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The article informs that airline manufacturers are developing the first systems designed specifically to fly freely within national airspace, opening up untapped markets and operating realms that are currently off limits. According to Chris Dusseault, senior director of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GAASI)'s Protector unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program, it is cost prohibitive to take an existing airframe and force it through certification.

The article focuses on the introduction of Bell Helicopter's Model 429, a light twin helicopter with a larger cabin to be certified for single-pilot instrument flight rules. The helicopter features a passenger cabin, baggage space that can be combined to accommodate stretchers in an emergency medical service (EMS) configuration. The helicopter's size and weight has also placed it in the Part 27 certification category together with the AgustaWestland AW109 and Eurocopter EC135.

The article deals with the preparation of General Electric (GE) for the certification of the GEnx-1B and -2B engines for first flights on the Boeing 787 and 747-8, respectively. According to GEnx program manager Tom Brisken, delays to the 787 and 747-8 airplanes have been caused by both engine programs being compiled on top of each other. After the GEnx-2B's first flight on the testbed on March 23, 2009, GE's flight test director, Al Krejmas, claims that the focus for the initial seven test flights has been on performance.

The article presents information on various developments taking place in the aviation and aeronautic industries, the world over. Techsystems have teamed to compete for the new Israeli Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense program that Boeing is pursuing with partner Israel Aircraft Industries. Chile is making the International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit, part of its airline certification process. Kingfisher Airlines, the Indian carrier has taken delivery of the first of 35 ATR 72-500s. Qatar Airways says it is reopening the competition for 20 wide-body transports it initially said it would buy from Boeing. British and Irish air safety officials are looking into an incident last week where an Eirjet Airbus A320 was landed at the wrong airfield in Northern Ireland.

This section offers news briefs on the aerospace sector in Europe. The type certificate for the Eclipse 500 very light jet was suspended by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). France's 186 billion euros five-year defense spending bill was approved by the French Senate's foreign affairs, defense and armed forces committee without change. Alenia Aeronautica has launched the first of 18 refurbished and upgraded G.222 tactical transports of the Italian air force purchased by the U.S. for the Afghan National Army Air Corps.

The article informs that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification and initial deliveries of Raytheon Aircraft Co.'s Hawker 4000 super-mid-size business jet are anticipated later this year, as the company begins deliveries of the Hawker 850XP and boosts production of the Premier IA to meet demand. The Hawker 4000's landing gear system is free of scheduled overhaul and uses carbon brakes that can remain in service for up to 1,200 landings. Instead of using nickel-cadmium batteries, the company chose to install dual lead acid units because they are less expensive, reduce maintenance costs and are disposable when no longer serviceable.

The article offers aviation industry news briefs as of November 24, 2014. Topics discussed include use of piston-pump technology by XCOR Aerospace for moving cryogenic propellants in a hot wire test of the XR-5H25 engine, European Aviation Safety certification received by Air France KLM Engineering and Maintenance to complete MRO services on GE GEnx engines at its Amsterdam Schipol Airport facility and the U.K. Royal Air Force became the third air arm to operate Airbus A400M airlifter.

The article discusses how increasingly integrated and connected nature of cockpits are pushing certification costs higher. It mentions that for Rockwell Collins, the certification costs has caused certification costs to outweigh product development costs. Other topics include need of risk-based certification processes, and advancement in human-machine interfaces (HMI).

The article informs that conglomerate firm General Electric has started assembly of the aircraft engine GE9X for the certification program.

The article discusses the manufacture of electric-powered light aircraft, and the lack of relevant regulations. Topics include certification standards from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); the WattsUp electric craft created by manufacturer Pipistrel Aircraft using a fourth-generation battery management system (BMS); and WattsUp's designation as a light sport aircraft (LSA).

The article reports that aircraft maker Aerion Corp. will submit its initial application for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification of its still-embryonic supersonic business jet by the end of 2017. Topics include senior vice president Mike Hinderberger saying that it is best to make an early submission due to the tendency for aircraft to gain pounds during development, and program officials expected to choose an engine for the trijet AS2 by summer or fall 2016.

