The Weekly of Business Aviation

The Silvercrest turbofan is now being tweaked to better meet the needs of its only remaining application, the wide-cabin Cessna Hemisphere.

Robinson Helicopter is stepping up studies of a diesel-powered variant of its R44 light helicopter as part of plans to hike performance and reduce fuel burn.

Era Group has emerged as the second disclosed customer for the Leonardo AW609 commercial tiltrotor.

The 407 GXi introduces Garmin’s G1000H NXi integrated avionics suite and an up-rated version of the Rolls-Royce M250 turbine engine.

Pratt & Whitney Canada has unveiled six new service packages as part of the company’s growing focus on tailored after-market support.

The first 20,000-ft.2 facility, located at Spirit’s Wichita headquarters, will support existing customer contracts as well as new work in the global aerostructures market, the company said.

Astronautics Corp. of America is testing the first engineering units of its new air-to-ground communications system, which it will provide to Airbus Helicopters.

Deliveries for new civilian helicopters for 2018-2022 are projected to total 4,000 to 4,200, aligning with five-year projections, a Honeywell forecast says.

Safran Helicopter Engines is working to achieve a demonstration flight of a hybrid distributed power system on a vertical-lift platform by 2020.

Kopter Group is looking for additional investors to support the certification and production ramp-up of its SH09 single-engine light helicopter.

A Portuguese company’s plans to buy Embraer KC-390 airlifters has shone a light on the leasing world’s new target: providing aircraft to global militaries.

Airbus Helicopters is preparing to ramp up production rates of its H175 super-medium and H225 heavy helicopter.

Pat Scharber has joined Jet Methods as director of sales and aircraft management.

Feb. 26-28—National Business Aviation Association Leadership Conference, Loews Coranado Bay Resort, San Diego, California, nbaa.org/events/leadership/2018/

Vodafone will begin trials of a 4G wireless-based radio positioning system for tracking small drones and also intervening with their operation if necessary.

Owners and operators of about 100,000 of the 160,000 general and business aviation aircraft in the U.S. are expected to upgrade their aircraft with ADS-B equipment.

Daher has introduced electrically heated seats to its 2018 production TBM 910 and TBM 930 aircraft as part of its cabin restyling.

Med-Trans Corp., an air medical transport company, and Care Flight have partnered to provide helicopter medical service to regions of Nevada and California.

Flying Colours Corp. has signed an agreement with Conair Group to modify six production Q400MR aircraft to support multipurpose mission

Oriens Maintenance Services has opened at London Biggin Hill in London.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics has signed an agreement with Aviation Battery Systems to distribute its StartStick and StartStick Fleet inflight rechargeable ground power units and accessories.

Air medical transport company Air Medical Resource Group has changed its name to Guardian Flight.

Gulfstream Aerospace will exhibit its new Gulfstream G500 and its flagship G650ER business jets at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo Feb. 26-28.

Former FAA employee Joshua Schultz employee, pleaded guilty to theft of government property and was sentenced to pay restitution of $8,176 and 36 months probation by the U.S. District Court of Utah.

PPG was awarded a contract from Bell for the production of heated pilot and co-pilot windshields for the Bell 525 Relentless commercial helicopter.