Category: BizJet

H+S Aviation, a Signature Aviation Global Engine serve as a global strategic account executive for the company’s T700 and CT7 engine product lines. Russo’s business development efforts include tailored maintenance solutions for T700 and CT7 engine operators and managing strategic partnerships and accounts for H+S Aviation.

Russo brings 30 years of aviation industry experience from multiple customer-facing roles and most recently with focused efforts on the GE T700 and CT7 engine lines.

“With many of the CT7 and T700 engines now utilized in multiple roles in the civil market, operators require customised, safe and affordable maintenance solutions,” Mark Stubbs, GES chief commercial officer said. “We’re proud to have Len join the team, as his vast knowledge of these engines and experience will help provide our customers with the expertise essential to fine-tuning our services to their needs.”

“H+S has been serving T700 customers for over 34 years and I’m excited to help re-introduce customers to H+S Aviation’s value story of quality and performance – as one of the most capable, OEM-authorised T700/CT7 commercial repair facilities in the world,” Russo said.

FL Technics Engine Services received Part-145 approval from the Transport Competency Agency of Republic of Lithuania (TCA) approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its engine MRO quick turn activities and they says they are already welcoming their first clients.

FL Technics Engine Services quick turn activities’ shop offers airlines, lessors and asset management organizations high quality tailor-made solutions for aircraft engine life cycle’s optimization. FL Technics Engine Services already signed the first contracts for annual re-preservation and further long-term storage within it is brand new and fully equipped Part 145 facilities for two CFM56-3C1 Engines.

“We’re extremely pleased that in such short time FL Technics Engine Services have already acquired clientele for its new services. Since CFM56-3C1 remain a valuable asset and a popular engine type in its niche, especially in Europe, preservation and long-term storage procedures are in high demand. It is great that now FL Technics Engine Services are able to provide even more high quality services as such,” said Julius Bogusevicius, head of Engine, Airframe and Materials Services at FL Technics. “The first of the engines we are starting to service at the moment is being re-preserved for a lessor. This will maintain engines value until a decision for further actions – repair or teardowns – is made. The second engine is considered as spare engine and the airline, our client, definitely would like to keep it ready for immediate operation in case potential AOG (Aircraft on ground) situation.”

The quick turn engine shop allows customers to optimize their engines’ Time on Wing (ToW), simultaneously optimizing and minimizing costs using the full scope of FL Technics Engine Services and FL Technics one-stop MRO services.

“The cases of our first clients show, that this new quick turn engine shop allows us to provide high quality services in a timely manner,’” states Valerij Deveikis, the CEO of FL Technics Engine Services. “Being located in Kaunas, with strong integration to FL Technics base maintenance hangars, warehouses and the logistic infrastructure, FL Technics Engine Services will be able to fix engine problems significantly faster.”

Additionally, the company says the current situation in the European air cargo market shows that quick turn activities are in high demand. While Covid-19 invoked travel restrictions within the EU have drastically affected the operations of passenger narrow-body aircraft and the number of grounded planes increased from 20% to 75%, the cargo market has generally remained stable, with an almost constant grounding rate of 10-11% with an increased aircraft utilization, mainly driven by major express logistic carries and local Covid-19-related charter programs. During the peak of first Covid-19 waves, most land borders within the EU were closed and air cargo became even more efficient and convenient than before.

FL Technics Engine Services is the first approved Part-145 Engine Maintenance Organization for Turbofan Commercial Engine Repair in Lithuanian History.

Honeywell has released a redesigned FalconConnect portal for Dassault FalconConnect customers. Via their current subscriptions with FalconConnect, current Dassault FalconConnect customers will have access to this expanded enterprise performance management offering powered by Honeywell Forge.

The new FalconConnect dashboard brings together in-flight connectivity, flight planning/optimization, and flight database services in a single platform for a seamless user experience. It provides high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi, hardened aviation cybersecurity, real-time data and alerts, aircraft tracking and monitoring, flight planning and efficiency tools, and always-on support.

“The new FalconConnect portal will provide the same quality of services that customers love, but now customers will have a singular connection to access their FalconConnect service subscription,” said Jean Kayanakis, senior vice president of Worldwide Falcon Customer Service & Service Center Network, Dassault Aviation. “Included are all the FalconConnect offerings — such as flight planning, flight database, and cabin connectivity software, services and applications — and we will continue to add new features in the months ahead.”

