Eclipse Granted South African Type Acceptance

Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. (EAI) and National Airways Corporation (NAC) are delighted to announce that Eclipse Aerospace has received a Type Certificate validation from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for the Eclipse Twin-Engine Jet, and the first Eclipse Jet has been exported to South Africa. The Eclipse Jet made its first appearance in Africa at the AAD at Waterkloof in September of 2012. This marks the forty-sixth country in which the Eclipse Jet is certified for use.

Arkansas Governor, Other Elected Officials Attend Announcement Ceremony

Dassault Falcon Jet plans to increase the size of its completion center in Little Rock, AR, to accommodate future Falcons. The expansion was announced Thursday at a news conference attended by Governor Mike Beebe of Arkansas, Senators Boozman and Pryor, Representative Griffin, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and executives from Dassault Falcon Jet.

Luton, England, Service Center Adds People, Madrid Facility Adds Parts, Field And Airborne Support Teams (FAST) Expand

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. continues to add resources to its product support network worldwide, including in Europe, home to more than 180 Gulfstream operators. Since moving into a new, larger hangar at London Luton Airport in September 2011, the Gulfstream Luton service center has grown to approximately 190 employees and continues to support Gulfstream operators on-site, across the United Kingdom and Europe, and as far as Asia.

Arizona Operation Consolidates Work Alongside Major Customer Base

GKN Aerospace is set to open a new 24,000 square foot facility where it will consolidate the company’s integration activity for Honeywell’s HTF7000 series of business jet engines. The new facility will sit alongside the Honeywell operation in Phoenix, AZ and will pod Honeywell’s engines into GKN Aerospace designed and manufactured nacelles for HTF7000 powered aircraft.

Flight Reservations Currently Being Accepted By The Texas Charter Company

North Texas-based PlaneSmart! Charter has received FAA authorization to add a Piaggio Avanti P180 to its certificate, effective immediately.  The subsidiary of PlaneSmart! Aviation is authorized for operations throughout the United States.

Aggressive Pace Continues For Robinson Turbine Heli

On 31 May 2013, Transport Canada issued its type certificate for the R66. Thirteen U.S. registered R66 helicopters are currently operating in Canada, and Robinson will deliver another thirteen by the end of this year. Canadian certification reached a standstill until the FAA's ELOS (Equivalent Level of Safety) finding that effectively removed an exemption in the R66's original type certificate. During certification of the R66, the FAA granted Robinson an exemption from a regulation requiring hydraulic control systems be designed with an alternate or redundant system in place in case of failure. The FAA exemption was based on the hydraulic system's simple design and proven history (the R44's hydraulic system is the same

Cameraman Fatally Injured February 10 When Camera Platform Helo Went Down

An accident that occurred February 10 near Los Angeles, CA, has led to a wrongful death lawsuit being filed Wednesday in LA Superior Court. Cameraman Darren Rydstrom, who was working on a reality television show, was fatally injured in the accident. His mother filed the suit this week.

Infrared Cameras Can Spot Graffiti-Painting Gangs As They Deface Rail Cars

Authorities for Germany's Deutsche Bahn, an inter-modal transportation company, have deployed a fleet of helicopter UAVs equipped with infrared cameras that will be used near rail yards to catch vandals spray-painting cars with graffiti.