Aviation entrepreneur John Weikle isn't afraid of a stiff head wind. 

HAWKER DELIVERIES

Hawker Beechcraft has delivered three new Bonanza G36s to a customer in the UK and Baron G58 to a Polish operator. The aircraft are the first European Aviation Safety Authority-certificated piston-powered aircraft to enter service in Europe. The Baron G58 and Bonanza G36 are equipped for instrument flight rules operations and feature Garmin G1000 avionics and GFC700 integrated flight control systems. The Baron also has the GWX 68 colour weather radar and optional Jeppesen chart coverage for Europe and other regions.

GULF HELICOPTER 

Start-up powerplant manufacturer Mistral Engines is gearing up to certificate and deliver in early 2010 the first of a family of multi-fuel piston engines targeted at the light aircraft retrofit market. 

FAA is alleging Gulfstream International Airlines has improperly scheduled flight crew duty time and installed unapproved components on its fleet of Beech 1900D turboprops, resulting in a $1.3 million fine.

The components included air conditioner compressors and improperly maintained vent blowers installed on Florida-based Gulfstream's fleet of 27 turboprop aircraft. 

Republic Airways Holdings is set to become the first US regional carrier to operate 100-seat jets once it starts operating Embraer E-190s for partner Midwest Airlines.

The two airlines are expanding their air services agreement to cover two extended range "AR" Embraer E-190s, with flights starting in August and September.

Each 100-seat aircraft will feature 20 of Midwest's "Signature" class seats. Midwest CEO Tim Hoeksema says the Embraer jets "are part of a comprehensive fleet plan being finalized by Midwest". 

Year on Year Decline has not Accelerated; 5% Fewer Flights and 2.7% Fewer Seats 

French start-up manufacturer Lisa Airplanes is planning to launch a six-seat turbine-powered version of its Akoya ultralight seaplane within the next five years boosted by demand from its growing international customer base for a larger stablemate.

"The Akoya is proving very popular and our customers are calling for a bigger version of the aircraft that will enable them to transport their families, friends or colleagues," says Vanessa Troillars, manager of privately owned Lisa Airplanes. 

Canadian airframer Bombardier today confirmed a "recent" rise in production of its Q400 turboprop, but is declining to provide specifics of the increase.

Responding to a query from ATI today during a briefing at the Regional Airline Association convention in Salt Lake City Bombardier vice president of commercial operations Ron Williams said the airframer had just completed the production ramp up, explaining Bombardier would "see where the market goes" before deciding on a further rise. 

Airbus is still waiting for European certification for its A320 enhancement to increase maximum take-off weight to 78t.

But the airframer is expecting imminent approval for International Aero Engines V2500-powered aircraft, with CFM International CFM56 variants following shortly.

The enhancement, for which US carrier JetBlue will be the first customer, takes advantage of the type's load-alleviation function to improve the MTOW by about 1t. 

Mexico's VivaAerobus is pulling out of Austin at the end of this month, just over a year after launching services to the Texas capital with significant fanfare and promises to be the anchor tenant of a new low-cost terminal.

VivaAerobus says in a statement today its final flights to Austin will operate on 31 May. The low-cost carrier now serves Austin from Cancun and Puerto Vallarta with two weekly flights on each route.