FAA Awards Piper Type Certificate Organization Designation Authorization

Piper Aircraft, Inc. reports that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Piper with Type Certificate Organization Designation Authorization (TC-ODA), which gives Piper the authority to act on behalf of the FAA in the approval of airplane designs and certification to FAA standards of airworthiness.

Photo Credit: Piper Aircraft

“We’re honored by the FAA’s recognition of our capabilities and expertise,” said Piper CEO Kevin J. Gould. FAA officials Melvin Taylor, Manager of the FAA Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office, and Mack Riley, Manager of the FAA Orlando Manufacturing Inspection District Office, presented Gould and Piper President John D. Becker with an official letter of authorization during a ceremony held here at Piper headquarters.

TC-ODA is similar to the previous FAA standard, Delegation Option Authorization (DOA) that Piper held. “TC-ODA is one of the most important authorizations that the FAA awards aircraft manufacturers,” said Becker. “This authorization affirms the FAA’s confidence in Piper’s ability to design, develop and certify aircraft.

Source: Piper Aircraft

New Bombardier Global Vision Flight Deck Has Flawless First Test Flight

Bombardier reports that the Global Vision cockpit successfully completed its first Bombardier test flight on a Global Express XRS aircraft on August 3. Dedicated to testing basic system functionality, the flight marks another significant milestone for the program.

Photo Credit: Bombardier 

“The new Global Vision flight deck is fantastic, everything performed as expected,” said Captain Gary Bruce, Project test pilot, Bombardier Aerospace. “The new Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite’s large displays, in combination with the synthetic vision system, provide enhanced situation awareness that will surely be a great success with pilots.

The comfort and ergonomics of the overall cockpit are like nothing we’ve ever experienced.” Scheduled for availability on Global 5000 and Global Express XRS jets, the Global Vision flight deck merges leading-edge design with advanced technology to deliver a completely new cockpit experience. It pairs the latest technological advancements from Rockwell Collins – the Pro Line Fusion avionics suite – with superior design aesthetics to create the ultimate flight control environment and provides pilots with an unprecedented level of situational awareness and comfort.

Source: Bombardier

Gulfstream G450 Business Jet Sets Speed Record Between Oranjestad and Barcelona

A large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450 business jet recently established a city-pair speed record between Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba, and Barcelona International Airport in Spain.

The aircraft flew 4,374 nautical miles in 8 hours, 56 minutes, at an average speed of Mach 0.80 with no headwinds. It landed with 3,900 pounds of fuel remaining.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

Piloting the G450 was Jaime Bahamon, international demonstration captain. Ross Oetjen, senior international demonstration captain, served as copilot. In addition to flight attendant Lori Starbuck, nine passengers were onboard the flight.

The National Aeronautic Association confirmed the flight as a U.S. record and forwarded the figures to the Federation Aeronautique International in Switzerland for approval as a world record.

Source: Gulfstream

Cessna SkyCatcher Completes ASTM Compliance, Clearing the Way for Deliveries

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna Aircraft Company has announced its Model 162 SkyCatcher Light Sport Aircraft is in compliance with ASTM International standards for Light Sport Aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin before year’s end.

Photo Credit: Cessna

“This is significant not only for Cessna, but for the aviation community as a whole,” said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton. “Once these airplanes enter service, they will act as a catalyst for increased pilot starts. They will significantly change the economics of ownership and operation for flight schools, aircraft renters and aircraft owners, and will benefit the entire GA community.”

Photo Credit: Cessna

The Model 162 SkyCatcher is a two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft in the Light Sport Aircraft category, defined in the United States as an aircraft with a gross weight under 1320 pounds and with a top speed of no more than 120 knots. LSAs are built to ASTM International standards.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The 162 is powered by a Continental O-200D 100-hp air-cooled, carbureted engine and a fixed-pitch propeller. The aircraft will cruise at speeds up to 118 knots and will have a maximum range of 470 nautical miles. The Cessna 162 SkyCatcher features a Garmin G300 avionics system. Information is presented in a single, split-screen primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD), or as two full-screen displays with an optional second screen. The SkyCatcher will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations.

Source: Cessna

Celebrating The 100th Anniversary Of The Flight Of Louis Blériot Across The English Channel

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The New York Times and MSNBC report on the re-creation of the flight of Louis Blériot across the English Channel from France to Dover, England.

To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the flight, pilots re-enacted the crossing across the 22 mile channel. One pilot made the trip in a replica of the Blériot plane.

Photo Credit: Monash Univerity

Blériot plane was a far cry from the sturdy metal aircraft of today. According the the New York Times story, the plane was made from wood, wire and canvas, and had wheel axles no thicker than a broomstick.