The article focuses on the recommendations issued by the Icelandic Transportation Safety Board (ITSB) in response to the belly landing by a Sukhoi Superjet 100 during certification expansion flight testing in July 2013. Topics covered include the call for the air navigation service provider Isavia to create a task group to develop procedures for flight-testing, the discovery of errors in the Superjet gear-up landing and runway excursion and the violations of standard operating procedures.

The article reports on the flight test of the A400M military airlifter to be conducted by Airbus Military in its facility in Seville, Spain in December 2009. The flight, which will demonstrate the basic handling characteristics of the aircraft, will also focus on achieving military certification. Chief military test pilot Ed Strongman states that basic performance checks will occur during the test. The adjustments being made on the engine are also mentioned.

The article reports on the plan of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. and PowerJet to ramp up production and bring the new model into service despite the fact that the Superjet 100 certification test program has not yet been completed. Management changes that reflect a shift in the focus of the companies include the appointment of Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk as president. The first production aircraft that are already in the final assembly shop are SN95007 and SN95008.

The article reports on the expectation of Airbus that it will receive certification in August 2009 for an enhanced traffic-alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) aimed at removing ambiguities and helping pilots avoid potential conflicts. It notes the two main improvements that Airbus planned to achieve, namely, enhancement of the visual display of what pilot needs to do to avoid a conflict and allow the autopilot to fly a resolution advisory automatically.

This section offers news briefs concerning the aerospace industries in Europe as of April 2009. The certification trials of the Embraer 190 regional jet for the steep approaches required for London City Airport has started in the first week of April. Eleven of the Boeing 757 airplanes of British Airways will be sold for cargo conversion. Airbus Germany has admitted that it breached the worker's privacy in an effort to know if their employees were taking kickbacks from suppliers.

The article reports that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is shouldering responsibility for missteps made in the certification of the Eclipse 500 very light jet and aims to modify regulatory processes to accommodate advanced technology aircraft. An investigated was requested by the House Aviation subcommittee after FAA certification engineers and inspected alleged that senior management ignored their safety concerns about the aircraft's design and manufacturing. The audit is also looking on FAA's focus on safety.

The article reports that Bell is trying to determine both the cost and length of the testing program for its Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. The company is switching to a larger engine, and Bell is hoping earlier U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications will hold and allow it to trim testing and cost. According to Bob Kenney, executive vice president of military programs for Bell, the company has removed other items from the Kiowa helicopter program to avoid costly flight tests.

The article reports that the NH90 helicopter consortium is scrambling to offset delays that have restrained deliveries of the naval NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) variant ordered by France, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway. However, it says that certification issues, lingering mission system deficiencies and a likely shortage of flight-test personnel pose major challenges. It states that three production-standard aircraft of the NFH90 naval version are now available for certification flights and mission system testing.

The article presents information on the simulation of an Airbus A380. It reflects that the simulation will mark one more step in the certification of the aircraft. The test is scheduled on March 26, 2006, which will be jointly monitored by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. It is expected to prove that 871 passengers and crew-members can safely exit the double-deck mega-transport in no more than 90 sec., using only half of 16 doors in complete darkness.

Presents several letters to the editor related to civil aviation. Comment on Robert Wall's "Intelligent Action" article; Argument pertaining to Jason Steele's critique of legacy carriers; Views on the certification of the Airbus A380; Features of civil aircraft A380.

Presents developments related to aviation industry as of August 11, 2003. Investigation of a hydraulic failure of V-22 Osprey airpalne; Initial post-launch tests passed by science instruments on the two Mars Exploration Rovers; Certification of L-3 Communications Corp. for the examiner 3DX 1000 Explosives Detection System.

With Boeing Co.'s completion last week of the third certification test flight of its prototype fuel inerting system, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration moved closer to its goal of eliminating the risk of fuel tank explosions on transport aircraft. Boeing Co. completed design requirements and applied for certification of its onboard Flammability Reduction System, which was a more cost-effective solution than previous, prohibitively priced ground-based inerting systems.

