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Galactic interiors revealed (29 September)
Virgin Galactic has revealed the interior treatment of its commercial sub-orbital spacecraft. It has reclining seats, lots of windows and space to experience weightlessness, according to a package released yesterday by Sir Richard Branson at a new technology event in USA.
“It’s strange to think that in 12 months we’ll be unveiling the actual plane, and then test flights will commence right after that,” he said.
The company is already signing up passengers for the experience, which costs US$200,000.
Virgin Galactic

Industry gossip (29 September)
Uni NSW and the Defence Force Academy are advertising the Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship, which offers $15,000 to support defence-related research. Email spitfire@adfa.edu.au.
The International Air Transport Association has announced it will be targeting 10 per cent use of synthetic or bio fuels within a decade. IATA web
The RAAF’s first Boeing C-17 transporter has rolled off the production line and is expected to arrive in November. Three more are on order.
Air Services Australia has backed the Aviation Safety Foundation Australasia to the tune of $120,000 for three years. ASFA web

Renegade goes radial (28 September)
Murphy Aircraft in British Columbia, Canada, has unveiled the latest in its series of radial-powered airplanes, the Radial Renegade.
The Renegade is Darryl Murphy’s first design, and continues to be a favorite among kit-builders, with over 700 examples’ sold. According to Murphy, the new development, the addition of the Australian designed and built 110hp 7-cylinder Rotec 2800 engine, fills a spot in the Murphy lineup for a basic, good-flying, classic-looking machine. “With the radial up front,” designer Darryl Murphy said, “you have the lines of the classic biplanes of the Golden Age of aviation; and now you can have the reliability and safety of modern design.”
Originally the Renegade was powered with a much-smaller engine, so the Radial Renegade features beefier construction and a specially-designed motor mount by Golavio for Italian Murphy dealer Gianni Golinelli; additional engineering work was done by Dr.Doron Shalev for a customer in Israel, all under the eye of the Canadian parent. Both open and cowled options are available.
“Customers have always liked the freedom that the handling of the Renegade offers,” said Stéphane Marois, Sales Manager at Murphy, “and the classic look of the radial brings an added feeling of nostalgia to a thoroughly-modern airplane. The R-2800 complements the Renegade's lines to perfection.” So popular is the new engine, that four are already completed, with more on the way.
The company says customer demand drove the engineering. As often happens in the kit-aircraft industry, some customers have a preference for an engine that has not yet been tried on a particular design. The radial options for the Murphy Rebel and Murphy Moose (SR-3500) are additional examples of customer demand that resulted in the factory’s sanctioning of these powerplants. Rotec has so far been supplying the R-2800 motor mounts. All modification to the original airframe can be done through Murphy Aircraft.
Links
Murphy: http://murphyair.com/Product_Info/Renagade/Introduction.htm
Customer applications, with videos and high-resolution photos:
http://www.rotecradialengines.com/customers/Golavio.htm
http://www.rotecradialengines.com/customers/Luciano.htm 
http://www.rotecradialengines.com/customers/RickStevens.htm

Billion dollar order boosts biz jets (27 September)
The business jet market has received another boost in the last 24 hours, with a record US$1.1 billion order given to Dassault.
USA company Netjets, owned by Warren Buffet, has put in an order for 24 Falcon 7X aircraft -- worth a hefty US$40 million-plus each -- said to be the largest in the history of European business aviation.
Netjets operates fractional ownership syndicates, with shares starting from around US$400,000. With people becoming increasingly frustrated with the delays and inconvenience of normal commercial services, pundits reckon this is a business set for rapid expansion.
See our story, Schlepping in style from 6 September (below).

Very light jets to boom (26 September)
The very light business jet aircraft market will be worth US$2.52 billion and will see the delivery of 1403 aircraft between 2007 and 2011, according to a new study on the very light business jet (VLBJ) -- or microjet -- market by global aviation consultants PMI Media Ltd.
"There are now six programmes which look set to make it to the market," said the report's author Philip Butterworth-Hayes. "Based on manufacturers' own production figures we see annual delivery rates rising steadily to 2010 and peaking at around 350 units a year."
"However in the first five years of production 85% of the customer base will be located in North America and it is in Florida where we believe the microjet-based air taxi concept will live or die."
The new study, as well as tracking likely production rates, also analyses the regulatory challenge to microjet operations throughout the world and the impact of microjet operations on the small airport community, along with training, insurance and ATM challenges.
"This is a new phenomenon for regulators; the impact of the single-engined Diamond D-Jet will offer European regulators a particular challenge, especially as the regulatory regime is undergoing a major overhaul. It is likely that European regulators will adopt a distinctly conservative approach to the licensing of microjets for both owner/operator and revenue generating services," said Butterworth-Hayes.