Source: The New York Times, MSNBC, Monash University

Aircraft Gathering For EAA AirVenture 2009 Unmatched Anywhere Else

AirVenture.org features information on the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, called “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” happening on July 27-August 2 at Wittman Regional Airport.

Photo Credit: EAA

According to the AirVenture.org site, this year’s unmatched collection of aircraft includes the cutting edge of technology (Virgin Galactic’s VMS Mothership “Eve” space carrier vehicle - pictured below) to the enormous (Airbus A380) to the historic (1909 Wright B Flyer replica) and everything in between.

Photo Credit: Virgin Galactic

“People who participate in air shows and aviation events around the world tell us the same thing – there is no place else that matches Oshkosh’s collection of aircraft that gather on these grounds each year,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. “From the hundreds of homebuilt aircraft and magnificent vintage restorations on the grounds, to current military technology and the latest the aviation industry has to offer, EAA AirVenture is the place where it all comes together to discover and explore.”

More than 2,500 showplanes, including hundreds of warbirds, arrive at Oshkosh each year. In many cases, the owners, builders and pilots of these unique aircraft participate in the nearly 1,000 forums, presentations and workshops that take place during AirVenture week. Attendees can ask questions and learn more at these forums, which are included in all AirVenture admissions.

Source: EAA AirVenture

Cessna Will Begin Delivering The SkyCatcher Later This Year

Photo Credit: Cessna

Kansas.com reports that Cessna Aircraft will begin delivering the Cessna SkyCatcher to customers by the end of the year.

According to Kansas.com, Cessna hase confirmed that the SkyCatcher will test-fly a model from the production line sometime this year, with some deliveries later on.

In a previous statement about the Skycatcher, Cessna President and CEO Jack J. Pelton said :The need for a modern, cost-effective two-seat trainer aircraft has never been greater, and we believe we are well positioned to meet that need. The SkyCatcher program is an important part of our strategy."

Source: Kansas.com and Cessna

Sikorsky Global Helicopters Delivers S-300C Helicopter To UND Aerospace

Sikorsky Global Helicopters, recently delivered an S-300C helicopter to UND Aerospace at the University of North Dakota.

Photo Credit: Sikorsky
The university has operated Sikorsky helicopters in its training program since 1983. The new helicopter becomes the seventh Sikorsky helicopter in operation in UND’s fleet. UND has three more S-300C helicopters on order this year.“We operate the S-300C model in our training program because it is a good training platform,” said Don Dubuque, fleet manager and director of extension programs at UND Aerospace. “It is also a very dependable and safe aircraft.”

Ken Polovitz, assistant dean of student services at UND Aerospace, said the university’s helicopter program is growing. “We currently have more than 800 students enrolled in fixed wing and helicopter training at UND, and more and more of them are becoming interested in the helicopter industry as a career track,” Polovitz said.

Source: Sikorsky Helicopter

Gulfstream GV and GIV Families Achieve Flight-Hour Milestones

Two families of Gulfstream business jets — the Gulfstream GV and Gulfstream GIV — recently achieved flight-hour milestones.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

The 412 aircraft in the GV family, which comprises the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550, G500 and GV, have surpassed 1.1 million flight hours since the first GV entered service on June 30, 1997. The fleet leader accounted for 13,107 of those hours.

The GIV family, consisting of 669 G450, G350, G400, G300, GIV and GIV-SP aircraft, has achieved nearly 3.5 million flight hours since the first GIV entered service on June 8, 1987. The fleet leader accounted for 18,403 of those hours.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

“The milestones are very gratifying to all of us here at Gulfstream,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “They reflect the safety, performance and reliability of these aircraft.”

The in-service G550/G500 fleet has a 12-month dispatch reliability rate of 99.88 percent. In addition, the G550 has close to 40 city-pair speed records. The most notable is a 14.5-hour, 7,301-nautical-mile nonstop flight from Seoul, South Korea, to Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 3, 2003. That record was set less than two weeks after the aircraft entered service.

Source: Gulfstream

Cessna Moves Corvalis Deliveries to Independence Customer Center

Cessna Aircraft Company has begun deliveries of the Corvalis line of high-performance single-engine piston aircraft at the company's state-of-the-art customer center in Independence, Kan., the first step in moving the entire production line from Cessna's facility in Oregon.

Photo Credit: Cessna

"We currently deliver the Cessna Skyhawk, Skylane, Stationair, and the Citation Mustang from the customer center in Independence. Using this facility for deliveries to our new Corvalis customers is a great way to begin the process that will transition the entire Corvalis production line to Independence later this year," said Rod Holter, vice president for Cessna Single-Engine/Mustang Operations.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The customer accepting delivery of the first Corvalis from the Independence customer center is Glenn Hughes from Utah, who already owns a Citation CJ2 and has a Citation CJ4 on order. "Taking delivery of my new Corvalis in Independence has been a wonderful experience," said Hughes. "We plan to use our Corvalis for our business and it will be a great addition to our Cessna fleet."

