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Briefing: November 2020

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A new management group of Mooney owners and pilots has taken over operations, prioritizing support for the existing fleet and international expansion, though the production line remains closed.
  • Airbus A350s will be equipped with liquid-resistant engine control consoles following incidents where spilled beverages caused uncommanded engine shutdowns.
  • The U.S. Air Force has secretly designed, built, and flown a full-scale demonstrator for a next-generation fighter aircraft, bypassing traditional procurement methods.
  • Volocopter is pre-selling tickets for future 15-minute demo flights on its eVTOL aircraft, with commercial launch and certification anticipated in over two years.
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OWNERS TAKE OVER MOONEY MANAGEMENT

Mooney announced in August that a new management group made up of “pilots and Mooney owners” has taken over operations at the Kerrville, Texas plant. The new CEO is Jonny Pollack and he said his top priority is to ensure support for the existing fleet. “Our first and immediate focus is to make sure that we’re properly servicing the community’s fleet of over 7000 aircraft,” Pollack said in a statement on the company’s website. “For the last six months, we’ve taken over parts production and managed to keep spares moving to service centers. We have plans to improve our efficiency so that parts are easier to order and arrive sooner.” Mooney is owned by the China-based Meijing Group and Pollack said he intends to use its worldwide reach to expand Mooney’s international presence. There are some product improvement plans in the works, including a ballistic parachute option, but no indication when the production line, which shut down in January 2020, will reopen.

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