Microjet production rates

Microjet programme key facts

See www.pmi-media.com

First Growler delivered (26 September)
Boeing has delivered its first Growler to the US Navy.
The company says, “A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to perform an array of AEA missions, operating from either the deck of an aircraft carrier or land-based fields. The EA-18G will replace the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The first production Growler will join the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008.”
See this link

Light aircraft should be more fireproof (26 September)
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says light aircraft should be made more fire-resistant, possibly with improved fuel systems that keep flammable material away from occupants so they have more time to escape a crashed aircraft. A study by the regulator found that it was common for the occupants  of a plane to survive the impact only to be overcome by a fire.
Its report says: "For aircraft with a maximum certified take-off weight of 5700 kilograms or less, post-impact fire contributes significantly to injuries and fatalities in accidents that are otherwise potentially survivable."
Full report

Breakfast in Sydney, lunch in Melbourne, trophy in Perth (26 September)
Red faces (to match the corporate colours perhaps?) were rampant at Qantas this week when it temporarily lost the national rugby league trophy in a luggage mix-up that saw it head to Perth instead of Melbourne.
Things could be worse – it could have ended up in Bali with a surfboard bag filled with dope…

High oil prices good news for helicopter pilots & LAMEs (26 September)
From Flight Global: High oil prices may be hitting the bottom lines of major airlines but they are proving a boon to the rotor market. And it's not just the manufacturers who are benefiting more drilling and exploration means that helicopter pilots and engineers are in strong demand. (Pic: Sikorsky)
Flight Global home; Story

Customs wants rotary tender (26 September)
The Australian Customs Service is looking for a rapid response helicopter service in northern Australia. Link

Fire, what fire? (25 September)
Last week’s release of transcripts from air-traffic control tapes have reignited a debate over the rules governing engine shutdowns on large passenger jets,
The transcripts were from an incident in February last year when a crew on a British Airways (BA) 747 departing Los Angeles elected to shut down an engine which had been spewing flames and continue to the UK.
While the aircraft made it, the pilot was sufficiently concerned about fuel levels to pull up in Manchester instead of London as planned. It's widely believed this was done to avoid the expense of an overnight stay away from home base -- though BA denies this.
The UK Guardian newspaper reports: “The controller asks how many people are on board. The pilot says 351 passengers and 18 crew, and tells the controller: ‘We have now shut down the No 2 engine. We are going to consult our company and see what they require us to do.’
“A few minutes later the pilot says they are going to continue…
"The Air Accident Investigation Branch found that since April 2001, BA had recorded 15 incidents in which jumbo jets continued after an engine had been shut down. Its report flagged up that different operators had different policies on what pilots should do if one engine was lost. It recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Aviation Authority in the US and other authorities should ‘review the policy on flight continuation ... following shutdown of an engine, in order to provide guidance to operators’."
The transcripts were released in the USA as the result of a freedom of information application by the Wall Street Journal.
Full story at the Guardian

Gatton hosts fly-in soon (25 September)
Gatton Airpark is holding its first official flying event with a breakfast fly-in  on October 1.  Formerly known as Gatton South, the airfield is celebrating the considerable progress that has been made since the decision to create a state-of-the-art residential airpark around the existing all-weather airstrip.  Ten hangars have already been erected, four homes occupied and another six underway out of the 31 lots comprising Stages 1 & 2.
If you are anywhere in South East Qld, or even further afield, and would like
to join with other members of the flying community for breakfast and a look around the unique hill-top development, we would love to see you on Sunday morning, October 1 – Martin Hone (Click here to see the Gatton Airpark page.)

