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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 1113.PDF
IN BRIEF A319 CONVERSION EADS Sogerma Services has begun converting the first of two Airbus A319s for Saudi Arabia's National Air Services (NAS). The ex-airline-operated A319s will undergo heavy main tenance at Sogerma's facility in Toulouse, followed by a cabin reconfiguration featuring the A319 Executive interior - a four- abreast layout for 44 passengers and a VIP lounge. The aircraft will be operated by NAS on scheduled all-premium class services between Jeddah and Riyadh, and on-demand charter flights within the Middle East. TURKMEN S-92s The Turkmenistan government has placed a $54 million contract for two Sikorsky S-92 helicopters for use as presidential and VIP transports. The aircraft will be delivered in 2005 and operated by Turkmen Air Lines, says Sikorsky. KING AIR LOCKER Raisbeck Engineering's engine nacelle-housed wing lockers are being installed as standard on Raytheon Aircraft's Beechcraft Super King Air 350 production line after proving popular on the twin-turboprop since 1983. RVSM APPROVAL Sabreliner expects group certifi cation this month for its Model 80 reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) compliance upgrade. The Model 65 already has group certification and Sabreliner is pursuing an RVSM solution for the Model 40 and 60. JETEQUITY BUYS Aircraft management and charter company JetEquity has acquired the Skyport fixed- based operation at major business-aviation airport Westchester County in White Plains, New York. FIRST UK AVANTI Piaggio Aero Industries has delivered the first UK-registered P180 Avanti to charter company Euroskylink. The Coventry- based operator has operated a leased Avanti under Italian char ter company FoxAir's air operator's certificate. BUSINESS AVIATION DEVELOPMENT KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON Enter the Sea Dragon Six-seat light amphibious twin heads Skyspan's high-performance jet family Australia's Skyspan Aerospace has unveiled plans to develop a family of high-performance business jets, starting with a six-seat light amphibious twin dubbed the Twin Sea Dragon. The Twin Sea Dragon will be available in kit form within the next 15 months, says the Brisbane-based company, with a certificated version to be rolled out within two years. Skyspan managing director Douglas Archbold says there is a niche market for a twin amphibi ous jet in its key markets: North America, Asia and Australasia. The aircraft will be powered by two l,5001b-thrust (6.67kN) Williams FJ33-4 turbofans and the flightdeck will feature Avidyne FlightMax Entegra avionics. The Twin Sea Dragon will be priced at $1.6 million. A single- engined version, equipped with a parachute recovery system, will sell for around $1 million. "The Twin Sea Dragon will domi nate its class as a result of its price, speed, safety, flexibility and design," says Archbold, adding that its mod ular construction "allows for a smaller or even a bigger version of the jet without major retooling". Archbold says the only amphibi ous jet currently available is the $30 million Russian-built Beriev Be-200, which weighs more than 40,800kg (90,0001b) and is solely intended for military and heavy commercial use. The Twin Sea Dragon is designed to operate from land and water and will have retractable landing gear and an extendable, electrically pow ered water propeller to allow quick and easy docking of the aircraft. Its Kevlar hull prevents water ingestion problems and engine flame out, and reduces impact problems in the water, says the company. The aircraft has a 2,870km (l,550nm) range, a 67kt (125km/h) stall speed and will climb at a rate of 3,200ft/min (16.2m/s). The Brisbane-based company is eyeing locations in Queensland to house a 10,000m2 (108,000ft2) manufacturing site for the Sea Dragon family, which will be tar geted at the owner-flyer, air-taxi and coastal-surveillance markets. The Twin Sea Dragon will be sold in kit form within the next 15 months FINANCE Eclipse Aviation wins $45m bond package Eclipse Aviation, developer of the six-seat Eclipse 500 very light jet, has secured a $45 million industrial revenue bond package from Albuquerque City Council, New Mexico. Eclipse will get a property tax abatement worth more than $777,000 over 10 years. In return, the council expects to gain about $2.1 million in taxation over the same period, mostly from new employee spending. Eclipse is required to repay some or all of the tax breaks if it aban dons its Albuquerque operations within six years. Eclipse plans to build a manufac turing facility at Double Eagle II air port in west Albuquerque by early 2009, which could eventually lead to the creation of 2,000 jobs. The company says the proceeds of the bond would be used to buy equip ment for various manufacturing, research and office support func tions. The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F-powered Eclipse 500 is on target for its first flight in December, leading to certification and first deliveries in 2006, says the manufacturer. Meanwhile, Safire Aircraft plans to reopen this week under a fresh round of funding from a Swiss pri vate equity group. Safire president and chief executive Camilo Salomon says the funding package, originally expected to have closed on 31 May, should be sufficient to fund the Safire Jet to certification. EXPANSION Broker finds new markets Scandinavia's biggest charter broker, Air Broker Center, expects to double its bookings this year by expanding into other European markets. Four years ago, Stockholm- based Air Broker Center set up the Aircraft Charter World web site and has seen its bookings from non-Nordic countries rise from under 5% to about one- quarter, says chief executive Trond Michaelsen. After 11 September, says Michaelsen, the Scandinavian charter market collapsed and several indigenous brokers abandoned it. Now there is a growing acceptance of business aviation in the region and com petition from other European brokers has intensified. 22 6-12 JULY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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