Category: BizJet

Barfield Appoints Mercier as SVP of Ops Doral

Barfield Inc. has appointed Gilles Mercier as senior vice president of Operations of its Doral facilities. Mercier will oversee the operations of the two facilities, manage the teams and further improve the overall performance.

“We could not be more thrilled to have Gilles as part of our team. He has the drive, the temperament, and the experience needed to help our company be more competitive in today’s MRO market, I trust his judgment as we take our company into the future,” says Hervé Page, Barfield’s CEO.

Mercier holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and has held numerous positions at AFI KLM E&M, including Components Lean Engineer, Costing and Pricing manager, Engine Shop Operations manager, and Air France Industries Transformation Leader. “I am really proud to join the Barfield team. I am ready to learn about the teams and tackle the different challenges with customers, performance and development,” says Mercier.

Pratt & Whitney to Expand West Virginia MRO

Pratt & Whitney will invest $30 million in its engine services facility in Bridgeport, West Virginia for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of PW800 engines. The site will service the market leading PW814GA and PW815GA engines that power the Gulfstream G500 and G600 aircraft, respectively, with the capacity to expand its capabilities to other PW800 engine models in the future.

“As part of the next phase of the successful entry into service of the PW800, we have chosen the Bridgeport facility to provide MRO services for the engine family. This decision was based on the site’s wealth of technical expertise in business aviation engines and its excellent record in providing quality, speed and value for our customers,” said Satheeshkumar Kumarasingam, vice president, customer service, Pratt & Whitney. “Adding the game-changing PW800 engine to their repertoire of business aviation engines will equip and upskill the facility with high value service engineering jobs.”

“Pratt & Whitney’s decision to invest in their West Virginia site is incredible news and is a testament to the quality of our skilled workforce,” West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said. “This outstanding company has been an integral part of the West Virginia aerospace community since 1971 and we are thrilled by their ongoing commitment to our great state.”

Delta and Wheels Up Partnering

Delta Air Lines and Wheels Up are partnering to create one of the world’s largest owned and managed fleets of private aircraft. The partnership will make private aviation accessible to more consumers and provide unparalleled travel options.

The companies have reached a definitive agreement for Delta Private Jets, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta, to combine with Wheels Up. The transaction will pair Wheels Up’s membership programs, innovative digital platform and world-class lifestyle experiences with Delta Private Jets’ renowned reliability, safety, service and scale. When the transaction closes, Wheels Up will have a fleet of more than 190 private aircraft and over 8,000 members and customers. Delta will also hold an equity position in Wheels Up.

“This groundbreaking partnership will democratize private aviation – making the convenience of private jet travel accessible to more consumers,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “Wheels Up’s lifestyle experiences and innovative digital platform, combined with the scale and service of Delta Private Jets, helps further Delta’s mission of connecting people and communities worldwide through travel. This agreement is the latest step in Delta’s ongoing effort to build partnerships that extend Delta’s brand beyond its core business.”

“Bringing together our complementary businesses, which represent the best consumer brands in private and commercial aviation, is transformative and a first for the industry,” said Wheels Up’s founder and CEO Kenny Dichter. “The combination of Wheels Up and Delta Private Jets, along with the partnership commitments between Delta and Wheels Up, aligns with our growth objectives and vision of building a platform that will make private flying and the private flying lifestyle accessible to significantly more individuals and businesses in the U.S. and around the world.”

The transaction will provide an array of new products and valuable features for existing and prospective customers of Wheels Up, Delta Private Jets and Delta to make private aviation travel more accessible to all. Details will be announced when the transaction closes.

Wheels Up Founder and CEO Kenny Dichter will continue in his role leading the Wheels Up senior management team as it builds its partnership with Delta. Additionally, Wheels Up is committed to providing ongoing career opportunities for Delta Private Jets employees, who provide world-class private travel, safety and service.

The transaction is expected to close early next year, and in the interim, the two companies say they will continue to serve and communicate with their existing employees, customers, members, partners and vendors in the same manner in which they do today.

