Category: Commercial

Jamco Corporation and NTT Sonority Collaborate to Create the “Personalized Sound Zone” for Commercial Aircraft

Jamco Corporation and NTT Sonority have collaborated to create 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 them removing 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 to be launched in 2023.

FAA Administrator Dickson Announces He is Leaving Agency

Federal Aviation Administrator Steve Dickson announced he will be leaving the agency at the end of March. A former Delta Air Lines captain and operations vice president of that airline, Dickson came to FAA after taking retirement from his position at the Atlanta-based airline. Although Dickson faced a tough couple of years coming in amidst the Boeing 737 Max tragedies, the COVID pandemic and the worst spate of unruly passengers in aviation history, he handled all with aplomb. He is only a little over two years into a five year term. Dickson released the following statement:

“By now, most of you have heard that I will be stepping down as FAA Administrator as of March 31. As I expressed to FAA employees in an email sharing my decision, it’s time for me to go back to Atlanta, where my wife, Janice, and my family have been keeping a light on for me. It started as a porch light, but it’s become a search light, calling me home. 

As I also told the nearly 45,000 FAA employees, I am tremendously proud of the work we’ve accomplished over a very short time. We put this agency on firm footing to excel and prosper in the 21st century and beyond. We made, and we continue to make, our global aviation system safer from the hard lessons learned from the 737 MAX; we kept the skies open and safe despite tremendous odds when COVID-19 shut down the global transportation network, and we continue to make sure the safety of the aviation industry and the insatiable desire for connectivity can coexist.

And despite all of the crises, this dedicated workforce shared my vision for modernizing our approach to safety and revitalizing and reinvigorating our workforce, in part through our Flight Plan 21 initiative, which is now well underway. We’re safely integrating exciting new forms of transportation—drones, flying taxies, automated aircraft and spacecraft, to name a few. I’m not exaggerating when I call this the most exciting time in aerospace since the advent of the jet engine, and maybe even the Wright Brothers.

I said hello to many intelligent and diverse new people in our workforce, and said goodbye to too many wonderful souls, taken from us much too early by COVID-19.

Please know that although I will leave the FAA at the end of next month, I will always be an advocate for the agency’s work and our shared commitment to aviation safety.”

The Biden Administration will begin a search for his replacement.

CDB Aviation Advances A330 P2F Strategy with New Conversion Order and Freighter Introduction in China

CDB Aviation has detailed new developments in its A330 passenger-to-freighter (“A330 P2F”) strategy and related commercial activity.

Advancing its already leading position in the A330 P2F conversion segment, CDB Aviation committed to an additional twelve conversions with EFW, expanding its A330 P2F fleet to fourteen aircraft. Moreover, the lessor is on pace to launch the A330-300 P2F freighter type in China in 2022, with lease commitments from Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines.

“We have strategically positioned our platform to be the A330 P2F program frontrunner among lessors,” commented Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviation’s CEO, adding that the A330 P2F marked the lessor’s first entry into the air cargo space. “We’re very satisfied with this program’s progress and momentum to date and look forward to further expanding our freighter fleet in collaboration with our partners at Airbus, ST Engineering, and EFW.”

CDB Aviation was one of the first lessors to secure conversion commitments for the A330 P2F, contracting two initial conversions with EFW in November 2020. With this latest order, the company will become the largest lessor of EFW-converted A330 P2Fs, with a total of fourteen aircraft in its fleet.

“The A330 P2F continues to gain traction as the preferred next-generation type in the fast-growing Medium Widebody Freighter space. It is delivering to cargo operators the most advanced fly-by-wire technology, increased volumetric capacity for today’s less dense freight, reduced fuel consumption, a lower environmental footprint, and the benefits of Airbus fleet commonality,” added Hannigan.

