Washington, DC—The Board of Directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has approved Blackhawk Modifications, Inc., FreeFlight Systems, and GE Honda Aero Engines as new members of the association. GAMA now has 87 members.

Blackhawk Modifications, Inc., founded in 1999 in Waco, Texas, is a recognized aviation leader in providing engine performance solutions to the turboprop fleet. The company has the largest installed fleet of STC twin-engine turboprop engine upgrades, making Blackhawk the largest non-OEM buyer of new Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines in the world. Blackhawk supplemental type certificates can be installed in most Beechcraft King Air 90 and 200 models, Piper Cheyenne I and II models, the Cessna 425 Conquest I and now the Cessna 208A and 208B Caravan models. A worldwide network of approved dealers and service support centers complements Blackhawk’s fleet of nearly 500 upgraded aircraft.

FreeFlight Systems designs and manufactures high-performance avionics for flight safety and for delivering the substantial safety, cost, environmental and other benefits of the NextGen airspace transformation. Founded in 2001 and based in Texas, the company pioneered the first certified aviation WAAS GPS receiver and the first rule-compliant UAT ADS-B system. FreeFlight Systems produces a range of high-quality, competitively priced systems for installation in all aircraft types.

In 2004, GE and Honda formed a 50/50 joint venture, called GE Honda Aero Engines, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The joint venture integrates the resources of GE Aviation and Honda Aero, Inc., a Honda subsidiary established to manage its aviation engine business. The GE Honda HF120 engine program was launched in 2006 and was selected to power Honda Aircraft Company’s advanced light jet, the HondaJet. Honda is the world’s largest engine manufacturer, annually producing more than 25 million engines for a wide range of products, including motorcycles, ATVs, generators, marine engines, lawn and garden equipment, and Honda and Acura automobiles. GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE, is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.