Spokane, Wash.-based Rocket Engineering is developing the Turbine P Baron in parallel with the Royal Turbine Duke program. The Baron conversion, which fits two PT6A-21 turboprops and Hartzell four-blade props to the light twin, costs about $700,000 (airframe additional). The company plans to have an STC in 12 to 18 months.
Business Aviation
News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
September 26, 2006 - 11:08am
Bombardier announced last month the entry into service by an undisclosed customer of its new flagship business jet, the ultra-long-range Global Express XRS. The OEM has also delivered a second aircraft to European launch customer Transneft, an oil transportation management company. The XRS is an upgraded and longer-range successor to the Global Express.
September 26, 2006 - 10:54am
Civil aviation experienced the highest percentage growth of all sectors of aerospace sales last year, increasing 20 percent to $39 billion. According to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), overall, aerospace sales increased by $14 billion to reach a record industry-wide level of $170 billion last year. AIA’s outlook for this year is solid, calling for 8.2-percent growth, to $184 billion.
September 26, 2006 - 10:53am
An ongoing “supplier problem” is casting a shadow over Eclipse Aviation’s receipt of its first FAA type inspection authorization earlier last month for the Eclipse 500 very light twinjet. The supplier problem–which outside sources say is related to the avionics system–could delay the March certification target for Eclipse’s very light jet. Eclipse at press time was meeting with the unidentified vendor in hopes of quickly resolving the issue.
September 26, 2006 - 10:51am
Raytheon issued a new safety communiqué to advise Beech 1900 operators of another misleading illustration in the type’s maintenance manuals. The notice represents the latest in a series of manual revisions prompted by the crash of two Beech 1900D airliners that killed 23 people in 2003.
September 26, 2006 - 10:50am
The wing that separated from the Chalk’s Ocean Airways Grumman Turbo Mallard that crashed off Miami Beach last month showed signs of cracking in the main support beam that connected it to the fuselage, according to the NTSB.
September 26, 2006 - 10:44am
Ibis Aerospace’s Ae270 turboprop single completed EASA certification, and FAA certification is expected shortly. However, the current version of the Ae270 has not met performance targets and the Czech manufacturer intends to develop an improved Ae270 to go into production. Ibis said it will receive additional financing this year to fund development through to the point that series production can begin.
September 26, 2006 - 10:30am
EADS Socata last month introduced the TBM 850 turboprop single, a more powerful, faster derivative of the TBM 700. During a press conference on December 14 in Paris, company executives insisted the already certified aircraft’s performance will be competitive with that of very light jets (VLJs). Last month, the first production TBM 850 was undergoing final assembly in Tarbes, France.
September 26, 2006 - 8:09am
The OSG has posted more than 100 of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about business aviation operations, along with answers, on the NBAA Web site at www.nbaa.org/ops/faq. Send operational questions to the OSG at info@nbaa.org.
September 26, 2006 - 7:36am
At this point, to review MCL submissions, the TSA is using the CBP Advance Passenger Information Systems (APIS) which commercial carriers use to submit passenger and crew manifests for trips into, out of and over-flying the U.S.
