Category: Commercial

APOC Aviation Acquires CF34-10E Engine  for Teardown

APOC Aviation, a trading and leasing specialist for narrowbody aircraft parts, engines and landing gear, has just acquired a CF34-10E engine for teardown with all used serviceable material (USM) available for sale or exchange opportunities. Most recently operated by Kenya Airways the engine asset will be dismantled in Europe with parts located at APOC’s warehouse close to Schiphol.  

According to Bruce Ansell, technical manager – engines division at APOC, this engine expands APOC’s engine material base.  “We currently have two V2500-A5 recently torn down, the CF34 will extend our market into this popular engine variant.  We are actively looking for further opportunities for CFM teardown engines to meet customer demand from airlines and traders.”

“This engine extends our market capabilities, and we perceive growing demand for high quality USM in 2026., added Ansell.

The GE CF34-10E engine powers the Embraer E190/E195 regional jets and the larger Embraer Lineage 1000 business jet, offering around 20,000 pounds of thrust for these popular aircraft. It’s known for reliability and fuel efficiency, making it a mainstay in regional aviation for dependable performance on shorter routes.

B&H Worldwide Plays Key Role in Delivery of Life-Saving Rescue H145 Helicopters

New Zealand – Two Airbus H145 rescue helicopters have arrived in New Zealand, marking a major milestone in the fleet renewal programme for the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust and operator GCH Aviation, with international transportation managed by global aerospace logistics specialist B&H Worldwide.

The helicopters, configured for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations, were transported from Zurich, Switzerland, to Christchurch, following a carefully coordinated international logistics operation. Once fully commissioned, the aircraft will support emergency medical, accident response, inter-hospital transfer and search-and-rescue missions across the Canterbury, West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough regions, where rescue helicopters respond to more than 1,700 missions each year.

The arrival of the Airbus H145 helicopters represents a significant upgrade in capability and reliability. The aircraft will replace the long-serving BK117 fleet and form part of a standardised H145 fleet operated by GCH Aviation across the upper South Island.

Equipped for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and night vision compatibility, the helicopters feature advanced avionics, rescue hoists, specialised stretchers and auto-hover technology to support complex winching operations, including over water. Larger cabins, improved flight stability and enhanced medical layouts will further support patient care and crew safety.

Four H145 helicopters have been purchased with three now delivered. The first of these helicopters, delivered in August, entered service on 15 December 2025, with the remaining aircraft expected to become operational progressively through 2026, following reassembly, testing and commissioning.

The international movement of the aircraft was managed by B&H Worldwide, specialists in aerospace logistic services. The helicopters were transported by road from REGA – Schweizerische Rettungsflugwacht Rega-Center at Zurich Airport to Frankfurt, before being flown via Hong Kong to Auckland. Following customs clearance, the helicopters were transported by road to Christchurch, with final delivery to the GCH Aviation Air Rescue Base completed on schedule.

Christine Prince, Chief Executive Officer of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, said: “Bringing these helicopters into service has been an enormous undertaking, but our communities deserve a world-class rescue helicopter service. These new aircraft will significantly enhance the care and support we can provide to people in their most critical moments.”

Declan Smiddy, Chief Executive Officer of GCH Aviation, said: “The H145 helicopters represent a major advancement for our operations. Their IFR capability and advanced avionics will allow crews to fly more often, in more challenging conditions, improving both safety and service availability.”

Lee Hedges, Branch Manager of B&H Worldwide New Zealand, said: “The transportation of emergency response aircraft requires precision, coordination and absolute reliability. We are proud to have supported the Trust and GCH Aviation by delivering these helicopters safely and on time, helping to enable vital life-saving services.”

The helicopter acquisition has been supported by community fundraising, Principal Sponsor Westpac New Zealand, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, ACC, and government contractor HEMS New Zealand, with ongoing fundraising continuing to support commissioning and advanced crew training.

