Airbus Helicopters plans to build a second commercial helicopter, the EC145e, in the U.S. to support the emergency medical services (EMS) market. The company's Columbus, Mississippi, facility will build 25 of the models, following an order from Metro Aviation, an EMS operator and completion firm.
XTI Aircraft says its TriFan 600 prototype is on budget and on schedule for a first flight later this year. A unique design, it is a six-passenger vertical- and short-takeoff luxury aircraft expected to reach speeds of more than 260 kt. and have a range of slightly more than 1,200 nm.
Duncan Aviation's helicopter component repair services business rose 80% in 2017, and the growth is expected to continue through 2018, the company said.
Initial wind-tunnel testing of the Cessna SkyCourier twin turboprop has been completed and Brad Thress, senior vice president-engineering, reported making "outstanding progress" in development of the all-new design.
Oriens Aviation recorded a strong 2017, with the sale of five new Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to customers. The company also has secured its first new-build delivery position for 2018.
According to the U.S. Transportation Department Inspector General's Office, evaluations in 2013 and 2014 found that the FAA's Civil Aviation Registry lacked accurate and complete information on pilots and aircraft registered in the U.S., including aircraft owned under trusts.
The Silvercrest turbofan engine, whose recurring problems caused Dassault to terminate the Falcon 5X program (see page 56) is being tweaked to better meet the needs of its only remaining application, the Cessna Hemisphere.
When Duncan Aviation recently installed LoPresti Aviation "Boom Beam" high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting in a Phenom 300 light jet, the technology was described by Vice President of Sales David LoPresti as a work in progress.” Indeed it was, and is. The Sebastian, Florida-based company has already installed the HID lighting in 550 different aircraft models, from owner-flown light turboprops to widebody VIP personal jets.
Bell has officially dropped the word "helicopter" from its name. CEO Mitch Snyder explained that the term had become "very confining" but added "this does not mean we are not going to keep building helicopters or tiltrotors."
Flying Colours Corp. has signed an agreement with the Conair Group to modify six production Bombardier Q400MR aircraft to support multipurpose missions. Conair Group provides fixed-wing firefighting aircraft.
Air medical transport company Air Medical Resource Group has changed its name to Guardian Flight. Air Medical Group Holdings recently acquired Guardian Flight, which operates a fleet of about 100 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft in the Upper Midwest, Mountain West, Southwest, Alaska and Hawaii.
Continental Motors Group and the Aviation Industry Corp. of China have received three new type certificate validations from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The recent decision by U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) to scrap his idea of privatizing the ATC system was met with relief throughout the business and general aviation communities.
XOJet has enhanced its XOJet Elite Access Program, giving guaranteed rates on light and midsize business jets, in addition to its super-mid business jet product.
