Category: BizJet

Survey Reveals Key Workforce Trends and Challenges Facing MRO & Engineering Professionals in Aviation

A recent survey by aviation recruitment specialists GOOSE Recruitment highlights the evolving priorities and challenges for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and Engineering professionals. Now in its second edition, the MRO & Engineering Report 2024 explores critical areas such as job security, employee well-being, job seeking, shift patterns and more.

The survey, which gathered responses from over 650 global professionals, provides actionable insights for aviation employers looking to enhance their workforce strategies and stay competitive in a talent-short marketplace. Alongside valuable industry data, the report includes tailored recommendations to help employers retain and attract skilled professionals.

The report can be downloaded from the GOOSE Recruitment website https://www.goose-recruitment.com/mro-and-engineering-report-2024

Highlights of the report:

• Rising Job Security Concerns: Job security issues have intensified, with 54% of professionals expressing concern, a notable increase from last year’s 45%. This shift is most pronounced in the Americas where concerns reach 80%. Major stressors, such as limited feedback and growth opportunities, now weigh more heavily than financial factors, sparking a broader debate on whether job stability or a sustainable lifestyle is driving these concerns.

• Career Progression Fuels Turnover: With 75% of permanent employees and 86% of contractors planning to seek new roles in the coming year, career progression has become the primary motivator. Despite high levels of job-seeking intentions, those loyal to their employers point to salary, workplace relationships and work-life balance as key retention factors. Concerningly, more than half of respondents who joined their employer within the last year also expressed plans to leave, indicating signs of the “great regret” and potential issues in preboarding and onboarding in recruitment processes.

• High Levels of Headhunting and Interest in Relocation: Headhunting is widespread, with 60% of professionals reporting recruitment approaches in the past six months, particularly among senior talent. Encouragingly, relocation interest is rising, with 85% open to moving internationally, up from 74% last year – a promising sign for employers expanding into new markets.

• Employee Well-being and Stress: Nearly half of the respondents report high-stress levels, citing workload, leadership style, and deadlines as the top stressors. In addition, a quarter did not feel valued by their employer, indicating a need for better recognition.

• Gender Imbalance and Growing Call for Proactive Initiatives: Despite 70% of respondents feeling diversity is adequate in the profession, a significant gender imbalance (95% male vs. 5% female) raises questions about inclusivity. Additionally, 64% of professionals now call for more proactive diversity efforts, up from 57% last year, reflecting a shift in industry expectations.

• Championing the Future of Aviation: Despite challenges, 88% of respondents would choose their MRO & Engineering careers again, and 85% would recommend their profession to young people, demonstrating strong career satisfaction and endorsement.

“The survey confirms that today’s MRO and Engineering professionals are looking for more than just a pay cheque. They want career advancement, to thrive in a supportive culture, recognition, and develop relationships at work,” said Mark Charman, CEO and founder at GOOSE Recruitment. “By focusing on these key areas, companies can not only attract but also retain the top talent that will drive the industry’s future growth.”

SkySelect has integrated with SalesEdge Quoting unveiled by Quantum Control and CORRIDOR.

SkySelect, the procurement AI platform for aircraft parts purchasing, announced direct integration with SalesEdge Quoting, ushering in a new era of aviation part sales by seamlessly integrating eCommerce capabilities with customers’ infrastructure.

SalesEdge Quoting is launched by CAMP Systems’ portfolio companies, Quantum Control and CORRIDOR, and SkySelect is an inaugural integration partner. 

Quantum Control and CORRIDOR are industry-recommended ERP solutions for MRO, manufacturing, distribution, and aircraft services. 

With 30 years of experience in aviation, the global ecosystem of CAMP Systems companies supports over 22,000 users and 1,700 aviation companies in 66 countries. 

With SalesEdge Quoting, suppliers can consolidate RFQs across multiple marketplace platforms and submit quotes from a single, centralized hub. The seamless integration simplifies quoting and eliminates redundancy between marketplace platforms and ERP systems, including Quantum Control and CORRIDOR Aviation Services Software. 

