Category: BizJet

Habor Freight Offers Donations of Masks to Hospitals

In an amazing act of generosity, Harbor Freight is offering hospitals with 24 hour emergency rooms masks. Here is the info in a letter from Harbor Freight CEO Eric Smidt:

Dear Harbor Freight Community,

As we’ve been following the news over the last few days, we’ve heard about the severe shortage of protective gear for hospitals, healthcare workers and first responders as the impact of COVID-19 is being felt across the country. America depends on these heroes every day and in the days ahead we will depend on them even more. At Harbor Freight, we want them to know that they can depend on us too.

So we’ve decided to donate our entire supply of the personal protective equipment items listed below to front line hospitals with 24 hour emergency rooms in the communities served by our stores.

•  N95 Masks
•  Face Shields
•  5 and 7 mil Nitrile Gloves

If you work at a hospital with a 24 hour emergency room in need of these items, please ask the office in charge of procurement at your hospital to click here so they can provide us with the information we’ll need to determine if we can make a donation. If you’re not with a hospital, but would like to give us the name of a hospital with a 24 hour emergency room in your community that might need our help, please email us at hospitalhelp@harborfreight.com, identify the hospital’s city and state in the subject line, and our team will follow-up.

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE REQUESTS AT YOUR LOCAL STORE OR OUR CALL CENTER AND PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT HOSPITALS—THEY’RE BUSY HELPING THEIR PATIENTS.

For hospitals we’re able to help, we’ll email them a voucher when the supplies are available for pick up at their local Harbor Freight Tools store.

Although we certainly won’t have enough of these supplies to fill everyone’s needs, we’re going to donate everything we’ve got. We also recognize that there are so many other critically important people responding to this crisis and that there is need everywhere. We’ve chosen to focus our efforts on hospitals with a 24 hour emergency room with the hope that we can help as many people as possible right now.

Thank you and God Bless,

Eric Smidt
Owner and Founder
Harbor Freight Tools

MARPA Spring Conference Will Take Place Online (No Longer In Stockholm)

In response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, MARPA will be converting their May 27-28, 2020 conference (originally scheduled to take place in Stockholm) to a virtual conference.  The new title will be the “MARPA Spring 2020 Virtual Event.”

This event will allow the industry to share ideas and learn about new developments without risk and without incurring additional attendee expense. Attendees will be able to join the event from their office or home computers. More details will be shared as the plans for this event come together.

For clarity, MARPA says they will no longer be holding their meeting in Stockholm, and the MARPA community should NOT be making travel plans around that location.

“This was a difficult decision, and we’ve made it in consultation with our Board, partners, and air carrier customers,” says Jason Dickstein, the association’s leader. “Please remain safe and healthy.  MARPA will continue to support our community through this coronavirus crisis.”

West Star Aviation Has Been Awarded the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence  

West Star Aviation has been awarded the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence for completing specialized training pertaining to aviation maintenance, safety and FAA rules at two of their locations, Perryville, MO (PCD) and the Denver, CO (APA) satellite facility.

The FAA Diamond Award is the highest aviation honor in the aircraft maintenance industry, and West Star says it is proud to be recognized for their continued commitment to aviation excellence.  The rigorous 12-month program requires 100 percent participation from all eligible technicians, who provide dedicated maintenance to our customers along with a specifically structured safety training program.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, as it is a true testament of the ongoing training culture West Star provides to our skilled and experienced technicians,” said Gary Schandl, director of Quality Assurance. “We will continue to encourage all our locations to participate in the valuable program and aspire for each of them to be awarded the honor next year,” continued Schandl.

AMC Competition Postponed

Given the continued concerns surrounding COVID-19 and the notice that MRO Americas is being postponed until at least late August/early September, the Aerospace Maintenance Competition has also been postponed.

“While we anticipate the event will take place the week of Aug. 30, 2020, exact dates are not yet confirmed. We have posted tentative dates on the website but please hold off on rescheduling any travel until we receive word from…that dates are firm. We will post the confirmed schedule on the website as soon as it is available,” says Crystal Maguire, from the Aerospace Maintenance Council.

All registrations, sponsorships, and team registrations will carry over to the late summer event. The group says they understand that the new timeline may not accommodate all schedules and says if you are not able to participate, to let them know and provide a few weeks to process refunds.

For teams that utilized AA donated miles to book transportation, they says they are hopeful change fees will be waived. Should you have issues with flight amendments, please let them know and they will help coordinate over the course of the next few weeks (once dates are officially confirmed).

“We are still very much looking forward to a late summer event in Dallas,” Maguire says.

Grandview Aviation Opening Atlanta Base

Grandview Aviation, an operator of a charter fleet of Phenom 300 light jets and an Inc 5000 Fastest-Growing Company, says it is opening a new base in Atlanta at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Spring 2020. GrandView Aviation will be placing a Wi-Fi enabled Embraer Phenom 300 light jet into service at PDK airport. Private fliers in Atlanta will now have access to the best selling light jet in recent years on a pay-per-flight basis.

“Atlanta puts our fleet in an ideal position to serve clients in the South,” said Jessica Naor, Chief Operating Officer, GrandView Aviation. “With our bases across the Central and Eastern US, we have a much larger service area and ability to bring new clients an exceptional light jet cabin experience.”

