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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 2515.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION 24H MAINTENANCE Bombardier Aircraft Services has launched round-the-clock service and maintenance at its US centres in Clarksburg, Virginia; Dallas, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Tucson, Arizona; and Wichita, Kansas. Overnight service and aircraft-on-ground support is available at new line stations in Addison, Wisconsin and Teterboro, New Jersey. BRAZIL APPROVAL Raytheon Aircraft Services' Tampa, Florida centre has received Brazilian civil aviation authority repair station approval and is completing work on its first Brazilian-based Beechjet. AVINODE ALLIANCE Air charter software providers Avinode of Sweden and CTA-FOSoftheUSAhave formed a strategic alliance allow ing each company to integrate real-time aircraft availability from their respective database of charter operators. This enables brokers to get instant information and to find temporarily posi tioned aircraft and real-time empty legs. REVIEW GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES Embraer looks at power choices for new light jet Brazilian manufacturer's most likely concept could be similar to Citation CJ2 Embraer is expected to make a final decision on the go-ahead of a light jet programme in March 2005 and is reviewing powerplant options from General Electric Honda Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Williams International. Embraer has acknowledged stud ies of a "full range of aircraft" as it prepares to introduce a new stable- mate to the Legacy and a yet-to-be- launched corporate version of the Embraer 170 regional jet, but has yet to announce a finalist. The company appears to be zeroing in on a concept straddling the ill- defined boundary between the light jet and emerging very light jet (VLJ) categories, and the prospec tive design is described by sources as being similar to Cessna's Citation CJ1. Embraer declines to comment on the possibility of a March deci sion or a VLJ target, but says "we are looking at a number of oppor tunities, and those that make the most sense we will consider going forward with. Overall, we are look ing at a range of opportunities in the business aircraft market." The competing engines are the GE Honda HF118, P&WC PW600 and Williams FJ33 small turbofans. The initial version of the HF118, rated at around 1,6001b thrust (7kN) is in development by GE and Honda, which in October estab lished a joint company to pursue the engine's launch and marketing. The HF118 was the first engine identified with the potential Embraer light jet project when it was exclusively revealed in Flight International earlier this year (18-24 May). The PW600 is also expected to be a strong contender, having won places on the two most secure new light/very light jet projects in development, the Cessna Citation Mustang and Eclipse Aviation Eclipse 500. The PW615F, rated at 1,3501b thrust, has been flying since April and the first shipset is expected to be delivered to Cessna in February 2005. The first flight- worthy PW610Fs for the Eclipse are being prepared for delivery to the company's Albuquerque, New Mexico site in preparation for the maiden flight of the pre-produc tion aircraft, expected before the end of December. The Williams FJ33 is also rela tively well positioned, the 1,5701b- thrust rated -4A variant having recently completed certification before its potential application on a range of VLJ projects from the Adam A700 and Diamond D-Jet to the ATG Javelin. APPROVAL GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC L-3 LandMark answers FAA TAWS mandate Targeting a US market to equip 9,000 six- to nine-seat turbine-pow ered aircraft that must be equipped with a Class B terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) by 29 March next year, L-3 Avionics Systems has received installation approval for its standalone LandMark 8100 TAWS. Based on a GPS wide-area aug mentation system (WAAS) sensor, the LandMark 8100 is specifically designed for ease of installation, says L-3 Avionics Systems presi dent, Adrienne Stevens. The inte grated 12-channel WAAS/GPS sen sor eliminates the need to hook up multiple inputs, such as air data, from other aircraft systems. Stevens believes ease of installa tion is key to securing the bulk of the market to retrofit the 9,000 air craft L-3 estimates have yet to be equipped to meet the US Federal Aviation Administration TAWS mandate. Price is also a factor, and the system is available initially for $12,500. In addition, the LandMark 8100 offers higher terrain database and display resolution than com peting Class B systems, she says. L-3 has FAA technical standard order approval for the LandMark 8100, and supplemental type certi fication in its Beech King Air C90, allowing installations to begin. The LandMark 8100 uses a Free Flight Systems sensor, but L-3 is developing its own WAAS/GPS engine, says Stevens. The company, acquired from Goodrich in 2003, is also to develop a receiver combin ing the US GPS and European Galileo satellite-navigation systems. Citation XLS is one of the business jets under Deccan's scrutiny EXPANSION Deccan targets multinationals Indian charter operator Deccan Aviation is eyeing the acquisition of up to 15 business jets over the next five years to meet the burgeoning demand for ad hoc charter from the region's expanding base of multinational companies. In the short term, Deccan, which is India's largest charter provider and parent of no-frills airline Air Deccan, is planning to buy a single seven-seat business jet. The company operates a fleet of 10 helicopters and two Pilatus PC-12 single-engined turboprops and says it is evaluating the Bombardier Learjet 45 and Learjet 60; the Cessna Citation XLS; and the Gulfstream G100 and G200. The new aircraft will be acquired through out right ownership and lease, it adds. 24 30 NOVEMBER - 6 DECEMBER 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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