Existing Quantum Control and CORRIDOR customers can request personalized demos and solution scoping meetings. 

“We are excited to roll out SalesEdge Quoting to the aviation industry and continue to deliver the most effective solutions to the market,” said Todd Lewis, president and general manager at Quantum Control. “What makes this new product so useful to our users is the direct integrations we have built; this is why partners such as SkySelect, Inc., who have a shared goal of bringing automation and efficiency to suppliers.” 

Some of the benefits of SalesEdge Quoting include:

● RFQ Management

● RFQ Response Efficiency

● Sales Guidance

● Quote Optimization

● Quote Automation

“As many of our suppliers are users of the Quantum Control ERP System, our integration with SalesEdge Quoting provides a significant optimization to their operations, allowing them to work more efficiently and effectively,” said Craig Skilton, director of business development, SkySelect. “We’ll remain committed to providing the best possible sales opportunities to our global supplier base.”

Southeast Aerospace To Develop Gogo Galileo HDX STC For Hawker Series Aircraft

Southeast Aerospace announced the development of a new STC for the installation of the Gogo Galileo HDX system on the Hawker aircraft platform. Powered by Gogo Business Aviation, the HDX system will provide global, high-speed inflight internet for business aircraft of all sizes. It leverages Eutelsat OneWeb’s Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite network, designed for mobility and consistent performance on all global routes.

This advanced connectivity solution will enable Hawker operators to enjoy reliable, high-speed inflight internet. The STC will cover multiple Hawker models, including Hawker 750, 800A, 800XP, and 900XP, addressing the growing demand for enhanced inflight connectivity and bringing unparalleled speeds to the platform.

“We are excited to lead this development for the Hawker platform,” said Luke Gomoll, Aircraft Modifications Sales Representative at Southeast Aerospace. “Our focus is on delivering innovative solutions that improve inflight connectivity and operational efficiency for our customers.”

The STC will be available at Southeast Aerospace’s Melbourne facility and through select installation partners. Hawker operators can also take advantage of a limited-time $25,000 promotional rebate when upgrading from legacy Gogo air-to-ground systems (ATG 1000, 2000, 4000, 5000) to the Gogo Galileo HDX and AVANCE SCS systems.

With its compact size and low-latency performance, the HDX offers fast, reliable connectivity for a wide range of business aviation aircraft, from light jets to the largest business jets.

“Gogo Galileo is designed to deliver high-speed, global inflight connectivity, enabling data heavy applications like video conferencing and streaming,” said Dave Salvador, vice president of aftermarket sales for Gogo. “Collaborating with Southeast Aerospace on this STC will deliver that level of service and connectivity to Hawker operators around the globe.”

Operators interested in upgrading to the HDX or any AVANCE system (L3, L5, LX5, SCS) can contact Luke Gomoll at Southeast Aerospace for more information or to submit a purchase order.

Supernal and Clay Lacy Aviation Partner to Prepare FBO Network for Advanced Air Mobility Operations

Supernal – Hyundai Motor Group’s (HMG’s) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company – and Clay Lacy Aviation announced a partnership at 2024 NBAA-BACE to prepare Clay Lacy’s fixed-base operator (FBO) locations for electric vertical and take-off landing (eVTOL) operations. This marks Supernal’s first official FBO partnership, which will benefit future operators of the company’s eVTOL vehicles.

As part of the five-year partnership, Supernal and Clay Lacy will develop end-to-end operational plans for integrating AAM into existing airport infrastructure, with a focus on developing standards and procedures for ground handling, MRO and battery management. Supernal will also support Clay Lacy’s work to integrate sufficient power and charging infrastructure for electric aviation. Initially, the partnership will focus on two of Clay Lacy’s FBO locations: SNA (Orange County) and VNY (Van Nuys), which aligns with Supernal’s Southern California launch plans. In subsequent phases, the companies will apply their best practices and learnings to prepare Clay Lacy’s broader FBO network for AAM. 

