Piper Aircraft Acquired By Imprimis

Piper Aircraft, Inc. recently announced that its owner, American Capital Ltd., has sold its 100 percent stake in the company to Imprimis in a private transaction that aims to secure the long-term success of Florida’s 72 year-old General Aviation company. Imprimis is a corporate finance and investment management firm that operates from its offices in Bangkok, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.

According to Piper, Imprimis intends to invest significant capital in Piper’s current operations to strengthen its position in its traditional markets and support the development of key new products such as the PiperJet.

Imprimis was drawn to Piper because of the significant potential that it sees for Piper to expand its activities into new markets in Asia Pacific, which is expected to experience steady growth for two- to six-seat aircraft over the next five years, in part due to shifting demographics and increasing demand for pilot training from training schools and flying clubs (commercial and private).

Outside of long-term plans for growing market share in Asia, the new shareholders are committed to keeping Piper’s headquarters, productionand product development facilities in Vero Beach, Fla.

“Imprimis brings a level of support that will propel Piper from its current status as a company with a strong heritage, track record of innovation and great potential to one that is growing and pushing the envelope within General Aviation,” said Piper President and CEO James K. Bass. “Imprimis’ commitment to grow Piper in both existing and emerging markets comes at a time when we are poised to enter a new era in aviation history.”

Source and Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

Cessna Announces New Seating Configuration for Skyhawk

Cessna Aircraft Company has announced the option to order a new Skyhawk with the Crew/Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) training seat. A Skyhawk with the CRM configuration is on display at Cessna’s exhibit at the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla.

The CRM training seat is a single, forward facing seat positioned aft and center of the pilot and co-pilot seats. “This new seat configuration option for the Skyhawk was designed with airline training schools and university flight programs in mind,” said John Doman, vice president of Worldwide Propeller Aircraft Sales. “Moving the second student forward and to the center of the aircraft increases his or her visibility of the flight deck and allows the student to be more involved in the flight as a crew member versus a passenger.”

Additional benefits to the CRM training seat are a 27-pound useful payload increase, expanded utility category envelope and possible lower insurance costs. The Skyhawk has become the best-selling, most-flown airplane in the world with more than 43,000 delivered.

Source and Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna Receives FAA Certification for Garmin G1000 Synthetic Vision Technology

It was announced thaat Cessna Aircraft Company has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for Garmin’s Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) for all G1000-equipped 172 Skyhawks, 182 Skylanes, 206 Stationairs and the Caravan product line.

According to Cessna, the Garmin G1000 SVT gives the pilot a 3D graphical representation of the surrounding terrain and displays the aircraft’s position in an enhanced topographical database. Garmin’s SVT also includes other features such as 3D depiction of obstacle identification, traffic, flight path marker, zero pitch line, runway information and airport signs.

“Adding SVT to the cockpit is an exciting feature that gives the pilot more information to enhance decision making during flight,” said John Doman, Cessna’s vice president, worldwide propeller aircraft sales. “This brings an entirely new level of situational awareness into the cockpit that will absolutely enhance safe operation of the aircraft.”

In most cases, SVT capability will be available for retrofit to earlier production G1000-equipped Cessnas. Cessna expects FAA certification for SVT on the Citation Mustang, 350 Corvalis and 400 Corvalis TT in the coming weeks.
Application for European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) validation has been submitted and is expected in the coming months.

Source and Photo Credit: Cessna Aircraft Company

AmSafe Aviation Airbag System To Be Distributed Throughout Piper Aircraft Service Network

AmSafe, a provider of safety products for aviation, recently announced an agreement with Piper Aircraft to distribute the AmSafe Aviation Airbag System throughout the Piper Aircraft Service Network of service centers.

Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

According to AmSafe, the AmSafe Aviation Airbag System is an available option on all new PA-46 aircraft and for aftermarket installation on entry level and twin engine Piper models. With this agreement, AmSafe expands its network of authorized AmSafe Aviation Airbag service centers to over 500 locations worldwide.

