Category: BizJet

Daher Completes Acquisition of Quest

Daher Group announced the completion of acquisition of the Sandpoint, Idaho-based Quest Aircraft Company, marking a milestone in the French corporation’s growth of its North American operations.

With the acquisition of Quest, the Daher Group is now able to deploy aircraft manufacturing; the production of systems and equipment; along with the supply of logistics and services. This brings the company – which covers both industry and services – to one of the world’s largest aerospace markets.

As a supplier of logistics services and aerostructures to leading aerospace industry companies, Daher now joins the world’s aircraft manufacturers that have final assembly lines on multiple continents. Daher builds the family of TBM fast turboprop aircraft at its Tarbes, France facility, while the Quest Aircraft Company assembles the Kodiak utility airplane at Sandpoint in the U.S.

“Our acquisition of the Quest Aircraft Company is perfectly aligned with Daher’s strategy to intensify its business footprint in America,” said Daher CEO Didier Kayat. “In addition to adding the Kodiak to our aircraft portfolio, we have now gained a major competitive advantage for all of Daher’s aerospace business lines in North America.”

By expanding its product line to include both the Kodiak and TBM, Daher becomes the seventh-ranked general aviation airplane manufacturer worldwide and strengthens its position as a leader of high-end single-engine turboprop aircraft. The TBM is the world’s fastest single-engine turboprop-powered airplane, with more than 950 delivered to owners and operators around the globe. The Kodiak is an all-terrain multimission aircraft, with more than 270 in use worldwide by air-taxi, recreational and leisure operators, along with businesses, pilot-owners and humanitarian organizations.

“The integration of Kodiak into Daher’s aircraft family provides us with excellent commercial, industrial and geographical synergies,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “In addition to its production capacity, the Sandpoint, Idaho facility becomes part of our direct sales and maintenance networks, enabling Daher to maintain its competitive edge in the turboprop aircraft sector.”

AP Completion Services Celebrates 10 Years; Demonstrates its Leadership in Global 7500 Completions

Since its inception, AP Completion Services has delivered more than 160 business aircraft, and it is becoming known as the Global 7500 specialist. The company began its first G7500 project in 2015, and several of the first factory deliveries this year will be to AP Completion Services customers.

“We have a strong history of performance on the Global platform, so the 7500 is a natural progression for us. We’re proud to have been of service to the industry for 10 years and having 15 Global 7500 customers to date showcases our strength in this program,” says Andrew Broccoli, principal, AP Completion Services.

The company’s G7500 clients include a mix of repeat and new customers, and do not include any white tail, fleet or demonstration aircraft; all are unique, customized and delivering to end users. AP Completion Services estimates that a significant percentage of the aircraft manufactured between now and Q4 2020 will be for AP customers.

“We’re with clients every step of the way, from the completion specification phase to final delivery. In some cases, we also have been engaged to assist with entry into service. Our knowledge of the product, our licensed, rated maintenance engineers and our relationship with the factory work together for the benefit our clients,” adds Broccoli. “We care for client’s aircraft as if they were our own. When you buy the best, hire the best.”

C&L Aerospace Purchases Beechjet Business from Global Parts

C&L Aerospace has purchased the Beechjet 400 rotable parts program from Global Parts. As part of the transaction, C&L has acquired Global’s entire Beechjet rotable inventory. All parts from the program are now stocked in C&L’s Bangor, Maine warehouse and available for sale or exchange.

Parts from this purchase will bolster existing inventory and be used to support C&L’s Beechjet support programs. Highlights from the inventory include pitch trim actuators, brakes, power supplies, and more.

“With this acquisition, MRO’s and operators have the ability to purchase all their Beechjet 400 parts in a cost-effective manner from one source,” said Marty Cooper, senior vice president of C&L Aerospace.

This inventory is inspected and has gone through a cataloging process which includes photographing and barcoding the parts and corresponding documentation making purchases faster, easier and more transparent for the customer. The inventory is now available for sale or exchange.