“Supernal is pleased to join Clay Lacy’s efforts to adapt existing airport infrastructure to support Advanced Air Mobility operations, which will begin later this decade,” said Diana Cooper, chief partnerships and policy officer, Supernal. “Clay Lacy’s state-of-the-art facilities, award-winning customer service and commitment to sustainability make them an ideal partner for Supernal. Availability of infrastructure will be critical to scaling the AAM industry, and this partnership is the latest step in ensuring the ecosystem is thoughtfully designed for future commercial eVTOL operators.”

Supernal plans to deliver its first eVTOL vehicles to operators in 2028. The company’s vehicle will cruise at 120 miles-per-hour with an initial range of 60 miles to meet the growing demand for efficient, multimodal transportation options in urban environments, such as Southern California.

“Clay Lacy Aviation has a 57-year history of firsts in the aviation industry, and we are committed to support the launch of sustainable, innovative solutions such as these from Supernal,” said Scott Cutshall, president of real estate and sustainability, Clay Lacy. “Supernal and Clay Lacy share strong commitments to sustainable aviation, safe and efficient operations and a superior passenger experience that benefits the communities we serve.”

Precision Aviation Group Expands Airline Avionics and Engine Services Capabilities with Acquisitions of ICON Aerospace and TAG Aero

Precision Aviation Group, Inc. (PAG), a provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and value-added services to the global aerospace and defense industries, has acquired ICON Aerospace (ICON) and TAG Aero (TAG). These strategic acquisitions significantly enhance PAG’s avionics and engine services capabilities while broadening its product offerings for the airline market.

ICON, headquartered in Indian Trail, North Carolina, is a provider of MRO services specializing in avionics, accessories, and electronics. TAG, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is a provider of MRO services specializing in auxiliary power units (APUs). TAG provides a comprehensive suite of services including repair and overhaul, outright sales, leasing and exchanges for Honeywell GTCP-85, 131, and 331 Series APUs. The addition of ICON and TAG to PAG will allow the combined customer base to benefit from the expanded range of product and service offerings.

“The acquisition of ICON and TAG significantly bolsters our capabilities in our Engine and Avionics services businesses, and provides expanded product offerings for the airline market,” said David Mast, president and CEO of PAG. “The addition of ICON and TAG’s skilled workforce of over 200 employees, their experienced leadership teams, and more than 150,000 square feet of state-of-the art facilities, enables us to better support the needs of our customers.”

Jeff Lambert, CEO of ICON and TAG, added: “We are excited to join PAG and leverage their resources and global reach. This partnership enhances our ability to serve our customers, providing them with faster service times and broader technical capabilities.”

Jet Parts Engineering Announces Acquisition of Mitchell PMA

Jet Parts Engineering (JPE) announced the acquisition of Mitchell PMA, the PMA division of Mitchell Aircraft. The integration of Mitchell PMA’s products and expertise will significantly enhance JPE’s ability to meet the evolving needs of its customers, providing a broader selection of high-quality parts at competitive prices.

“We are excited to work closely with Doug Sebion and the Mitchell PMA team to continue to grow the excellent business they have built,” said Anu Goel, CEO of Jet Parts Engineering. “The addition of Mitchell PMA will not only expand our PMA offering at Jet Parts but also strengthen our design and engineering capabilities. Mitchell also brings with it core values of strong service, low prices, and ready inventory that align closely with JPE’s values.”

Mitchell Aircraft, a well-established parts distribution company, began its PMA group in the mid-2010s, providing FAA-PMA approved airframe and accessory replacement parts and grew a diverse catalog of over 170 parts, ranging from rudder balance weights to engine cooling hoses, to cargo door lanyards.

“We are excited to join the Mitchell PMA business with JPE and believe this will promote accelerated development and expansion of the product line,” said Dick Sebion, chairman of Mitchell Aircraft and Greg Fletcher, vice chairman of Mitchell Aircraft.  “Mitchell Aircraft launched the PMA division under the guidance of Doug Sebion who will continue in that role joining the JPE team.  Mitchell Aircraft will continue its journey as an OEM distributor, independent of the Mitchell PMA group.”

