Category: BizJet

New Garmin G5000 Avionics Upgrade Now Available for Cessna Citation XLS Textron Service Centers

Textron Aviation customers can now upgrade their Cessna Citation XLS+ and Citation XLS Gen2 aircraft with the Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck following Garmin’s receipt of FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the avionics upgrade. Customers can have the upgrade installed at selected domestic Textron Aviation Service Centers to add significant technological advances and new capabilities to their aircraft.

Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct support, maintenance and modifications by Textron Aviation through a global network of service and part centers, mobile service units and 24/7 1CALL AOG support.

“The G5000 avionics upgrade for the Cessna Citation XLS series modernizes the cockpit and addresses the evolution of FAA airspace, while also offering a lower cost of operation,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, customer support. “We are continuously investing in new enhancements for our customers and their aircraft and expanding the G5000 avionics system to Citation XLS+ and XLS Gen2 operators supports our mission to deliver the best aviation experience for our customers.”

The G5000 integrated avionics suite features three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, allowing pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), flight plan information, weather and more, increasing situational awareness for the flight crew. It also includes options for Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) and fully automatic advanced weather radar and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) Out compliance and allows for future growth and expansion through software updates.

LONGTIME CESSNA CITATION PILOT FIRST TO INSTALL G5000 AVIONICS

East Coast Aviation’s Kim Leonard, a longtime Cessna Citation owner and operator, is looking forward to being the first Textron Aviation customer to install the new avionics and enjoy the enhanced capabilities in his Cessna Citation XLS+. Leonard has recorded 21,000 hours flying and has flown Cessna Citations for 35 years.

“I will be able to take off from the airport and pull the weather up before I even get off the ground in my airplane with the G5000,” said Leonard. “It does everything. It is absolutely the complete package.”

Leonard’s G5000 installation will take place at the company’s Wichita Service Center.

As the original equipment manufacturer of the aircraft, Textron Aviation can offer an installation of Garmin’s G5000 integrated flight deck upgrade that maintains the integrity of the aircraft’s originally certified systems.

Duncan Aviation Begins Construction on Pratt & Whitney Canada Designated Overhaul Facility

Duncan Aviation celebrated on August 26th the groundbreaking of its new Pratt & Whitney Canada DOF (Designated Overhaul Facility) in Lincoln, Nebraska. The new facility will focus on the overhaul and maintenance of PW300 and PW500 series engines.

The ceremony marked a significant milestone as representatives from Pratt & Whitney Canada, Hausmann Construction, Tectonic Management Group, and Duncan Aviation gathered to commemorate the occasion.

“Duncan Aviation has provided maintenance and overall services for Pratt & Whitney Canada PW300 and PW500 engines for decades. This new facility plays a crucial role in strengthening our engine overhaul services, providing even greater support and efficiency to our customers,” said Irene Makris, vice president of customer service at Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Todd Duncan, chairman of Duncan Aviation, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two companies, stating, “This groundbreaking symbolizes a trusted commitment between two great companies that dates back decades. It is the result of years of effort through strategic agreements and mutual trust and holds immense significance.”

Duncan Aviation believes this agreement with Pratt & Whitney Canada will be one of the most impactful for Duncan Aviation’s future, opening up new opportunities and elevating the company’s service offerings. Although primarily involving engine authorization, its influence will extend across nearly every department at Duncan Aviation. With the completion of the new DOF set for 2026, departments such as airframe maintenance, paint, avionics, completions, and component services are anticipated to see increased demand from operators using Pratt & Whitney Canada engines who require comprehensive MRO services.

The new 36,000-square-foot facility, designed by Tectonic Management Group and constructed by Hausmann Construction, will include 12 engine maintenance bays, a new parts inventory warehouse, and expanded backshops. Key features will include:

  • An overhead crane system to improve productivity and safety, allowing easy lifting and precise placement of engine components during assembly and disassembly.
  • A floor-mounted rotating jib crane with a 500-pound capacity for comprehensive, 360-degree engine inspections.
  • Enhanced in-house capabilities include a clean room, media blasting machines, shot peen equipment, a paint booth, Non-Destructive Testing capabilities, and a balance room.

