ANN Readers First To Be Invited to Track The Progress of the Eclipse 500 It's been a long, hard road for the Eclipse 500. It was bad enough that this bird challenged conventional thinking in terms of what it would cost and who might buy it, but it also wound up taking a lot of industry flack from nay-sayers who (frankly) didn't take the time to look closer at one of the most revolutionary aircraft development projects since the original Learjet.

Bell Helicopter Chief Executive Officer Mike Redenbaugh has announced that Bell will develop and manufacture a fully certified Bell model 210 Medium Utility Helicopter. The new aircraft will provide a significant increase capability over comparative models at greatly reduced direct operating costs. Much of the Bell 210 is based on the highly successful Huey II program. Many of the modifications and upgrades that result in the Bell 210 are the same that go into the Huey II. The success of the Huey II program, with more than 100 conversions currently flying worldwide, confirms the viability of the certified Bell 210 in the US market. The primary differences between the Bell 210 and the Huey II are the inclusion of different actuators, nose assembly and a new electrical system and th

Inflatable Seatbelt/Airbag For Ovation2 DX/GX and Bravo DX/GX

Mooney Airplane Company announced Monday that it will offer the Amsafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint Seatbelts on the new Ovation2 DX/GX and Bravo DX/GX models beginning in the third quarter of 2004. The certification Program is now underway and is expected to be complete by mid-summer. Earlier this month, Mooney announced the new GX models, which feature the Garmin G1000 avionics package.

ES-Pressurized and ES-2 Door Models

There's a new Lancair kit in town, but there seems to be plenty of room for it in the industry. Officially called the ES-P (Pressurized) Lancair introduces an entirely new pressurized Fastbuild ES kit plane, including carbon fiber wings and fuselage. This new Lancair kit is priced at $94,900 and is now available with a $6,000 deposit to place the order. Air conditioning is one of various options available through Kit Components Inc. for $8,000, and is the same system currently used and recommended on our IV-P model. The ES-P will be powered by the Continental TSIO-550C, 310hp engine, allowing for a cruise speed of 255 knots @ 24,000' within the comfort of a pressurized cabin. The ES-P still retains its 61-knot stall speed of the original ES,

Armand Rivard Files Suit To Foreclose On Lanshe The continuing drama surrounding Lanshe Aerospace has hit a new low. After months of rumors of various legal skirmishes, at least one questionable aircraft sale, and a number of conflicting actions/statements from Lanshe Aero's principal, Wadi Rahim; Lake Aircraft owner Armand Rivard has filed suit to recover the Lake Aircraft line.

Helicopter transportation company Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. took delivery of the first production Sikorsky S-92 Monday in a somewhat pyrotechnic public ceremony at Heli-Expo. The delivery marks the first of two S-92 aircraft slated to enter service with PHI in 2004 to support deepwater drilling and production activity in the Gulf of Mexico.

Announces 2003 Dealer of the Year

Enstrom Helicopter Corp. opened HAI 2004 by awarding its annual Dealer of the Year honors to Kevin McCutcheon of Flight Solutions in Gallatin (TN). McCutcheon started his first aviation business in 1991. In 1997, he changed his company's name to Flight Solutions. His company has received the "National Business Aviation Association Safety Award" for thousands of hours of safe flying as well as being awarded "Charter Company of the Year" by the entertainment industry. The company has also been featured in various publications for its exceptional service and dedication to its customers. With more than 13 years of experience and over $150 million worth in aircraft sales and counting, Flight Solutions is a premier aircraft sales company. Enstrom al

Plane Lands On Moving Pickup

A single-engine plane made an emergency landing on a moving pickup in Central Florida Saturday and both the pilot and driver survived the crash. Police said pilot Glenn Meleen, 23, was forced to land his Piper Cub on West Park Avenue after he experienced problems with the aircraft. Meleen, a student at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, dropped the banner that the plane was towing and came down on the cab of a passing 1988 Dodge Ram driven by Oglesby, 61, of Edgewater. The truck's roof caved in and shattered glass sprayed inside the vehicle.

At the HAI Expo's opening, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. said it expects deliveries of PW200 and PT6 turboshaft engines to increase by 30 percent this year thanks to the company's exceptionally strong showing in helicopter competitions in 2003. The company claims PW200 engines are being selected by a large majority of operators to power their new light-twin helicopters. From December 2003 to February 2004, PW200 engines were selected on 47 new light-twin helicopters. P&WC's PT6B/C/T engine models also chalked up significant wins in 2003, powering the Agusta A119 Koala, Agusta Bell AB139 and Bell 412 helicopters.

