New This Week

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AVweb’s weekly review of developments in aviation revealed news that Cessna delivered its 10,000th single-engine airplane from its Independence, Kansas, facility, Bell Helicopter broke ground on a new manufacturing facility, Cutter Aviation received a safety award, and the FAA authorized transition training in Bearhawk amateur-built aircraft. Textron Aviation Inc. announced that Cessna Aircraft Company delivered the 10,000th single-engine aircraft from its Independence, Kansas, facility since its first delivery in June 1996. Liberty University took delivery of this milestone aircraft, a Cessna Skyhawk, along with two other Cessna Skyhawks, adding to its growing flight training fleet. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the quality of the workforce at our Independence facility, which continues to be a cornerstone of our manufacturing footprint,” said Lily English, Independence general manager. “Through the years, our Independence facility has grown from producing only single-engine aircraft to now also producing and delivering the Citation Mustang and the recently certified Citation M2.” Bell Helicopter commenced construction of its facility in Lafayette, Louisiana, where the company will assemble its newest commercial helicopter, the Bell 505 Jet Ranger XTM. Governor Bobby Jindal, Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel and others joined Bell Helicopter’s President and CEO, John Garrison, to commemorate the occasion today at the Lafayette Regional Airport. The new 82,300-square-foot, $26.3 million hangar facility will be built on a 14.5-acre site.

The Aviation Division of New Mexico State Department of Transportation recently presented the Safety Pin Award to Jessi Rowden, General Manager of Cutter Aviation, Albuquerque. The award was presented in appreciation for support of the State of New Mexico in their safety, training and informational meetings, classes and seminars, which are frequently hosted at Cutter Aviation. Finally, Bearhawk Aircraft announced today receipt of the first FAA authorization for transition training in a four-place Bearhawk amateur-built airplane. Bearhawk builder, owner and certified flight instructor (CFI) Jared Yates of Hickory, North Carolina, has received a Letter of Deviation Authority (LODA) from the FAA allowing him to provide flight instruction in his four-place Bearhawk. The LODA allows builders and owners of Bearhawk aircraft to hone their pilot skills through a structured transition training program. A study by the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee has determined that a lack of transition training has been cited as a factor in many general aviation accidents.

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