India MRO industry to skyrocket (25 September)
The rapid expansion of the aviation industry in India will inevitably lead to a massive demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services.
The Indian Express reports, “According to an estimate drawn up by apex industry body Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), the size of the MRO business in India over the next 5 years is expected to be on average $400 million per annum. “The exponential projected growth in the aviation sector will provide an impetus to the MRO activity in India and provides a unique opportunity to develop the segment,” said CII National Committee Chairman for Civil Aviation and Air India chairman V. Thulasidas.
“India is projected to add an additional 450 aircraft to its existing national fleet size of 215 domestic aircraft in the next 5 years, as per DGCA estimates which in turn provides an opportunity for building the avionics and aviation equipment capabilities of Indian industry.”
Full story

Troubled A380 suffers more delay (22 September)
Airbus and parent company EADS have admitted there is further delay to the A380 project, which has already suffered a number of time over-runs that could ultimately prove costly.
However the company says some fo the media reports on the delays are exaggerated. A somewhat odd company statement reads: “EADS does not confirm nor deny specific information reported by various media relating to the A380 program because the review of the program is not completed yet. Although Company’s assessment is still under way, continuing industrialization challenges with the wiring of production aircraft have been identified and are being tackled.
“Consequently, from what is known today, there will be further delays.
“The current status is that we have not finalized the schedule of deliveries nor the financial impact of any delays.
“All appropriate resources are focused on bringing the ongoing assessment to maturity. EADS and Airbus will provide more detailed information within 4 weeks as Airbus is currently working on developing action plans and a solid delivery schedule to its customers. In the meantime flight testing milestones of the A380 are progressing as planned. (Pic: Airbus)

India to ban import of old planes (21 September)
From Business Standard: The government has decided to ban import of aircraft that are over 12 years old. The move, aimed at ensuring newer fleets, will push up the cost of leasing and hiring aircraft by around 30 per cent, industry sources say. However, the rule will be applicable only on future deals.

Industry gossip (20 September)
From Flight International: Lufthansa’s supervisory board today approved an order for 30 short- and medium-haul Airbus aircraft, as well as five Airbus A330s.
Sikorsky has recently signed a deal to assemble Black Hawk helicopters in Poland. Sikorsky announcement
Russian carrier Aeroflot is to buy Boeing and Airbus aircraft, according to Marketwatch. "Yes, we are definitely buying 22 Boeing and 22 Airbus (aircraft) between 2010 and 2016," spokeswoman Elena Semyonova said. "However, talks with Airbus are still ongoing, as they were a bit late with the necessary documents."

Allegro 2000 reviewed (19 September)
Plane & Pilot has just reviewed the Allegro 2000 LSA. It says: Using the gold standard as a yardstick, the Allegro will cost you about twice that of a restored Cub. What you get for that difference, however, is significant. Designed 70 years after the J-3, the Allegro displays a lot of progress in engineering and technology. Easy to get into, and with room enough for two 21st-century Americans sitting side by side, the Allegro is comfortable, and visibility is excellent from either seat—a definite cut above a loveable old Cub.
Click here for the full report

Aviation industry gossip (19 September)
From Market Watch: General Electric Co's (GE) aviation unit received a jet-engine order valued at $370 million from China Eastern Airlines.
From the MENAFN: The implementation of an Open Skies policy will have a very positive impact on the region's overall growth, and will boost civil aviation and tourism in the Middle East, Shaikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group claimed.

First casualty (18 September)
From the Kansas City infoZine: US newspapers, on this day in 1908, carried stories about the first person to die in an airplane crash the day before.
The occasion was a demonstration of a Wright brothers aircraft at Fort Myer in Virginia. With Orville Wright at the controls, Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge went up as a passenger, to test the possible military use of the airplane. Four minutes into the flight the plane crashed, killing Selfridge and seriously injuring Orville Wright.
Full story

Dubai hosts route forum (16 September)
From AME Info: Dubai International Airport will host Dubai 2006, the 12th World Route Development Forum, bringing together a record 2,000 plus representatives of airlines and airports from across the globe, from September 17 to 19.
AME Info

