Garmin International Inc. announced new capabilities for G1000-equipped King Air 200/250/300/350 series aircraft. These enhancements provide a number of new features and optional equipment upgrades that offer King Air owners and operators more capability. These new upgrades include several key NextGen components like Automatic Dependence Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) compliance, as well as customer-requested capabilities such as creating user-defined holding patterns, and the approval of optional equipment to increase its global operating capability. In addition, Team AeroDynamix is announced an expansion in its partnership with Whelen Engineering Aviation Division. This expansion involves the sale of Whelen Aviation lighting products along with manufactured light kits for the homebuilt community. Whelen’s Jim Olson, Vice President of Aviation Lighting Products, stated “Integrating this team’s knowledge and experience in this market will allow Whelen to provide the homebuilt community with FAA certified products that exceed all minimum requirements for a competitive price.”
Two companies are celebrating major birthdays: Zenair Limited, one of North America’s leading manufacturers of recreational aircraft kits is turning 40 this year. Founded by Chris Heintz in his 2-car garage in 1974, the company moved to its current 15,000-square-feet facilities on the Huronia Airport (Ontario, Canada) over 30 years ago. Now directed by the founder’s sons, the family-owned business (together with Zenith Aircraft Company in the United States) makes complete kits for a number of popular two- and four-seat all-metal designs as well as light aircraft floats. Over the years, Zenair designs have set a number of world records — including longest distance flown nonstop by a CH 300 for any aircraft in its category (Trans-Canada flight — 1978). Executive Flyers Aviation celebrated its 50th anniversary on March 4, 2014. The family-owned flight school and aircraft repair station has been in constant operation at the Laurence G. Hanscom Field Airport in Bedford, Mass. The school has continued to evolve over the last half-century. “It is unbelievable to look back and see how we’ve grown,” stated Rita Goulian, company president. “We have been so fortunate. The number of students and customers that have turned into lifelong friends is astonishing. It is why we are here.”