Photo Credit: Cessna

The Corvalis TT is the world's fastest fixed-gear single-engine piston aircraft with a top speed of 235 knots (435 km/hr) and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet (6,620 m).

Photo Credit: Cessna

Cessna will close its Bend, Ore., facility as previously announced on April 29. The final assembly and delivery process for the Corvalis product line will be moved to Cessna's facility in Independence over the next few months. Cessna acquired certain assets of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Co. in December 2007. Since then, in addition to making a number of significant improvements to the aircraft and its global product support, Cessna renamed these aircraft the Cessna Corvalis TT (twin turbo) and Corvalis (normally-aspirated).

Source: Cessna

Bombardier Aerospace Releases Annual Aircraft Market Forecasts

The Bombardier Aerospace homepage features annual market forecasts for the business and commercial aircraft markets.

Photo Credit: Bombardier

“The financial turbulence being felt around the globe has placed a significant focus on the challenges facing the aviation industry, particularly within the business jet sector. The sharp downturn in global economies in late 2008 precipitated a sharp decline in demand that affected aircraft manufacturers, suppliers and operators.

 With demand for air travel closely linked to economic growth, we anticipate continued volatility in the aerospace industry in the near term. However, despite the current recession, the market fundamentals are strong in the long term. As the world begins to emerge from this economic crisis, demand should gradually return and future prospects remain solid,” said Mairead Lavery, Vice-President, Strategy and Business Development, Bombardier Aerospace.

While in the short term the industry faces such important challenges as high pre-owned inventories, negative public perceptions and a difficult economic climate, Bombardier remains confident that there is a strong potential for the business aircraft industry over the next 10 years. The anticipated return of global economic growth is expected to result in a strong recovery in the demand for business jets.

Source: Bombarier

Cessna Offering Aircell High-Speed Internet on Large Citations

Cessna Aircraft Company has announced it will offer the Aircell in-flight, high-speed wireless data for the Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X.

The system provides complete wireless broadband laptop, tablet PC or PDA connectivity for passengers and crew at altitudes greater than 10,000 feet above the ground in the continental United States.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The system, delivering maximum speeds comparable to a typical DSL connection, features an ATG 4000 transceiver, a configuration module, and two antennas, and it requires Aircell's Axxess II dual-channel Iridium satellite telephone system (a standard feature on the Citation X).

system for the Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X. The system provides complete wireless broadband laptop, tablet PC or PDA connectivity for passengers and crew at altitudes greater than 10,000 feet above the ground in the continental United States.

The system will be an option for deliveries starting in the second quarter of 2010.
"The Aircell system will greatly enhance the already superb utility of Cessna Citations as powerful business tools, providing constant, en-route contact in a fast-paced business environment," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president, Cessna Sales & Marketing.

Photo Credit: Cessna

The system, delivering maximum speeds comparable to a typical DSL connection, features an ATG 4000 transceiver, a configuration module, and two antennas, and it requires Aircell's Axxess II dual-channel Iridium satellite telephone system (a standard feature on the Citation X).

Features of the system include multiple user access via the in-cabin wireless router, the ability to send and receive e-mails with attachments, access to virtual private networks (VPN), and various service plans.

Source: Cessna

Gulfstream Celebrates Wing Join, Power On, And Engine Install For Gulfstream G250

Photo Credit: Gulstream

Gulfstream Aerospace recently celebrated the wing join, power on and engine mount of its newest mid-cabin jet, the Gulfstream G250.

On June 1, 2009, the twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, each of which provides 7,445 pounds of thrust, were mounted on the airframe.

“The G250 program major milestones – the fuselage join earlier and now the wing join, power on and engine install – have gone smoothly,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “We are delighted that we are on target for another milestone – the G250’s first flight – later this year.” The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in the industry’s mid-size class.

Source: Gulfstream

Gulfstream Facilities Earn Organization Designation Authorizations From FAA

Gulfstream Aerospace has announced it recently received an expansion of its Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) to include final-phase manufacturing and service-center work at its headquarters in Savannah as well as its facilities in Appleton, Wis.; Brunswick, Ga.; Dallas; and Long Beach, Calif.

Photo Credit: Gulfstream

Gulfstream received ODA authorization for Savannah initial-phase design, manufacturing and airworthiness in March 2008.

Gulfstream was the first aircraft manufacturer to achieve that authorization level. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started the ODA initiative to more effectively manage critical resources in response to the growing needs of the aviation industry.

