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News -- April, 2007
Indonesia not safe – FAA (29 April)
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that Indonesia does not comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), following a consultation with the Indonesian civil aviation authority on March 6, 2007.
The FAA had previously assessed Indonesia's civil aviation authority in September, 1997, and found it in compliance with ICAO standards. However, after the latest consultation, the agency determined that Indonesia was no longer overseeing the safety of its airlines in accordance with international standards.
Indonesia’s safety rating was lowered from Category 1 to Category 2. A Category 1 rating means the country’s civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. A Category 2 rating means a country either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, or that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the FAA – is deficient in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record keeping or inspection procedures.
Source: FAA
Falcon 7X certified
Dassault Aviation has received full type certification for the Falcon 7X from both the EASA and FAA, just two years after the first flight of the prototype. It is expected to enter service before the end of June 2007
Source: Dassault
Gatton attracts wide interest
From Gatton Airpark in Qld: Gatton is now leading the rest of Australia with the development of the Airpark, and often visited by people from other communities such as Bundaberg and Casino seeking advice. The Malaysian Government has already expressed an interest in doing something similar…
More – click here
GA sales up in USA
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) in the USA has announced that shipments and billings of general aviation airplanes achieved a solid first quarter for 2007 following last year's strong numbers. Shipments of general aviation airplanes for the first three months of this year totaled 842 units, in line with last year's 847 airplanes, while industry-wide billings were $4.5 billion, up 11.3 percent.
“The first quarter shows that we are sustaining the delivery rates of last year and are maintaining announced production schedules,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA’s President and CEO. “Our industry is working hard to ensure that this momentum is maintained and that general aviation continues to shine as a bright spot of the manufacturing community.”
Source: GAMA
Flying observatory takes off
 NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has completed its first test flight following extensive aircraft modification and telescope integration at the company's L-3 Integrated Systems (L-3 IS) Waco, Texas facility.
SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP extensively modified to carry a 45,000-pound (20 metric ton), 98.4-inch (2.5-meter) diameter infrared telescope assembly provided by the German Aerospace Center, DLR. SOFIA will fly at altitudes up to 45,000 feet (13.7 km) - above more than 99 percent of the Earth's water vapor - to capture infrared images and spectra not possible by even the largest ground-based telescopes.
Source: NASA
Boeing backs mid-east conference
Boeing International is supporting the Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority by becoming the Main Sponsor for the Second International Arab Aviation Security Conference which is being held in Jeddah 7-9 Rabea Al Awal, 1428 (March 26-28, 2007). The Conference will be attended by heads of Civil Aviation authorities from the Arab world and representatives of other regional and international organizations.
Source: Albawaba
 
Ambitious X2 for Sikorsky
 Sikorsky is working on a project called the X2, intended to be a number of variations on co-axial aircraft (some of them heavy lifters) with considerably greater endurance and speed than is now accepted as the norm.
The company says: “X2 Technology refers to an integrated suite of technologies that improve the performance of coaxial helicopters. These include a number of state-of-the-art technologies that will enable a new generation of helicopters to fly at high speed, but retain all the desirable flying qualities of a helicopter at low speed, without any in-flight configuration transition. The term X2 refers to not only the most visible feature of this helicopter - two main rotors -- but also refers to the intended benefits of this technology -- roughly twice the speed and twice the distance.”
Source: Sikorsky
Pakistan to start tourist heli flights
From the PakTribune: Minister for tourism, Nilofar Bakhtiar has said government will liberalize tourism policy with introducing new packages for tourists and launching helicopter service to facilitate the tourists to seek access to the tourism sites.
She said this while addressing first session entitled "Low cost carriers" of the World Tourism Organisation Conference here Thursday.
Source: PakTribune
GA show a big success
After four days with optimal flying conditions, the International Trade Exhibition for General Aviation ended with excellent results on Sunday (22 April 2007). Trade visitors, many of whom hold a flying license, came from 40 different countries on all five continents to Friedrichshafen, Germany. Exhibitors reported making top-notch contacts, meeting international customers, and concluding a large number of business deals. A total of 45,000 visitors at AERO 2007 discovered the latest developments in the exciting world of aviation.
Look for a report from Martin Hone, in the near future.
Source: Aero Friedrichshafen
New site sponsor
Welcome to our latest site sponsor, the good folk at Eco2000 who are offering a new, biodegradable aircraft wash called Zi-400. See Eco2000.com.au
Red Bull Air Races underway (26 April)
The Red Bull air race series is underway. See the banner at the top of our home page for video highlights. British pilot Paul Bonhomme won the opening round. Click here for the website.
Natfly 2007 (10 April)
The light sport aircraft folk turned on a massive meeting for this year’s Natfly. Martin Hone was there for AllFlying, and brings you a report plus lots of pics at this link.
Self-perpetuating pilot shortage in India (3 April)
India’s pilot shortage has developed an ugly self-perpetuating motion, where any competent instructor hired by a flying school is promptly snapped up by an airline with the offer of a bigger pay packet. The situation is so bad that only 18 of the country’s 35 flying schools are said to be operational, and are turning out just 150 pilots a year.
See this report from DNA India
Oz NH90 takes flight (3 April)
 Media release: The first Australian NH90 – Tactical Transport Helicopter version (TTH) wearing the Customer designation TAUA01 took off from Marignane (France), the Eurocopter’s facility on Thursday 28 March. The flight lasted 1 hour and 35 minutes away from the airfield and fulfilled all expectations.
NH Industries
Delta trial electric wheels (3 April)
Delta airlines in the USA has signed up to further develop onboard electric engines which drive the landing gear on heavy jets during taxi, in the hope on saving the cost of tugs and/or fuel burn on the main engines. The company says it will be trialling the system, which has been in development for several years, on its B-737s. The pic shows an early version,, which is now said to be smaller and better integrated with the nose wheel assembly.
Wheel tug website
First UAE heli pilot (3 April)
Horizon International Flight Acadamy in the United Arab Emirates claims to be the first school of its kind in the Middle East, and has licensed the first helicopter pilot to be trained exclusively at the facility.
The firm boasts a fleet of 15 new Robinson R44s, plus 5 Cessnas.
Academy site
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