“We are proud to have leading lessor CDB Aviation on board, growing its orders for A330 P2Fs,” said Andreas Sperl, EFW’s CEO. “The A330 P2F program is proving highly popular, and we now have over eighty aircraft on order. EFW is leading the overall A330 P2F program, which is a collaboration between ST Engineering, Airbus, and EFW. To ensure we can meet the rising demand for freighter conversions, EFW and ST Engineering are in the process of ramping up their conversion capacity.”

CDB Aviation’s first two A330 P2Fs are currently being converted in EFW’s facility in Dresden, Germany, and will be re-delivered to its launch operator, Mexico-based MasAir, in early 2022.

CDB Aviation has contracted three more placements with two new customers: Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines.

Chengdu-based Sichuan Airlines has leased two A330-300 P2Fs, which will join the carrier’s existing freighter fleet of three A330-200Fs upon delivery in late 2022 and the middle of 2023. The lease transaction marks the first time that Sichuan Airlines will operate the A330-300 P2F type. These aircraft will provide the carrier with additional freighter capacity to meet the rapidly expanding cargo demand, further strengthening its transport and logistics business.

Jiangxi Cargo Airlines, a new Nanchang-based start-up cargo carrier, created through a joint venture between the Jiangxi Provincial Government and privately-owned Hongyuan Group, has leased one A330-300 P2F to be delivered in early 2023. Being the first cargo carrier owned and supported by the provincial government, Jiangxi Cargo Airlines sees the A330 P2F as the perfect fit for its future cargo strategy, providing a foothold for the airline to expand its market share.

“We’re delighted to welcome Sichuan Airlines and Jiangxi Cargo Airlines to our growing list of A330-300 P2F operators, marking the type’s first application in China,” said Peter Goodman, CDB Aviation’s chief marketing officer. “We know the aircraft will be a superb addition to both these carriers as they grow their business to serve the country’s rapidly expanding air cargo demand.”

In 2022, CDB Aviation will expand its global conversion footprint by becoming the first customer for A330 P2F conversions to take place in the facilities of ST Engineering in Shanghai, China, and VT MAE in Mobile, Alabama, U.S.A. These conversion locations have been added to the existing A330 P2F conversion facilities of EFW in Dresden, Germany, and ST Engineering in Singapore. By the middle of 2022, the lessor plans to have aircraft converted simultaneously at three locations – in Dresden, Shanghai, and Mobile. EFW is a joint venture of ST Engineering and Airbus.

ITT Aerospace Controls Expands Aircraft Component Offerings with Five New Valves and Actuators for Enhanced Product Reliability

ITT Aerospace Controls has expanded and redesigned its aircraft component line with five new valves and actuators, providing customers with market-leading solutions to control fluid handling valves used in fuel, hydraulics, water, and environmental controls systems in the aerospace and defense markets.     

While Aerospace Controls’ newest components are manufactured and offered individually, they can also be assembled together for a complete electrically operated valve. The combination of these products, designed to improve aircraft operations, provides customers with cost, maintenance, and procurement logistics benefits, the company says.

“ITT Aerospace Controls developed these products based on our over 90 years of aerospace industry experience and customer feedback. This industry evolution represents a significant improvement over existing technology in the field,” said Steve Kim, vice president and general manager, ITT Aerospace Controls. “We achieved significant performance and reliability improvements by innovating the seal designs and optical electro-mechanical sensor.”

ITT Aerospace Controls’ newly expanded aircraft component line now features:

