Company Continues To Expand Its International Reach

Diamond Aircraft´s Italian representative Diamond Aero SRL has delivered the first two Diamond aircraft to be registered in Malta.

Diamond Aero SRL handed over a DA40 TDI and a DA20 Eclipse to Diamond Flight Training, a recently launched flying school in Malta. Diamond Flight Training will operate exclusively Diamond aircraft and simulators. The aircraft will be used for pilot training, proficiency, and charter business. “We are proud to be launching a new Flight Training School equipped with brand new state of the art aircraft.” stated Pierre Travers Tauss, director of Diamond Flight Training.

Diamond Flight Training is a registered training facility approved by the Malta Civil Aviation Authority under JAR Rules and provides PPL courses, night ratings and hour-building packages. The flying school is based at Malta´s International Airport.

Meanwhile, Diamond Aircraft have received Japanese type certification for the Diamond DA42. This means that Diamond Aircraft DA40 and DA42 were approved in Japan.

Alpha Aviation, the sole Diamond Aircraft dealer in Japan, began the certification process in 2005. The DA42 with Centurion engines has been approved as well.

JCAB members spent three days at the Diamond Aircraft Company headquarters in Vienna in mid-February, completing the type certificate technical review, which included analyzing design and production quality control. Diamond Aircraft and Alpha Aviation engineers participated in the review.

Alpha Aviation President, Shizuka Saito, is enthusiastic about future Diamond sales now that the type certificate is issued. "Diamond aircraft will be more popular in Japan with a type certificate because they will be easier to import, and the type certificate will reduce the paperwork requirements as well as its cost in Japan. And Japanese are very interested in owning the DA42 because it is the most economical and most modern twin-engine airplane of its class," she said.

More recently, Keilir Aviation Academy, based in Keflavik Airport, Iceland, received two DA40 TDI and 1 DA42 NG twin-engine aircraft last Friday. All three aircraft will be in service at Keilir Aviation Academy Keflavik Airport campus within the next 2 weeks.

The DA42 NG is the Austro Engine powered version of the market-leading DA42 twin, that is in worldwide service with leading flight training schools and institutions. It is equipped with two Austro Engine AE300 (170hp each) engines, the industry-standard Garmin G1000 glass flight deck, and certification for flight into known icing conditions.

"Keilir decided on Diamond fleet of training aircraft for several reasons. The fuel economy of the DA-20 is outstanding. As a proven trainer for the USAF this selection was not difficult and the aircraft is simple to maintain while still being equipped with GPS and Mode S transponder," said Kari Karason, Head of Training, Keilir Aviation Academy. "The DA-40TDI will be used for IFR training. Featuring the G1000 those aircraft are perfect for the airline oriented students as the Electronic Flight Instrument System closely resembles those systems on current airliners."

"The DA-42NG was chosen for several reasons," he continued. "The aircraft is certified for flight into known ice. This ensures continued operations during winter in Iceland and the aircraft's Premium maintenance program is ensuring that operations will run smoothly. The aircraft will be used for Commercial Pilots training, including instruction on the GFC700 autoflight system which is integrated into the G1000."

FMI: www.diamond-air.at