Mobile (AL, USA), 28 January 2015—Continental Motors Group Ltd, an AVIC International Holding Corporation company, has been selected as the engine supplier for Cochise College’s six new RedHawk Aero training aircraft to be purchased in 2015. Continental Motors will supply six of its technologically advanced CD-135 diesel engines as the single lever, Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) power plants for the RedHawk Training Aircraft.
Continental Diesel engines are popular with flight schools around the world including Europe, China and Africa. Their popularity stems from the benefits that they provide to the pilot, operator, and maintainers. For the pilot, they offer simple, single lever operation that allows the pilot to focus on the most important aspect of their training and piloting skills. It also better prepares the pilot for a career in aviation since the engine’s controls are similar to those they will encounter as they pursue an aviation career that involves turbine powered aircraft. For the operator, the engine uses Jet-A fuel, simplifying fuel infrastructure and costs, as well as lowering the fuel cost per hour due to the engine’s higher efficiency as compared to either gasoline or turbine powered aircraft. Finally, the maintainer benefits from a modern, electronically controlled engine with data collection. This reduces maintenance time and costs, as well as supporting advanced diagnostic based maintenance reviews and scheduling.
“The CD-135 is an ideal engine for training aircraft based on our well proven operational reliability and efficiencies”, stated Johnny Doo, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for Continental Motors. “I am delighted about the partnership we have with RedHawk and their innovative training system”, continued Doo. “We selected the CD-135 for our new trainer aircraft because of the outstanding performance this Jet-A Fuel, FADEC managed engine offered”, stated Darren Bien, Vice President of Operations, RedHawk Aero. “Continental’s turbo-diesel engine is a perfect match for our remanufactured Cessna 172. We have the ideal training aircraft solution that is affordable, operationally economical and technologically advanced”, continued Bien.
“We were looking to replace some of our older, well-aged fleet with a modern, technologically advanced aircraft that was also affordable and provided operational savings. We’ve had a long relationship with Redbird and was impressed with their development of the RedHawk trainer powered by Continental’s CD-135 engine”, said Belinda Burnett, Director of Aviation Programs and Chief Flight Instructor for Cochise College. “We have field elevations of more than 4000 feet and test flights demonstrated improved climb performance to our existing fleet while burning less than 6 gallons per hour”, continued Burnett.
AVIC International Holding Corporation was set up in 1979, with majority shares owned by Aviation Industries of China (AVIC). Headquartered in Beijing, AVIC International delivered over 147 billion RMB in revenue in 2013. The company has over 70,000 employees across 400 subsidiaries and is located in over 50 countries. AVIC International is a well-diversified company, with holdings in International Civil Aviation, Trade & Logistics, Retail & High-end Consumables, Real Estate and Hotel Management, Electronics Manufacturing, and Natural Resource Development. More information can be found at www.avic-intl.cn.
Continental Motors Group, Ltd. of Hong Kong, China is a subsidiary of AVIC International Holding Corporation of Beijing, China. Its mission is to provide advanced gasoline and diesel (jet fuel) piston engine products, spare parts, engine and aircraft services, avionics equipment and repairs as well as pilot training for the general aviation marketplace. Continental is an international operation employing approximately 450 team members in Mobile and Baldwin counties, Alabama, USA; 200 team members in St. Egidien, Germany; and 8 team members in Beijing, China. More information can be found atwww.continentalmotors.aero.
RedHawk Aero, LLC, a subsidiary of Redbird Flight Simulations, has set out to create the first aircraft designed specifically for flight training. RedHawk’s mission is to design, build, and test a high quality flight training aircraft that uses best of breed technologies and innovative partnerships to maximize long term affordability and operating efficiency. For more information, please visithttp://www.redbirdflightsimulations.com.
The Cochise College aviation program is well-respected and widely recognized throughout the industry. With a fleet of 15 aircraft they have, at any given time, 45 students in their flight program and fly approximately 3,000 hours per year. In more than 40 years of aviation training, it has placed graduates with all the major commercial airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs, air freight services and corporate aviation companies. Aviation programs are certified by the FAA and the FCC. In addition, the Cochise College offers a wide variety of associate degrees and transfer programs, as well as technical and vocational training. For more information about aviation training at Cochise College, visit www.cochise.edu/aviation, email aviation@cochise.edu or call (520) 417-4114.
http://www.aviationpros.com/press_release/12039190/continental-motors-to-power-cochise-colleges-next-generation-flight-training-aircraft-fleet