The transaction was overseen by Vance Street Capital, a middle-market private equity firm focused on investing in highly engineered solutions businesses across the aerospace and defense, industrial, and medical markets. JPE is a Vance Street Capital portfolio company.

“Mitchell Aircraft’s outstanding reputation for exceptional customer service and technical proficiency makes Mitchell PMA a natural fit within Jet Parts Engineering portfolio of companies. These same principles are what Vance Street Capital prioritizes in all investments: customer-first attitude, high quality standards and humility,” said Nic Janneck, Partner at Vance Street. “We are excited to continue to support the JPE team on their fifth add-on under Vance Street ownership.”

Honeywell Forecast Shows Increased Demand for New Business Jets, Stable Growth for Next Decade

Honeywell published its 33rd annual Global Business Aviation Outlook, which provides unique insights into current industry trends as well as longer-cycle developments and is informed by extensive surveys of business aviation operators across the globe.

Based on survey results, Honeywell forecasts up to 8,500 new business jets worth $280 billion will be delivered over the next decade, an increase in value from last year’s forecast. However, the five-year new jet purchase plans of business aviation operators surveyed remained on par with last year’s results,indicating that demand for new aircraft is stabilizing well above pre-pandemic levels. In addition, the survey reveals ongoing plans by business jet manufacturers to ramp up production in response to strong backlogs and stable book-to-bill ratios persisting through 2024. 

“The business aviation industry is in a prolonged period of healthy growth, and we don’t see that positive trend changing any time soon,” said Heath Patrick, president, Americas Aftermarket, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Business aviation continues to see more users and, as a result, manufacturersare ramping up production to keep pace with growing demand, a trend we expect to continue for the foreseeable future. Despite a mixed macroeconomic environment and challenging geopolitical circumstances, operators are optimistic about their flight activity increasing in 2025 and beyond.”

Key findings in the 2024 Honeywell Global Business Aviation Outlook include:

• New business jet deliveries in 2025 are expected to be 12% higher than in 2024. Expenditures are expected to be 11% higher.

• Five-year purchase plans for new business jets are comparable with last year’s survey and equivalent to 18% of the current fleet. Fleet additions are consistent with results from a year ago at 3% of the fleet, which is in line with historical industry performance.

• More than 90% of those surveyed expect to fly more or about the same in 2025 than in 2024.

• Large jets are expected to account for about two-thirds of all expenditures of new business jets in the next five years, consistent with last year’s results.

• 82% of respondents consider “Performance” among their top three most important criteria when purchasing their next aircraft. “Cost” was second at 60%. 

New Business Aviation User Update: Returning to a Stable Growth Environment  

Following an influx of first-time business aviation users into the industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with record levels of flight activity, the industry has begun to return to a more stable growth environment at new elevated levels of production and flight activity. Demand remains robust for new aircraft as business jet manufacturer backlogs stay strong and production volumes ramp up to accommodate that higher demand. 

Based on the findings of this year’s survey, several key industry trends to watch include:  

• Demand for New Aircraft: New aircraft models introduced in recent years have driven increased demand for new aircraft, a trend which survey results indicate will continue throughout this decade and into the early 2030s. 

• Flight Activity & Utilization Levels: Flight activity is expected to increase in 2025 relative to 2024, especially for those who currently operate at high utilization levels. The reduction in barriers to access business aviation in recent years, driven by the introduction of new shared access models, has enabled a persistent flow of new customers opting for business aviation alternatives for their travel needs.

• Fractional Operators: Fractional operators may be the largest beneficiaries of new customer growth, and they are also benefitting from traditional operators wanting to supplement their current operations with fractional shares. The business aviation industry has experienced changing dynamics in recent years, resulting in new higher levels of aircraft deliveries and flight activity than seen in the previous decade, and the sector appears poised to achieve stable growth on top of this over the next decade.

Regional Breakdown: North America Sees Strongest Demand, But Latin America Shows Optimism

North America: North America will see 66% of the five-year new jet deliveries, which is consistent with historical demand for the region. 30% of respondents from North America expect to fly more next year, amounting to a large proportion of the demand, which is likely contributing to the sustained growth of new jet deliveries.

