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Tag: Dornier

British Airways Franchise Partner SUN-AIR Selects Garmin ADS-B solution for Dornier 328 aircraft

Garmin is pleased to announce European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) solution for the Dornier 328 jet and turboprop aircraft. SUN-AIR Aviation Group has selected a Garmin ADS-B solution for their entire fleet of 18 Dornier 328 aircraft that utilizes a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) and “plug and play” installation kit from their certification partner Scandinavian Avionics, headquarters of The SA Group. This cost-effective Garmin ADS-B upgrade provides operators with an economical solution for complying with the ADS-B mandate in Europe.

“Garmin continues to lead the industry on a global scale with a broad range of ADS-B solutions that span all segments of aviation, including a wide-range of commercial, defense, regional and business aircraft,” said Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “We are thrilled to provide SUN-AIR with a technology solution that is cost-effective, easy to install and keeps them flying so they can continue to serve their valued customers.” 

The ADS-B upgrade for the Dornier 328 is comprised of a pair of GTX 3000 ADS-B transponders and a GPS 3000, a high-integrity SBAS/WAAS position source, and a complete installation kit comprised of a pre-wired shelf, wire harness and consumption material. This solution is designed to easily interface to existing equipment on board the aircraft, reducing installation time and lowering the overall cost of compliance. Together, the GTX 3000 and GPS 3000 serve as a rugged, standalone ADS-B Out solution that meets the stringent demands of transport category aircraft around the globe.

“This Garmin ADS-B solution is an ideal upgrade for our aircraft because the installation design supports an abbreviated maintenance visit,” Kristoffer Sundberg, CEO SUN-AIR airlines. “For our workhorse fleet of aircraft, efficiency and minimal aircraft downtime are key, and Garmin and Scandinavian Avionics have addressed this with a straightforward upgrade.” 

Designed by Scandinavian Avionics, the STC and slide-in rack contains all of the necessary Garmin equipment and paperwork for the ADS-B Out solution. Scandinavian Avionics has completed the initial installation on a prototype aircraft and expects to complete the upgrade on the entire SUN-AIR fleet in the coming months. 

“Alongside Garmin, we have designed this STC so that Dornier 328 operators can take advantage of the installation efficiencies this upgrade affords,” said Michael Truelsen, CEO Scandinavian Avionics. “We look forward to continuing to work with Garmin to expand the aircraft eligibility list for this all-in-one, turn-key solution.” 

The GTX 3000 and GPS 3000 Garmin ADS-B Out solution for the Dornier 328 has received EASA approval and is available immediately. For additional information regarding the STC, contact SUN-AIR or Scandinavian Avionics. Visit www.garmin.com/aviation for additional information.

Eastern Congo Plane Crash Kills at Least 27 People

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – At least 27 people were killed, including some on the ground, when a small plane crashed into a densely populated neighborhood in the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, a rescue official said.

The propeller plane, which was operated by local company Busy Bee, crashed shortly after take-off en route to the city of Beni, about 250 km (155 miles) to the north, officials said.

The company said the 19-seater Dornier 228-200 had 16 passengers and two crew members on board. 

There was no word yet on what might have caused the accident. 

Joseph Makundi, the coordinator of rescue services in Goma, told Reuters that 27 bodies had been recovered from the rubble, including those of several people hit by falling debris. 

“I was at a restaurant with my family when I saw the plane spinning three times in the air and emitting a lot of smoke,” said Djemo Medar, an eyewitness in Goma’s Mapendo neighborhood. “After that we saw the plane crash into this house,” he said pointing to a nearby building.

“We know the pilot. His name is Didier. He was shouting, ‘Help me, Help me.’ But we had no way to get to him because the fire was so powerful,” Medar said. 

At the crash site, residents threw water from buckets and cooking pots onto the smoldering wreckage. The rear section of the plane rested sideways, propped up by a wall, videos posted on social media showed. 

Police arrested one man for stealing cash from the rubble and fired warning shots to disperse people who had started looting, he said. 

Air accidents are relatively frequent in Congo because of lax safety standards and poor maintenance. All Congolese commercial carriers, including Busy Bee, are banned from operating in the European Union. 

A cargo plane departing from the same airport and carrying staff members of President Felix Tshisekedi crashed an hour after take-off last month, killing all eight people on board..

Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Aaron Ross/Mark Potter/ Frances Kerry/Jane Merriman

Dornier Seawings production of the Seastar begins

Dornier Seawings production of the Seastar begins. While searching the internet last night for signs of a rumored re-launch of the Dornier 328Jet, I came across something much more interesting. A company called Dornier Seawings has begun production of its Seastar airplane. The Seastar is billed as the world’s most advanced amphibious aircraft. Airplanes labelled as amphibious can operate on both land and water. Dornier Seawings is a joint venture of the Dornier family and Wuxi Industrial Development Group. Seastar assembly will start in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, and will be moved later to a new facility in Wuxi, China. The Seastar has partnered with some of the industry’s top suppliers, including Pratt & Whitney, MT Propellers, Honeywell, and Diamond Aircraft Industries. Diamond has begun manufacturing the airframe, fuselage, wings, and flight controls. Delivery of the first unit is scheduled for June, 2016. Type Certificate for the new aircraft is on target for the second quarter of 2018.

A great promo video of the Seastar can be viewed at the following link:

Seastar amphibious aircraft promo video

Dornier

pic from dornierseawings.com promo kit.