Category: Commercial

Second Beechcraft Denali Completes First Flight, Expanding Flight Test Program to Two Aircraft

Textron Aviation has completed first flight of its second Beechcraft Denali flight test article as momentum builds for the clean-sheet aircraft’s certification program. The milestone flight follows the Denali prototype, which completed its first flight in November 2021. The Beechcraft Denali is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc.

The second test aircraft joins the first Denali prototype in the important flight test program that substantiates the segment-leading performance expected of the Denali. The aircraft’s flight lasted two hours and one minute, reaching a max altitude of 15,500 feet with a max speed of 240 ktas. To date, the program has accumulated more than 250 flight hours.

“This flight is another vitally important step for the Beechcraft Denali program as the aircraft will be used primarily for testing aircraft systems like avionics, cabin environmental control and ice protection,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering & Programs. “The team has made great progress, accomplishing key goals in the flight test program, and the Denali team heads into the second half of 2022 with a great deal of momentum.”

The Denali flight test certification program is expected to eventually include a third flight test article and three full airframe ground test articles as it expands operational goals focusing on testing aircraft systems, engine, avionics and overall performance.

Evolution Measurement Signs Exclusive USA Channel Partner Agreement with CCX Technologies

Instrumentation manufacturer and sales channel, Evolution Measurement has strengthened their partner relationship with Canadian manufacturer, CCX Technologies with an exclusive agreement for North America.

The new agreement appoints Evolution Measurement as US Channel Partner for CCX Technologies in the USA on an exclusive basis to cover the Business Aviation, General Aviation and Helicopter segments.

Evolution Measurement’s Founder and Managing Director, Paul Crowhurst said, “It has only been six months since we signed as Channel Partner for Europe and now, we have the honour of representing this outstanding manufacturer in key sectors for the USA.”

“It has only been six months since we signed as Channel Partner for Europe and now, we have the honor of representing this outstanding manufacturer in key sectors for the USA,” said Paul Crowhurst, founder and managing director, Evolution Measurement. “CCX Technologies have a firm commitment to develop technology which supports efficiency whilst protecting the safety of aircraft and its personnel. We’ve seen a very positive response from our existing customers to the T-RX Avionics Tester and it’s also attracting many new customers too.”

Crowhurst continued, “This combined with the capabilities of our vastly experienced Business Development Manager, Russ Smith means that we are well placed to drive and support the expansion of CCX’s growth in this key market.”

“Since its introduction in 2019, the T-RX has become a leading testing device for the industry. To continue supporting the demand in North America, CCX Technologies is pleased to partner with Evolution Measurement to ensure the T-RX market position is maintained. Our partnership will continue to deliver innovation of the T-RX to valued customers” said Chris Bartlett, president of CCX Technologies. “The team is supporting our goal to make the T-RX tester as widely available as possible; this agreement will allow more maintainers across North America to streamline their testing regime by incorporating our intuitive T-RX.”

Many aircraft maintainers and technicians already use the T-RX to evaluate most avionics radio systems with more than 100 different tests. Easy to use, rugged and portable, the T-RX replaces the functionality of legacy avionics testers with a single, compact unit that is simple to upgrade even as new test requirements and standards emerge. It streamlines testing and allows maintainers to print test reports and incorporate them into customer work orders, saving time, the company says.

Russelectric, A Siemens Business, Offers Customized Switchgear Simulators for Airports

Russelectric, A Siemens Business, a leading manufacturer of power control systems and automatic transfer switches, announces the availability of Switchgear Simulators designed to train personnel on automatic and manual operation of Russelectric switchgear for airports.

Customized to mimic the operation of the customer’s Russelectric switchgear/system, Russelectric simulators are ideal for familiarizing workers on the system and its operation and for accurately diagnosing a wide range of utility, generator, and breaker problems. The simulators can also be used to assess the impact of changes to PLC setpoints such as kW values and time delays. Using the simulators enables operators to evaluate an almost limitless number of responses to failure scenarios and use the information to develop and validate site operating and emergency procedures.

Russelectric Switchgear Simulators are available in two versions. The Russelectric Training Simulator allows personnel to train on the automatic operation of Russelectric Switchgear, while the Russelectric Advanced Training Simulator allows personnel to train on both manual and automatic operations. With the addition of hard-wired controls and interlock circuits, the simulator PLC accurately mimics full manual controls, enabling personnel to train in the comfort and safety of an office environment.

