In a new book, “Embry-Riddle at War: Aviation Training During WWII,” Dr. Stephen Craft tells the story of the Embry-Riddle Co., a small Miami-based operation established in 1939 by pilot and businessman John Paul Riddle that developed into one of the nation’s largest aviation training centers for the U.S. military, its allies, and civilians. In […]
Cessna 400 gains EASA certification
Cessna Aircraft Co. has gained full type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the 400 Corvalis TT high performance, single-engine piston aircraft. The 400 Corvalis TT is billed as the world’s fastest fixed-gear single-engine piston aircraft with a top speed of 235 knots and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet. The 400 […]
A new Marine One? Maybe not.
What a difference a day makes. Less than 24 hours after Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling expressed confidence that the Obama Administration will give the go-ahead to the VH-71 presidential helicopter, even though costs for it have nearly doubled to $11.2 billion, that prospect darkened when the president called it an example of Bush Administration military […]
Augusta FBO prepares for Masters
Augusta Regional Airport Aviation Services (AGS) at Bush Field is gearing up for the annual Masters Golf Tournament, slated for April 6-12. AGS is offering an Avfuel AVTRIP promotion of bonus points to pilots refueling at the FBO during the tournament. Owned by the city of Augusta, the FBO is equipped with a passenger lounge, […]
Piper shutdown extended two weeks
Piper Aircraft has decided to shut down operations for one week in May and another week in June, in addition to closings of one week in April and one in July, which were announced earlier, said company spokesman Mark Miller on Feb. 24. The shutdowns will be without pay and will affect all employees, from […]
Heli-Expo ends on positive note
Heli-Expo 2009 set an attendance record despite the economic downturn, according to a closing day statement from Helicopter Association International. While a total of 17,373 people attended the show last year, this year’s final figures was 17,995, the association said as the show ended on Feb. 24. The 585 exhibitors reported high activity at their […]
Eclipse fails as financing evaporates
Eclipse Aviation sent an email to its remaining employees late in the day on Feb. 24, ending an effort by the company’s chairman and CEO, Roel Pieper, to buy the firm out of bankruptcy. The email said that the board of directors will support a group of creditors who have asked that the courts liquidate […]
RotorWay to build turbine trainer
RotorWay is planning an FAA-certified, two-seat, turbine helicopter that it hopes to have flying in time for EAA’s AirVenture this July. The first production helicopter in RotorWay’s 40-year history will fill “the pressing, unmet market for a moderately priced, two-seat, turbine helicopter for use in training programs, commercial environments, private piloting, aerial photography, film and […]
Sikorsky merges Schweizer into Global Helicopters unit
Sikorsky announced the formation of Sikorsky Global Helicopters on Feb. 23. It is a new umbrella business unit for the manufacturer’s commercial helicopters. The new operation will include Sikorsky S-76, S-92, H-92 helicopters and the Schweizer helicopter line. Schweitzer’s S-300c, S-300CBi, S-333 and S-434 henceforth will be marketed as Sikorsky helicopters. “The Schweizer name will […]