  • Opto Electronic Actuator (OEA) – This actuator incorporates several new features, including optical, non-contact position sensing and a solid-state motor drive, to improve reliability in high vibration and shock environments compared to electro-mechanical micro switches. ITT’s unique technologies have two domestic patents, US7105801 and US7717397, and various associated international patents.
  • Modulating Control Actuator (MCA) – While a typical shutoff valve is either completely open or closed, the MCA can drive the valve to an enhanced position between 0 and 90 degrees, restricting the flow of fluid to improve process control and system efficiency. For example, the MCA can control fluid coolant flow to regulate a system’s temperature to peak performance.
  • Compact Actuator – While conventional actuators use a single switch to perform the dual functions of motor control and position indication, the Compact Actuator has an additional switch to separate them, eliminating the potential for a latent failure. Higher reliability is realized through the use of a solid-state directional control in lieu of typical electro-mechanical relays. Future development plans will include the option for optical non-contact position sensing, similar to the OEA.
  • Ridge Seal Valve (RSV) – This electric motor actuated, normally closed valve features a patent-pending design that dramatically reduces internal leakage and provides high reliability for fluid handling by controlling flow. Compared to traditional ball valves that incorporate a line contact sealing surface, our innovative Ridge Seal Valve ensures less wear and superior sealing performance. Patents are expected by the end of 2022. 
  • Dual Motion Shutoff Valve (DMSOV) – The dual motion valve design incorporates a sequencing drive and an eccentric shaft mechanism. This combination synchronizes the operation to linearly retract the valve disk from the seal surface and rotate the valve to open. The valve design provides superior sealing performance, maximizes seal life, and has the added benefit of reduced torque requirement at low temperature due to elimination of friction. Patents are expected by the end of 2022.

Falcon Aviation Services goes live on Rusada’s ENVISION

Emirati Oil & Gas and business aviation services operator Falcon Aviation Services has gone live with Rusada’s ENVISION software.

Falcon Aviation Services provides bespoke charter services to the Oil & Gas industry, as well as VIP and Helicopter Sightseeing Tours using a diverse ultra-modern fleet consisting of 29 helicopters including Bell, AgustaWestland and Airbus, and 6 fixed-wing aircraft including De Havilland, Gulfstream, and Embraer. It also offers a wide range of operational and aviation support services including, MRO, CAMO, FBO, Aircraft Management and Heliport Management, amongst others.

After a successful implementation project conducted by Rusada’s Middle East division, Falcon Aviation Services are now live on the system. They will use ENVISION to manage their airworthiness, maintenance planning, maintenance execution, and inventory through its Fleet Management, Base Maintenance and Inventory Management modules.

“We selected ENVISION because we needed a system that could effectively link our airworthiness, maintenance and inventory activities. Previously, these functions were working in isolation and weren’t benefiting from the shared knowledge that ENVISION provides,” said Captain Ramandeep Oberoi, chief operating officer at Falcon Aviation Services “Migrating to a new software platform can always be challenging but the team at Rusada and our team here have gone above and beyond to make the transition as smooth as possible and guarantee this project’s success.”

Julian Stourton, CEO at Rusada added, “I’d like to congratulate the teams at Falcon Aviation Services, and here at a Rusada for an incredibly well-executed project. After the inevitable slowdown in implementations due to Covid, we are now seeing projects kick into gear again, with this being our third go-live in the last 3 months. We look forward to even more in the year ahead.”

Raytheon Technologies Appoints Calio as COO and Names Eddy as President of Pratt & Whitney

Raytheon Technologies Corporation announced the appointment of Christopher T. Calio as chief operating officer and named Shane G. Eddy to succeed Calio as president of its Pratt & Whitney business unit, effective March 1, 2022.

Christopher T. Calio

As COO, Calio will oversee the company’s four business units as well as its technology and engineering; enterprise services and digital; and operations, quality, environmental, health and safety and supply chain functions. Calio will continue to report directly to chairman and CEO Greg Hayes.

“Chris is a tested leader who has successfully steered Pratt & Whitney through one of the most dynamic and challenging periods in aerospace history,” said Raytheon Technologies chairman and CEO Greg Hayes. “He has guided strategic investments and delivered industry-leading innovation across commercial and military programs. As we execute on our strategy, including our commitment to develop talent across the organization, Chris’ experience and leadership will help advance the company’s growth and transformation initiatives.”

