Week in brief October 29 2010

While whispers have been around since Oshkosh in July, the rumour mill went into overdrive this week concerning a possible new single engine turboprop from Cessna. Well, earlier this week we cut to the chase and asked Cessna CEO, Chairman and President Jack Pelton directly how much truth there is to the rumours. And straight from the horses mouth the word is that Cessna is currently flying a technology demonstrator of a new single engine turboprop aircraft but are still a fair way from delivering the finished product. Pelton has previously hinted that the new aircraft will fill the niche between the Corvallis TT and the Citation Mustang. Here’s a few of the rumours we’ve come across this week regarding the project (some of them have come from legitimate sources and are all but confirmed):
- The demonstrator aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A, the same series of engines used in older Cessna Conquests and the King Air C90. (confirmed)
- The aircraft would ideally have a cruise speed of more than 300 knots and would cost between US$1 and US$2.2 million. (confirmed)
- The aircraft will have at least six seats and a range of at least 1000 nautical miles.
- The demonstrator aircraft is currently being stored in Pelton’s personal hangar at his holiday home.
- A number of people in the US have claimed to have seen the demonstrator in action, or have talked to someone who has.
Pelton says an official announcement on what’s come to be known as either the Cessna E350 or ‘turboprop Mustang’ project will be made in the coming weeks, so watch this space.

Here’s an aviation promotional idea that could stick. Sue Hughes, an aviation technical writer and flight instructor in the US, has written a three-book series of children’s books to inspire youngsters to learn to fly once they have a few more years to their names. The books feature Claire Bear, a pink-clad, aerobatic pilot and mentor to aspiring aviators, and are aimed at stirring an interest in aviation among children aged between three and seven. And she’s definitely gaining recognition – two of the books, Claire Bear’s First Solo and Claire Bear Explains…What Pilots Fly were finalists in USABookNews.com’s recent Best Books 2010 Awards. “I consider this series as ground school for preschoolers,” Hughes has said. “It’s never too soon to start pilot training.” Could this be a novel way of spreading the word that flying offers ludicrous amounts of fun and in turn help promote GA to the public masses? Admittedly the books are aimed squarely at young girls – just check out their publisher’s website – but we think there’s merit in the idea in general. It’d certainly be a way of getting in early, to say the least.

US aircraft manufacturer and major helicopter player Sikorsky plans on making a major investment in Eclipse Aerospace, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 light jet. Both companies are said to have agreed in principle to the move and are excited about the potential of the new venture. Details including how much Sikorsky is considering pumping into Eclipse and when it might happen have been kept under wraps for now. 260 Eclipse 500s were delivered from 2006 through to 2008, when production was put on hold due to a lack of funds, so it’ll be interesting to see if Sikorsky’s entry into the picture will lead to more jets being built.

CASA has released its final report of aeronautical studies of the airspace at Coffs Harbour Aerodrome. Coffs has air traffic services, operates with Class D airspace and has a mix of traffic ranging from GA aircraft through to Boeing 737s. While airspace users consider the aerodrome safe and efficient, some users expressed concern that regular public transport (RPT) operations do not always comply with the circuit direction when the air traffic control tower is closed. One can imagine the trouble this could render for pilots of smaller aircraft. The report also found a number of incidents where parachute operators failed to comply with an air traffic instruction or procedure. Click here to read the Coffs Harbour aeronautical report.

Dubai-based SJ30 light jet manufacturer Emivest Aerospace has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a number of order cancellations and delays. Emivest’s financial troubles come as a bit of a surprise, given only two years ago they received a cash injection from oil-rich Dubai when Emirates Investment and Development Corp. purchased an 80 per cent stake in Texas-based SJ30 developer Sino Swearingen. Three examples of the single-pilot certified, five-seat US$7.2 million SJ30 jet have been delivered to date, including one to actor Morgan Freeman last December, while another three aircraft are currently on the production line. Emivest hopes to continue operations while under bankruptcy protection, and with around 200 orders already placed we dare say their customers do too.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US is said to be publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that will require pilot certificates to include a photo of the licence holder. At the moment US pilots must carry a government-issued photo ID in addition to their pilot certificate, but a US law passed in 2004 requires pilot certificates themselves to include a photo as well as a facility to record biometric data. In a letter to the FAA, Congressman John Mica, who is pushing for the change, wrote, “It is mind-boggling that six years [after passing the law], after spending millions of dollars, the FAA license still does not have a photograph. The only pilots pictured on the licence are Wilbur and Orville Wright!”

Here’s an interesting fact that’s emerged from the Australian Airports Association annual convention held in Adelaide earlier this week. Nearly a third of the Airservices Australia workforce is eligible for retirement in the next three to five years, posing some significant challenges for that organisation; particularly given that it needs to increase the size of its workforce by around five per cent in the same timeframe to cater for new service programs.

UNSW Aviation, the aviation department at the University of New South Wales, is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its formation next month. And with seven shiny new Diamonds (six Diamond DA40CS single engine four seaters and one twin engine Diamond DA42 L360) added to its fleet earlier this year, we dare say they're looking forward to the next 15 years and beyond.

If you’re keen for a dose of Australian aviation history, be sure to get along to the Airways Museum open day on Saturday November 13 at Essendon Airport. The focus of this year’s event is the history of Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting service (ARFF). A new aviation fire fighting photographic exhibition will be opened and there will be guest speakers and films shown throughout the day. As part of the open day, Airservices will also have one of the latest Rosenbauer Panther Mk 8 Ultra Large Fire Vehicles on hand for inspection. For more info click here.

Cessna’s senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Roger Whyte, is retiring after 28 years with the aircraft manufacturer. He’ll be replaced by Cessna’s current senior vice president, Customer Service, Mark Paolucci, who himself started at Cessna more than three decades ago as a design engineer working down on the factory floor. Former US Air Force pilot Brad Thress will move into the senior vice president, Customer Service position.