 

Titan Tool Introduces New TVG-PRO Series Videoscopes for Remote Visual Inspection

A new line of five industrial videoscopes from Titian Tool Supply, Inc., Buffalo, New York, features interchangeable video probes that allow for the use of different insertion tube lengths and diameters with one video unit. TVG-PRO Series videoscopes offer Tungsten braid cables in combinations of three lengths of 1.5m (59”), 2m (78”) and 3m (118”) and three diameters of 2.8mm (0.110”), 4mm (0.157”) and 6mm (0.236”). The modular videoscopes have either 180-degree or full 360-degree articulation with only one video control handle using any of the easily-changed cables, according to Titan Tool.
           The new TVG-PRO Series videoscopes are designed for on-site inspections and maintenance on a wide range of transportation equipment, including aviation, locomotive, and gas and diesel engines; machinery, manufacturing, and metalworking, including inspections of castings and cavities; pipeline and container manufacturing; as well as power generation, the company states.
           The videoscopes feature a 5” LCD monitor with five levels of brightness control and high-intensity LED illumination to provide 100,000 hours of life. Field of view is 80° or 90° and depth of view is 10-80mm or 15mm to infinity depending on the model. A durable, protective case has a precision-cut insert for safe carrying and storage, Titan Tools says. For pricing, detailed product information, or to download a PDF file product sheet, visit: https://www.titantoolsupply.com/productDetail/TVGPRO-VIDEOSCOPE/2297/78/cat

Advent Aircraft Systems to Supply eABS Braking System for Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Demonstrator Aircraft

Advent Aircraft Systems announced that it will supply its Advent eABS  for Power Brake Systems to Boom Supersonic for XB-1, its Mach-2.2 demonstrator aircraft. The Advent eABS for Power Brake Systems incorporates Advent’s flagship anti-skid braking system technology and will help optimize the braking action of XB-1, while enhancing safety and reducing the risk of tire damage.

XB-1 will validate key technologies for safe, efficient travel at Mach-2.2.  Data collected from its test flights will refine the design and engineering of Overture, Boom’s supersonic commercial airliner.

“It was critical to find an anti-skid control system for XB-1 that met our technical requirements in a responsive, timely and competitive manner, and Advent’s eABS system exceeded our expectations,” said Nick Sheryka, chief engineer at Boom Supersonic. “We’re getting closer to flight testing XB-1 and it’s exciting to work with partners like Advent to supply crucial parts of the aircraft.”

“Advent is pleased to have been chosen as a supplier to the impressive Boom project,” said Ken Goldsmith, managing director at Advent. “We look forward to supporting the Boom Supersonic team during the ongoing development and testing of XB-1.”

With a total component weight of five pounds, the eABS for Power Brake Systems is derived from Advent’s proven anti-skid braking system certified by the FAA, EASA, and TCCA with variants in use on commercial and military, manned and unmanned platforms. It consists of anti-skid control valves, a digital electronic control unit, cockpit control switches and specially designed wheel speed transducers and hubcaps.

 

Sherwin-Williams Introduces Hands-On Aircraft Coatings Repair Videos

Sherwin-Williams is introducing a hands-on application repair video series geared toward aircraft refinishers, technicians and shop managers to enhance understanding of the repair process. The video series demonstrates best practices and repair methods for OEMs, MROs and paint shops to maximize efficiency. The methods featured are proven to help deliver consistent and reliable repairs, benefitting customer satisfaction and retention.

“It’s important to keep up with new technologies and repair processes, and a hands-on demonstration is a more effective teaching aide than any instruction manual,” says Richard Giles, Sherwin-Williams Training & Technical Services Manager for aerospace coatings. “The visual approach provides a more accurate demonstration of different types of repairs.”

These Small to Medium Area Repair Technique (SMART) videos demonstrate best practices and procedures applicable to any type of aircraft, assuming the airframe is consistent.  “Whether working on a Gulfstream, a Cessna or commercial aircraft, the painter can utilize the demonstrated process,” says Giles.

Topics of the aerospace coatings repair videos include:

  • SKYscapes Mica 850 Series Smart Repair Video
  • Acry Glo 571 Series HLG Smart Repair Video
  • SKYscapes Basecoat 850 Series Smart Repair Video
  • SKYscapes CM0850180 Clearcoat (Freshly Painted) Smart Repair Video
  • SKYscapes CM0850180 Clearcoat (Cured) Smart Repair Video
  • SKYscapes Shimmer Coat Smart Repair Video

According to Giles, even though different topcoats may be sprayed, the functions of a good repair are always consistent: get to know your repair objective, prepare accordingly, mix appropriately and use the right equipment.

Find the videos at the Sherwin-Williams aerospace YouTube channel.