"AmSafe is pleased to expand the number of Piper Aircraft models that support the Aviation Airbag System. By incorporating the Piper Aircraft Service Network into our own, it is easier than ever for more Piper operators to take advantage of the increased safety and protection this system affords," said AmSafe Aviation President Bill Hagan. "Currently installed in roughly 80 percent of all new single-engine general aviation aircraft, the AmSafe Aviation Airbag System is a proven technology that saves lives. We look forward to working with Piper Aircraft and other manufacturers to ensure it is available in the most popular GA aircraft models."

Photo Credit: AmSafe
The AmSafe Airbag System is a self-contained, modular restraint designed to improve occupant protection from serious head-impact injury and enhance one's ability to exit the aircraft following an otherwise survivable accident.

When the system's sensors detect a crash, an airbag built into the restraint deploys up and away from the seat occupant-unlike automobile airbags which deploy toward the occupant. The AmSafe Aviation Airbag System has been rigorously tested to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirements.

Source: AmSafe Photo Credit: AmSafe and Piper Aircraft

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Completes First Flight Of S-76D Helicopter

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation reports it has successfully completed the first flight of its S-76D helicopter, the latest version of the S-76 helicopter, maneuvering the prototype aircraft through taxi, hover, hover turns, and forward flight to 40 knots in a test flight that lasted approximately 30 minutes.

Sikorsky Chief Test Pilot Greg Barnes and Pilot Mike Hardy conducted the test flight at Sikorsky's Florida facility on Feb. 7. The milestone culminated more than three years of design, development and testing of the first prototype aircraft.

(S-76A Helicopter Pictured Here - Photo Credit: Sikorsky)
"The next generation of the S-76 helicopter begins today," said Jason Durno, Program Manager. "The S-76D helicopter brings Sikorsky's popular S-76 aircraft to the next level in performance. It is through the dedication of this program team that the 'D' will open the door to new applications for this aircraft model."

Among the S-76D helicopter’s features are all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual speed rotor with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney 210S engines; a quiet mode for enhanced public acceptance; and an optional Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS) for all-weather capability. The S-76D helicopter also will offer an increase in useful load and extended range performance versus the S-76C+TM and S-76C++T aircraft currently fielded.

(S-76C+ Helicopter Pictured Here - Photo Credit: Sikorsky)

The S-76D helicopter is scheduled to enter production with certification, and customer deliveries in 2010. Sikorsky already has approximately 100 delivery position agreements on the aircraft.

Source: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Cessna Launches Campaign to Counter Business Aircraft Misinformation

Cessna Aircraft Company has announced a new initiative to address misinformation on the businessuse of general aviation aircraft and to provide a more accurate pictureof the value of business aircraft as a resource that makes companiesmore competitive.

“We think it’s time the other side of the story be told, and thatsupport be given to those businesses with the good judgment and courageto use business aviation to not only help their businesses survive thecurrent financial crisis, but more quickly forge a path toward aneconomic upturn,” said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack J.Pelton.

“Today, we are demanding business leaders and managers work at theirabsolute peak to turn their companies, and our economy, around,” Peltonsaid. “Business aviation provides the means to do just that. A businessaircraft is a tool of industry, and one that should see its highest andbest use during times of fiscal crisis. Anyone who has ever seenmanagers board a business aircraft at dawn and return well after dark,having visited multiple cities and attended countless meetings in oneday can attest to the fact that business aviation allows companies toget the most out of every minute of every day – exactly what is neededto work our way toward economic recovery.”

Pelton said the reality of business aviation is that some 85 percent ofaircraft used by businesses are used by small or medium-sizedcompanies, and that the large majority of the passengers are middlemanagers and technicians. The aircraft, for the most part, are single-and twin-engine propeller and turboprop aircraft or small or mediumsized jets.

“The reality of business aviation is a far cry from the misconceptionof CEOs flying in large luxurious airplanes,” Pelton said. “Most ofthese aircraft are fairly Spartan, designed for business, with a cabinabout the size of a minivan or SUV interior.”