GrandView’s Phenoms provide private VIP jet charters for up to 9 passengers, as well as providing transportation for medical teams conducting life-saving organ transplant missions. The private jet operator carries one of the highest safety ratings in the industry, Wyvern Wingman, and features new jet aircraft with exquisite interiors as well as complimentary Wi-Fi and lay-flat seating onboard all jets. The Phenom 300 can fly nonstop from Atlanta to destinations like Aspen, New York City, and Chicago and offers flights to international destinations in Canada, the Carribean, and Central & South America.

AvAir Opens Facility at Dublin Airport

AvAir, a global supplier of aftermarket aviation parts, announced it will open a 25,000-square-foot warehouse facility at the Dublin Airport.

The United States based company’s expanded presence in Europe comes as at the start of its 20th year and as part of a new strategic vision for AvAir, which offers customized solutions for customers and suppliers to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease, or consign more than 26 million in-stock aviation parts.

“The new Dublin location will allow us to provide better service to our customers in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East,” said CEO Mike Bianco. “With this new facility, we are removing nearly 5,000 miles from the total distance much of our inventory would need to travel. This allows us to be more responsive to our customers while saving time and money.”

To lead the Dublin office, Fjalar Scott has been promoted to vice president of sales in Europe. Scott has led the European business development for the company with a focus on expanding its footprint to better serve international clients for the last four years.

Crawford Steps into Top Job at SOLJETS

SOLJETS announced the promotion of aviation professional Ryan Crawford to chief technology officer (CTO). In his new role, Crawford will be charged with further advancing SOLJETS’ cutting-edge technology, ensuring an enhanced client experience.

In this role as CTO, SOLJETS says Crawford will utilize his expertise to “usher in and inspire a new technology vision and strategy all centered around the utilization of SOLDATA, the firm’s proprietary software that has been in production over the last three years.” The technology is used to enhance the SOLJETS client experience.
Crawford is based at the firm’s Chicago location at Executive Airport and among the projects currently under his direction, he will oversee the implementation of cloud-based technology tools for SOLJETS’ client base. “The technology we are working on bringing to this industry has me beyond excited, as I’m certain it will revolutionize the way our clients buy and sell aircraft,” says Crawford, and added that this is all in an effort to “streamline the customer experience, ensuring smooth transactions and creating lasting relationships.”

Already fully integrated as a team member, Crawford originally started working with SOLJETS in 2016 in a technology-consulting capacity during conceptual phases of SOLDATA. Co-founding Partner, David Lee, said the firm is now at a stage in its growth trajectory that required Crawford to join full-time as CTO. Lee describes, “My partners and I have been consistently inspired by the work Ryan completes. We knew we needed his expertise to grow into this next big phase.”

Prior to coming aboard the SOLJETS team, Crawford was the head of Information Systems for a prominent global architectural firm. In his 13-year tenure, he led in the development of a number of custom applications aiding in the design and build process of large-scale, mixed-use structures. Crawford also led numerous efforts to deploy and integrate large commercial and custom applications to streamline business processes and drive technology ROI.

 

Resort Aviation Jet Center to Expand Corporate Hangar

Resort Aviation Jet Center (KCOE) announced its partnership with business aviation real estate group, Centrex, to build a 20,000-square-foot corporate hangar that can accommodate the Global 7500. This will offer more hangar space for customers at the Coeur d’Alene Airport.

Resort Aviation Jet Center says they have expansion plans underway and is currently accepting letters of interest at the Schedulers and Dispatchers show in Charlotte, NC, March 10 through March 13. The hangar has been designed to accommodate a multitude of aircraft; with a 28-foot door opening and a capacity to accommodate a Gulfstream IV, V, and VI all at the same time. This will be the first opportunity to secure the space.

“We want to expand at a pace that serves our customers best, and we’ve mapped out a five-year plan to do just that. Centrex has been supportive and encouraging through phase oneof the designs. With their expertise, we feel confident moving forward,” says Joe Rossetti, general manager. Resort Aviation Jet Center is currently NATA safety certified for both fueling and deicing as well as Gulfstream ground handling certified via Flight Safety International.

Resort Aviation Jet Center has submitted a bid to also become a CAA preferred FBO at KCOE. CAA members can vote for Resort Aviation Jet Center in the March voting links. In addition to the hangar expansion, planned to open late 2021, Resort Aviation Jet Center is working to obtain an IS-BAH certification. “The IS-BAHcertification highlights our commitment to safety and training processes for the ground handling of generalaviation aircraft,” said Rossetti.

Atlantic Expands At Bridgeport Conn.

Atlantic Aviation has expanded its presence at Bridgeport Conn. (BDR), with the acquisition of the Volo Aviation Inc. hangar and terminal.

The acquisition adds approximately 30,000 square feet of hangar space, as well as additional ramp parking to the Atlantic offering on the airport.

Atlantic is expected to invest in the redesign and upgrade the common areas of the facility including the lobby, pilots lounge and flight planning area.

“We are happy to add these facilities to our network in the Connecticut and wider New York Market,” says Kurt Schmidt, senior regional vice president.