MALAYSIA HOPES to conclude a bilateral airworthiness and safety treaty with the USA in 1996, using the locally produced SME Aviation MD3-160 Aero Tiga trainer as a validation vehicle.
The aircraft, once known as the Datwyler MD3-160 Swiss Trainer, was type-certificated by Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) in 1991. FOCA approval is based on US Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 23.
Datwyler subsequently sold the two-seat design to Malaysia's state-owned SME Technologies in 1993. The MD3-160 has not yet been given production certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration, however.
The FAA has already inspected SME Aviation's Subang plant and is working with the local Department of Civil Aviation to give it an internationally recognised production certification. The company hopes to begin sales from 1997, through its Tallahassee-based affiliate, SME Aero.
Meanwhile, SME Aviation has delivered its first two MD3-160s to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), which is acquiring 20 of the Lycoming 0-320-D2A-powered aircraft to replace its British Aerospace Bulldog primary trainers.
A further 20 are to go to Indonesia's state-run Curug flight-training centre, in part exchange for six IPTN CN-235 transports for the RMAF.
Source: Flight International