The new DOF test cell and control room, designed and installed by Atec, Inc., will be adjacent to Duncan Aviation’s existing test cell and will serve PW300 and PW500 engines and feature Atec’s next-generation small turbofan test cell technology, offering a quieter testing environment with greater airflow and less environmental impact. The cell will handle the newest class of business jet and small regional jet engines up to 20,000 lbs. of thrust. Enhancements include a larger fuel farm, start air capability, and generator loading.

ExecuJet MRO Services Secures South African Approval for Embraer Legacy Aircraft Maintenance

ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East has commenced performing heavy maintenance checks on South African-registered Embraer Legacy aircraft following the receipt of regulatory approval.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has officially approved ExecuJet MRO
Services Middle East’s Dubai facility to conduct heavy maintenance checks on the Embraer
EMB-135/145 series (Legacy 600/650 series), including checks up to 192-month checks.
The company operates a 15,344 square meter (165,160 square feet) state-of-the-art MRO
facility at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East has already welcomed its first two clients, with their
Legacy 600 aircraft currently undergoing 96-month and 144-month airframe maintenance
checks in its hangar. Additional services include shipping one aircraft’s landing gear to the
United States for overhaul.

Being already certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for heavy
maintenance on Legacy aircraft, ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East’s certification by the
SACAA was facilitated through the auditing and validation of its EASA credentials. The
SACAA’s endorsement marks the 18th civil aviation regulator to certify ExecuJet MRO
Services Middle East.

Nick Weber, regional vice president for the Middle East at ExecuJet MRO Services, says
the Dubai facility secured this business due to the aircraft already operating in the Middle
East. He also credits the new contracts to ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East’s status as
an Embraer Authorized Service Center as well as a Rolls-Royce Authorized Service Center
for engines including the BR710 and AE3007A series, which power the Legacy aircraft.
Certain engine manufacturers require MRO providers to be authorized service centers to
perform engine changes which are under their programs.

“As business and trade between the Middle East and Africa continue to grow, we anticipate
more opportunities to serve operators from the neighboring African region,” adds Weber.

AES Completes EASA-Approved STC for beOnd’s Airbus A321

Aerospace Engineering Solutions (AES), a specialist in aircraft design and certification, announced the successful completion and approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. 10085153. This STC enables a complete business-class only cabin reconfiguration on an Airbus A321 aircraft.

Headquartered in the UK, with additional operations in Spain and Ireland, AES’s Design Organisation Approval (DOA) team was contracted by beOnd, the world’s first premium leisure airline, to develop a modification that introduces a cabin layout using 34 business class seats, generating a 68-passenger seating configuration. The lie-flat seat motion system is a standout feature in the narrow-body aircraft market.

Key modifications include:
• Installation of Optimares Vivaldi lie-flat business class seats
• Integration of the seat motion power system
• Installation of 110V AC and USB Type C In-Seat Power Supply System
• Rearrangement of cabin monuments
• Door 3 exit type re-assigned from Type I to Type III
• Rearrangement of Passenger Service Units (PSUs)
• Reconfiguration of emergency equipment and emergency path lighting
• Updated placards
• New carpet and cabin attendant seat covers
• On-site cabin inspections

In addition to the interior reconfiguration, AES also provided the EASA-approved Part 21J technical data package to accomplish beOnd’s stunning signature dark grey and copper livery.

“This latest STC approval reflects our commitment to excellence and reinforces our position as a leader in aircraft cabin reconfigurations,” said Andrew Dolby, director at Aerospace Engineering Solutions. “Our team demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness and dedication, overcoming challenges related to material and parts procurement, all while working within a tight time schedule to ensure that the modification was completed and approved on time for our customer. We are thrilled to have partnered with beOnd on their new aircraft and deliver a configuration that will enhance the passenger experience, and we wish them all the success. Our vast scope of approval and highly experienced team in cabin interiors, structures, and avionics allows us to provide our customers with any cabin configuration for their fleet.”

Tero Taskila, CEO & chairman at beOnd, said: “We are happy to have received the STC for our A321 aircraft, marking the addition of the second aircraft to our growing fleet. The expertise and professionalism of the AES team have been invaluable in transforming the beOnd vision from concept to reality, supporting our journey of expansion. A special thank you to Andrew and the entire AES team for their outstanding partnership. As we continue to grow, we look forward to working with them again in the future.”

West Star Aviation Promotes Sharp

West Star Aviation announced the promotion of Ray Sharp to the director of maintenance at the East Alton, Illinois (ALN) facility, overseeing all maintenance programs.