Features GE90-115B engine derivative test of the General Electric Aircraft Engines (GEAE). Requirements on the engines service maturity and reliability; Appropriation for the certification of approval; Keys on strengthen reliability.

The article reports on pre testing predictions for the Trent 1000 TEN engine from Rolls-Royce for the Boeing 787 aircraft. It include comments from Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 project director Gary Moore, regarding the certification testing of the program. It adds the results of the testing of the Engine 11003 at the Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Reports on Raytheon Aircraft Co.'s efforts to accelerate the certification process for its Premier I business jet plane as of October 11, 1999. Results of developmental testing; United States Federal Aviation Administration's involvement in the certification process.

Reports on how reviews provoked by the crash of Swissair Flight 111 in 1998 have convinced United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials that materials certified for use as non-flammable airframe insulation in almost all large transports built in the last 35 years may be highly flammable if exposed to heat. Top officials' belief that there is no reason to order airlines to replace the insulation; Results of an FAA study; Tests conducted; Development of a new standard for certifying insulation.

Reports that the Eurocopter AS 350-B3 was granted VFR certification by France. The craft a high-performance version of the Ecureuil/AStar; Specialized equipment; Orders for the craft from Eurocopter; Other enhanced models; Germany a public client.

Reports that the US Federal Aviation Administration's certification of the Ilyushin IL-103 utility aircraft in 1996 will provide a foundation leading to certification of the IL-96 transport later in the decade. Certification progress affected by an acute lack of working capital and focus by the Russian government; Preference for a joint certification approach.

Reports on the proposed evaluation of the Cockpit Weather Information Needs (CWIN), a benchmark, experimental cockpit display system designed to provide pilots with en route weather information by United Airlines and NASA. Purpose of the cockpit display unit; Composition of the display unit; Other details of the project.

Reports on the certification of the Boeing 777 engine programs of General Electric Co., Rolls-Royce Ltd. and Pratt & Whitney Corp. by various aviation authorities. Names of the engines; Description of various tests on the engines; Agencies which certified the engines.

The article reports that the General Electric Honda HF120 engine for the HA-420 HondaJet light business aircraft has been awarded the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 33 engine certification in 203.

The article focuses on the C919 jet transport plane being constructed by the aerospace industries firm Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac). The likelihood that sales of the C919 will be limited to China's airline industry due to the possible refusal of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accept the Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) certification of the transport's airworthiness is examined.

The article discusses the development and certification plans for the CFM Leap engine which is a product of the joint venture of General Electric (GE) and Snecma. It also discusses the improvement plans and test programs for the better and efficient CFM Leap engines. It also discusses the comparison of the Leap engine with its competitor, Pratt & Whitney's PW 1000G geared turbofan. Details relating to the basic architecture of the Leap engine are also presented.

The article discusses the certification memorandum (CM) being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to advise product developers to ensure the quality of standards nuts and bolts. Particular focus is given to the "2012 Safety Information Bulletin" from which the EASA partly based the CM. Details relating to the design review, which is to be performed by design approval holders to help reduce the risk of installing defective fasteners, are presented.

The article reports on the goal of aircraft manufacturer Embraer to expand the standard for midsize jets. It states that the company is preparing to fly its Legacy 450, a year after it flew the Legacy 500. It mentions the progress of the Legacy 500 toward certification in the first half of 2014, after being delayed for over a year.

The article reports on the civil certification program being sought by AgustaWestland for its AW101, a medium/heavy helicopter. It states that the helicopter remains at the center of a controversy in India over that country's choice of a helicopter for Very Important Person (VIP). It cites that the selection of the helicopter as replacement for Sea Kings in the antisubmarine-warfare role became a key election topic in Canada.

The article reports on the lack of big aircraft for moderate ranges, despite the lightweight A330-300 certification. It states that although Airbus now offers the aircraft with paperwork for a gross weight as low as 199 metric tons (439,000 lb.) the A330-300 will still have the unchanged wing, engines and structure of an airliner capable of operating at 242 tons. It notes that there is no Western aircraft which is designed to transport over 200 passengers over only moderate ranges.