IATA Says Aerospace Supply Chain Bottlenecks Continue to Constrain Airlines


The International Air Transport Association (IATA) updated its analysis of aerospace supply chain bottlenecks noting that aircraft availability remains one of the most significant constraints on industry
growth in its just released global outlook.While deliveries of new aircraft began to pick up in late 2025 and production is expected to accelerate in 2026, demand is forecast to outstrip the availability of aircraft and engines. The normalization of the structural mismatch between airline requirements and production capacity is unlikely before 2031-2034 due to irreversible losses on deliveries over the past five years and a record-high order backlog.Notable points on the current situation include

  • Delivery shortfalls now total at least 5,300 aircraft.The order backlog has surpassed 17,000 aircraft, a number equal to almost 60% of the active fleet. Historically, this ratio was steady at around 30-40%. This backlog is equivalent to nearly 12 years of the current production capacity.The average fleet age has risen to 15.1 years (12.8 years for aircraft in the passenger fleet, 19.6 years for cargo aircraft, and 14.5 years for the wide-body fleet).Aircraft in storage (for all reasons) exceed 5,000 aircraft, one of the highest levels in history despite the severe shortage of new aircraft

“Airlines are feeling the impact of the aerospace supply chain challenges across their business. Higher leasing costs, reduced scheduling flexibility, delayed sustainability gains, and increased reliance on suboptimal aircraft types are the most obvious challenges. Airlines are missing opportunities to strengthen their top-line, improve their environmental performance, and serve customers. Meanwhile,
travelers are seeing higher costs from the resulting tighter demand/supply conditions. No effort should be spared to accelerate solutions before the impact becomes even more acute,” said Willie Walsh,
IATA’s Director General.As production bottlenecks continue, new challenges and impacts are being revealed:

  • Delivery delays are compounded by several factors, including:
    • Airframe production is outpacing engine production (which is constrained due to issues with existing engines). This is resulting in newly completed airframes being parked until engines are available.Longer timelines for new aircraft certification (from 12-24 months to four or even five years) are delaying entry into production/service, particularly impacting long-haul fleet renewal.Tariffs on metals and electronics resulting from US-China trade tensions have worsened some supply bottlenecks and raised some maintenance costs. A shortage of skilled labor, especially in engine and component manufacturing, is constraining production ramp-up plans.The fragility of the aerospace supply chain network (often reliant on a limited number of suppliers for critical parts) can become an acute constraint amid economic uncertainty, changing tariff regimes, and tight labor markets. As a result, even small disruptions can be
      difficult to resolve and balloon to significant production delays.

    • Fuel efficiency improvements are slowing as the fleet ages. Historically, fuel efficiency improved by 2.0% per year, but this slowed to 0.3% in 2025 and is projected at 1.0% for 2026.

  • The situation for the air cargo fleet risks evolving:
    • Converted aircraft from passenger operations are in short supply as airlines keep them in use for passenger operations longer.New-build wide bodies face production delays.Older cargo aircraft which have been kept flying longer to compensate for slower fleet renewal will eventually reach hard limits on their useful life.

A recent study by IATA and Oliver Wymann estimated that the cost to the airline industry of supply chain bottlenecks will be more than $11 billion in 2025, driven by four main factors:

  • Excess fuel costs ($4.2 billion): Airlines are operating older, less fuel-efficient aircraft because new aircraft deliveries are delayed, leading to higher fuel costs.

  • Additional maintenance costs ($3.1 billion): The global fleet is aging, and older aircraft require more frequent and expensive maintenance.

  • Increased engine leasing costs ($2.6 billion): Airlines need to lease more engines since engines spend longer on the ground during maintenance. Aircraft lease rates have also risen by 20–30% since 2019.

  • Surplus inventory holding costs ($1.4 billion): Airlines are stocking more spare parts to mitigate unpredictable supply chain disruptions, increasing inventory costs.

To help expedite solutions, the study pointed to several considerations:

  • Open up aftermarket best practices by supporting Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) to be less dependent on OEM-driven commercial licensing models, as well as facilitating access
    to alternative sourcing for materials and services.

  • Enhance supply chain visibility by creating clearer visibility across all supplier levels to spot risks early, reduce bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and use better data and tools to make
    the whole chain more resilient and reliable.

  • Use data more extensively in leveraging predictive maintenance insights, pooling spare parts, and creating shared maintenance data platforms to optimize inventory and reduce downtime.

  • Expand repair and parts capacity to accelerate repair approvals, support alternative parts and Used Serviceable Material (USM) solutions, and adopt advanced manufacturing to ease
    bottlenecks.