Source: Cessna Aircraft Company

Sale of Cessna Aircraft By Textron? Possible...But Not Likely

Could Cessna Aircraft Company be up for sale?

According to a story on Kansas.com, Cessna’s owner, Textron, says it has not ruled out putting the company up for sale to raise cash, but the story also quotes analysts who say it is not likely.

Textron has been hurting due to losses in its financial unit and needs to raise more cash. The story also reports that due to the sluggish economy, a sale of Cessna would be unlikely because it would not bring fair market value for the company.

While Cessna has cut aircraft delivery expectations for this year, the company has announced it will continue development of new products in anticipation of an economic upturn.

Source: Kansas.com

Bombardier Aerospace Delivers 353 Aircraft and Records 378 Net Orders in Fiscal Year 2008/09

Bombardier Aerospace is dealing with the same tough market that has hurt other aircraft companies, but they recently announced the delivery of 353* aircraft for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2009.

According to Bombardier Aerospace, this compares to 361 aircraft deliveries in the previous fiscal year 2007/08 (year ending January 31, 2008).

Bombardier also received 378* aircraft orders, net of cancellations, compared to an exceptional 698 orders, net of cancellations, for the previous fiscal year. Its book-to-bill ratio for the year stands at 1.07. (*Unaudited results)

For the current fiscal year 2009/10, Bombardier expects to deliver a slightly lower total number of aircraft than last fiscal year 2008/09.

“The industry is experiencing strong turbulence and we anticipate more volatility in the short term. The fundamentals of Bombardier Aerospace are solid, but we expect we will face more challenges this year,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace.

“While the Corporation has taken significant steps to strengthen its operational and financial position over the last years, we must continue to be prudent and take decisive action. We will thus ensure our continued success over the long term and maintain our leadership position by meeting our customer commitments and by continuing to invest in our current and future products,” he added.

Source: Bombardier Aerospace

Jet Flight Window Seat View in Timelapse

Boing Boing features this video made by Flickr user Ettubrute, showing cities passing by a jetliner's window in timelapse.

According to Ettubrute...  

On my night time flight back to SF from Amsterdam, I noticed that the lights from cities were making the clouds glow. Really spectacular and ethereal - it was really seeing the impact of urban environments from a different perspective. Each glow or squiggle represents one town or city!

Source: Boing Boing, Kottke, Flickr

Cirrus Aircraft Announces New Aircraft Model Lineup For 2009

Cirrus Aircraft recently announced comprehensive new features, upgrades, and option packages to its best-selling SR20, SR22, and TURBO model aircraft lineup for 2009.

According to Cirrus Aircraft, new aircraft features include the introduction of “Known Ice Protection” on SR22 and TURBO models; well-equipped “S”, “GS”, and “GTS” packaged options available on all models; an all-new ‘X-Edition’ premium interior and exterior upgrade package, new paint schemes across the model line and more. Enhancing the Cirrus ownership experience, Cirrus also launched CMX, its new “assurance by the 100-hour” pre-purchased maintenance and service program.

In making the announcement to a live global media audience, Cirrus Chairman Alan Klapmeier summarized “From an SR20 S starting at $269,900 to a TURBO GTS with known ice protection for $598,500, we believe our lineup today is the most compelling ever offered in general aviation. More than ever, each Cirrus model addresses a unique market segment and we have listened to our owners to understand their preferred equipment and option packages both here and abroad. Today, our new lineup of SR20, SR22, and now simply ‘TURBO’ - with new S, GS, GTS and X-Edition option packages available on each - takes the unique Cirrus combination of performance, capability and value even further and well beyond any other airplane available in the GA marketplace today.”

Easily the most significant new component for new SR22 and TURBO models is the option for “flight into known icing” (FIKI). Cirrus Aircraft partnered with CAV Ice Protection Ltd. (formerly TKS) to develop the latest Known Ice Protection system certified in general aviation by re-engineering several features in new ways - as has become expected from the Cirrus engineering team.

