Transportation Industry

Aircraft News - North America

AirGuide Business, Sept 8, 2008

Sikorsky

Sikorsky's ambitious X2 prototype, designed to conquer the 170kt (315km/h) speed barrier for conventional helicopters, passed its first test by getting airborne for 30min on 27 August. The first flight, at Sikorsky's Schweizer Aircraft rapid prototyping facility in Horseheads, New York, tested hover performance and forward speed up to 20kt. Test pilot Kevin Bredenbeck says vibration levels were less than for a production aircraft. The X2 now enters a 16-month, four-phase flight-test period to demonstrate a 250kt top speed using a coaxial main rotor, aft pusher propeller and fly-by-wire controls. Sep 2, 2008

Southwest Airlines

The FAA has been under pressure from Congress to tighten oversight of airlines after a whistleblower case earlier this year uncovered inspection and oversight lapses at Southwest Airlines, which was fined a record USD$10.2 million. Southwest has resisted FAA demands for payment. Sturgell and senior aides would not discuss individual cases under investigation but indicated the problems were not as serious as the Southwest matter, which involved flying planes that were overdue for inspections covering fuselage cracks. Nor are the shortcomings on par with lapses at American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other carriers, which grounded hundreds of planes and canceled thousands of flights last spring for incomplete wiring work. Officials repeatedly mentioned record-keeping problems but said no airline, aircraft type or safety directive stood out as singularly problematic.

There is no evidence at this point that airlines willfully disregarded directives, officials said. The FAA examined more than 5,600 directives in the review. These advisories, most made in collaboration with the aircraft of systems manufacturer, typically range from matters as simple as floor lighting to complex and costly or engine inspections and related work. Nevertheless, the agency continues to investigate those that fell short and did not exclude the possibility of fines or other penalties. There is no timeline for completing the investigations. Sturgell said all compliance issues raised during the FAA review were resolved before specific aircraft were allowed to fly. Sep 6, 2008

Spectrum Airlines, Grob

Grob SPn as the only all-composite business jet. Spectrum has asked us to clarify that its S-33 has flown and development of its Freedom S-40 continues. Sep 1, 2008

ZZ 080901

Editorial eMail: edit@AirGuideOnline.com

For Air Transport & Travel Business Experts contact our Director of Content Aram Gesar eMail: bizintel@AirGuideOnline.com

For Advertising and Marketing: advert@AirGuideOnline.com

For Custom Content: content@AirGuideOnline.com