local racing industry. Major projects CASA 212 Skiplane for Skytraders Fokker 50 Hardened Cockpit Door for Skywest and Alliance Airlines Dornier 328 Inflight Opening Door for AeroRescue Grumman G-73 Turbo Mallard Conversion for Paspaley Pearling Pilatus PC-12 Aeromedical Conversion for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Cessna 441 Life Extension Program for TAE Aircraft designs Since the 1980s, AEA has also been involved in the design of a number of whole aircraft projects including the Eagle 150B and the Explorer. The Explorer is a high-performance but rugged utility aircraft that can perform a wide variety of roles at a lower cost than other equivalent aircraft. It was developed to cope with the harsh Australian conditions and unprepared dirt strips but still deliver a 180 kn cruise, almost 1000 nmi range and economical performance. The aircraft utilises the latest in aerofoil design, a carbon fibre fuselage shell, a unique retractable undercarriage, flat cabin floor, and a newly devised construction method that minimises construction and assembly time. The aircraft was initially developed as the 350R but now incorporates the 500T turbine variant and the stretched 750T. AEA conceived, designed and developed the Explorer and started Explorer Aircraft Australia Pty Ltd to develop and market the family of aircraft. As the Explorer project grew, this role was passed onto Explorer Aircraft Inc. which is now located in Houston, Texas. To date, no funding has been received to continue the project to the development stage. Eagle Aircraft 150B---- (1997) Single-engine two-seat civil utility aircraft with conventional tailplane and canard surfaces. Composite construction AEA Maverick------------ (1987) Single-engine one-seat sport aircraft of composite construction Explorer 500R------------ (1998) Single-engine high-wing transport aircraft. Piston engine Explorer 500T------------ (2000) Turboprop version of 500R Explorer 750T------------ () Stretched version of 500T Role Under Civil Aviation Regulation 42U (CAR42U), any modification or repair that is carried out on an Australian aircraft must be done in accordance with 'approved data'. This approved data is usually contained within the aircraft's manuals (aircraft maintenance manual, structural repair manual, component maintenance manuals etc.) issued by the aircraft's manufacturer. However, sometimes there is damage to the aircraft that is outside the scope of these manuals or the operator wishes to modify the aircraft to help it perform a specific function (aerial firefighting, search and rescue) or alter the aircraft in some other way. To ensure that the aircraft continues to be airworthy (i.e. safe to