The FalconConnect dashboard will enable customers to use connected software to manage their connectivity services for the cockpit and cabin through one application. The powerful, insightful and flexible portal allows customers to use an intuitive dashboard to manage nearly every aspect of their business aviation operations.

“The new FalconConnect software platform will better enable customers to improve operational performance and achieve their most important operational objectives,” said John Peterson, vice president and general manager, Software and Services at Honeywell Connected Enterprise, Aerospace. “This portal brings together the best connectivity and productivity tools to enhance and manage our customers’ flight experiences.”

All FalconConnect customers are now being redirected to Honeywell Forge for FalconConnect.

Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2) recently completed installation of a Universal Avionics (UA) InSight Display System on a Citation VII aircraft. This marks the first Canadian installation of Universal Avionics’ integrated flight deck solution.

“Repair costs for legacy avionics on an aircraft of this age are typically quite high and some of the systems are no longer supported,” said Bill Arsenault, president of Mid-Canada Mod Center. “The main goals here were to enhance safety through better situational awareness, and extend the usable life of the aircraft with a modern cockpit. This Citation VII had relatively few upgrade paths available, but having worked on older aircraft for many years, it was clear to us that the Universal Avi onics InSight Display System would meet our client’s goals. We are pleased to team-up with Universal Avionics on this project.”

The work included an extensive flight deck upgrade, inflight connectivity, plus additional certification related to activities to obtain Transport Canada approval of UA’s FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC). MC2’s sister division, Avionics Design Services (ADS) helped smooth the way for application submissions and developed an STC for a software upgrade.

With this completed installation and certification, the InSight Display System is now a solution for all Citation VII aircraft with existing Honeywell and Collins Nav/Comm packages.

Recognizing the Canadian milestone, Dror Yahav, UA CEO said, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with MC2 to certify our InSight Display System in the Canadian market. The excellent personal and technical relationships between our companies resulted, again, in a wonderful cockpit upgrade which brings state-of-the-art capabilities to the Citation VII aircraft.”

More About the Cockpit Modifications & UA InSight Display System

This modification, which also included in-flight connectivity, saw the client take advantage of the downtime related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was completed in a short time frame. The new flight deck offers the operator: the ability to land at unfamiliar airports with confidence, simplified user control and input, and increased reliability with high component MTBF/MTBUR.

The age of the aircraft was a key challenge in completing this modernization, but the UA InSight Display System offers a more integrated solution that interfaces with the existing Automatic Flight Control System which would be cost prohibitive to replace. Modifications included the UA 10.4” EFI-1040 Displays, Touch EFIS Control Display Unit, Alphanumeric Keyboard and Reference Select Panel, Data Concentrator Unit II, Engine Interface Unit and Class A TAWS. The system offers LPV, ADS-B Out, and CPDLC / CPDLC DCL capabilities, plus a growth path to EFVS. Top features include embedded 3D SVS, advanced mapping, electronic charts, and the ability to customize displays for different phases of flight. Additionally, the FMS installation includes the UA FlexPerf Trip Performance option. This provides advanced fuel saving predictions for aircraft performance in Climb, Cruise and Descent phases of flight.

Olympus, a leading manufacturer of nondestructive testing (NDT) equipment, is supporting training school Warrior To Inspector’s mission to help transition retiring military veterans into a new NDT career by providing advanced inspection instruments for their ultrasonic testing (UT) courses.

Transitioning into an NDT career can be challenging without the right training, certifications and hands-on experience. Warrior To Inspector helps veterans find job success through their 3-semester, full-time NDT program that offers classroom and field training on real-world job sites. This ASNT CP-189 compliant program includes certifications in magnetic particle testing, ultrasonic thickness testing, ultrasonic shear-wave testing, phased array ultrasonic testing and Creaform laser profilometry.

This collaboration will enable veterans to train with Olympus’ cutting-edge UT equipment used in the NDT field today.

“We’re very excited to contribute to the Warrior To Inspector mission,” said Dave Menne, VP of Sales and Marketing at Olympus. “Kenny Greene and his team are exceptional trainers with a unique educational approach. The veterans and other civilians in the class are clearly energized to be in such an impressive program.”