Titan Tool Supply Introduces Industrial Videoscope Series 

Titan Tool Supply announced the global market introduction of its TVM Series, a family of accurate, handheld industrial videoscopes.

Offered in four standard models, TVM Series industrial videoscopes provide high-quality, speedy remote visual inspection and diagnostic capabilities across a diverse array of applications. All TVM Series models feature a 4.3-inch monitor and user-friendly button technology. Individual models are further offered with a choice of either a 4.5 mm or 6.2 mm diameter cable, and either a 1.5 m or 3 m working cable length. All TVM Series cabling further includes a Tungsten braided sleeving for added durability and reliability within dirty or harsh industrial applications. 

The mechanical joystick that is incorporated into each Model TVM Series unit is expressly designed for ease of operator control. It offers full-360° four-way articulation, as well as operator-applied and guided input capabilities, for smooth, accurate, and direct control of both the camera and articulating camera tip during remote visual inspections. The camera can also accurately hold its designated position after joystick pressure is released. Design of the articulating camera tip incorporates a series of high-intensity LEDs with five-step intensity control. The LEDs allow the joystick to guide the videoscope more accurately and easily through narrow bores, channels, curves, and other complex geometries, and including in areas where diminished lighting conditions may otherwise be of concern. 

Typical applications for the TVM Series include aviation MRO, automotive service inspections, casting inspections, cavity inspections, diesel and gasoline engine repair, locomotive maintenance, ship maintenance, industrial machinery and equipment monitoring, manufacturing quality control, or virtually any other industrial application requiring accurate, cost-effective remote visual inspection. 

Turkish Technic Completes Its First Boeing 777-300ER Landing Gear Overhaul

Turkish Technic has recently completed its first landing gear overhaul on one of Boeing’s new generation long range aircraft, 777-300ER.

Increasing its competitiveness in the sector with its newly gained aircraft type and component capabilities while increasing its service portfolio in the last few years, Turkish Technic has added a significant milestone in this regard as the landing gear shipset for the 777-300ER type is very different than other Boeing 777 models and 777-300ER type is entering into fleets of more airlines every day. 

Mikail Akbulut, CEO of Turkish Technic

“Our landing gear overhaul numbers increased 40% in 2021, totaling 216 landing gear shipsets,” said Mikail Akbulut, CEO of Turkish Technic. “Completing our first 777-300ER landing gear overhaul marks a significant milestone in our service portfolio. In addition to aircraft maintenance, our expertise in landing gear maintenance, repair and overhaul gives us a very high level of confidence in meeting the needs and expectations of our customers. We are happy to be able to deliver our first Boeing 777-300ER landing gear over to our customer on time and within budget. I thank our team for their hard work and commitment.”

Turkish Technic provides comprehensive landing gear services for Airbus A319, A320, A321, A330 enhanced, A330 family, A340, Boeing 737 Next Generation and 777-300ER.

JPB Système Appoints Chauvet as General Manager

JPB Système has appointed Gregory Chauvet as general manager. Chauvet brings with him more than 20 years of experience, having held senior commercial and management positions in a number of prominent and market leading businesses. He joins the company from Rolls Royce Solutions France, where he was managing director since 2015.

Chauvet’s remit with JPB Système will see him assume responsibility for the overall management of the company’s operations. As part of this, he will be tasked with ensuring that existing and future organisational structures and processes effectively support the company’s strategic objectives for growth and diversification into new industry sectors. This includes driving JPB’s heritage self-locking systems into other application areas within aerospace, as well as across other market sectors like mobility, nuclear, oil & gas, and maritime. Chauvet will also oversee JPB’s ongoing product diversification programme, including the innovative KeyProd production tracking solution, which enables companies to embrace intelligent manufacturing and the Industry 4.0 revolution.

Chauvet joins JPB Système as the company continues the development of a new state-of-the art ‘factory of the future’ adjacent to its current production facility in Villaroche, near Paris. This project, he believes, symbolises the company’s ambitious growth and diversification plans which were fundamental to him joining.