Gogo confirms next-generation air-to-ground 5G now launched

Broomfield, CO./ 29 December 2025 – Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO) has successfully completed flight testing and validation of its 5G air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity network for North American customers. The test teamcompleted more than 30 hours of flying across almost 20 routes to confirm that the full capabilities of the first ever 5G tower network are ready to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity to operators flying in contiguous North America and Southern Canada in January 2026.  

The comprehensive test campaign optimized well-established techniques to confirm the network’s resilience and potential. As the flight tests rolled out several trials, the 5G network delivered high-speed broadband speeds of more than 80Mbps download and 20Mbps upload which allowed streaming, and internet browsing simultaneously. 

With the network meeting and exceeding expectations, Gogo has onboarded its first paying customer, with a further 450 pre-provisioned aircraft poised to take advantage of the highly anticipated service in January of 2026 and onwards. 

Chris Moore, CEO, Gogo, explains, “We talk a lot about milestones, and this is really an exceptional one for Gogo. While we have had delays, we are now focused on delivering a brand-new broadband ATG service to our customers that will satisfy data-hungry flyers within North America as they access streaming services on the new ATG service. I’m extremely proud of the Gogo team who have worked very hard for this achievement, and I’m delighted we can begin to roll out the service to our customers immediately.”

Airworthy Sells its Monuments Division in Anaheim, California to Phoenix Engineering Technologies, LLC. (PET)

December 8, 2025, Hudson, Wisconsin—Airworthy is pleased to announce that it has sold its Monuments Division in Anaheim, California to Phoenix Engineering Technologies, LLC. (PET). Terms of the sale remain confidential.

Airworthy, founded in 2000, has become a global leader in the Rail and Aerospace Industries. The sale of the Monuments Division will allow Airworthy to focus on its core businesses in flooring and interior maintenance. This sale will have an immediate impact to increase cash flow and allow Airworthy to grow its market share through strategic organic growth opportunities.

According to Jim Rouleau, Airworthy CEO, “We are pleased that PET will continue to grow and nurture the Monuments business as we have done in the past. Also, I am very excited to continue to work with the incredible Airworthy team to take advantage of the many growth opportunities that we have and will continue to pursue. That is very positive for both businesses.”

Airworthy is a family-owned business founded in 2000 with its headquarters located in Hudson, Wisconsin, with other locations in Coral Springs, Florida and Grand Prairie, Texas. Airworthy is a global leader in the transportation industry, specializing in Rail and Aerospace. The products they offer are Carpet, Nontextile Flooring, Repair and Overhaul of: Galleys, Lavotories, Overhead Bins, Sidewall Panels, Seats, Floor Panels, Coffee makers, Ovens, Wheels and many other Interior Components.

Sonic Reveals Recipients of Winter 2025 Impact Scholarship Program 

Sonic, a leading provider of professional-grade tool solutions and equipment, today announced the winners of its winter 2025 Impact Scholarship Program, the second round of the year’s scholarship season. The program honors outstanding students in automotive, aviation, and manufacturing technology programs who demonstrate the organization’s core PACE principles: passion, accountability, collaboration, and experience.

The company has chosen five deserving students from a nationwide applicant pool, with each recipient receiving a specially assembled collection of premium hand tools tailored to their specific discipline. Aviation students will receive Sonic’s 263-piece Intermediate Aviation Toolset with the S9 Toolbox, and the Automotive student will receive Sonic’s 255-piece Basic Automotive Toolset and S12 XD Toolbox to aid each respective student throughout their training and help them launch their professional technician careers.

Winter 2025 Scholarship Recipients:

Aviation Students:

  • Maria Hoff – Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, from Maple Grove, MN.
  • Trystan Daughtry – Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK, from Tulsa, OK.
  • Trevor Hill – Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, from Walkertown, NC.
  • Willburn Smith – University of Fairbanks in Fairbanks, AK, from Fairbanks, AK.

Automotive Student:

  • Michael Debenedetto – Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Irving, TX, from Hewitt, NJ.

“This group of five talented students exemplifies the next generation of skilled trade professionals. Every recipient has shown outstanding academic performance alongside a dedication to the PACE principles that define excellence in the automotive and aviation fields,” said Colby McConnell, CEO of Sonic USA. “By equipping them with professional-grade tools, we’re enabling them to concentrate on mastering their craft without the financial stress of purchasing the required hand tools.”

