Aircraft

Diesel-engined CH2000 to fly by year-end

Jordan Aerospace Industries (JAI) is planning to conduct the first flight of a new diesel-engined version of its Sama CH2000 light aircraft by the end of this year.

The prototype aircraft, which will be on display at the Dubai air show, is part of a third-phase development for the two-seat CH2000 series, built in partnership with Canada's Zenair. Iraq's armed forces are among the customers for the CH2000.

JAI says it is continuing to test and develop the four-seat Hawk-i short take-off and landing aircraft, and is progressing with a prototype of the Hajanah eight-seat utility transport, which will become a formal project in 2009. It declines to comment on the status of its Shibel two-seat jet trainer concept beyond saying it is "under development".

"We are currently expanding to meet the increasing demand for additional space for manufacturing," says the company. But JAI is ultimately intending to transfer work to the nearby Al-Mushata industrial complex, which is still under construction.