It also allows the FAA to concentrate its resources on the most safety-critical matters. The designation allows Gulfstream to act on behalf of the FAA to examine Gulfstream aircraft designs, production quality, parts approvals, repairs/alterations and airworthiness.

“We are pleased that our positive relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration continues to grow,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “This designation clearly indicates the FAA’s trust in our internal procedures. We take this responsibility very seriously.”

Source: Gulfstream

Piper Promotes Two Senior Executives To The Position Of CEO And President

Piper Aircraft Inc. has announced the promotion of two of its senior executives. Kevin J. Gould, Piper’s Vice President of Operations, will become Piper’s Chief Executive Officer, and John Becker, Piper’s Vice President of Engineering, will become President of the Company.

Effective, June 26, 2009, Gould and Becker will take on the duties of James K. Bass, who will resign his position as Piper President and CEO.

“My primary focus when I came to Piper in 2005 was to turn the company around, create a strong, highly competitive business, and make Piper a compelling choice for potential buyers,” Bass said. “Now with the sale of Piper to Imprimis, we have achieved that major milestone.”

Source: Piper Aircraft

Epic Aircraft Announces New Aircraft

Aero News TV features a report on Epic Aircraft and their announcement of new models. Epic is a Las Vegas-based Aircraft Investor Resources founded in 2003 to design and manufacture 4-7 seat economic utility aircraft.

The Epic Escape took its first flight last April. Photos of the flight are available on Epic's hompage.

Source: Epic Aircraft

Cirrus Aircraft Sees Growth In Aircraft Orders

Cirrus Aircraft reports continued strong demand for its entire product line and of the associated increase in its new aircraft production rate to eight aircraft per week. According to Cirrus Aircraft, increased staffing requirements were communicated precipitating upcoming callbacks of some previously furloughed employees at both its Duluth, MN and Grand Forks, ND production facilities.

Several indicators support the company's positive outlook. In contrast to other reported general aviation industry trends, Cirrus Aircraft has seen consistent growth in new aircraft orders over the past 120 days, with stronger order rates consistently outpacing production output over that timeframe.

Equally notable are the sources of the new orders. Domestic and international retail demand, as well as both U.S. and global institutional demand, are each playing a contributory role. Cirrus Certified, its pre-owned aircraft sales division, is seeing similar increased sales activity with used aircraft inventory levels showing increasing signs of stabilization.

Source and Photo Credit: Cirrus Aircraft

KFD 840 Primary Flight Display From Bendix/King by Honeywell

The Bendix/King by Honeywell features information on the KFD 840 integrated Primary Flight Display (PFD).

According to Bendix/King by Honeywell, the KFD 840 offers a combination of the latest technology, size, affordability and full functionality make it unique in general aviation.

The KFD 840 delivers its information via a large 8.4" diagonal LCD display with high resolution and excellent sunlight readability—but is sized for easy installation in existing piston engine cockpits. The unit is self-sufficient with an embedded Air Data module and MEMS Attitude and Heading Reference System (ADAHRS).

In the event of loss of aircraft electrical power, an optional battery unit will keep power to the ADAHRS for full availability of all attitude, heading and air data functions to the pilot. Other standard features include a customizable checklist and weight and balance utility.

Source: Bendix/King by Honeywell

Cessna Citation Service Centers Welcome Avfuel Charge Cards

Cessna Aircraft Company announced the U.S. Citation Service Centers now accept Avfuel Charge Cards and Cessna Contract Fuel Cards from Avfuel Corp., the nation’s leading independent supplier of aviation fuels and services.

“We are very pleased to offer the additional convenience of Avfuel charge cards to thousands of Citation customers using our company service centers in the U.S.,” said Cessna Vice President of Service Facilities Stan Younger. “Avfuel’s cards are designed specifically to meet the needs of aircraft owners and operators and now card holders will be welcomed by our Cessna-owned Citation Service Centers.”

Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Avfuel Corp. serves the global aviation industry through a network of more than 600 domestic dealers and 700 international locations with Avfuel Contract Fuel. Avfuel is the leading independent supplier of aviation fuel and services to FBOs as well as a diverse market of specialty carriers including airlines, freight companies, military special operations, helicopter users and corporate flight departments.

Source and Photo Credit: Cessna

The Phenom 100 By Embraer Is The Latest Entry In The Light Jet Market

Photo Credit: Embraer

AOPA Online features an up-close look at Embraer’s Phenom 100, the latest entrant in the light jet market, including a visit to Embraer’s main factory in São José dos Campos.

According to Embraer, the Phenom 100 is the result of a clean-sheet design, coupled with Embraer’s experience and history of building commercial, military, and executive aircraft.

Source: AOPA Online and Embraer