Category: BizJet

Spectro | Jet-Care to Provide Debris Analysis Services to Rolls-Royce CorporateCare Enhanced Customers

Spectro | Jet-Care, an independent laboratory providing condition monitoring services to the  aviation industry, announced they have been chosen by Rolls-Royce to provide debris analysis services to support the Rolls-Royce CorporateCare Enhanced aftermarket service.

Spectro | Jet-Care have partnered with Rolls-Royce to provide debris and filter analysis service to operators enrolled on Rolls-Royce CorporateCare Enhanced contracts. Rolls-Royce has set the standard for this program by providing high quality support as well as increased engine availability, this combined with Spectro | Jet-Care’s fast and efficient laboratory analysis program gives customers an enhanced service offering.

In the unlikely event of a chip or filter indication debris samples will be taken from operators’ engines and sent to one of three Spectro | Jet-Care state of the art laboratories, based in the UK, USA or Switzerland. The analysis is undertaken by an experienced analyst using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to identify the type of material, quantity, size and appearance enabling quick and accurate decisions to be made by Rolls-Royce and the operator, therefore allowing the aircraft to return to service as quickly as possible. An AOG service is also available 24/7/365.

“We are delighted to be working with Rolls-Royce in providing debris analysis service support to their CorporateCare Enhanced aftermarket customers” said David Glass, Managing Director of Spectro | Jet-Care. “We have been supporting the industry for over 46 years and with fast sample turnaround and experienced technical teams our first-class analysis service combined with the CorporateCare support provides customers with added peace of mind”.

“We clearly developed our market-leading CorporateCare Enhanced service with our customers in mind,” Megha Bhatia, VP Sales & Marketing – Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce, said. “Adding oil and debris analysis to the comprehensive list of covered services for our CorporateCare Enhanced customers was a logical step and we look forward to working together with the experienced team of Spectro | Jet-Care on delivering this new feature to our customers.”

Spectro | Jet-Care has established a centre of excellence for laboratory analysis and place a special focus on creating tailored analysis programs that meet the customer’s individual needs; one size does not fit all. Maintaining a quality service is fundamental to the Company’s offering and it recognises that the latest accreditation plays a key role in delivering quality results time and time again, whichever laboratory the customer sends samples to. Spectro | Jet-Care laboratories all adhere to the same quality system, verified by UKAS and SAS, ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025, the testing and calibration laboratory standard.

Image from left to right: Emmanuel Hédon – Rolls-Royce, Stephanie Allen – Spectro | Jet-Care, Alan Baker – Spectro | Jet-Care, Katja Engelmann – Rolls-Royce, Robert Werner – Rolls-Royce, David Glass and Beth Glass, Spectro | Jet-Care.

AMADA WELD TECH Announces Pulsed Arc Welding Solutions for Coil Termination

AMADA WELD TECH offers a full range of pulsed arc welding power supplies for precision joining applications, ensuring exact control and repeatability. These supplies range from lab models with customizable options, to production machines offering streamlined features to match the customer’s exact needs. Every item is designed and built in-house, from equipment for small-scale manual production to fully automated systems.

With a specialist product portfolio developed for precision joining of materials and spanning many industrial sectors, AMADA WELD TECH Europe can uniquely offer the correct technology to suit customers’ specific needs. Each system solution is available with easy-to-program PLC or industrial PC software. Also, each system benefits from SPC integration, automatic alignment, advanced user interfaces, remote diagnostics, CNC motion, robotics, and product transport systems, as required.

The systems are available in 1, 2, 3, and 4 output models to allow for a single power supply in high-speed production automation. Single output standard models include the PA-60P and PA-200P. Multiple output models are available from 20-60 amps.

Each unit produces a pulse of accurately controlled current. A specially developed arc start system incorporates a high voltage DC impulse, operating with a stabilizing power supply. This ensures consistent arc ignition with minimal radiated interference. All models offer gas flow control and voltage monitoring, to detect arc failure.

Closed loop techniques ensure stable outputs independent of temperature, cable lengths, and mains supply variations. AMADA WELD TECH Europe accomplishes this through transistorized output control and an analogue feedback and drive circuit. This control system responds rapidly to process changes and stabilizes output, ensuring consistency.

Panasonic and 8Tree Expand Partnership

Panasonic Avionics and 8tree announced an expansion of their relationship and availability of the dentCHECK dent-mapping and reporting service. The expanded service will now include support for Large Area Dent Mapping at customer locations. This builds on the existing Ad Hoc dent-mapping services offered at Panasonic Technical Service (PTS) regional line stations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and London Heathrow (LHR) area airports.