Digitalization of Aircraft Ops the Focus of S7 Technics and IATA Seminar

Russian aircraft maintenance provider S7 Technics, in combination with global airline association IATA (International Air Transport Association), have jointly held a Digital Aircraft Operations 2019 seminar focusing on the critical subject of disposing of the burden of the industry’s paper mountain through the digitalization of air transport management processes.

The migration of aircraft operations and maintenance standards from paper to the use of the latest digital technology tools has become a big focus of attention for today’s air transport specialists, especially as their industry is facing many significant changes. Leading airlines, lessors, MRO service providers, as well as aircraft manufacturers are all in the process of digitalizing their business processes – and the subject stretches far and wide to include a range of changes relating to automated fleet management systems, operational analysis and the improvement of aircraft reliability.

The two-day Moscow seminar was patronized by more than 30 key representatives of Russian aviation authorities, as well as executives from the Irkut Corporation, Russian and CIS airlines and S7 Group.

“One of the main goals of the Digital Aircraft Operations 2019 seminar was attracting the attention of the Russian aviation authorities – and airlines from Russia and the CIS – to the importance of digitalization. S7 Technics is actively digitalizing its production processes and, for example, we are now introducing electronic digital signatures, a mobile package of the AMOS information system,” states Maxim Pivovar, IT director at S7 Technics.

“We consider it important that the benefits of digitalisation should be of interest to all market players and its regulators. This is also a matter of the global competitiveness of the Russian air transport industry in general and the domestic aircraft maintenance industry in particular,” Pivovar adds.

At the seminar, IATA experts Chris Markou and Dragos Budeanu talked about the association’s initiatives in the implementation of paperless workflows in aircraft maintenance and shared their vision of the digitalization of aircraft operations, giving typical examples of current and recent business process digitalization, related legal frameworks, regulations and industry standards.

“The term of Digital Aircraft Operations is quite difficult to accurately translate into Russian so that the translation is concise and reflects all the nuances of this topic. Aircraft digital management should not be considered as just a rejection of paper workflow. Indeed, air transport digitalization processes must be looked at through a broader lens because, in the progressive world, air transport digitalization has become a real trend. And Russian aviation industry needs to participate in these trends,” Markou notes.

Following the Digital Aircraft Operations 2019 event, all participants received IATA certificates of attendance. S7 Technics plans to hold similar seminars for technical staff on other relevant topics.

 

Flying Colours Corp. Sees Uptick in Demand for ADS-B Out Installations and is Ready to Assist

North America-headquartered Flying Colours Corp. will be promoting its ADS – B Out expertise during NBAA- BACE 2019 – Booth C7215 – having performed nearly 50 ADS-B Out installations in the last 18 months, the company says. As the number of aircraft being equipped trends upwards avionics experts at both its Peterborough, Ontario. and St. Louis, Miss. facilities are still anticipating a last-minute dash for ADS-B Out equipage as the 1 January 2020 mandate draws closer.

Equipage has already taken place on a wide variety of aircraft including Bombardier Global, Challenger, and Learjet types as well as Dassault Falcon, Embraer Phenom and Citation aircraft. As a Bombardier Authorized Service Facility Flying Colours owns ADS-B Out Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the Bombardier Challenger 300, 604 and 605 aircraft. These STCs are also validated by EASA and TCCA. Sales of the STCs have ramped up in the last four months with more than 25 sold to other installation companies.

Flying Colours Corp. currently has 10 aircraft at the North American facilities undergoing equipage as part of wider maintenance or avionics upgrade projects, with a further 12 aircraft booked in before the end of the year. Significantly Flying Colours Corp. has seen a rise in demand from mid-to-large cabin owners and operators from corporate and private clients, while the number of small-cabin installations has remained stable.

Kevin Kliethermes, director of Sales at Flying Colours explains most ADS-B Out installations have been part of a wider aircraft upgrade. “We help owners maximize budget and aircraft downtime by completing a number of different projects in parallel. Work on avionics, interiors, maintenance and paint can all take place in parallel at one of our facilities. For us the 1 January is not the end of the ADS B-Out mandate, but the beginning and we want to help the industry in North America and beyond be prepared for this important airspace management milestone, and the requirements of NextGen still to come.”

“The industry seems to be doing a good job of meeting demand for compliance with a good majority of aircraft now equipped, but we still think there will be a rush to the finish line. We’ve noticed an increased demand from owners and operators who regularly use their aircraft, and recognise they need to make sure they’re ready,” says Kliethermes. “We can accommodate a few more aircraft this year, but owners need to call quickly so that we can develop a compliance solution for their aircraft in time. If they don’t call us, they must call someone to avoid having their aircraft grounded post-deadline.”