Meeting Workforce Demands

Sonic’s scholarship initiative addresses the expanding technician workforce gap throughout automotive, aviation, and manufacturing sectors. According to TechForce’s 2024 Supply & Demand Report, the automotive industry alone needs nearly one million new-entry technicians to eliminate the gap. Sonic acknowledges that qualified technicians play a vital role in maintaining essential infrastructure and making meaningful contributions within their communities and industries.

Spring Impact Scholarship Program

Sonic’s biannual Impact Scholarship Program will recommence in January 2026 and name the next five recipients in June. Students will be required to provide proof of enrollment, a recommendation letter from an instructor, a 500-word essay explaining how they embody the PACE values and aim to create meaningful impact, and a short video outlining how Sonic Tools will support their professional development and career aspirations. Applications for the Spring cycle close in May 2026.

Additional details about the Sonic Impact Scholarship are available at http://www.sonictoolsusa.com/scholarship/.

B&H Worldwide Expands Rotary-Wing Logistics Capabilities with Bell 429 Movement into Singapore

Singapore – B&H Worldwide, a global leader in aerospace logistics, has further expanded its rotary-wing logistics capabilities with the successful handling of a Bell 429 helicopter movement from India to Singapore, supporting the aircraft’s return to Bell Textron’s regional hub for maintenance and inspection.

The helicopter was transported on a B747F freighter in seven cargo pieces, with the shipment awarded by Continental Carriers Pvt. Ltd., B&H Worldwide’s long-standing partner in India. While technical activities at origin, including helicopter teardown, pallet build-up and loadmaster coordination, were managed by the origin team, B&H Worldwide’s Singapore station led the destination logistics and import phase of the project.

As part of its expanding rotary-wing service offering, B&H Worldwide Singapore coordinated import customs clearance, arranged a suitable air-ride suspension transporter, confirmed consignee site limitations such as maximum vehicle and load height; and ensured the availability of appropriate tie-down and securing expertise to support safe unloading and onward delivery.

“Helicopter logistics demand a different level of planning and coordination, particularly at destination,” said Terry Ooi, Operations Manager, B&H Worldwide Singapore, who oversaw the unloading of the aircraft and its transfer onto the air-ride suspension trailer. “By identifying site limitations and handling requirements early, we can eliminate unnecessary risk, prevent delays and ensure a smooth handover to the MRO facility.”

Highlighting the strength of collaboration on the project, Anuraag Maahrotra, Vice President – Aerospace & Defense at Continental Carriers Pvt. Ltd., said:

“This Bell 429 movement is a strong example of the value created through close coordination between trusted partners. B&H Worldwide’s expertise in aerospace logistics, particularly at destination, played a key role in ensuring a seamless operation. We value this continued partnership and look forward to supporting many more complex helicopter movements together in the future.”

B&H Worldwide is seeing increased demand for rotary-wing logistics driven by maintenance and lifecycle support, as operators increasingly rely on regional MRO hubs such as Singapore. These repeat aircraft movements are expanding the scope of helicopter logistics beyond initial delivery, reinforcing the need for specialised providers with deep aviation and project cargo expertise.

This Bell 429 movement further demonstrates B&H Worldwide’s continued investment in specialised rotary-wing logistics solutions for helicopter operators, OEMs and MROs worldwide.

Magnetic Engines Marks 10 Years of Service

When Magnetic Engines opened its doors on October 5, 2015, the workshop measured just 100 square meters. There was no ribbon-cutting, only benches and tools. Ten years later, that conviction has driven the business to a 1,300-sqm facility, more than 319 client engagement events, and 67 customers served by early 2025, with the same philosophy still at its core.

“We didn’t chase scale, we chased standards,“ said Risto Mäeots, CEO of Magnetic Group. “From the very beginning, Magnetic Engines built its reputation on precision and predictability. Growth was the consequence, not the goal.“

The team’s first client inspections took place just days after launch, two CFM56-7B engines in Ponta Delgada, Portugal.Through 2016, the shop focused on its own engines, refining procedures before opening to external clients in 2017.

