Story ID: 
Turbomeca Details New Chinese Helo Engine Cooperation
By: Thierry Dubois
Caption: Helicopter engine manufacturer Turbomeca is working on a 50-50 basis with Chinaπs Avic Engine on the WZ16 turboshaft that will power the Avicopter AC352 me
Word Count: 831
Helicopter engine manufacturer Turbomeca is working on a 50-50 basis with Chinaπs Avic Engine on the WZ16 turboshaft that will power the Avicopter AC352 medium twin, formerly known as the Z-15. Avic Engine is in charge of the compressor and accessory gearbox, Turbomeca officials told AIN. The France-based company is responsible for the combustor, turbines and control system. The engine, which is to provide ≥1,800 shp and more,≤ is derived from the Turbomeca Ardiden. The agreement covers development, production and support. The two companies have committed to have the engine certified in China ≥the year before the AC352 is certified.≤ The latter milestone was previously planned for next year, but the aircraft has not flown yet, thus bringing the schedule into question. Avic Engine has recently regrouped several manufacturers in China, such as SAIC and Dongan. The AC352 was initially to be offered only with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67Es, like the Eurocopter EC175. Eurocopter and Avicopter are jointly developing the 15,000-pound-class EC175/AC352.

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Make Your Voice Heard: Rate the FBOs
It is time to rate the FBOs! AINπs annual FBO survey is now online, and subscribers now have the opportunity to rate FBOs in four categories: line service, passenger amenities, pilot services and amenities, and facilities. The survey, devised by AINπs editors and designed and administered by Newtown, Conn.-based research firm Forecast International, is available online at www.forecastinternational.com/fbosurvey. To access the survey site, you must be an AIN subscriber and be in our pre-selected survey database. Those who have been selected to participate should have received a coded number and a link to the online survey Web site by e-mail; if we donπt have an e-mail address on file, you will receive a paper ballot form in the mail. All participants who complete the survey will be entered into a random drawing to win one of twenty $100 American Express gift cards. The survey deadline is February 4 at midnight. For more information, contact Jane Campbell, survey coordinator, at jcampbell@ainonline.com or (201) 444-5075.

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More on AINonline.com

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ATR story from Jan 20 (not posted yet)
Boeing story from Jan 20 (not posted yet)

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More Landing Gear Problems Found in Q400

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An emergency Airworthiness Directive issued by Transport Canada Monday calls for further inspection of Bombardier Q400 main landing gear (MLG) after line checks uncovered two cases of cam mechanism failure in the gearπs alternate extension system (AES).

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http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/more-landing-gear-problems-found-in-q400-28221/

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Nextant Aerospace today tapped Jerry Bemis as vice president of manufacturing. The Cleveland-based company said it is nearing FAA certification of its Nextant 400XT, a remanufactured Beechjet 400A/XP equipped with Williams FJ44-3AP engines and Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. Nextant expects to deliver 13 aircraft this year and 24 next year, and then it could ramp up production to four aircraft per month. The company plans to incorporate a Lean Six Sigma approach to its remanufacturing process.

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Aviation market data provider JetNet launched JetNet iQ, a forecasting and premium advisory service for the business aviation market. Available only to members, the service consists of three main components: JetNet iQ Reports, iQ Summits and iQ Consulting. IQ Reports will include quarterly state-of-the-industry data and forecasts; iQ Summits will provide networking opportunities; and iQ Consulting will provide customized research and analysis.

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Piper Aircraft today appointed Cutter Piper Sales of Carlsbad, Calif., as its dealer for new aircraft sales in Southern California. Cutter Piper Sales is a division of Cutter Aviation headquartered in Phoenix. Cutter Piper Sales joins the companyπs established Piper Aircraft dealership in Texas, Cutter Texas Piper, which has been serving that region since 1994.

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Nationwide reports of lasers pointed at airplanes almost doubled in 2010 from the previous year to more than 2,800, according to the FAA. This is the highest number of laser events recorded since the FAA began keeping track in 2005. Reports rose from nearly 300 in 2005 to 1,527 in 2009 and 2,836 in 2010. Los Angeles International Airport recorded the highest number of laser events in the country for an individual airport last year, with 102 reports.