Duncan Aviation Creates Live PMA Database

Duncan Aviation has created a new PMA Library. Duncan says the database consists of more than 75 PMAs, all of which are available for sale. There are three ways to search the PMA Library: by aircraft, by PMA category, or by viewing the full list. Click By Aircraft to see the available PMAs by aircraft make. Click by PMA Category to see available PMAs for ATG, Aircell, Airframe, Installations, Interior, WLAN, or other categories. Click View Full List to see all PMAs that Duncan Aviation has to offer.

Duncan Aviation’s Engineering and Certification Departments produce Supplemental Type Certificates, and the company also has a searchable STC Library. These STCs may be sold as a complete package or as individual PMA parts.

“You can think of a PMA as an egg that’s a part of an entire carton—the STC is the entire carton, with regard to STCs,” says Chad Ladwig, Duncan Aviation’s PMA project lead. “We can sell the entire carton, the STC, or we can sell the individual eggs, the PMA.”

In the three months that the PMA database has been live, Duncan says it has received multiple requests for quotes.

“Examples of PMA requests have included dust panes for Citation 550 and 560s and Gogo Kit modification parts for a Wi-Fi system. We have created PMAs for a variety of business aircraft,” said Ladwig. “This database is a central location for our customers or team members to go and find modification parts, parts that are no longer available, or more cost-effective parts.”

Duncan Aviation Delivers Aircraft with Hydrographic Countertops

Duncan Aviation recently delivered two aircraft with interior elements created using hydrographic printing. The Gulfstream 150 and Challenger 300 are the first aircraft to receive countertops that were created with hydrographic technology, a new finish option recently implemented by Duncan Aviation interior experts.

“Both customers are ecstatic with their new countertops. The solution provides new finish options for countertops and sinks without weight changes or certification concerns,” Duncan Aviation Completions and Modifications sales rep, Jeff Beaudette says. “Going forward we will be using hydrographics on other applications such as dividers, monuments, card table inserts and so on.”

These unique three-dimensional printing solutions can be used on interior components, panels, accents, and even full cabinets, depending on their size. The capabilities open up a variety of aesthetic options for interior finishes without changing cabinet veneer, and designs can include wood grain, stone, metals, as well as custom designs. Some options allow shorter downtime than traditional methods and are excellent alternatives to traditional re-veneer or strip and refinish.

“Experimenting with and introducing interior finishes in new and creative ways is critical in providing relevant and interesting interior designs. Hydrographics create the ability to replicate a variety of textures and designs in an aircraft interior while providing a lightweight, durable finish at an incredible value compared to genuine materials like leather, stone, or wood veneer,” says Nate Klenke, Duncan Aviation sales manager. “Many times, the genuine products also create challenges with thickness and lack of flexibility, which add to the complexity during the construction and application phases of the refurbishment. Hydrographics nearly eliminate the need for special edge treatments and will cover the most complex shapes.”

Duncan Aviation Interior Manager Jared Stauffer adds, “Offering hydrographic solutions for interior finishes is an extra touch to meeting our customers’ needs. We are trying to widen our lens to more than what’s just in aviation. We consider what options and capabilities the customer has outside of their aircraft, and look for ways to not only integrate those into their aircraft experience, but also make the experience special.”

Flightdocs Opens New Office In Toronto, Canada

Flightdocs, a provider of maintenance tracking, flight operations and inventory management software solutions for flight departments around the world, is expanding its international footprint with the opening of a permanent office in Toronto, Canada.  “This expansion supports the Flightdocs’ strategic growth plan allowing for the strengthening of current customer relationships as well as expanding our global sales support coverage,” explained Rick Heine, CEO, chairman.

“The Canadian business aviation market has always been an important piece of our company’s long-term growth,” Greg Heine, president of Flightdocs explains. “Opening up a permanent location and bringing on experienced and motivated professionals allows us to focus our resources on existing customers while growing the Flightdocs brand within the country.”