Kenny Greene, President and Lead Instructor of Warrior To Inspector, explained how Olympus has remained a vital resource for their programs. “During a significant project in 2004, Olympus showed how committed they were to customer service. Olympus brought in as much demo equipment as we had purchased to help ease the burden of outfitting a team of shear-wave technicians. Again in 2011, I was part of another quickly growing NDT department in need of phased array equipment. This led to a very large purchase of OmniScan™ MX2 flaw detectors, and the Olympus team exceeded all expectations again,” said Greene.

Greene continued, “As I am tasked to create an NDT and Pipeline Integrity Trade School that the industry has been demanding for decades, Olympus is once again there for us as we help meet the needs of military veterans and civilians and join their commitment to training tomorrow’s inspectors.”

Beta Tools USA announced its North American presence as a wholly owned subsidiary of Beta Utensili S.P.A., a leading Italian manufacturer of professional tools that expanded its global presence. The company offers Italian-designed and manufactured tools for mechanics, industrial maintenance and car repair professionals, as well as tool enthusiasts.

Established in July 2020 to support U.S. and Canadian customers, Beta Tools USA is located in a 20,000-square-foot combined office and warehouse space on 210 Chestnut Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania. The space accommodates Beta Tool USA’s customer service, finance, sales and marketing, and warehousing and shipping operations.

Beta Tools USA is led by general manager Randy Booth, who brings decades of extensive experience in the professional tool industry from his previous positions at Bosch Power Tools, Klein Tools, KNIPEX Tools and HD Supply.

The company offers the breadth of more than 30 product categories with more than 14,000 SKUs. Product categories include workshop organization equipment, tool storage and a wide variety of professional hand tools ranging from wrenches and sockets to motorbike and bicycle repair tools.

“We are excited to bring this incredible line of Italian-designed, professional tools and equipment to the tradesmen and enthusiasts that appreciate high quality to get their jobs done efficiently and safely,” said Booth. “It’s a privilege to help expand Beta Tool’s global presence to North America.”

With headquarters and three production facilities in Italy, the parent company has nine subsidiaries throughout the world, the most recent of which is Beta Tools USA.  Beta Utensili exports through a network of more than 200 master import distributors that enables Beta’s tools to be available to professional users worldwide.

“For more than 50 years, Beta has been the proud sponsor of several motorsports racing teams. Because Beta tools are developed and produced to meet the highest standards in the world and are used by the most demanding professionals, Beta and sports sponsorships have become synonymous,” Booth explained.

Duncan Aviation and KGB Aviation Solutions are teaming up to provide a new data analysis service for Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) and Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs). For years, KGB has been manufacturing equipment that downloads data from most FDRs, analyzes it, and provides a comprehensive report of the anomalies found. Duncan Aviation has acquired the necessary equipment and will now be using the new, streamlined KGB Aviation Solutions Data Acquisition Retrieval Tool (DART) in order to provide this necessary service to its customers.

“We believe that flight data and the integrity of that data is the next significant advancement in business aviation,” says manager of Satellite Operations Matt Nelson. “Beyond complying with various regulations and requirements from Safety Management Systems, insurance carriers and OEM programs will require that the data from on-board systems have the highest level of integrity.”

Vice president of KGB Aviation Kevin G. Balys agrees with Nelson’s assessment and adds that the relationship between the two companies benefits operators by providing an efficient method of retrieving recorder data.

“Using our state-of-the-art DART to effortlessly transfer the data and provide technical service will leverage the strengths of both campanies,” saysBalys.

Avionics team leader Luke Bozetarnik at Duncan Aviation’s Teterboro, New Jersey, Satellite Shop, has worked with long-time customer aircraft maintenance supervisor Bill Dunne for years, and they’ve used KGB Aviation’s download service for both FDRs and CVRs.

“Recently, Luke asked me why I specifically request KGB when my work involves an FDR or CVR, and my three-part answer is simple: Equipment, Answers and Urgency,” says Dunne. “Never have we been unable to procure the required equipment for a download. Whether the interrogation was being performed routinely or for troubleshooting purposes, we were able to accomplish the task on schedule. On the occasions where answers were needed regarding a FDR download, Kevin has shared, without hesitation, his knowledge of how certain manufacturers accomplish individual recording parameters versus the FAA and EASA regulations. Finally, I have never had to wait for results or answers of any kind. I have no idea how KGB manages to process the amount of data that they do and yet maintain such a positive customer experience, but I’m glad they do!”

