First Flight Test Aircraft Undergoing Modifications
The world's first civil tiltrotor aircraft, the Bell/Agusta
BA609 begins envelope expansion flight test late this year.
Meanwhile, the first flight test aircraft is continuing to undergo
configuration modifications at Bell's Flight Research Center,
Arlington (TX), following the conclusion of the first phase of
flight testing in 2003. So far the BA609 has flown a total of nine
flights with 14 hours of flight time.
Air-taxi operator Linear Air this week launched its new luxury
charter service from Hanscom Field, 15 miles west of Boston in
Bedford (MA), flying to almost 200 cities along the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic coasts. The company says its service is ideal for
business travelers, particularly those who travel in small
teams.
When the FAA's Terrain Awareness Warning Systems (TAWS) mandate
goes into effect in March 2005, Mid-Continent plans to be part of
the compliance solution for Class A, B and C operators. "This
mandate affects us because it affects our customers," said Bill
Barnes, Design Engineer. "Our customers fly aircraft from piston
singles to business jets and helicopters. Mid-Continent is able to
provide annunciation products for a majority of these applications.
We want to raise awareness so they can avoid the last minute rush
they had with the ELT mandate in 2003 which forced people to ground
their aircraft because they missed the deadline."
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