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Bombardier Flies Learjet 85

Bombardier flew its Learjet 85 for the first time Wednesday and prepared a video on the project to that point.
Bombardier flew its Learjet 85 for the first time Wednesday and prepared a video on the project. 

Bombardier celebrated the long-awaited first flight of its Learjet 85 midsized business jet Wednesday.

Bombardier said the aircraft performed “as expected” after about a four-month delay. Bombardier got approval from the FAA to fly the aircraft in late February but weather and software issues caused further delays.

The first flight lasted a little more than two hours and the crew consisted of Capt. Ed Grabman, chief flight test pilot, co-pilot Jim Dwyer and flight test engineer Nick Weyers. They took it to 30,000 feet and 288 mph.

“It was a very successful first flight,” spokeswoman Annie Cossette told the Wichita Eagle. “All flight controls were exercised, and the systems and aircraft performed as expected.”

The aircraft was announced in 2007 and is Bombardier’s first mostly-composite business jet. It’s designed for up to eight passengers with a top speed of 541 mph.

R1 Focuses on ‘Challenging’ Missions

R1 Boundless is the new name of Regional 1 Airlines
R1 Boundless is the new name of Regional 1 Airlines

Regional 1 Airlines has been rebranded as R1 Boundless  emphasizing its flexibility and experience in sometimes difficult flying conditions as its marketing direction.

Regional 1, which began as a Calgary-based scheduled regional carrier about 10 years ago quit the scheduled business and concentrated on the charter business, particularly the Alberta resource sector. But it also got contracts all over the world, working in some trouble spots and on humanitarian missions.

It’s now leveraging the lessons learned on those missions to offer safe and reliable service to what it calls “challenging destinations,” according to a company news release.

“The new look and feel reflects our service offering aimed at carrying clients wherever they need to go”, said President, Eric Edmondson. Businesses are growing and with growth comes operational and transportation challenges. In today’s complex world, we excel at transporting our clients to challenging destinations, while operating in a reliable fashion to the highest safety standards.”

Last year, Regional 1 merged with Toronto-based Air Georgian and R1 Boundless is an outgrowth of that union. It operates Dash-8s, CRJ100 and Beech 1900 aircraft and clients can customize their service and schedule.

“All of our efforts focus on carrying our clients from ‘remote to remote’ or ‘center to remote’ locations around the world”, added Richard Pollock, Business Development Manager for R1. “With the right measures in place, our experienced team is able to operate at any time to any place.”

Rotech Wins Rotax Distributor Award

Mark Paskevich, second from right, accepts award on behalf of Rotech Research.
Mark Paskevich, second from right, accepts award on behalf of Rotech Research.

A Canadian company has tied for first place in BRP Rotax’s annual Distributor of the Year Award.

Rotech Research Canada Ltd. shared the honour with Moteur Aero Distribution from France.

Rotech is based at the Vernon Regional Airport in Vernon, B.C. and handles distribution for the experimental market in Canada and certified in North America.

Rotech President Mark Paskevich was on hand for the presentation at Friedrichshafen, Germany, site of the annual Aero show.

BRP uses 10 parameters to measure the performance of its distributors and the award recognizes their efforts in marketing, sales and service.

“We are very pleased with the effort and the level of professionalism our distributors support the aircraft business,” said Francois Tremblay, director Rotax aircraft engines. “Strong partners enable us to further improve our business.’

Langley ‘Most Female-Friendly Airport’

Young participants in Langley's WOAW event show the appropriate response.

Young participants in Langley’s WOAW event show the appropriate response.

Langley B.C. has been named the Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide after hosting a tremendously popular event for Women of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) in early March.

Under the direction of Kirsten Brazier, the airport’s Fly It Forward Challenge event introduced 1,310 girls and women to flying and attracted a total of more than 6,000 people to the airport.

“Leading more than 200 volunteers, Brazier coordinated a record setting 1,310 first flights, which makes the Langley Regional Airport, the Most Female Pilot Friendly Airport Worldwide in 2014, and makes Brazier, the winner of the Event Organizer Contest’s $1,000 prize,” said WOAW leader Mireille Goyer.

Canadian participation was high with events across the country. Lachute, PQ came third in the airport category with a Victoria, Texas, airport taking the runner up title.

This was the fourth WOAW celebration and featured 96 events on four continents. A total of 5307 girls and women had their first flights in small aircraft as part of the overall goal of showing them that aviation is available and attainable as a hobby or a vocation.

“Changing perceptions and sparking vocations is the goal of the week. The Fly It Forward Challenge encourages entrants to offer girls and women with no prior connection with the industry, an opportunity to try various aviation activities, hands-on,” Goyer said.

GAL Aerospace Acquires AeroQuest

GAL Aerospace makes an airplane a comfortable place for its clients.
GAL Aerospace makes an airplane a comfortable place for its clients.

Canada’s leadership in the aircraft completion industry was enhanced last week with the acquisition of AeroQuest Inc., of Lawrenceville, Georgia, by GAL Aerospace, of Montreal.

GAL is a world-renowned producer of aircraft interior cabinetry and AeroQuest has been making aircraft showers, countertops, window shades and other components for more than 30 years. The combination of expertise and products will enhance GAL’s ability to serve its diverse customer base.

[AeroQuest’s] products and capabilities add tremendously to our existing offering and we are excited to represent a broader product offering to an expanding base of OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, completion centers and MROs,” said GAL CEO Glen Lynch.

AeroQuest will remain a standalone company in Georgia under the direction of founder Steve Waters.