Using the DART, Duncan Aviation will now offer the download and data analysis services to all of its customers at its full-service facilities (Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska and Provo, Utah) and most of its 27 Satellite Avionics Shops located throughout the United States. Taking advantage of KGB’s web portal, encrypted data automatically and securely transfers from the DART to KGB Aviation for analysis.

Once analyzed, KGB Aviation sends the reports to the Duncan Aviation team to share with customers. Based on the results of the analysis, Duncan Aviation’s technicians are able to help troubleshoot and fix any of the anomalies mentioned in the report. The reports provide insight into the integrity of the FDR and CVR systems’ recording abilities, and data is presented in accordance with whatever rules the customer is flying under, such as Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91 or 135, Canadian Aviation Regulation (CAR) 625, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and more.

“KGB Aviation’s goals are to convert the data into engineering units, generate a list of recorded parameters for the customers, and provide a report clearly stating if the recording system meets requirements. When I was an FAA inspector, I realized data reviews needed to be organized in accordance with the rules the operator is flying under. Data is then converted into a comprehensive review of the recording system, spelling out deficiencies. We provide guidance on potential causes and remedies for the deficiencies based on our experience with the recorder and airframe,” says Bayls.

Snap-on Industrial says with their new Aviation MRO Pro Tool Set, a mechanic will have all aviation tools needed housed in a right-sized roll cab. It’s now available to order with a single part number from Snap-on Industrial.

The Aviation MRO Pro Tool Set comes with more than 500 tools specifically selected for aviation maintenance, repair and operation. Snap-on Industrial teamed up with aviation industry professionals to design this all-in-one set, which includes virtually everything you need as a professional technician to safely keep aircraft in top working order.

The set includes a variety of hand, power, structure, torque, inspection and safety tools including:

• Ratchets
• Wrenches
• Flank drive sockets
• Flex sockets
• Pliers
• Reversible wire twisters
• Impact ratchets
• Drills

All the tools are housed in an Algona, Iowa-manufactured 54” 11-Drawer Double-Bank Master Series Roll Cab, which comes with foam cutouts for tools for visual tool control, adding to the increased safety this set provides. The roll cab’s extra-wide drawers feature four bottom stiffeners to support a full load of tools without sagging. Sets can be ordered with access control to provide the roll cab with a higher level of security.

Roll cab with foam

• ATKPLUSRAY (red)
• ATKPLUSBAY (black)
• ATKPLUSBLAY (blue)

Roll cab with foam and access control

• ATKPLUSRAC (red)
• ATKPLUSBAC (black)
• ATKPLUSBLAC (blue)

The Aviation MRO Pro Tool Set comes with free shipping if ordered before December 31, 2020. For more information on the Aviation MRO Pro Tool Set from Snap-on Industrial.

Based on extensive experience with Supercub restorations, Acme Cub was chosen to build up a Supercub for the Alaskan Airmen’s Annual Raffle. They have been making substantial progress with the project, upgrading many components with the use of carbon fiber, and the newest avionics technology. The new fuselage frame, which has been powder coated with bright orange, is rapidly filling up with tubes, pulleys, steel cables, wires, fabric fairings and attachment fittings. Carbon fiber floorboards have been fitted for installation.

The engine, a Lycoming 0-320 has been upgraded by Custom Aircraft in Palmer, AK. Through an STC and enlarged cylinders, the engine, with its orange case, is now rated at 160 hp and 0 SMOH. It has been run on a Custom Aircraft dyno where it developed 181 hp. The boost in horsepower is credited to porting and polishing the cylinders and intake tubes in the sump pump. The added horsepower will enhance takeoff and rate of climb for the Supercub.

Steve Williams, who is heading up the rebuild, has the left wing ready for cover and the right wing structure is nearly completed. The tail group has already been recovered. Work has begun on the interior fabric and the seats are being finished by Sport Aircraft with custom leather.

Watch the build progress on Instagram at acmecub. Anyone wishing to purchase tickets for the raffle can call the Alaska Airmen’s Association at (907) 245-1251.