As a Toronto native and licensed pilot, Alex Hess, national sales manager for Canada is looking forward to establishing Flightdocs as the premier service provider in Canada. “The product speaks for itself. Being able to bring a 21st century solution to Canadian operators opens the doors for expanded service and efficiencies. Being a fully cloud based solution with advanced and effective mobile capabilities positions Flightdocs as the best product for the unique and extensive needs of the Canadian business aviation market.”

The new Toronto office is conveniently located off Lake Shore Boulevard West and is within ten minutes of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

DAC Int’l. GDC64 Now Compatible with Foreflight and Freeflight RANGR ADS-B Receiver

DAC Int’l. (DAC) announced recently the compatibility of the DAC GDC64 with Foreflight Mobile. Beginning with ForeFlight’s November release, version 11.10, the GDC64 allows the display of ADS-B information in ForeFlight’s industry leading integrated app. The DAC International GDC64 Wired interface connects the FreeFlight Systems RANGR ADS-B In receiver to an iPad for display of ADS-B weather and traffic on the Foreflight App. This solution is part of an ADS-B compliant installation to meet the 2020 mandates with a wired solution not requiring Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and their accompanying reliability issues. The RANGR ADS-B Receiver connects to the GDC64 which in turn provides an interface to the iPad for use by the Foreflight Application to display ADS-B information.

“We are extremely pleased to finally offer this solution to our many customers that have been asking for this interface to the Foreflight application,” said DAC International’s President Cisco Hernandez.

AJW Group Invests in Bombardier Global Express Components

AJ Walter Group is bolstering its presence in the business jet market with a major investment in Bombardier Global Express components. The Global Express components will be available to customers for sale, exchange and lease beginning in December 2019.

Available inventory includes two BR710 engines, landing gear ship set, flaps and auxiliary power units (APUs). The inventory is held at AJW Technique, the state of the art facility that forms the centralised hub for the AJW Group’s MRO in Montreal, and available for shipment worldwide.

AJW has held a contractual relationship with Bombardier since 2018, undertaking all repair management for the OEMs’ rotable inventory. The work covers Bombardier’s Learjet, Challenger and Global series family of aircraft.

“This investment marks a major milestone for AJW Group and cements our strength in delivering business aircraft solutions,” Christopher Whiteside, president and CEO of AJW Group, says. “Bombardier was the first airframe OEM we partnered with as part of a long-term supply chain management agreement, and it’s a testament to our hard work throughout the contract that our relationship with them has gone from strength-to-strength.”

Kaman Measuring Highlights OEM-2306 Non-Contact Position Sensing System

The Measuring Division of Kaman Precision Products is highlighting the availability of its OEM-2306 non-contact linear displacement measuring instrument, using eddy current technology. The OEM-2306 offers the same high performance machine control as the KD-2306 signal conditioning electronics in a convenient smaller, bare PC board format.
The OEM-2306 is factory configured for each unique application, delivering lower costs in higher volume applications. The system’s board level configuration makes it ideal for integration into OEM equipment. Additionally, the OEM-2306 is RoHS compliant and supports the full line of Kaman sensors.
Kaman says the the OEM-2306 delivers high resolution, high frequency response, and good linearity, thereby ensuring the high performance data and process control that OEM customers require. The OEM-2306 is a cost-effective replacement for linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs), air gauges, dial indicators, and micrometers.
Many aspects of the physical configuration and calibration of the instrument can be specified and customized to the needs of each individual high-volume OEM application, including extending the sensor cable, extended range calibration, temperature compensation calibration, and sensor customization.

Piper Cub Flies into Powerlines

A Piper Cub inadvertently flew into powerlines this weekend near the small Minnesota town of Shakopee. The aircraft became entangled and was left dangling with the pilot, the sole occupant, still inside.

A Scott County, Minnesota Sherrif’s office statement said that at “3:57 p.m. 911 Dispatch received a report of a single engine plane that had collided with a power line, become entangled, and was suspended upside down in the 2500 block of 150th Street West in Louisville Township.”

The powerline was deactivated and the pilot was rescued safely with no reported injuries.

“This incident could have been much worse,” said Sheriff Luke Hennen. “We are grateful the pilot was able to walk away without any injuries.” The FAA will be investigating.