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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2072.PDF
NBAA SHOW REPORT LIGHT JETS Eclipse to establish service centres Manufacturer says existing general aviation maintenance providers 'could not offer level reguired' for very light jet As it prepares to resume flight test ing of the Eclipse 500 very light jet, Eclipse Aviation has announced it will establish seven factory-owned service centres in the USA, the first two at its Albuquerque, New Mexico headquarters and in Gainesville, Florida. "They will all be in place by 2008," says chief executive Vern Raburn. Eclipse will build the centres because existing general aviation maintenance providers "could not offer the level of service we require," says Raburn. The manufacturer will also authorise corporate and fleet operators to perform warranty work, and dedicate an Eclipse 500 to resolving aircraft-on-ground prob lems by flying in a repair team. After selling 65 aircraft in the first half of the year, taking the backlog to 2,126, the start-up company has accelerated its planned production ramp-up to 260 units in the first 12 months and 880 in the second, to bring forward availability of deliver ies from November to February 2008. Certification is scheduled for early 2006. Raburn sees sustained demand for 650-700 aircraft a year without the controversial air-taxi market, which makes up almost two-thirds of Eclipse's backlog. Adam Aircraft has announced a "handshake agreement with an established fractional-ownership provider" for 100 A700 very light jets, adding to its 75-aircraft order from air-taxi start-up Pogo. But cer tification has slipped to "about a year from now", says president Joe Walker, after the US Federal Aviation Administration did not agree to an extension of the type certificate for the A500 piston twin, for which Adam hopes to receive approval by year-end. Adam had hoped to begin A700 deliveries to Pogo in March. "We are working with the FAA to nail down details and find out exactly what they want us to test," says Walker. Chief executive Rick Adam says the certification date could change again if there are unexpected FAA requirements. A conforming proto type of the A 700 is now expected to fly in about five months. Aviation Technology Group (ATG), meanwhile, is expected to announce Albuquerque, New Mexico as the site for final assembly of its proposed Javelin two-seat light jet, with initial low-rate production set to get under way between December 2006 and mid-2007. Although yet to formally con firm the move, the company says orders have reached "just under 100". Taxi tests of the non-con forming prototype are expected to start "within weeks", says president George Bye. Initial tests will take place at the Olympia, Washington site of subcontractor Soloy. ATG confirms the choice of engine for the final production ver sion is still open, despite use of Williams FJ33-4s in the prototype. • Israel Aircraft Industries has become an equity investor in ATG as part of the companies' recently announced strategic alliance. COCKPITS Thales aims for market break with TopDeck Thales has unveiled its TopDeck integrated flightdeck for business and regional aircraft, but has yet to secure a launch customer. The avionics suite is based on a modu lar architecture with high-speed internet bus, and four large liquid- crystal displays with trackball and keyboard interface. Thales, trying to break into a market dominated by Honeywell and Rockwell Collins, says it is talk ing to several aircraft manufactur ers. Targets include Bombardier's proposed CSeries airliner, it says, but sources suggest only Collins and Honeywell have made it to the joint definition phase under way. TopDeck uses standard modules for autopilot, flight-management system, alerting system and cen tralised maintenance, with the ADFX databus as the backbone. Thales is also offering an LCD- based digital head-up display. Honeywell has begun flight test ing its Apex/R integrated flightdeck in a Cessna Citation II, with certifi cation planned for 2006. L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, meanwhile, expects certi fication of its SmartDeck integrated cockpit in 2005 on two aircraft under flight test by an unidentified general aviation manufacturer, says president Adrienne Stevens. L-3 has introduced a Class B terrain aware ness and warning system using a GPS wide-area augmentation sys tem sensor to simplify installation. ...and it s also one of the easiest to fly. "I've never seen anything so economically laid out." tmyEaden. Beechcraft premier iowner/piiot 'It's a wonderful airplane to fly - great handling characteristics and the in-flight systems are easy to use. > Per Landeck, Beechcraft Premier I Chief Pilot "A cockpit that is fantastic... so many great tools to help make you a better pilot." Frank Perryman, Beechcraft Premier I Owner/Pilot 50MPH FASTER • 32% LARGER CABIN • LOWER OPERATING COSTS PER MILE For more information call +1.316.676.5034 or visit raytheonaircraft.com www.raytheonaircraft.com www.flightinternational.com Beechcraft Premier I Above the rest FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 19-25 OCTOBER 2004 23
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