Bell Helicopter has delivered the 1000th production 407, with the aircraft going to Japanese company Shin-Nihon Helicopter Corporation Ltd. The aircraft was handed over at a ceremony at Bell’s manufacturing facility in Mirabel, Canada. Shin-Nihon also operates 12 other Bell helicopters, and has had a 50 year association with the manufacturer. It will use the new
Canadian training giant CAE has purchased a 53 per cent stake in Jandakot based China Southern WA Flying College (CSWAFC) and will operate it as part of its CAE Global Academy network. With the acquisition, the college will be operated as a joint venture between CAE and China Southern Airlines. CSWAFC has been in operation since
Hawker Beechcraft Services has announced that it has received certification for its composite King Air winglets, which are now available as a retrofit on C90 and E90 model aircraft. Hawker announced the winglets as a major part of its C90x upgrade package at the 2009 EAA AirVenture expo at Oshkosh. “The King Air 90x package
US private equity fund the Carlyle Group has reportedly moved to acquire Alliance Airlines and Airwork parent company Contract Aviation Industries and is also interested in acquiring Cobham Aviation Services Australia (formerly National Jet Systems). According to a report in The Australian newspaper, Carlyle has made a $350 million bid for CAI, which was formed
The first Boeing 787 powered by General Electric GEnx-1B engines made its first flight from Everett’s Paine Field on June 16. Aircraft ZA005 took off at approximately 1440 local time and flew for three hours and 48 minutes. “The airplane handled just like I expected,” said Boeing’s Captain Mike Bryan, who captained the flight. “It
Virgin Blue has completed its move across to a new $10 million computer reservations system, which promises the carrier more functionality. The changeover from its Open Skies system to the Navitaire New Skies system was successfully completed over two days during the Queen’s Birthday long weekend to minimise any downtime. During the 28 hour cutover