Sharp’s career began as an airframe and powerplant technician at Cessna, and he later joined StandardAero, where he dedicated 25 years to the company. Over time, he advanced to the role of director of operations, managing both the airframe and avionics departments in the corporate aviation division. Sharp’s diverse experience includes working with a wide range of airframes such as Falcon, Hawker, Lear, Cessna, Challenger, and Gulfstream.

“Ray brings a wealth of knowledge in business aviation maintenance, avionics, and modifications to his new role. His extensive experience in the aviation industry makes him an excellent fit for this position,” says Brian Bauwens, vice president/general manager (ALN).

Pinnacle Air Network Celebrates 30 Years of Industry Leadership

Three decades after its founding, Pinnacle Air Network’s alliance of 18 independent aviation companies came together to celebrate the occasion at its 30th annual meeting this month in Montreal, Canada. Pratt & Whitney Canada, a Pinnacle partner from its beginnings in 1994, hosted the event, bringing together the group of fixed-base operators (FBOs); maintenance, repair and overhaul (MROs); aircraft sales, and aircraft charter organizations to mark the occasion. 

“Thirty years in any industry is a significant milestone. The Pinnacle Air Network members have proven their longevity and industry leadership year after year by exceeding customer expectations, partnering with the industry’s best suppliers, and learning from each other to implement best practices,” said Lance Phillips, Pinnacle Air Network executive director. “This year is special because we get to celebrate with a partner, Pratt & Whitney Canada, who has been with us every step of the way. Our other partners, StandardAero, Boeing Distribution, JSSI, and JETNET have also been serving the Network for years.”

The Network, which now reports collective revenues of more than $1.6 billion, began as a group of successful Beechcraft aircraft dealers. It has grown to encompass nearly all aspects of general and private aviation, bringing new strength and diversity to the Network. Members benefit from the combined buying power and years of strength within aviation. The gathering marked the first since the 18th member, Fargo Jet Center, joined the Network.

“Fargo Jet Center is honored to be Pinnacle’s newest member, especially during such a momentous celebration,” said Jim Sweeney, president. “We look forward to strengthening our competitiveness through the Pinnacle Air Network partnerships with such leaders in the industry.”

Along with Pratt & Whitney Canada, sponsors for the 30th annual meeting included StandardAero, JSSI and Boeing Distribution. Network companies, which have over 4,600 employees and 200 aircraft in charter and management, also benefit from partnerships with leaders such as UPS, UniFirst and more.

“As a founding member of the Pinnacle Air Network, Cutter Aviation is proud to celebrate 30 years with our trusted partner, Pratt & Whitney Canada,” said Will Cutter, Cutter Aviation president. “The company is known throughout the Southwest as a leading family-owned and operated FBO and aviation services provider.

Cutter Aviation Appoints Joe Behling as FBO General Manager at its Phoenix Sky Harbor Location

Cutter Aviation announced the addition of Joseph Behling to the team as FBO general manager at its Phoenix Sky Harbor location. In this role, Behling will lead FBO operations and manage the line and customer service teams while expanding business opportunities and fostering strong customer relationships, ensuring Cutter Aviation Phoenix remains a top choice for aviation services. 

Behling brings over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, having held numerous general management and director-level positions. His expertise in operations will be instrumental in enhancing the customer experience at Cutter Aviation Phoenix.

“We are thrilled to welcome Joe to the Cutter Aviation team,” said Will Cutter, president and CEO of Cutter Aviation. “He has great experience, and we are excited to see how he contributes to the growth of our FBO.”

“I am excited to be part of the Cutter Aviation crew,” said Behling. “I look forward to working with such a dedicated group and contributing to the ongoing success of our Phoenix location.” 

Behling is a native of Redding, California. When he is not at work, he enjoys cooking, fishing, and spending time with family.

Wright Selected for $3.34M Award From FAA FAST for Ultra-Lightweight Batteries

Wright Electric and its partners have been selected to receive a $3.34M award from the FAA FAST program to develop a new class of batteries that will enable zero emission aircraft flights on large 100+ passenger aircraft.

It is widely agreed that lightweighting batteries is the most difficult technical challenge preventing the adoption of electric aircraft. The objective of the R&D program is to construct highly energy dense batteries which hold roughly three times more energy per pound of weight than the best electric car batteries. These batteries would enable the wide scale adoption of electric aircraft in the 100+ passenger segment.