New Interior May Revive Caravan Sales

A nine-month-old program that's allowing Cessna Aircraft Co. to sell more of its Caravan single-turbine-engine airplanes is also helping three Wichita companies grow revenues and add employees. Yingling Aviation, Millennium Concepts Inc. and Global Engineering and Technology Inc. officials say their work in Cessna's Oasis executive interior program for the Caravan has pushed them to add 19 workers between the three companies. And for Yingling, Oasis sets the stage for a new component to its business, aircraft completions and refurbishment. Until now, Yingling's business has primarily been providing maintenance, fuel and de-icing services for transient aircraft as well as pilot training and aircraft hangars. At Global, which is responsible

The opening day of this year's Heli-Expo saw the unveiling of the first EC 145 to go into service with a US EMS operator, Lee County. The event takes place exactly one year after Eurocopter first demonstrated the aircraft to American customers and prospects at Heli-Expo 2003. With interest in its latest light twin accelerating, Eurocopter attaches utmost importance to the stateside market and especially its EMS operators. A total of five EC 145s have been sold in the US, to date.

Merced County Sheriff’s Department and Silver State Helicopters are at Heli Expo 2004 Booth 34 with their successful new airborne law enforcement service. Using a R44 Raven II Police Helicopter, Silver State designed a unique program to bring helicopter operations to police departments unable to afford their own aircraft. What makes this program unique is the allocation of helicopter time. Based in Las Vegas, the R44 Police Helicopter and pilot fly monthly to Merced, Calif. and work for five consecutive days, without a maximum limit on flight hours. The aircraft then returns to Las Vegas or moves on to other contracts.

Warns Weather Still Culprit Of Congestion

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta says new schedule cutbacks at O'Hare International Airport should reduce delays, except during periods of bad weather. Under pressure from the Department of Transportation, United Airlines and American Airlines voluntarily agreed in January to reduce their peak-hour schedules by 5 percent starting March 4. United and American account for about 88 percent of flights at O'Hare. O'Hare suffered serious delays in November and December, which caused more than a 10 percent increase in average delays at the nation's 35 largest airports. The schedule cutbacks, which affect flights between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., will expire in six months.

Says St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport Is Too Busy

Less than a month into his new job, Noah Lagos has a problem most business owners would welcome -- too much growth. Lagos began his tenure as the airport director for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport Feb. 16. Since that time he's decided the airport not only can do better managing its resources but also needs to do it on a more controlled basis. With the highest passenger growth rate in Florida and the third highest in the country, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport served an estimated 1 million passengers in 2003. Eight low-cost air carriers offer non-stop service direct from the airport to 17 destinations throughout the United States and Canada. At that rate, it is estimated that by the end of

Bell Helicopter has secured a firm purchase order for its 600th Bell 407. The aircraft will be delivered in 2nd Quarter 2004 to a customer in South Africa. National Airways Corporation (NAC), Bell's sole representative in Southern Africa, secured the sale. The aircraft will be used for corporate transportation in the region.

Acquisition of a third Sikorsky S-70 FIREHAWK helicopter has been authorized for the California's Los Angeles County Fire Department. The county's Board of Supervisors authorized the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County to begin the acquisition process for the purchase of an additional FIREHAWK aircraft after the busy 2003 wildfire season.

NOTAM:  4/2070 

Issued:  03/15/2004 13:37  Effective:  03/16/2004 22:35 - 03/17/2004 21:50  State:  CA  Facility:  ZLA - LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA.  Type:  VIP  Description:  SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 16-17, 2004 LOCAL. 

Aero-News: Quote of the Day

"We've added more fuel capacity to the ES-P wings that allows for 105 gallons on board. This additional fuel provides the range (1,200 statute miles) in a pressurized aircraft that our customers want." Source: Lancair sales manager Kim Lorentzen commenting on the newset Lancair kit aircraft. Officially called the ES-P (Pressurized) Lancair introduces an entirely new pressurized Fastbuild ES kit plane, including carbon fiber wings and fuselage. The ES-P will be powered by the Continental TSIO-550C, 310hp engine, allowing for a cruise speed of 255 knots @ 24,000' within the comfort of a pressurized cabin. The ES-P still retains its 61-knot stall speed of the original ES, but the gross

AD NUMBER: 2004-05-28

MANUFACTURER: Eurocopter France SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-05-28 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters that requires installing a tail rotor blade (blade)-to-torsion baratt attachment tuning weight assembly on each blade of the Quiet Fenestron tail rotor and replacing each blade attachment bushing.

AD NUMBER: 2004-05-29

MANUFACTURER: Eurocopter France SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-05-29 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France Eurocopter) model helicopters that requires installing a tail rotor blade (blade)-to-torsion bar attachment tuning weight assembly on each blade of the Quiet Fenestron tail rotor and replacing each blade attachment bushing.