Three new option packages - S, GS, and GTS - each offer an unprecedented collection of standard features and equipment and each are the result of world-class engineering and performance meeting world-class craftsmanship and luxury. And with the new piston model lineup in 2009, all Cirrus aircraft are now available with Cirrus Perspective by Garmin.

S Generously featured and characterized by value for the new pilot, fleet, or institutional operator. Ten-inch PFD and MFD screens and the S-TEC 55SR autopilot comes standard on our entry-level, full-featured model.GS Upgrading to a well-equipped “GS” model moves to 12” screens, S-TEC 55X autopilot, ‘basic’ ice protection for the SR22 and TURBO, unique exterior and interior scheme options and other features based on selected avionics platform.

GTS The Cirrus flagship comes comprehensively equipped with - or replaces - all components of the previous two levels and adds dual AHRS, Garmin GFC700 digital autopilot, Synthetic Vision Technology, upgrades to Known Ice Protection for SR22 and TURBO models, premium-level exterior scheme options and additional features dependent on selected avionics platform.Now standard on all products is a Mode S transponder and on aircraft with either the Basic or Known Ice Protection System, leading edge protectant is now included. Avidyne, the system that brought glass to GA and the Cirrus cockpit, remains available across all models.

An all-new and very distinctive choice available on all three aircraft models, “X-Edition”, provides customers with a unique combination of ultra-premium, personalized interior and exterior upgrades. X-Edition features include a striking new exterior paint scheme; the introduction of Alcantara™ into the cabin - another first for Cirrus Aircraft; contrasting seat, yoke and glare shield stitching; genuine carbon fiber instrument panel accents; an all new suede headliner; unique X-Edition interior and exterior badging and more.

Source and Photo Credit: Cirrus Aircraft

Garmin GDU 370 and GDU 375 Offers Affordable and Expandable Avionics For Light Sport Retrofit and Experimental Aircraft

Garmin International Inc. recently announced the GDU 370 and GDU 375, full function multi-function displays (MFDs) developed for the light sport retrofit and experimental aircraft markets.

“The beauty of the GDU 370 and GDU 375 are that they are like building-blocks; they’re expandable and can be interconnected with other Garmin components,” said Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing. “Customers will be able to choose one, two or three GDU displays – whatever works best for their aircraft. When customers are ready to expand upon the GDU’s MFD capabilities, they can install other Garmin components that will add PFD capabilities to the GDU’s. Since all components were designed and manufactured by Garmin, customers have added peace of mind knowing that they will integrate and communicate with each other.”

According to Garmin, the GDU 370 and GDU 375 are large, seven inch, portrait displays that incorporate Garmin’s latest technology to ensure that pilots can read the vibrant display day or night. The bezel that frames the bright screen has multiple keys on the bottom and right sides. The soft keys at the bottom of the display control the most commonly used features of the current page, such as turning the weather display on/off.

The dedicated keys on the display’s right side have specific functions such as nearest, direct to, flight plan, zoom in/out and menu. Also on the display’s right side is a rotary knob/joystick, similar to the G1000’s joystick, that lets pilots enter airport identifiers, pan the map, or scroll to page and sub-page groups.

Other features include a built-in obstacle and terrain database that gives detailed views of route displayed over realistic topography, terrain mode that gives TAWS-like warnings and alerts when proximity conflicts loom ahead, and AOPA Airport Directory data.

Source: Garmin

Helicopter Sales Keep Flying Through a Tough Economy

Star-Telegram.com reports that helicopter manufacturer Bell Helicopter is having better luck with the rough economy than other aircraft manufacturers.

According to the story, helicopter manufacturers are feeling the effects as the once-booming aircraft market slows down, but not with the amount of pain that fixed-wing aircraft manufacturers are.

The slowdown does come with an upside, helicopter manufacturers that were straining to match the demand for orders have time to catch up.

Source: Star-Telegram.com

Cessna Debuts 350 Corvalis and 400 Corvalis TT

Cessna Aircraft Company recently introduced the 350 Corvalis and 400 Corvalis TT during this year’s annual sales meeting in Wichita.