By 2020, heavier repairs and combustion chamber replacements were routine; by 2023, the first Core Performance Restoration (CFM56-3) validated the team’s control over the most complex modules. “Every milestone came from the same loop — learn, validate, scale,“ explained Filip Stanisic, managing director of Magnetic Engines. “Our first heavy repair in 2020 proved we could deliver under pressure. Later, DAC to SAC conversion work in 2024 showed we weren’t just adding volume — we were adding depth.“

Joe “Ski“ Suszczynski Earns the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award

StandardAero recognized Joe “Ski“ Suszczynski, training manager at its Dallas-Fort Worth Service Center, as a recipient of the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. His journey began at age 14 at Aviation High School in Queens, New York, a public, FAA-accredited program. “It’s in your DNA,“ Suszczynski shared. “Aviation has been in my DNA since I was 14. If you don’t love it, it’s work.“

After four and a half years of classroom training and hands-on shop time — including maintaining the school’s own aircraft — he graduated with both his diploma and his FAA certification at just 17 years old. He returned for six additional months of extended training to obtain his Powerplant certificate.

Suszczynski went on to serve 21 years in the United States Air Force as a jet engine technician. He later transitioned to civil aviation roles at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, eventually joining Raytheon as a site supervisor where he was responsible for hiring and developing a team of more than 50 technicians. During his Air Force career, he also taught Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) students as an adjunct instructor with Embry-Riddle in Germany.

Suszczynski joined StandardAero in 1999, continuing in a similar role, bringing his leadership, technical knowledge and growth mindset.

In 2022, Suszczynski transferred to StandardAero’s DFW facility to lead training initiatives, a natural fit given his long history of developing emerging aviation talent. “What really excites me is when I’m training somebody,“ he said. “Whether it’s one, five, or ten years later, you see them grow and expand — and then they come back to tell you how much it meant to learn to do things the correct way.“

Suszczynski said his leadership philosophy centers on integrity, clarity, and accountability. His personal motto — “Do what’s right when nobody is looking“ — guides how he works, teaches and leads. As he puts it, “Do my actions mimic what I say? Do I walk the walk?“ Whether he is delivering technical instruction, reinforcing safety practices, or picking up FOD on the shop floor, Suszczynski led by example.

“Aviation has helped me get to where I am today,“ he shared. “It’s given me financial security, and it’s also taken sweat and tears. But the greatest reward is passing the baton on to others and watching them grow.“

RTX’s Collins Aerospace and the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force Establish New Military Avionics Service Center

Collins Aerospace, and the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force (RNLASF) have signed a contract to build a new military avionics service center in the Netherlands to support European F-35 and CH-47F fleets.

Under the multi-decade government-owned, contractor-operated partnership, Collins will bring repair expertise and depot technology for the F-35 and the CH-47F. They will also manage the repair supply chain as part of its global military services network.

“Bringing our avionics repair capabilities to the RNLASF Air Support Command (ASC) military base will create substantial operational, logistical and sustainment improvement for our European customers,“ said Brian Barta, vice president and general manager for avionics aftermarket services and support in Avionics at Collins Aerospace. “This new center will complement Pratt & Whitney’s already established F135 engine depot at the ASC, further expanding RTX’s presence in the Netherlands.“

The new center will also complement Collins’ F-35 pilot readiness center in Soesterberg, the Netherlands, establishing a full regional lifecycle sustainment solution for customers in Europe. Additionally, the repair capability will support Collins’ performance based contract with RNLASF to ensure the readiness of the Dutch CH 47F fleet.

“In an increasingly contested logistics environment, ‘Fight tonight, Fight tomorrow, Fight together,’ means positioning the RNLASF for the highest possible mission readiness,“ said Lieutenant General André ‘Jabba’ Steur of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force. “As we transition to modernized and increasingly complex weapon systems, we will require preparing for the necessary support, infrastructure and maintenance at our military depot facilities. Collaborating with trusted OEMs like Collins Aerospace has proven to be very valuable to our overall mission readiness.“

“Together with Collins Aerospace we will be increasing skills and advancing technical knowhow, in the Netherlands,“ said Secretary of Defense Gijs Tuinman. “This partnership is an example of a strategic collaboration that supports our defense and technological base as we continue to contribute to NATO and its partners.“

Initial depot capability for Collins Aerospace’s avionics military service center is expected in 2026.