Following a very fruitful set of joint meetings, 3C, the Transport Canada-approved, independent flight test and certification Design Approval Organization (DAO) and Horizon Aircraft have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the two companies will collaborate on aspects of the continued development and path to certification of Horizon Aircraft's Cavorite X5 programme.
The MOU establishes a framework for ongoing expansion of collaboration as the Cavorite X5 programme evolves and will give Horizon access to services and expertise that includes gap analysis, certification planning, certifiable design consulting, training, flight test planning and execution and eventual airworthiness approval. The collaboration will also enable both companies to work together on future business development opportunities and strengthen the case for this exciting “made-in-Canada” programme.
“We have been following the Cavorite X5 programme from a distance for some time now and are very impressed with many of the business and design decisions that Horizon Aircraft have taken thus far on the programme. We believe wholeheartedly that Canada must have one or more OEMs for imaginative platforms like this and are delighted to have teamed up with the Horizon Aircraft folks to try and help them do exactly that,” says Phil Cole, VP Business Development of 3C. “Based on extensive prior experience, Horizon Aircraft understands the challenges ahead both with airworthiness approval and with vehicle operations. Accordingly, they are taking a very pragmatic approach to their development in order to significantly lower programme risk.”