Rolls-Royce Completes Acquisition of Siemens’ Electric and Hybrid-Electric Aerospace Propulsion

Rolls-Royce has completed the acquisition of the electric and hybrid-electric aerospace propulsion activities of Siemens (formerly known as the eAircraft business), following a period of employee consultation.

Rolls-Royce says the execution of the deal, announced in June this year, underlines the fit of these activities to their strategy to “champion electrification” and will help accelerate their “ambitions as we look to play a major role in the ‘third era’ of aviation.”

“We are very pleased with the rapid execution of the necessary legal and procedural steps to complete this acquisition,” Rob Watson, director – Rolls-Royce Electrical, says. “We are welcoming our new colleagues into Rolls-Royce today and look forward to working with them to pioneer new technologies and solutions.”

“We are at the dawn of the ‘third era’ of aviation, which will bring a new class of quieter and cleaner air transport to the skies, and our new colleagues will add vital skills, expertise and new technology to our portfolio.”

Paul Stein, Rolls-Royce Chief Technology Officer, adds: “The technology portfolio and skills that we have acquired complement our existing developments in electrification, which include micro-grids and hybrid electric trains as well as aerospace applications.”

“Electrification is just one of the ways in which we are making aviation more sustainable. We are continuing to increase the fuel efficiency of our gas turbines; increasing the integration between airframe and engine; and encouraging the development of sustainable fuels.”

The former Siemens business, based in Germany and Hungary, employs around 180 specialist electrical designers and engineers who have been developing a range of all-electric and hybrid electric propulsion solutions for the aerospace industry. They will continue to work in their existing locations.

Rolls-Royce says the team from Siemens was already well known to them as they had been working together on the E-Fan X demonstrator program and they are joining a business that has already made significant strides towards the increased electrification of aviation.

Rolls-Royce says they have conducted successful ground tests of a hybrid propulsion system that can be used across a range of smaller transport platforms including EVTOLs (hybrid electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles), general aviation aircraft and hybrid helicopters. These tests are part of one of the world’s most comprehensive hybrid aerospace turbine engine development and integration programs, paving the way for experimental test flights in 2021. We are also developing an all-electric demonstrator aircraft, as part of the ACCEL initiative that will attempt to break the world speed record for all-electric flight.

The closing of the deal is the latest in a series of electrification announcements from Rolls-Royce. At the end of August, we launched a joint research program on zero-emissions aviation with Widerøe, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia. The program is part of the airline´s ambition to replace and electrify its legacy regional fleet by 2030.

Earlier the same month, Rolls-Royce says they signed a letter of intent for the construction of a demonstration plant for the production of synthetic fuels in the Lausitz region of Germany, together with the State of Brandenburg, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus and other industrial partners.

ExecuJet Seeks New UK FBO to Support European Expansion

ExecuJet, part of the Luxaviation Group, is intending to launch an enlarged UK FBO at a new location after deciding to exit Cambridge Airport, where landlord Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group intends to bring FBO services in-house.

The planned expansion follows significant growth for ExecuJet in Europe, which has seen nine new aircraft join its fleet in as many months.

“After nearly eight successful years of operations in Cambridge, the time is right to seek a new facility with extended capabilities.,” Niclas von Planta, vice president, ExecuJet Europe, says. “Earlier this year, operating hours were reduced at Cambridge Airport, with no flights at weekends. With the considerable growth ExecuJet has been experiencing in Europe, we have decided to seek new premises that will better serve our client base. This move marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of expansion for us. ExecuJet has long been known for leading the industry in FBO safety and service, and the establishment of a new facility in the UK will give us the opportunity to uphold those standards on a larger scale.”

Ettore Poggi, Group FBO Director, ExecuJet, adds: “With the expected closure of Cambridge Airport by 2030, our next UK FBO will allow us to deliver our award-winning services to our clients long-term. I would like to thank the customers, partners and friends that we have encountered in our time at Cambridge over the years, and we will be working closely with the airport to ensure a smooth transition, from our new offices in Newmarket, Suffolk.”

Luxaviation, in collaboration with the Paragon Aviation Group, has a network of 56 FBOs globally, 27 of which are managed by ExecuJet.