Industry Round-up, February 1, 2019

This week, AVweb's news roundup uncovered reports on acceptance for a new flying boat, a company's 10,000th transponder delivery, an anniversary for an online ground school provider and an organization taking applications for an aircraft competition. The roundup also found announcements about an acquisition in the aviation lighting industry, a new aircraft maintenance pickup and delivery service for Eclipse owners, the opening of an aviation insurance agency and the launch of a pilot recruitment firm.

Russian aircraft manufacturer AeroVolga has received a letter of acceptance from Transport Canada for its Borey Model A Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplane (AULA). The Borey is a two-seat amphibious flying boat that first flew in 2016. Also passing a milestone, ACSS has delivered the 10,000th production unit of its ADS-B compliant NXT Mode S Transponder family. ACSS's NXT transponders entered production in 2014. The third group to reach a landmark recently is Helicopter Online Ground School, which is celebrating its seventh year online. The organization provides online video ground school courses along with free helicopter training videos and safety webinars.

Applications are now open for the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI), a vintage aircraft competition that will take place alongside the STIHL National Championship Air Races from Sept. 11-15, 2019, in Reno, Nevada. The competition includes five categories: Antique Aircraft, Classic Aircraft, Contemporary Aircraft, Large Aircraft and Military Aircraft. Applications will be reviewed by a five-member judging team.

Whelen Engineering Company has completed an acquisition and spinoff of its aviation division with LoPresti Aviation. Whelen's aviation division and LoPresti will be combined into a single organization named Whelen Aerospace Technologies (WAT), which will continue to design and manufacture aviation lighting. Aircraft sales organization AEROCOR has partnered with Henderson, Nevada-based Part 145 repair station Apex Aviation. The partnership will provide free aircraft pickup and delivery for AEROCOR's Eclipse 500/500 maintenance customers.

Texas-based Airspeed Insurance Agency has announced its entry into the aviation insurance industry. The company began operations in January 2019. Finally, GOOSE Recruitment is also launching an aviation venture. The group is offering pilot recruitment services and has set up offices in the U.K., Singapore and Houston.