Content Archive: March 2007

Engines

Fairchild Dornier 328 and 728 get new leases on life

AvCraft CEO Ben Bartel in late January announced the restart of Dornier 328JET production at the company’s plant in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, just outside
Rotorcraft

Eurocopter dominates civil helo market

Eurocopter’s new boss believes that last year’s good sales figures should not hide the need for some changes in the company culture.
Engines

Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306s under fire, great plains closes

A cooling deficiency in Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW306B turbofan has forced the company to correct and recertify the design after turbine blades showed
Aircraft

Grob SPn flight tests resume

Grob Aerospace has restarted the flight-test program for its SPn jet, just under three months after the November 29 crash of its second prototype.

Pilots Acquiesce on MidAtlantic, Express Crews OK Merger

US Airways can no longer point to the lack of a pilot deal for any further delays in the launch of MidAtlantic Airways, as members of the Air Line Pilots A

Bombardier snags big CRJ orders

The Bombardier CRJ line of regional jets added to its ample order totals recently when over the span of two weeks Mesa Air Group and SkyWest Airlines each
Engines

Harbin-Embraer sells first ERJ-145s

Harbin-Embraer–the manufacturing joint venture established in January last year by Brazil’s Embraer and AVIC II subsidiaries Harbin Aircraft and Hafei Avia
Regulations and Government

Part 139 extends to small airports

A new final rule issued by the FAA last month will subject airports hosting scheduled flights in aircraft designed to hold between 10 and 30 passenger seat

Regional turboprops hold their own in a tough market

Last year saw reasonably brisk activity in the regional turboprop business, as the Western world’s remaining players scrambled to hold their positions duri
Rotorcraft

AB139: first flight impressions

fter flying the Bell/Agusta AB139, it is easy to see why Amedeo Caporaletti, president of Agusta and CEO of AgustaWestland, believes that this helicopter s