“JPB Système is widely acknowledged for its innovative flair and highly motivated professional team,” said Chauvet. “This passion and enthusiasm exudes from the very top and, together with the company’s bold yet achievable strategic plans, is a desirable combination that made the opportunity to join the company a very easy decision for me.”

As a result of COVID-19, Chauvet is also mindful that he joins the company as the industry emerges from a tough couple of years. What’s more, he is also conscious of the impact of current geo-political events in Eastern Europe.

“These remain challenging times and the current situation in Ukraine means that, like many other manufacturers, we have to remain agile as we grapple with sharp increases in commodity prices, as well as the uncertainty of ongoing events.

“That said, I am joining a company that is setting itself in good stead for the future – both by extending its product reach into other aerospace application areas, as well as pioneering new efficiency-enhancing solutions for a plethora of other sectors,” he concludes.

Commenting on the appointment, Damian Marc, CEO of JPB Système, adds, “In order for JPB to succeed in its endeavours, it is vital that our management team not only possess the appropriate career experience, but that they share our common passion and desire to push innovation to new frontiers. In Gregory, we have someone that ticks these boxes and more. We are naturally delighted to welcome someone of his calibre and commitment to our team as we maintain our drive to advance and diversify our technology proposition into both existing and new areas.”

Delta Flight Products Earns FAA Parts Manufacturing Approval

Delta Flight Products (DFP) was recently granted a Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Manufacturing Inspection District Office (MIDO), granting DFP the authorization to produce and sell certain replacement aircraft parts.  The approval marks DFP’s first submission and approval for manufacturing through the FAA’s MIDO test and computation method.

“This is an important milestone that will further expand our Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul capabilities and services,” said Rick Salanitri, president, Delta Flight Products. “PMA provides the ability to engineer improvements into the part design, ensure parts continue to flow into the operation at a lower cost and creates an avenue for third-party revenue generation.”

There are several ways to obtain PMA, but the test and computation method involves developing design data, accomplishing any required testing and performing analytical substantiation to demonstrate airworthiness and compliance to the applicable FAA requirements. We look forward to providing PMA solutions to Delta and our third-party customers.

Jamco Corporation Offers Venture Premium Class Seat with “Personalized Sound Zone”

Jamco Corporation is offering its Venture Premium Class Seat with the “Personalized Sound Zone”(PSZ) innovative entertainment feature for commercial aircraft. The seat is a new collaboration between Jamco and NTT Sonority.

Jamco’s Venture Premium Class Seat

Jamco says its Venture Premium Class Seat provides a maximized customer experience in terms of comfort and functionality, while mitigating airline operation costs through efficiency. What’s more, the Venture Premium Class Seat provides enhanced cleanliness for passengers. Jamco’s Venture Premium Class Seat features a modern design with capacitive touch PCU, minimal trim and seams, and augmented reality training to cater to the remote, social distancing work environment. This lightweight, hygienic and efficient design distinguishes the Jamco Venture seat from the competition.

Jamco’s Venture reverse herring-bone business class seat is currently designed for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777/777X aircraft. The concept embodies Jamco’s commitment to creating premium aircraft interior products that harmonize aesthetics, comfort, cleanliness, and technology to provide best-in-class flight experience to passengers, from the moment they board to the final taxi to the gate.

Airlines benefit from the Venture seat’s sleek, industrial design, which Jamco created with sustainability in mind. The product is made with a high amount of recycled material and is lighter than its predecessors (reducing fuel costs), easy to install and requires less overall maintenance. Meanwhile, its hygienic design from minimal seams to capacitive touch PCU make cleaning easier and more effective.

With the Venture product line, seats are configured so that every passenger has direct aisle access, fully lie-flat seats, and seamless surroundings including minimal trim due to the trimless patented co-cured backshell. Additional features include a capacitive touch PCU with customizable LED colors and button icons, customizable mood lighting, elegant leather upholstery, adjustable meal tray, and an 18.5-inch entertainment screen that is mounted such that the passenger can watch in-flight entertainment from gate-to-gate. In addition, Venture’s thoughtful design minimizes weight at approximately 85 kg per passenger seat; substantially lighter than comparable models.