According to Cessna, the Cessna 350 Corvalis and 400 Corvalis TT (twin turbocharged), formerly the Cessna 350 and Cessna 400 respectively, have been renamed as part of Cessna’s acquisition of certain assets from Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company in 2007.

“Our customers and sales team asked us to name these products like other popular Cessnas such as the Cardinal and Skyhawk. The name Corvalis, although spelled differently, was inspired from the name of a picturesque Oregon town about 120 miles west of Cessna’s Bend, Ore. manufacturing facility. It is a graceful word befitting the flowing lines of the aircraft and its unique Northwest heritage,” said Tom Aniello, vice president of marketing.

“The logo graphic evokes a stylized depiction of the Three Sisters mountains, part of the Cascade mountain range separating the Eastern and Western halves of Oregon, and clearly visible from Cessna’s Bend facility,” Aniello said. At a maximum cruise speed of 235 knots, the Cessna 400 Corvalis TT is the fastest fixed-gear single-engine piston aircraft on the market.

Equipped with a 310-horsepower Teledyne Continental TCM IO-550N, the Cessna 350 Corvalis has a certified ceiling of 18,000 feet and a maximum cruise speed of 190 knots. The twin turbocharger equipped, intercooled TCM TSIO-550C installed in the Cessna 400 Corvalis TT enables it to cruise as high as 25,000 feet while its pilot and passengers enjoy the convenience of the 400’s standard 4-place, built-in oxygen system.

Like all current Cessna single-engine piston products, the Caravan and the Citation Mustang, the 350 Corvalis and 400 Corvalis TT are equipped with the integrated Garmin G1000 avionics system and GFC700 autopilot, and are backed by Cessna’s extensive support network.

Source and Photo Credit: Cessna Aircraft Company

Aircraft Companies Keep Developing New Models in a Tough Economy

As the U.S. economy encounters heavy turbulence, aircraft manufacturers are staying focused on the developing new models.

Cessna And Hawker Beechcraft have suffered slow sales and layoffs, but Business Today on The Wichita Eagle homepage reports that both companies are going forward with development programs for new planes.

Photo Credit: Cessna

According to the story, Wichita’s famous Cessna Aircraft Company is continuing development on the Citation Columbus (pictured above), Citation CJ4 business jets and the new light sport aircraft Model 162 SkyCatcher. Hawker Beechcraft recently launched the Premier II, the King Air 350i and the Hawker 450XP.

Aircraft manufacturers need new planes to keep the market active and to prepare for when sales pick back up again.

At Cessna, aircraft developed in the last economic slump now make up for 60 percent of the company’s current sales.

Source: Kansas.com

Gulfstream G150 and G200 Aircraft Complete Back-To-Back Multi-National Missions

Gulfstream Aerospace recently welcomed back two mid-cabin demonstrators that spent more than 30 consecutive days supporting local and international sales demonstrations and air shows.

According to Gulfstream, the G150 traveled around the world. It crossed the Pacific then continued through Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe before landing in Savannah. Between Oct. 27 and Nov. 29, the wide-cabin, high-speed G150 flew 39,634 nautical miles and stopped in 17 foreign countries, including Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, France, Poland, Ethiopia and Ireland.

The super mid-size G200 traveled a total of 30,272 nautical miles between Oct. 21 and Nov. 25. It visited 19 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East, including Switzerland, Russia, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

“These demonstrators completed a challenging schedule of demo flights and air shows without missing a single event due to aircraft issues,” said Larry Flynn, senior vice president, marketing and sales, Gulfstream. “That kind of performance reinforces the reliability, quality, versatility, safety and durability of Gulfstream aircraft.”

Source: Gulfstream

FAA Details Flight Restrictions Before and During Presidential Inauguration

AOPA Online reports on the special flight restrictions for Pre-Inaugural activities on January 18, 2009, and for the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.

