Hello All,
Sorry to be off the mark so long but now back in Miami for the winter and I have some news. Some gathered beforre I left and some since.
As you all know, before I retired and lost my husband, I worked for the FAA there in New York and I still have a few acquaintenances there and a couple of good sources within Baltia itself.
First on the aircraft from Kalitta, I checked around and Kalitta bought several of passenger aircraft that were either retired or being retired by a former airline. The original intent was to use the aircraft for spare parts as it is HUGELY less costly to buy an whole aircraft than just the parts on an as needed basis (same concept as an auto junk yard. These aircraft still have some time left on them before they HAVE to be retired and Baltia was able to strike a deal to purchase one of them. Although I am sure Kalitta made a great profit, Baltia probably got a flyable aircraft for good price. (Something many on this site with aviation backgrounds have een saying they should have done in the begining instead of buying the original one and putting millions into it)
I am told by both individuals there at Baltia and some sources in Malaysia that Baltia has halted work on the aircraft there. I am assuming they are going to put what available resources they have towards the operational aircraft. It will not be elegant, just operational and hopefully generate revenue when it does get flying. They Baltia will either eat the loss of the original aircraft or use the revenue to finish it and release it as the plush aircraft they originally advertised.
Lastly, The FSDO there in New York are saying that certification is "still a ways away". Aparently the manuals are not quite up to where they need to be for certification and they still are not real comfortable with the whole structure of the Staffing. While individuals there are very knowledgeable and experienced, there is still a little of uneasiness with Igor himself and his controlling involvement with the certification process. They feel Baltia would be better served if the Manual writing folks were doing the interfacing with the FAA instead of Igor.
Hope this helps. Based on what i am being told, maybe May would be a good target date. Of course that is if finances hold up.
AI
