from the prototype before the accident,” he says.
Source: Flight International
