Asked recently how Hawker Beechcraft is doing, company chairman and CEO Bill Boisture’s answer of, “We’re doing all right,” was abbreviated at best. The long answer is more enlightening. “The progress we’re making in transformation of the company through Project Challenge is very significant,” Boisture said, answering more at length.
Aircraft
October 10, 2011 - 4:50am
Engineering modification house Ikhana Aircraft Services (Booth No. C7116) expected to receive FAA supplemental type certification (STC) of its DH-6 Twin Otter fuselage life extension by the time the NBAA show began, adding to a range of other upgrades the company offers for the twin-engine turboprop.
October 10, 2011 - 4:00am
Eclipse Aerospace CEO Mason Holland said the company is currently building two refurbished Total Eclipse jets a month and still hopes to eventually start up a new aircraft production line. “We’ve got pretty good throughput now,” he said, adding that the company’s top priority is supporting the 260 aircraft that came off the production line at the original Eclipse Aviation before it cratered into bankruptcy in 2008.
October 10, 2011 - 3:50am
Demonstrating its technological range and capabilities, UK-based Cobham (Booth No. C10124) is highlighting recent platform wins by its Commercial Systems business unit. The company will provide an integrated avionics suite for the new Skylander SK-105 utility aircraft, and it has been tapped by Embraer (Booth No. N5132) to provide an advanced flight display system for 14 EMB-312 Tucano trainers being upgraded for the Columbian air force.
October 10, 2011 - 3:40am
Wing-tip extensions–known as winglets–that reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel efficiency and range have become familiar features on a variety of business and commercial jets. Quiet Wing Technologies (Booth No. C10432), Redmond, Wash., says it was the first company to certify winglets on a transport category aircraft–the venerable Boeing 727, many of which are still in operation as VIP-configured aircraft.
October 10, 2011 - 2:50am
ABS Jets is accelerating its development as a comprehensive business aviation services group and is here at the NBAA show (Booth No. C13618) to explain how it can support U.S. operators in central and eastern Europe. On September 27, the Czech-based company opened its second hangar at Prague’s Ruzyně Airport and from January it will be able to provide handling there for other operators. It plans to open a full-service FBO by 2013.
October 10, 2011 - 2:25am
Nexcelle (GE Aviation, Booth No. 1833) is developing the nacelles for two new engines from GE Aviation and CFM International, a partnership between GE and Safran for business and commercial aircraft: the GE Passport 20 and the CFM International Leap-X1C.
October 10, 2011 - 2:10am
EMS Aviation is appearing at NBAA’11 for the first time as a member of the Honeywell Aerospace family. As part of the acquisition of parent company EMS Technologies for $491 million, EMS Aviation became part of Honeywell Aerospace (Booth No. N4500) in August.
October 10, 2011 - 1:50am
Global MRO provider StandardAero (Booth No. N6116) kicked off a series of 100th anniversary celebrations in September at several of its 26 worldwide service and support locations, starting with its Winnipeg, Canada facility. The largest single site in the StandardAero network with more than 1,000 employees–more than a quarter of its total workforce–Winnipeg is also the company’s birthplace.
October 10, 2011 - 1:30am
The Quest Kodiak turboprop single is going upscale. Quest Aircraft is displaying an aircraft at the NBAA static display with an executive interior installed by St. Paul, Minn.-based Wipaire, a Kodiak factory-authorized service center. Quest also is soliciting design input at the show for another factory-installed executive interior offering called Summit that it plans to unveil next year.
