NBAA Convention News » October 17, 2006

Digital video-on-demand coming to a cabin near you
November 7, 2006 - 9:20am

Cabin electronics specialist PGA Avionics (Booth No. 1473) is introducing at NBAA an in-flight entertainment system called Paradize 3, notable for incorporating digital video-on-demand capability.

Paradize 3 will be offered for sale next year, so PGA is exhibiting only some components of the system here in Orlando. As described by the manufacturer, the system’s network links an aircraft’s IFE system and cabin lighting.

Premier Aircraft launches Falcon engine upgrade
November 7, 2006 - 9:12am

East Alton, Ill.-based Premier Aircraft, a joint venture between Premier Air Center (Booth No. 2262) and Yankee Pacific Aerospace, has a launch customer for its Falcon 50-4 performance upgrade program. The program is on track for December STC certification and, with support from Honeywell (Booth No.
AgustaWestland delivers AW139 to South Africa
November 7, 2006 - 9:10am

AgustaWestland, the helicopter design and manufacturing company based in the UK and Italy, last month announced deliveries of the first AW139 and an A109 Grand to South Africa. The AW139 made its way via ferry flight from Milan, Italy, to Cape Town, South Africa, to join the static display at African Aerospace and Defence 2006. Outfitted with a VIP-configured interior, the helicopter stands out thanks to a special paint scheme.
WCA names scholarship recipients
November 7, 2006 - 8:57am

Women in Corporate Aviation is presenting three scholarships this week. All of them were open to candidates pursuing or interested in careers in corporate/ business aviation.
Duncan Aviation Completes Battle Creek Paint Hangar
November 7, 2006 - 8:56am

Duncan Aviation recently christened this 19,200-sq-ft paint hangar. According to a spokesman, the new hangar “significantly increases” the capacity of the Battle Creek, Mich. facility, which expects to turn out some 100 aircraft exterior paint projects next year. The facility adds 40 more paint slots annually and can accommodate aircraft as large as the Global Express–and more than one at a time using a two-zone air-flow system.
New Bizjets: Strong economy fuels new-aircraft development
November 7, 2006 - 8:48am

Aerion

Aerion SSBJ–Aerion continues on track with development efforts for its supersonic business jet. High-speed testing on the Aerion supersonic natural-laminar-flow wing was expected to be carried out last month by using a rocket sled to achieve the necessary Mach 1.5 test speed.
Telex Debuts New ANR Headset
November 7, 2006 - 8:29am

Telex Communications, a long-time provider of commercial aviation headsets, has a new product that offers battery-free active noise reduction (ANR). The Airman 850, being demonstrated at Booth No. 2106, is the only headset on the commercial market to use voltage from microphone bias to power its active noise reduction technology and requires no special aircraft panel power.
Riding the roller coaster
November 7, 2006 - 8:21am

Skyrocketing jet fuel prices did almost nothing to slow down high-flying business jet travelers, who collectively took to the skies in record numbers this year, according to industry statistics. Now that crude oil prices are falling, analysts predict economic growth will further boost the use of business jets by corporations and the well-to-do.
With RDT’s Tempus, there’s always a doctor on board
November 7, 2006 - 8:02am

Virgin Atlantic Airways is the latest major carrier to improve its passengers’ chances of surviving a major health problem in flight by investing in the Tempus medical emergency response system from Remote Diagnostics Technology (Booth No. 888).
New Turboprops: The VLJ invasion isn't hampering turboprop development
November 7, 2006 - 7:10am

Bell Agusta

BA609–The Bell Agusta BA609 tiltrotor program is progressing on schedule. On July 13, the second BA609 test aircraft (S/N 60002) performed its first ground run at AgustaWestland’s facility in Cameri, Italy. First flight of this aircraft is pending. S/N 60003 is also at the AgustaWestland facility in Cameri and S/N 60004 is on the assembly line at Bell’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas.

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