“Personalized Sound Zone”(PSZ)

Also on display at AIX is the ”Personalized Sound Zone”(PSZ) experience for commercial aircraft. Currently in the R&D phase, the patented PSZ technology enables the embedded speakers located in each individual headrest to create a sound zone that surrounds each passenger’s head area allowing only the individual passenger to hear audio without the use of headphones. The passenger will be able to control the volume and sound setting from the speakers. By using the patented technology, the sound is contained to the ultimate level and will not disturb neighboring passengers. This is all possible without the use of headphones. At the same time, unlike standard wearable devices, the passenger still can hear in-flight announcements. Flight attendants can communicate with each passenger without bothering by asking them to remove their headphones.

The PSZ will remove all drawbacks of headphones such as wires, cleaning and maintenance for reuse, or disposing of them, eventually aligning with airline industry sustainability goals. Jamco and NTT Sonority promise a next-generation in-flight audio experience, targeted for launch in 2023.

Causeway Introduces New Lightweight Interior, Britten-Norman is First Customer

Causeway Aero Group has developed unique lightweight Semi-Flexible Laminate (SFL) panels for aircraft interiors that provide improved levels of thermal protection, allowing bulky insulating blankets to be removed. In some applications, there could be up to a 25% weight saving. As they could be fitted closer to the aircraft inner skin, there may also be a modest increase in cabin dimensions.

The SFL panels have a vac-formed core with laminates on either side. The cabin side can be decorated to suit customer requirements and, with an anti-bacterial coating, would be ideal for air ambulances.

Causeway also sees a market for the technology in smaller passenger aircraft, military transport aircraft and helicopters.

Launch customer is Britten-Norman and Causeway is actively working to design and produce a new modern interior for the BN-2 Islander, including sidewalls, ceiling and cockpit area. The nine-seat aircraft has been in production since 1967 and continues to sell, particularly to remote areas where its impressive performance allows it to operate from very short and basic airstrips.

The new interior can be installed during production or during a retrofit under a minor STC.

Collins Aerospace Opens Additive Manufacturing Center, Expands Repair Capabilities at Monroe, N.C. Facility

Collins Aerospace announced the opening of a new additive manufacturing center and the expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities at its campus in Monroe, North Carolina. The company completed a $30 million expansion of the site in 2021 and has since invested an additional $15 million as part of the Monroe City Council and Union County Board of Commissioners MAGNET100 economic development incentive program.

Collins’ new additive manufacturing center in Monroe includes two 3D printers with plans to add more in the future. The new facility will join the company’s existing global network of additive production centers in Iowa, Minnesota, and Singapore, and additive research centers in Connecticut and Poland, to support the next generation of aircraft with state-of-the-art systems and optimized designs.

“Through a process of joining materials layer upon layer to make parts from 3D model data, additive manufacturing offers several key benefits compared to traditional manufacturing,” said Kevin Myers, vice president, Operations for Collins Aerospace. “By using additive manufacturing to produce aircraft parts and components, we can help reduce weight, cost and time to market, and provide more sustainable solutions for our customers.”

Collins maintains a worldwide network of 75 MRO sites to serve its global customer base. Opened in 2004, Collins’ 160,000-square-foot Monroe MRO facility serves more than 300 customers across the aerospace and defense industry. The site repairs more than 6,500 unique part numbers for commercial and military aircraft—including actuation systems, helicopter rescue hoists and air management systems—and provides aircraft-on-the-ground services.

Through its investments in the site, Collins has added new advanced manufacturing equipment to streamline operations, improve quality control and enhance employee safety. Collins has also increased the size of Monroe’s workforce, bringing on more than 70 new employees in the past year, and is continuing to hire for additional openings.

“Our Monroe site is one of Collins’ largest MRO facilities in the world, and the repairs we provide are essential to keeping our airline and military customers’ aircraft in service,” said Mary DeStaffan, Monroe site general manager for Collins Aerospace. “We’re proud to call Monroe home, to continue to invest and grow in the community here, and to support the region’s growing aerospace cluster.”

“Collins Aerospace is a vital corporate partner and a cornerstone of our aerospace cluster here in Monroe and Union County,” stated Monroe Mayor Marion Holloway. “Not only are we excited about the current success of the company and their investments here, but their continued commitment to the residents of our community.”