The introduction of large area dent mapping service is particularly suited to hail damage scenarios and follows a series of very successful service jobs completed by Panasonic Avionics and 8tree. In the aftermath of an extreme hail event in Roswell, New Mexico late last year, several severely damaged wide-body aircraft – as many as a thousand dents each – were inspected using dentCHECK’s large area panoramic mapping feature.  A comprehensive itemized digital report, containing key damage metrics, were completed in days, as opposed to the months it would have taken with traditional manual methods.

This service offering will allow Panasonic Avionics customers yet another convenient, accurate, and efficient way to protect their commercial aircraft investment, avoiding unnecessary costs and time delays.  Further, the service will complement PTS’s existing line of best-in-class products and services, continuing its history of being a premier MRO service solution provider.     

“We are pleased to announce the expansion of our relationship with 8tree,” said Sean Gavin, SVP of Panasonic Technical Services. “Using the 8tree scanning technologies allows us to deliver highly accurate information much more quickly than previously possible using traditional methods. This allows our passenger and cargo airline customers to make very timely, data-driven, operational decisions. Our global network, combined with 8treetechnology creates a high-value, cost-effective service for dent mapping and aircraft safety solutions.” 

“After the incredible results in Roswell last year, expanding the scope of our dentCHECK service relationship with Panasonic Avionics was a natural choice”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO of 8tree. “Operators will benefit from the faster, more efficient mapping of catastrophic hail damage, allowing them to make more informed decisions about aircraft serviceability and return to service, while alongside building more robust aircraft records. Working with the Panasonic Avionics team to deliver this large area mapping service, we look forward to seeing operators return their aircraft to service faster and with greater confidence.”

AMETEK AMERON Receives FAA-PMA Approval for Oxygen Mask MMXM48

AMERON — a brand of AMETEK MRO and global provider of aviation safety OEM and PMA products and third-party repair and overhaul services — has received FAA-PMA approval for its oxygen mask, part number (P/N) MMXM48.

“The MMXM48 oxygen mask was designed to be a direct replacement alternative for OEM oxygen mask part number MXM48,” said Adam Brammer, Divisional Vice President and Business Manager of AMERON. “This alternative solution will considerably help customers that experience long lead times from the OEM.”

The MMXM48 oxygen mask is an integral component of the OEM MF20 series full face quick donning mask regulator assembly, which is an emergency breathing device made for airliner crews that fly no higher than 40,000 ft maximum. When in use, the mask assembly gives protection to the flight crew against effects of depressurization, harmful gases, and fumes.

AMERON recommends the MMXM48 be inspected by the customer regularly for any damage that may affect the pilot’s ability to see clearly through the mask. If damage has occurred, the customer should make replacements as necessary. AMERON also recommends the MMXM48 be reviewed as part of the full mask overhaul every six years for replacement.

Wencor Announces Strategic Channel Partnership with Fatigue Technology

Fatigue Technology, Inc. has selected Wencor as a preferred strategic partner supporting its Cold Working tooling “CB” product line for the commercial maintenance and repair market. 

“We are excited to partner with Fatigue Technology and their market leading products. Their diverse product and engineering capabilities, combined with our extensive technical sales capabilities and value-added services will enhance opportunities to the commercial MRO market. We pride ourselves on being able to provide innovative solutions to our customers that enable reliability, material availability and cost 

Swiss Flight Services Adds Tecnam’s P2012 Into Fleet

Tecnam announced recently the delivery of the first P2012 Special Mission Sentinel to Swiss Flight Services, one of the major aerial survey operators in Europe.

The Sentinel, based on the proven P2012 Traveller aircraft series, provides higher class payload, wide range of sensors, and cabin for one or two crew and up to 5 operators when both hatches are operational. These capabilities, coupled with low operating costs and minimal crew training, result in an unprecedented mission efficiency.

The P2012 Sentinel SMP is the ultimate Tecnam Special Mission Platform aircraft, without compromises on any front. The high cabin volume and payload will allow for excellent mission performance and plenty of space for sensors and operators console installation. A P2012 Sentinel, equipped with full mission equipment and full fuel, at its maximum takeoff weight of 3680 kg, will provide up to 9 hours’ endurance and a 1414Kg allowance for up to six 90kg-crew members, sensor operators, observers with more than 300 Kg of mission equipment allowance. The Sentinel’s increased capabilities and superior efficiency in its role, coupled with its competitive entry price and operating costs, will allow the operator to perform the mission with results that were previously relegated only to higher-class platforms, and at costs that are just a fraction of those.

Among the wide range of options and payload configuration available, SFS selected all weather capability with multi mission setup, granting contemporary payloads operation in the two full size Sentinel hatches.