Europe: European operators will comprise 13% of the five-year new jet deliveries, which is one percentage point below last year’s share and follows a similar trend over the past few years. A strong regional focus on sustainability, environmental pressures, and the availability of alternative transit options are the likely cause of this slight dip in new aircraft demand.

Latin America: Operators in Latin America will account for 10% of the five-year new jet deliveries, which is an increase of five percentage points from their share in 2023. In contrast to last year, respondents in Latin America are optimistic about favorable macroeconomic conditions, which will likely drive increased flight activity as well as demand for new jets. This effect is particularly strong in Brazil where year-over-year flight activity growth is stronger than the global average.

Asia Pacific: Operators in Asia Pacific will make up 7% of the five-year new jet deliveries. APAC is returning to typical fleet growth after several years of decline throughout the pandemic. There is a notable uptick in flight activity in Australia, where departures are up nearly double digits year-over-year.

Middle East/Africa: Fleet growth here accounts for 3% of the five-year new jet deliveries, which is a decline of three percentage points from last year’s surveyed expectations. Flight activity in the region declined year-over-year through the first half of 2024, likely due to conflicts in the region.

Preowned Aircraft Update: Market Cools From Record-Low Inventory Levels

The market for pre-owned aircraft is cooling after record low inventory levels in 2021 and 2022, but used aircraft values remain strong relative to the previous decade. While pre-owned aircraft inventory will likely continue to increase slowly, prices should remain stable, thereby supporting steady demand for pre-owned aircraft. Operators mentioned expecting to rely on pre-owned aircraft purchases to expand their fleets slightly more than in prior years.

Sustainability in Business Aviation: Fuel-Efficient Aircraft Recognized as Most Effective Method of Improving Environmental Impact

In light of Honeywell’s commitment to driving aviation sustainability and reaching carbon neutrality by 2035 in its operations and facilities, this year’s survey – for the fourth consecutive year – features an analysis of sustainability in business aviation and also examines how operators are trying to lower their carbon footprint. Several key findings include: 

• European operators show the most proactive behavior in lowering their carbon footprint, with North American operators lagging slightly behind. However, the total number of operators taking proactive steps in North America is still greater than any other region given the much larger volume of business aviation operations in the region.

• According to those surveyed, the acquisition of new, more fuel-efficient aircraft is considered to be the most effective method to reduce environmental impact, with 85% of respondents mentioning this to be ‘very effective’ or ‘moderately effective.’

o However, this method is only being utilized by 60% of operators who report proactively taking steps to minimize their carbon footprint. These “proactive” operators also outline the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as another key method for improving their environmental impact, with 55% of this group mentioning its use in their operations.

o 75% of operators rank cost as one of the top three obstacles to adopting SAF into their operations, followed by its availability at 64%.

Vitrek Expands MTI PBS Line to Include the PBS eXpress, a Portable Engine Balancing System for Business and Regional Jets

Vitrek a U.S.-based manufacturer of test and measurement equipment, has introduced the enhanced PBS eXpress aircraft engine vibration analysis and balancing system. Designed to optimize engine performance in the small-frame turbofan and turboprop engines used in regional, business and smaller military jets, the PBS eXpress minimizes down-time and fuel costs by eliminating guesswork.  

It features advanced algorithms based on commonly used engines to translate vibration and speed measurements into accurate balancing solutions. Available in rack mount as well as portable versions for on-runway testing, the system features intuitive setup and easy-to-operate visualization tools like vibration surveys, exportable data and PDF reporting. Supported propulsion systems include the most popular small-frame engines and APUs from major OEMs such as Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, P&W Canada, and Williams International. 

The PBS eXpress features the same industry-leading technology developed for the PBS-4100+ family of balancing products used world-wide to support the larger frame engines on leading airlines and military jets. 

Market-leading features of the portable PBS eXpress include: 

• Modern Interface – Color touchscreen operates the entire Windows-based user interface.