The article discusses preparations being done by aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney with regard to the entry of its PW1100G turbofan engine into certification test phase for the Airbus A320neo aircraft. It acknowledges significance of this certification to the engine development operations of the company. The testing of the cooling-flow revisions to the engine which aim to counter thermal distress is reported. Brief details about the delivery schedule set for the engine are also given.

The article discusses developments in the aviation industry, particularly in the four-seat single-engine aircraft market, as of late July 2013. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it is committed to revise the outdated Part 23 certification regulations. The opinion of General Aviation Manufacturers Association's (GAMA) Greg Bowles on the developments is also cited.

The article discusses the status of the aerospace manufacturing industry in the Mexican city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua as of April 2013, focusing on analyses of several general and business aviation original equipment manufacturers in the city. The Cenaltec workforce training center, which was established in 2000, is mentioned, along with international certification standards for aerospace industry assembly workers. The aersopace harness-making firm Labinal Inc. is also mentioned.

The article states that helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland is developing and flight-testing three rotary-wing aircraft, the AW189 medium twin, the AW169 intermediate twin, and the AW609 civil tiltrotor. It mentions it has six prototypes for the AW189/149 and is pushing toward certification of its helicopters. It comments the helicopters are spinoffs from the AW139 medium twin and reports the AW189 uses two CT702E1 turboshaft engines by conglomerate corporation General Electric.

The article focuses on purchase orders for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) aircraft C919 and efforts to get the aircraft certified in the U.S. It states that many agreements to purchase the C919 are options and nonbinding. It mentions that private investors trying to use the Eastern Air Lines brand to start a new air carrier in the U.S. inked a memorandum of understanding with Comac which may oblige the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to consider certifying the C919.

The article reports that video-based air traffic control (ATC) towers designed and constructed by Sweden's telecommunications company Saab Sensis will be ready for certification in June or July 2013. Topics include the installation of a remote tower at Sweden's Sundsvall Airport, an overview of virtual ATC towers, and the development of a virtual ramp control system for a commercial airport in the U.S. by Canada's Searidge Technologies.

The article reports that although the rotorcraft certifications of the Chinese helicopter manufacturer Avicopter are not recognized by Western countries, Avicopter has received Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certifications for the AC311 and AC313 helicopters in 2012. Topics include airworthiness, aircraft design and development, and the manufacturers AugustaWestland and Chongqing Helicopter.

The article discusses superjet deliveries by Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) that may begin by the end of 2010. The possible certification of Sukhoi's Superjet 100 (SSJ) regional jet by Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee Aviation Register is mentioned. Prospective operators of the SSJ are noted to include the Armenian carrier Armavia and the Aeroflot company.

The article focuses on the test flight schedule of the Airbus A400M Grizzly. It states that Airbus Military is confident that the A400M's civil certification program will be finished by the end of 2011 despite delays caused by inclement weather and engine changes caused by an actuator failure and foreign object damage. Airbus senior vice president Fernando Alonso said that initial tests on tail skid limits were complete and that they were ready to test the A400M on unprepared runways.

The article reports on the start of the flight test for the EC175 aircraft jointly developed by Eurocopter and Avicopter at the former's plant in Marignane, France on December 17, 2009. The test will continue through 2012 while the companies are awaiting certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Information about the aircraft provided to date were its radius of operation and the range. The aircraft is said to target the markets of Dolphin and Super Puma dominated by AugustaWestland.

The article presents an update on the aircraft industry as of December 14, 2009. Citationair has offered a guarantee of the residual values of its pre-owned Citation aircraft for up to three years. Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (Embraer) has received production certificates from the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação (ANAC) for its Phenom 300 light jet. Gulfstream Aerospace has completed a series of flight tests for G650 aircraft.

The article discusses preparations made by Boeing for a series of simultaneous certification tests on the 747-8 and 787 aircraft. The company is currently utilizing the extra time caused by delays for training and qualifying flight-test engineers and air pilots. The nine test aircraft would prompt Boeing to hire additional test crew members.