Bass: "We Are Moving Forward With Proven Technology."

 Aerion Chairman Robert Bass plans to use the backdrop of the upcoming NBAA convention to reiterate the company's commitment to forging a partnership with one or more OEM partners and to being first to market with a supersonic business jet.  Other senior executives say they think the Aerion program is the one feasible path to supersonic capability by the middle of the next decade.

"I said at EBACE earlier this year that I am committed to the Aerion program as long as we see progress in our discussions with OEMs,"Bass said  in a news release. "We are seeing progress. In fact, we are quite encouraged by our discussions. There is no question that the economic impact on the industry has slowed their decision-making progress, but it has not lessened interest in this program.

"While some companies are committed to quiet supersonic designs requiring regulatory changes, others understand that Aerion technology is the most practical, and financially rewarding, path back to supersonic flight," he added. "We are not waiting around for rules to change, which could be a very long wait; we are moving forward with proven technology."

Aerion Senior Advisor John Holding explained why Aerion represents what he believes is the one feasible solution for reintroducing supersonic flight.

"Supersonic natural laminar flow (SNLF)-Aerion's key enabling technology-is well proven at this point. There are no barriers to success. Technical risks are low, and the development of the jet is well within the capability of several manufacturers," he noted.

FMI: www.aerioncorp.com