• Extreme Simplicity – The Trim Balance Wizard streamlines the diagnostic process with simple-to-follow steps.

• Advanced Functionality – Rapidly calculates optimized engine balancing solutions accounting for existing weights on the engine and generates detailed “before and after” PDF reports.

• Convenience – Lightweight and portable system operates 6-plus hours between battery charges. 

• Ease of Migration – Usable with common cables, pickups, and sensors.

Gary Schafer, president of Vitrek, LLC, said, “The PBS eXpress offers many of the advanced features found on the most sophisticated engine balancing systems – but with a price point and form factor optimized for MRO organizations and operators who maintain small-to-mid-sized corporate and regional jets.” He continued, “The PBS eXpress’s industry leading intuitive user-interface enables operators to perform vibration analysis and engine rotor balancing, with minimal training.”

The PBS eXpress will be on display at the NBAA-BACE Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall in Las Vegas on Oct. 22-24.  The product will be shown along with the PBS-4100+ for large frame jet engines and the portable1510A which allows technicians to bring a laboratory-grade precision function generator directly to the flight line.

Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings Showcases “Envisioned Precision” With New Products and Services at 2024 NBAA-EBACE Exhibition

Under the theme “Envisioned Precision,” Sherwin-Williams is introducing numerous new aerospace coatings products and design services at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE).

“We’re excited to show off and present a variety of new topcoats, undercoats, prep materials and design services soon available to aviation industry professionals and the entire maintenance, repair and overhaul community,” says Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams Market Segment Manager Aerospace, Original Equipment Automotive Interiors and Commercial Vehicle Refinish. “We look forward to showcasing the latest in aerospace coatings technology and innovations, as well as engaging with visitors at this year’s NBAA-EBACE exhibition.”

Come See What’s Being Featured at Booth #1713 at NBAA-EBACE This Year

The latest 850 Series SKYscapes Effect Finishes from Sherwin-Williams delivers a consistent, durable and colorful mica, metallic and hybrid finishes. This high-performance polyurethane basecoat is specially designed for productivity and appearance with a full complement of effects – for use in everything from striping and accents to overall paint completion of a larger or commercial aircraft.

In addition to its extensive color and effects palette, the new SKYscapes 850 Series also offers what aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and paint shops desire most – an incredibly simple and easy-to-use product.

The new 858 Series SKYscapes single-stage topcoat delivers consistent, colorful finishes in multiple gloss levels. It is a convenient, single-stage system for the exterior and interior surfaces of general aviation aircraft. This polyester/urethane hybrid topcoat can be applied as an overall topcoat or used for striping while delivering a consistent, durable finish and an option for a clearcoat.

Available in a full solid color palette with multiple gloss levels – including full-gloss, semi-gloss and flat finishes – the 858 Series SKYscapes offers an ultra-smooth appearance with excellent flow and leveling.

Achieve Any Desired Scheme Design
Due to the overwhelming success of the Sherwin-Williams Aircraft Color Visualizer, four new aircraft types were added to its inventory. This web-based tool allows plane owners, paint shops, aircraft scheme designers, original equipment manufacturers and even aviation enthusiasts to let their imaginations go to work as they create and envision aircraft color combinations easily in a fully interactive experience.

The interactive tool – which is available as an interactive desktop site or mobile app – expanded from six to 10 aircraft models – ranging from a kit aircraft to a heavy jet – that can be customized with any color in the Sherwin-Williams aircraft color library and instantly viewed on screen. Aircraft designs can be created from thousands of colors, accents and paint style combinations.

What Else Is New?

Next-Generation Chrome-Free Epoxy Primer offers class-leading corrosion resistance, performance and durability protection for all types of aircraft. Sherwin-Williams Next-Generation Chrome-Free Epoxy Primer (CM0483800) is a new high-performance, two-component, corrosion-inhibitive primer that contains no chromate. The primer is ideal for application on all types of aircraft, including commercial aircraft, business jets, military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, rotor aircraft and general aviation.

