Daily Archives: June 13, 2012

Hawker Beechcraft competitor Sierra Nevada files lawsuit in light air support contract

June 13, 201210:42 a.m.

Sierra Nevada Corp. filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking the reinstatement of a light air support contract from the Air Force.

The suit was filed with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

The action is in response to a lawsuit filed by Hawker Beechcraft following its disqualification in the competition.

The Air Force set aside the contract to Sierra Nevada in March, opened an investigation into the source selection process and reopened the competition.

“The cancellation of the contract was an extreme response to what appears to be paperwork errors on the part of the USAF,” Sierra Nevada said in a statement.

Sierra Nevada alleges the revised Request for Proposal is “tilted in favor of the competition.”

The company has not received adequate explanation or justification for the contract’s termination, it said.

Sierra Nevada has partnered with Brazil-based Embraer to offer the Super Tucano to the Air Force.

Hawker Beechcraft’s bid is for the AT-6, an upgraded T-6 trainer used to train Air Force and Navy pilots.

 

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, Embraer, Hawker Beechcraft | Comments Off

Bombardier receives order for five Learjet 75 aircraft

June 13, 201210:24 a.m.

In what is good news for Wichita, Bombardier has received an order for five of the new Learjet 75 aircraft from London Air Services, a Canadian charter service provider.

The order is valued at about $65 million based on list prices.

Bombardier announced the Learjet 70 and Learjet 75 light business jets in May at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland.

The planes upgrade and replace the Learjet 40 and 45 models, with improved avionics, engines and a new winglet design.

The two planes, which will be assembled in Wichita, will offer greater range, more speed, new interior styling, lighter weight, and, because they will have improved fuel efficiency, lower operating costs, Ralph Acs, head of Bombardier’s Wichita Learjet plant, said at the time.

The Learjet 75 will enter service in the first half of next year, followed by the Learjet 70.

By Molly McMillin | Filed under aircraft manufacturers, aviation industry, Bombardier Learjet | Comments Off