According to AOPA, the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone and Flight Restricted Zone will be closed to general aviation aircraft on Jan. 20 for the inauguration.

If you are planning to fly in to see the Inauguration, AOPA suggests their home airport, Frederick Municipal (FDK), as a convenient landing area outside of the no-fly zone.

The FAA’s official site has an official press release outlining the flight restrictions zone during the Inauguration.

Source: AOPA Online and The Federal Aviation Administration

Embraer Sets New Record By Delivering 204 Jets In 2008

Embraer recently reported that the company delivered 59 jets to the Commercial, Executive, and Defense and Government aviation segments during the fourth quarter of 2008 (4Q08), totaling 204 jets in the year.

According to Embraer, the company set a new aircraft delivery record for the second consecutive year, delivering 20% more airplanes than in 2007 (169 jets). The last quarter of 2008 was also marked by the delivery of the first two Phenom 100 executive jets. The value of the firm order backlog came to US$ 20.9 billion, on December 31, 2008.

During 4Q08, Embraer delivered 44 E-Jets to Commercial Aviation, eight Legacy 600s, two Phenom 100s, and one EMBRAER 175 to Executive Aviation, and four jets to the Defense and Government segment.

Source: Embraer

Private Aircraft Could Face New Security Regulations From The Transportation Safety Administration

The New York Times reports on concerns that The Transportation Safety Administration could impose new security regulations on private air travelers and pilots with The Large Aircraft Security Program.

According to the story, the regulations would be similar to those for commercial aircraft, ranging from fingerprint-based background checks to restrictions to which items passengers could carry.

The regulations would be based on the weight of the aircraft, affecting planes that weigh more than 12,500 pounds. Many of the planes in that weight range are jet aircraft, but that also includes some larger propeller planes.

AOPA Online reports on a January 6 hearing in Washington DC where pilots spoke out against the program. Opponents of the plan suggest there are better ways to protect the public without new and cumbersome regulations that would hurt the aviation business.

Source: The New York Times and AOPA Online

Algae-Based Aircraft Fuel Gets First Test-Flight

The Green Inc. blog from The New York Times reports on the first experimental flight of a Continental Airlines 737 using biofuels made from jatropha and algae.

The test flight was performed using a Continental Airlines 737. The BBC reports that the flight lasted 90-minutes, using a 50-50 blend of biofuel and normal aircraft fuel to power one of the plane’s engines.

Green Inc. also reports it could be easier to switch aircraft than cars over to biofuel. Aicraft fuel specifcations are uniform, while the rules for car fuel vary from state to state. There are fewer fueling stations for aircraft than cars.

Source: BBC and Green Inc.

Happy New Year!

<

Happy New Year from Aero Trader Insider!

Cirrus Design Names Brent Wouters To The Post Of Chief Executive Officer

Alan Klapmeier, Chairman of Cirrus Design Corporation, recently named Brent Wouters to the post of Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2009. continue to build upon Cirrus’ strong success to date in his new role.” Prior to Cirrus, Mr. Wouters was the Chief Financial Officer of International Payment Services, where he was instrumental in completing 11 acquisitions.

According to Cirrus Design, Mr. Wouters previously was an award‐winning equity analyst, an information technology consultant, and an aircraft engineer and flight simulator engineer. Mr. Wouters holds an M.B.A. from Georgia State University, an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University, and a B.A. in Math and Physics from Iowa’s Graceland University.

Kevin Keough, Director ‐ Portfolio Management Group at Arcapita, Inc., Cirrus’ private equity partner based in Atlanta, noted, "As Cirrus’ ownership partner, we strongly support Alan’s appointment of Brent to CEO. Cirrus has seen its most rapid growth in the last decade as it has delivered over 4,000 new airplanes in more than 50 countries around the world.”