Jet Prep Sol-Gel Metal Pretreatment (CM0220P01) provides excellent corrosion protection and adhesion. It is a chrome-free, water-based, translucent, sol-gel metal pretreatment solution designed specifically for the aerospace industry. The two-component pretreatment kit provides superior adhesion and corrosion protection over aluminum substrates and pairs with aerospace-grade corrosion-protective epoxy primers and topcoat paint systems, all to provide applicators the ability to apply a complete Sherwin-Williams chrome-free system from substrate to topcoat.

New Universal Clearcoat System for General Aviation Aircraft delivers premium aesthetics with versatile application characteristics. This high-gloss, durable clearcoat (CM0ACC201) delivers maximum results in terms of appearance and protection and also provides versatile application options, from flexible wet edge times to fast repairs.

A conductive coating offers a high-conductivity solution for dissipating static on aluminum and composite aircraft. This new aerospace coating (CM0485115) enables aircraft owners to impart conductivity onto aluminum and composite substrates by producing an anti-static conductive film on their surfaces with a resistivity of 0.1 to 100,000 ohms per square meter to help static charges dissipate from antennas and radomes.

Fill Bond Flex Aerospace Filler (FBF100) restores aircraft exterior composites by permanently concealing surface imperfections. This is a new, convenient method for filling seams and rivets and doing small spot repairs on aircraft prior to painting. The high-quality, two-component polyester filler kit (FBF100) is designed to block, and permanently conceal, surface imperfections on composite exterior aircraft surfaces by offering strong adhesion; resistance of shrinkage; and better sandability, flexibility, and stain resistance.

To see all these new aerospace products and services, visit Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings at Booth #1713, Oct. 22-24, 2024, at the NBAA-EBACE exhibition.

Honeywell Receives FAA Certification for Aspire 350 Hybrid SATCOM Terminal

Honeywell has received a new technical standard order (TSO) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Aspire 350 Hybrid SATCOM terminal. Honeywell is the first FAA-certified Dual SATCOM manufacturer to include both legacy and next-generation Iridium safety and Iridium Certus services in one system. This new SATCOM advancement is part of a broad range of Honeywell technologies that are shaping the future of aviation, one of three global megatrends to which Honeywell’s portfolio is aligned.

With the Aspire 350 Hybrid, business aviation aircraft owners, airliners and helicopter operators can take advantage of secure cockpit voice and data services. In addition, they can also access cabin voice and data over the Iridium satellite network for fast L-band speeds of up to 704 kbps. This 2-in-1 hybrid product replaces legacy safety and cabin terminals and provides global coverage.

“Aspire 350 Hybrid is the first FAA-certified SATCOM system with both legacy modems to support essential safety services and an Iridium Certus broadband modem to enable the fastest speeds available over the Iridium network,” said Steve Hadden, vice president and general manager, services and connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Operators now have access to fast, flexible, affordable and reliable high-speed aircraft connectivity with global coverage, including the remote polar regions. Additionally, depending on the solution offering, owners and operators can do everything they currently do on the ground – from providing critical safety communications to supporting an ’office in the sky’ up to multiple devices.”

“Honeywell continues to be a leader in innovation and the Aspire 350 Iridium Certus terminal is taking airline pilot communications to the next level by providing a full suite of cockpit and cabin services,” said John Peterson, executive director of Aviation, Iridium. “In partnership with Honeywell, Iridium is committed to providing reliable safety services and secure voice and data to aircraft – everywhere on the planet.”

Aspire 350 Hybrid supports worldwide operation and the Future Air Navigation System-over-Iridium to help obtain preferential routes over oceanic airspace, thus reducing the flight path and saving fuel and time. Most importantly, owners and operators can access cockpit safety and non-safety voice and data services securely.

With this new system installed, pilots have access to real-time weather updates via the Electronic Flight Bag and can leverage a SATCOM voice communication that is crisp and clear versus legacy HF radios.

TSO C-159e was issued to Honeywell by the FAA with compliance to Aircraft Systems Information Security Protection for Iridium Certus.