Constant Aviation Enhances Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program to Meet Fast-Growing Demand

Constant Aviation has enhanced its Maintenance Apprenticeship Program, further expanding its recruitment initiatives to meet the growing demand for private aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. Apprentices in this improved, next generation, two-year program will work alongside experienced Aircraft Technicians, learn by performing daily technical tasks and participate in classroom and lab work all while earning a steady income. Apprentices can acquire the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airframe Certification, an essential first step towards a career in aviation services.  “With the private aviation industry experiencing record growth, rising demand for technical work on aircraft has squeezed MRO staffing industrywide,” said David H. Davies, Constant Aviation’s CEO. “We are meeting the demand through initiatives including an expanded Maintenance Apprenticeship Program that gives prospective technicians the experience and skills they need for careers in aviation through on-the-job training and classroom and online education.” 

Additionally, Constant Aviation has increased technician pay by 10 percent in 2022, putting their compensation in the top one to two percent of the industry. The salary increase showcases the company’s commitment to recruitment, retention, and career longevity. The Maintenance Apprenticeship Program is available at Constant Aviation’s main MRO facilities at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). No prior experience is required, and apprentices will become full-time, regular employees of Constant Aviation, eligible for benefits, earning an hourly wage, and receiving pay increases as they move through milestones of the two-year program. Constant Aviation covers the cost of all training and certification testing for the Maintenance Apprenticeship Program and provides study materials, access to online preparation and study software plus a base set of tools essential to begin a career in the aviation tech industry. 

“Constant Aviation’s Maintenance Apprenticeship Program provides anyone interested in a high-paying career in aviation with the training and experience they need to get started – with no experience required, at no cost and while earning a salary,” said Davies. “It’s a wonderful opportunity, especially for ambitious, hardworking people who may not have the means to acquire an expensive education but want access to success and opportunity.”  The Maintenance Apprenticeship Program is the latest step in a multipart effort to attract new talent, create a pipeline of qualified employees for the future, and ensure a long-term balance between newer and more experienced technicians. In addition to the apprenticeship program, Constant Aviation is recruiting established technicians by offering a $15,000 signing bonus for successful military veteran candidates to immediately bring experienced technicians into the hangars. Forty percent of Constant Aviation’s current workforce consists of veterans, providing further impetus for attracting skilled workers. In order to boost both recruitment and retention, Constant Aviation also offers a $2,000 signing bonus for other successful technical position candidates and grants up to $8,000 to successful aircraft-on-ground (AOG) technician candidates following the completion of their first year with the company. Other recruitment and workforce development initiatives include: §  Developing partnerships with technical colleges, including El Paso’s Western Tech, where students can bring their superior technical education and get a leg up in starting an aviation career; 

  • Building a partnership with Cleveland’s Davis Aviation and Maritime High School to educate young people about careers in aviation; Constant Aviation also is represented on the board of PHASTAR, a co-founder of Davis High School;
  • Establishing a partnership with Aeronautics Careers Academy’s high school programs, through which Constant Aviation sponsors a formal capstone project for high school seniors; 
  • Partnering with Johnson College and donating a Hawker Beechcraft 400XP light jet fuselage to aid in its efforts to add an aircraft maintenance program to its transportation course of study; 
  • Serving on the board of the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) for guidance of FAA PART 147 airframe and powerplant schools;
  • Serving on the advisory boards of four airframe and powerplant schools;
  • Enhancing training for all current employees, with training engagements up 150 percent;
  • Enhanced benefits for all employees, including tuition reimbursements and enhanced paid time off.

Tamarack Aerospace Receives National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Award

Tamarack Aerospace received the NAA’s Most Memorable Aviation Records Award at the association’s Aviation Records Celebration on April 28, 2022, at Lockheed Martin’s Fighter Demonstration Center in Arlington, Virginia. The award was presented to the Tamarack team that set the record, flying non-stop from Portland, Maine to West Palm Beach, Fla. on January 26th, 2021.

The details of the record-setting flight for the NAA designation of “Speed Over a Recognized Course” include an average speed of 281.64 mph, in a Cessna 525 Citation Jet modified by Tamarack load alleviation Active Winglets. The award-winning jet is owned by John W. “Wick” Zimmerman. Wick and Tamarack Aerospace founder Nick Guida piloted the aircraft.

NAA decided the Tamarack modified jet team should be recognized as a “Most Memorable” aviation record flight winner because the event was initiated and covered by the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) and was actually a fly-off or race between a Tamarack Active Winglet modified aircraft and a similar jet that wasn’t modified with Active Winglets. The modified CitationJet completed the course in just 4 hours and 35 minutes, despite a major headwind and reached 41-thousand feet without a step-climb, more than an hour faster than the unmodified jet that had to fly around bad weather and stop for fuel. The modified N44VS (tail number) aircraft traveled 1,386 miles in the air and used a total of 2,610 pounds of fuel while the unmodified N741CC jet burned 3,650 pounds of fuel and spent 5 hours and 37 minutes in flight. The modified aircraft also landed with fuel in excess of the legal reserve requirements.

