TRADE ASSOCIATION
The Central Europe Private Aviation group has formed an affiliated organisation called Southeast Europe Private Aviation, which will represent the interests of the business aviation industry in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. The group says these countries are positioned in the heart of expected, and significant, business aviation growth in the region.
COMPLETION FACILITY
Bombardier is acquiring the Saint-Laurent, Quebec facilities of ExelTech Aerospace, following the latter's bankruptcy. The acquisition will increase Bombardier's Global completion centre capabilities for its Global 5000 and Global Express XRS business jets. The 10,685m² (115,000ft²) facility will be operational by the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the Canadian airframer has delivered its first Challenger 605 and Global 5000 jets to Argentina-based customers.
OXFORD HANGAR
London Oxford airport has started work on a £3 million ($4.45 million), 4,440m² (47,790ft²) three-bay hangar that will be used for maintenance, repair and overhaul. It will be the largest single facility built at the airport to date. When complete in December it will have increased the total hangarage at the airport by 78% since 2005 to 78,000m².
ENGINE CONVERSION
US engineering company Aero Twin has received US approval for improvements to its Honeywell TPE331-12JR-701AT/-703AT engine conversion for the Cessna 208 Caravan, Grand Caravan and Super Cargomaster. Supplemental type certification for the engine upgrade - which became the first FAA-certificated Honeywell conversion for the single-engined turboprop family - was originally awarded to Anchorage-based Aero Twin in July 2007. Recent improvements include flight into known icing for gross weights of up to 4,115kg (9,060lb) for the Grand Caravans and the Super Cargomasters and 3,595kg for the 208 Caravan.
ACJ HANDOVER
Lufthansa Technik has handed over the second Airbus A319CJ to the German defence force. The two aircraft were ordered for the special air mission wing and, like the first ACJ, which was delivered in March, the second aircraft has also been fitted with a VIP cabin. The completion took seven months.
Source: Flight International