CASA takes over airspace classification (14 September)
From the ministerial bunker: The Australian Government has announced a number of key reforms to the governance and management of Australian airspace.
The reforms announced by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss, will enable Australia to more effectively continue its airspace reform program.
"Australia's aviation safety record is amongst the best in the world, and the changes will further enhance both safety and efficiency," Mr Truss said.
Mr Truss said the reforms would establish clear decision making responsibility for airspace changes, establish requirements for a single common risk management framework and processes for assessing and implementing future changes, and make agencies more accountable for their regulatory decisions.
"We will now move ahead with transferring airspace classification and designation functions from Airservices Australia to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). These airspace regulatory functions will be performed within CASA by a dedicated unit - the Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR)," he said.
"This change will remove perceptions of a conflict of interest for Airservices Australia, and place airspace regulation in its 'natural home' - with the safety regulator."
The Department of Defence will retain its current powers and responsibilities for defence airspace, but its personnel will be engaged with the OAR to ensure optimisation of airspace utilisation.
The costs of airspace regulation will continue to be met through the Airservices enroute charges system and not through any new charges to industry.
Mr Truss also noted the potential important role in airspace management of new technologies. "Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an air traffic surveillance technology that can offer important benefits in terms of better tracking, less restrictive air traffic control separation standards, and reduced fuel burn and travel time," he said.
Full release

Plus…
From the same bunker: The Australian Government today announced a major initiative aimed at promoting the growth, diversity and export potential of the Australian general aviation industry.
The Minister for Transport, Warren Truss, and the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, have unveiled the establishment of an Industry Action Agenda for general aviation in Australia.
"The primary purpose of Action Agendas is to promote industry leadership and, in helping industries develop strategies for growth, agree on priorities and make commitments to change," Mr Macfarlane said.
"They identify the actions industry members can take themselves to achieve their export and expansion objectives. By bringing in the four corners of an industry efforts can be focussed on identifying opportunities for growth and combining resources to overcome challenges," he said.
"The Australian Government recognises the important role general aviation plays in our vast country, particularly in regional and remote parts of Australia, and I am well aware of the ongoing challenges the industry faces," Mr Truss said.
"I strongly believe that industry-developed and driven solutions produce better outcomes and will lead to a much stronger general aviation industry. I intend to appoint an Industry Leaders Group of up to eight people to drive the Industry Action Agenda shortly," he said.
The Industry Action Agenda will over the next 12 to 18 months develop the long-term strategic initiatives for the general aviation industry.
"This is a potentially very exciting collaboration and industry investment in the future of general aviation in Australia. It is about the sector leaders mapping out an industry future and nominating specific goals," said the Ministers.
"We strongly encourage the general aviation industry to get involved and support this process which has the potential to generate a significant momentum through the aviation sector," they said.

Looks only a mother could love (13 September)
Boeing’s latest freighter is unlikely to win a beauty contest -- at least not on this planet.
The company reports: The first 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter, a specially modified aircraft that will transport the major components of the 787 Dreamliner, completed its first flight on September 9. Captain Joe MacDonald, 747 chief pilot, flew the LCF for two hours, four minutes, starting a flight test program that is expected to last through the end of the year.
A pair of airplanes is being modified by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp, a joint venture between General Electric and EVA Air. They will begin ferrying components for the first Dreamliners in early 2007.
Boeing

CASA calls self admin summit for GA (12 September)
A special summit has been called to examine the concept of self administration for the general aviation sector.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is convening the summit in late September 2006 to start a structured debate on self administration.
Twelve peak general aviation industry groups have been invited to take part in the day-long meeting.
The groups will be asked to consider two key questions relating to self administration:
Can self administration provide equivalent or better safety outcomes for the general aviation sector than presently apply?
If so, what would be the most appropriate model for self administration?
Self administration arrangements currently apply to the sports aviation sector, where peak bodies in each aviation sport administer regulations set by CASA.   These peak bodies issue licences and certificates, carry out safety surveillance and provide other regulatory services.
CASA then audits the activities of the peak bodies to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.   This approach means CASA only devotes a relatively small level of resources directly to sports aviation, allowing more attention to be focussed on higher priority passenger-carrying operations.
CASA's chief executive officer, Bruce Byron, says the concept of self administration being extended beyond sports aviation has been discussed widely in recent years.
He says those supporting the move have pointed out similar arrangements for general aviation exist overseas.
“Many people in the aviation industry have been strongly lobbying CASA for this change and indeed CASA can see potential benefits too,” Mr Byron says.
“But before the industry and CASA pursue the concepts any further there first needs to be some structured debate on whether safety outcomes can be maintained or improved.
“If we can see that safety will not be compromised, then the debate can move on to potential models for self administration.   Hopefully the summit will be a starting point of a vigorous and valuable discussion right across the general aviation sector.”
For more information on the summit, see this link.