Keough concluded, “Cirrus stands poised to repeat its success in the emerging personal and light jet market with its “Vision Jet”. Cirrus enjoys strong and steady financial commitment and operational support from Arcapita and with such a positive outlook across all its aircraft programs, we are excited that Alan will continue to provide overall company direction as Brent takes the reins of day‐to‐day leadership

Source: Cirrus Design

Japan Airlines Plans First Demonstration Flight Using Sustainable Biofuel

Japan Airlines (JAL) recently announced that it will be the first airline to conduct a demonstration flight using a sustainable biofuel refined from the energy crop, camelina. The airline also announced that the demo flight is planned for January 30, 2009 out of Haneda Airport, Tokyo.

According to Pratt & Whitney, a blend of 50% biofuel and 50% traditional Jet-A jet (kerosene) fuel will be tested in one of the four Pratt & Whitney JT9D (pictured above) engines of a JAL-owned Boeing 747-300 aircraft. The biofuel component to be used will be a mixture of three second-generation biofuel feedstocks: camelina (84%), jatropha (under 16%), and algae (under 1%).

Camelina (pictured left), also known as gold-of-pleasure or false flax, is an energy crop, given its high oil content and ability to grow in rotation with wheat and other cereal crops. The crop is mostly grown in more moderate climates such as the northern plains of the U.S, and originally hails from northern Europe and Central Asia.

It can be grown even in dry areas, poor soil and at high altitudes. It is classified as a 'traditional' crop, but is considered next-generation given that its primary use is as a biofuel feedstock. The camelina to be used in the JAL demo flight was sourced by Sustainable Oils, Inc., a U.S.-based provider of renewable, environmentally clean, and high-value camelina-based fuels. Terasol Energy sourced and provided the jatropha oil, and the algae oil was provided by Sapphire Energy.

JAL, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and Honeywell's UOP have committed to the use of second-generation biofuel feedstocks that are more efficient and sustainable energy than first-generation counterparts. Second-generation biofuel feedstocks, such as camelina, jatropha and algae, do not compete with natural food or water resources and do not contribute to deforestation practices.

Source: Pratt & Whitney     Image Sources: Pratt & Whitney and Wikipedia

Cessna Announces Delivery Of First Retail Citation XLS+

Cessna Aircraft Company recently completed the first Citation XLS+ retail delivery to an undisclosed customer based on the East Coast of the United States.

According to Cessna, the Citation XLS+ was first announced in October 2006 and achieved Federal Aviation Administration certification on May 30; European Aviation Safety Agency certification is in process and expected to be complete in early 2009.

The order book exceeds 200 for the XLS+, an upgrade of the mid-size XLS. The original Citation Excel was delivered in July 1998, followed by the Citation XLS in July 2004. The series has accumulated a global fleet of nearly 680 planes and more than 1.5 million flight hours.

“With the XLS+, Cessna continues the tradition of the Excel and XLS as the most affordable stand-up cabin business jet,” said Roger Whyte, senior vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We’ve incorporated “Voice of The Customer” throughout the design of the XLS+, including increased serviceability. This aircraft has the most advanced diagnostic system on any Cessna Citation to date.”

The Citation XLS+ features the fully integrated Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite and electronically controlled (FADEC) engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada. Exterior and interior restyling is also integrated into the new model, most prominently the extended contour of the nose and expanded seat widths, both introduced to more closely resemble Cessna’s Citation X and Citation Sovereign models.

The Citation XLS+ travels as fast as 441 knots (817 kilometers per hour) with a range of more than 1,858 nautical miles (3,441 kilometers). At maximum takeoff weight it will depart from runways as short as 3,560 feet (1,085 meters) at standard, sea-level conditions. It will land on runways as short as 2,700 feet (823 meters) at its typical landing weight.

Source: Cessna

What Determines The Fuel Efficiency Of Aircraft?

Flying Magazine features a story on the fuel efficiency of airplanes and what factors affect how much pilots pay for fuel.

What is the most efficient aircraft? According to the article, there is no one single answer. It depends on the aircraft you are flying and what your mission is.

The aviation industry uses a metric called specific range to determine how fuel efficiency. The skill of a pilot can make a difference. Advances in technology in both engines and aerodynamics are helplng as well.

Source: Flying Magazine