“When Wright Electric was founded in 2016, the idea of a battery that would allow aircraft to fly regional routes with reserves seemed like a fantasy to most people,” said Jeff Engler, CEO at Wright Electric. “Now, we are one of several companies with a viable path toward a technology that will enable regional aircraft flights entirely on battery power.”

Wright was founded to address the climate and noise impact of the aerospace industry by building electric aircraft. Wright is focusing on the 100+ passenger aircraft market because this segment accounts for greater than 90% of the carbon emissions of the aerospace industry. Wright builds ultra-power-dense electric aircraft engines and ultra-lightweight batteries for these aircraft. Wright works with NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The batteries Wright is developing use a novel molten Lithium-Sulfur chemistry with the potential for roughly 3x the gravimetric energy capacity of commercial li-ion. In this program Wright will emphasize reducing risks tied to airworthiness and high volume production.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to mature this technology and accelerate the decarbonization of air transportation in New York State,” Engler said. “This award will greatly accelerate our work to advance clean air travel and we couldn’t be more excited to get started.”

The funding for the FAA FAST program was provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“As one of the leading advocates in Congress for innovation and the advancement of clean energy technologies, I’m thrilled to see Malta’s own Wright Electric receive this significant infusion of federal funding,” said Congressman Paul D. Tonko. “This grant, one of just 36 awarded nationwide through the FAA FAST program, will deliver $3.34 million to advance Wright’s groundbreaking work on ultra-lightweight batteries for use on commercial passenger flights. When I visited their facility in 2022, I was deeply impressed by their commitment to pioneering zero-emission regional flights, and I’ve been proud in recent years to support their efforts to secure new federal investments. This award represents a critical step forward for Wright Electric and for our Capital Region, as we continue to lead the nation in the fight against climate change. Going forward, I’m eager to keep working alongside local companies to find innovative solutions to combat our climate crisis.”

Satcom Direct Appoints Tom Phillips as Regional Director for Asia Pacific region

 Satcom Direct has selected Tom Phillips to serve as the regional director for its Asia Pacific operation. With immediate effect Phillips will be responsible for strengthening the SD presence in the region and executing SD’s ongoing strategic developments across the Asia Pacific area.

Phillips steps into his role with over a decade of experience working for Satcom Global, where he most recently led their Singapore operation. As regional director for SD, he will identify new markets, expand the customer portfolio, consolidate existing and new MRO relationships, build new partnerships, introduce established and new SD products and services to the connectivity-hungry market, as well as ensure the continuity of SD’s award-winning customer support.

Following the success of the SD Plane Simple Ku-band antenna rollout and the recent commercial introduction of the SD Plane Simple Ka-band antenna, one of his prime objectives will be to promote the revolutionary hardware and the SD eco-system to the region’s tech-forward business aviation community.  The Ku-band antenna is already flying in the region, and the Plane Simple Ka-band recently earned STC approval for Gulfstream airframes, with other OEMs soon to follow. 

“I am thrilled to join Satcom Direct in this position and am eager to contribute to the company’s continued growth and success. Satcom Direct’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction resonates deeply with me. The position allows me to leverage my experience to enhance our service offerings further and strengthen relationships with our valued customers. The APAC region presents a dynamic and rapidly evolving market, and I am confident that, together with my talented team at SD, we will achieve new heights in delivering unparalleled connectivity solutions and support to our clients,” said Phillips.

Phillips will report to Dave Falberg, vice president of SD International. “We’re excited to welcome Tom to SD. Customers will appreciate his experience, expertise and energy. His track record of achievement will be a great asset to the team. I know that Tom will build on the success of the established APAC team and will continue to provide the focused, trusted and innovative approach that our customers expect,” said Falberg.

Western Aircraft Appoints Chris Chavez as New Avionics Sales Manager

Western Aircraft announced that Chris Chavez has accepted the role of avionics sales manager.

Chavez joined Western nearly three years ago as an avionics technician and most recently worked as an avionics tech 3. Prior to joining Western, he served in the United States Marine Corps for five years as both an avionics technician and a quality assurance representative

In his new role, Chavez will be for developing and closing opportunities for avionics upgrades and installations for Western Aircraft’s thriving avionics business.