In-flight child restraints unsafe – report (11 September)
From CASA: New research shows a range of methods of restraining infants and small children in aircraft are not safe.
The research found infants and children who are flying must be restrained by a supplementary loop seat belt or an approved child car seat to gain protection during turbulence or an emergency landing.
Baby slings and infant carriers provide no protection in emergency landings and only one model tested delivered some restraint during turbulence.
Child booster seats are not recommended as they use only the airline seat lap belt and allow a child's upper body to be flung forward during an emergency landing.
The results of the research into child safety on aircraft have been published in the latest edition of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority's flagship publication – Flight Safety Australia magazine.
A grant by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau sponsored the research, which was conducted by Human Impact Engineering with support from Britax Childcare Australia.
Flight Safety Australia reports that tests carried out during the research show supplementary loop belts do offer protection in a number of in-flight situations.   Supplementary loop belts, or so called belly belts, are attached to the adult seat belt and go around the child while it is sitting on the adult's lap and are provided by the airlines.
Supplementary loop belts for infants were effective during simulated turbulence.   In simulated emergency landing tests the supplementary loop belts restrained the test dummies, but did allow them to travel forward and hit the seat back in front at dangerous speed.
Tests using dummies in child car seats showed that models that can be fitted to aircraft do offer effective restraint during turbulence, however they are not as good during emergency landings.
CASA is currently undertaking further research work on child car seats to look at easier installation methods and improved performance in turbulence and accident situations.
“The safest currently available option is the use of an approved car seat,” Flight Safety Australia reports. “The option of using infant seats on certain flights is a matter to be decided between operators and passengers.”

Sport pilots – two years on (9 September)
The USA-based Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has produced a report on the success of the sport pilot category, two years after its inception.
It says: In just two years, the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft community has grown to be a significant and promising part of the general aviation picture. The past year, in particular, showed the potential within this new area of recreational flight.
Over more than a decade of direct involvement and leadership on the rule, EAA sees the two-year anniversary of what’s commonly known as the “sport pilot rule” as a point of celebration and renewed motivation to continue building access for those who wish to participate.
“The past year was a remarkable one in terms of the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft community’s growth,” said Earl Lawrence, EAA’s vice president of industry and regulatory affairs, who also chairs the ASTM International committee that created the consensus standards for light-sport aircraft.
EAA’s annual review regarding sport pilot/light-sport aircraft comes as interest in this new area of flying has met and surpassed the anticipated levels.
“The number of new, ready-to-fly airplanes available to sport pilots has blossomed in the past year,” Lawrence said. “There are more instructors, more training facilities and more opportunities than expected after two years under the new rule. Although much work remains to be done in a number of fronts, sport pilot offers a way to increase current participation in aviation. Even more importantly, it creates an entryway for those interested in outdoor recreation to consider aviation as a safe, affordable, fun and fulfilling pursuit.”
Click here for the full report.

Aviation gossip (7 September)
Australia -- Jetstar has been forced into an embarrassing reversal after accusing its own pilots of being among the worst in the country at obeying air traffic instructions and procedures. The Australian
Europe -- Aviation security experts from across the European Union began a two-day meeting Wednesday to consider an EU-wide ban on passengers carrying liquids onto planes as part of new anti-terror measures. IHT
America -- The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) congratulates Mary Peters on her nomination as Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT). This afternoon, President Bush made the announcement to fill the cabinet seat left vacant by Norm Mineta in July. Aero-news
America -- In just two years, the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft community has grown to be a significant and promising part of the general aviation picture. So say representatives with the Experimental Aircraft Association. Aero-news

Schlepping in style (6 September)
Planning to buy a second share in a private  jet? Maybe not, but shared small to medium jets is becoming big business in the USA and there’s now a buying guide for would-be owners, produced by the Helium Report.
It says: "In preparing our forthcoming Decision Guide to Private Aviation (available here), we’ve spoken with a number of private owners whose plane portfolio resembles their garage portfolio: different vehicles for different needs. An owner of a Gulfstream V may nonetheless purchase a share of a Hawker 400 to schlep the in-laws around on-the-cheap. It’s also a handy backup for when the GV has a flat tire.
"Within fractional ownership programs (CitationShares, FlexJet, Flight Options, NetJets), you’ll see owners purchase two separate 1/16 shares in two different aircraft, rather than a single 1/8 share. One share is for large, long-range trips; another for more intimate, regional destinations. This saves them the expense of an oversized plane, and may give them greater flexibility in airport runway requirements. It also eliminates the hassle, restrictions and penalties of interchange formulae."
Click here for the report