The Tamarack flight team is eager to set more records. Wick Zimmerman said the record-setting flight, “was a fun trip and one that I will always remember.” Nick Guida added, “what an amazing flight.”  

Duncan Aviation Expands API Blended Winglet Authorization 

Duncan Aviation announced an agreement with Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) to extend its blended winglets authorization designating the company’s Provo, Utah, MRO location as an authorized installer for API blended winglets.  

“Duncan Aviation and Aviation Partners have been industry partners for years,” says Chad Doehring, Duncan Aviation’s PVU executive vice president/chief operating officer. “Having our Provo facility API-authorized gives our western US customers a more convenient option for winglet installations.” 

In 2008, Duncan Aviation partnered with API and the OEM to install the API blended winglets on a Falcon 2000EX for STC certification flight test. API subsequently announced Duncan Aviation’s Battle Creek, Mich., and Lincoln, Neb., MROs as the first authorized installers for Falcon blended winglets in 2009.  

Duncan Aviation has 10 airframe maintenance teams between all three MRO locations with more than 10 years of experience completing this in-demand modification on all series of the Falcon 50, 900, and 2000 aircraft. 

“Our relationship with Duncan Aviation goes back to the mid-1990s when we completed several Gulfstream II winglet installations. Dozens of Hawker 800 series winglet retrofits followed. With more than 100 Falcon winglets now complete, Duncan Aviation is our longest-standing, and our most prolific, installation partner,” said Gary Dunn, API President. “We look forward to the increased installation capacity and customer choice that adding Provo to the list will bring.”   

“It’s been a great working relationship,” added Doehring. “We appreciate API’s continued support and confidence in the quality of our installations. It is confidence shared by our mutual customers.”   

In addition to the Falcon 50, 900, and 2000 aircraft families, Duncan Aviation is also an API authorized installation partner for winglet modifications on Hawker 800 series aircraft. 

MTI Instruments’ WiFi-Enabled 1520 Portable Signal Simulator/Calibrator Brings Enhanced Functionality, Laboratory-Grade Accuracy Directly to Flightline and Test-Cell

MTI Instruments has introduced the 1520 Signal Simulator and Calibrator offering WiFi connectivity, ergonomic and visualization features, and up to 10 hours of battery life. Designed to support MTI Instruments’ proven jet engine vibration measurement and balancing systems, the portable signal simulator brings laboratory-grade accuracy directly onto the flightline and to the test-cell. The unit features a rugged, two-handed controller for glove-friendly operation and a color touchscreen for viewing high-precision graphical waveforms. Unlike other simulators/calibrators, the 1520 needs just one technician to set up signal simulations at a location and then, via wireless login, conduct the test while observing and adjusting values at another.

The 1520 adds functionality and versatility to MTI Instruments’ existing, well-respected handheld 1510A Signal Simulator. The key features of the new 1520 Signal Simulator and Calibrator include

 WiFi Capability – Wireless login and control of full functionality enables fast and easy testing of hard-to-reach sensors and devices at the flightline and test-cell
 Portable, Rugged – Ergonomic design includes glove-friendly buttons as well as a color touchscreen
 High-Precision Waveforms – Custom, sine, square, triangle, pulse, tachometer and sawtooth waveforms from 0.1Hz to 100kHz n 0.1 Hz increments
 Long Battery Life – Operates up to 10 hours on a single charge
 Bridge Circuit Simulation – Easy to command microvolts to simulate strain gauges
 Standards Compliant – Comes with NIST-traceable calibration certificate
 Cost Effective – Delivers high-precision laboratory-grade functionality at a competitive price

“Our new 1520 has upgraded features that jet maintenance technicians have been waiting for in a portable signal simulator and calibrator: Wireless capability and ergonomic design that can be used with gloves, excellent waveform visualization – and up to 10 hours of battery life,” said Moshe Binyamin, President and CEO of MTI Instruments. “Thanks to the unit’s WiFi feature, many routine flightline sensor test procedures can be performed by a single technician. MTI Instruments makes it easy for technicians to bring laboratory-grade test equipment onto the flightline and into the field where maintenance and testing is taking place.”

The 1520 will be on display at the 2022 NBAA Maintenance Conference, Booth 639, May 3-6, in San Antonio, Texas. The 1520 signal simulator is ideal for use with MTI Instruments’ jet engine test equipment, including the recently introduced PBS eXpress portable engine balancing system geared to the business and regional jet market.