Airbus 380 takes staff for a spin (5 September)
Airbus has taken nearly 500 staff for a spin in its new A380 as part of its testing program.
The company reports: The Airbus A380 took off from Blagnac International Airport in Toulouse at 09:58 am local time this morning (4 September) with 474 passengers on board for the first in a series of four long flights or “Early Long Flights”. During the flights, the passengers, comprised of Airbus employees and cabin experts, will put the cabin through its paces.
In total, five A380 aircraft are involved in the flight test programme, four of which are powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines. To date, the test programme has accumulated almost 1900 flight hours in 600 flights. MSN001 is mainly used for loads identification and flight control development. MSN004 undergoes flying performance tests and MSN009 is used for testing the Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. Finally, the two aircraft that will complete the certification process with cabin and cabin systems testing are MSN002, which is performing the Early Long Flights programme, and MSN007, currently in Hamburg for a complete cabin installation, which will join the test programme in the lead up to certification. They are powered by Rolls Royce engines.
The company says it so far has 159 firm orders for the aircraft. Qantas is one of the airlines on the delivery list.
Full story at Airbus
http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_09_04_a380_elf.html

Plus…
The company reports it has appointed a new head of the 380  program, after production delays have set back the program for  the giant aircraft.
Airbus says: Mario Heinen (50) has been appointed Senior Vice President and Head of the A380 Programme with immediate effect. Mr Heinen has until now lead the Single Aisle Programme, and previously headed the Airbus Delivery Centres in Toulouse and Hamburg. He joined Airbus in 1999 coming from Lufthansa Technik, where he served as General Manager Aircraft Maintenance.

NZ safety chief resigns (5 September)
New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority chief executive John Jones' has resigned after weathering months of criticism.
TYVNZ reports: His position had been under threat after a scathing Coroner's report into the CAA was released three months ago.
The Civil Aviation Authority was partly blamed for the 2003 incident in which an Air Adventures plane fell short of Christchurch airport killing seven scientists and their pilot.
Click here for the full story at TVNZ

NTSB demands GE engine recall (5 September)
The US National Transport Safety Board has demanded that the Federal Aviation Administration toughen up its maintenance directive on GE6-80 engines, requiring inspections as early as 3000 cycles on some, and withdrawing some from service immediately.
An uncontained failure on the ground of an engine in a Boeing 767 at Los Angeles airport on 2 June prompted the call.
See the complete story at Flight Global

Charter operators win in terror scare (3 September)
From the Australian newspaper: Private jet companies in the US have seen a sharp rise in demand since the terror alert in London last month as executives and the rich look for ways to avoid crowded airports and tight security restrictions.
Click to see the full story

A500 about to be released (3 September)
Adam Aircraft in the USA says its A500 twin-engine six-seater (main picture) is very close to having complete FAA certification, allowing it to be released to customers. Limited production has already begun.
The company argues: Until the advent of the Adam A500, a large gap existed in the new, twin-engine aircraft market. Since the mid 1980s, non-pressurized light twins and pressurized turbine twins have been the only new aircraft available. For many customers, the light twins do not deliver enough performance over their single engine counterparts, while the turbine twins are outside of a reasonable acquisition and operating cost.  The Adam A500 is the perfect fit for an operator who wants a high performance aircraft, but not at a high performance price.
Adam Aircraft also says the inline engine design has the advantage of being much easier to fly with one powerplant out than a conventional design, where the latter develops strong asymmetric handling.
Meanwhile its very light jet, the A700 six-seater (inset) is flying and progressing through the certification process. This aircraft is entering an emerging, and potentially very crowded, market. However indications are that light jest are becoming increasingly popular for private charter and taxi services, particularly for people who want (and can afford) to circumvent the increasingly time-consuming and inconvenient security regimes being brought in by large commercial operations.
Adam Aircraft website

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