Shane G. Eddy

With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, Calio has spent the past decade in aerospace and defense. In his most recent position as President of Pratt & Whitney, he oversaw the significant ramp and introduction of numerous product enhancements, including the recent introduction of the GTF Advantage engine as well as the F135 program.

Shane Eddy, currently SVP and chief operations officer at Pratt & Whitney, replaces Calio as president of Pratt & Whitney.

“Shane’s significant aerospace industry leadership experience and in-depth understanding of Pratt & Whitney’s products and culture makes him the ideal leader to take the business through its next phase of growth,” said Hayes. “Building on his proficiency running global operations, Shane’s management and operational expertise will help drive continued optimization of the business.”

Eddy joined Pratt & Whitney in 2016, with prior experience at GE Aviation, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Bell Textron. 

SAKOR Technologies Celebrates 35TH Anniversary

SAKOR Technologies, Inc. is celebrating its 35h anniversary in business. The company has grown from a two-person firm writing real-time software for other companies’ test systems to an industry leader developing and manufacturing its own control systems and sophisticated testing products.

SAKOR products are serving a variety of major markets and industries, including automotive and performance racing, hybrid/electric vehicle, military, and aerospace, as well as marine, heavy equipment, electric motor/generator, and consumer appliances. Future plans over the next five years include expanding the company’s exports of technology for testing hybrid and electric vehicle drivetrains, electric motor efficiency, and wind power generation systems. SAKOR is also planning on expanding its product offerings, including releasing an update to its powerful DynoLAB data acquisition and control system.

The company’s accelerating sales growth over the last decade created a need for expanded facilities, and SAKOR moved to a larger facility in Owosso, Michigan years ago. The 20,000 square foot facility consolidates the company’s administrative, engineering, and manufacturing operations in a building that formerly housed Baker College’s Auto/Diesel Institute of Michigan. It accommodates on-site manufacturing of larger more sophisticated projects.

Randal Beattie, president of SAKOR emphasized that the success of the company over the past 35 years is due to its core values – building durable products that last and designing systems that work the very best for customers’ needs. “We do the math upfront, making sure we have things right, rather than trying to figure out if there are errors later in the process. We have a passion for partnering with our customers, working to develop a system that meets their specific requirements,” said Beattie.

Repeat customers form an important part of SAKOR’s customer base, the company says. Many are still using systems purchased 20 years ago or more and are still functioning perfectly. They choose to upgrade their existing systems with the newest SAKOR technology, remaining loyal customers. “I am so very proud of our 35 years of service,” said Beattie. “I attribute our success to both our commitment to our customers and their commitment to us. We provide customers with products that do not require hours of onsite support because we do it right the first time.”

IAI Completes Conversion of 100th B767-300 Aircraft

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is celebrating a major milestone – it has completed the freighter conversion of the 100th B767-300 aircraft. This achievement shows IAI’s commitment to the cargo conversion industry for over four decades. IAI says their “advanced capabilities, robust pace and expanding capacity to provide customers worldwide with the most optimal freighter solution.” The 100th B767-300 freighter was converted at IAI’s cargo conversion facility in Tel Aviv, Israel, prior to being delivered to the customer. 

Boaz Levy, IAI President and CEO

IAI began operating the B767-300 conversion line in Israel in 2007 together with M&B Conversions, a joint venture with Mitsui, and received the STC (Supplementary Type Certificate) in 2009. In 2017, IAI opened an additional B767-300 conversion facility in Mexico, increasing operations to meet global demand for the converted widebody aircraft. The converted B767-300 aircraft provides a competitive and cost-effective solution for customers seeking to increase their cargo fleet, and as air cargo traffic is predicted to double in the next two decades and e-commerce continues rising, IAI says it will continue providing this service to the market. 

PTS Aviation Leases CFM56-5 to Major North American Part 121 Carrier Under Long-Term Agreement

PTS Aviation, a StandardAero company, has signed a comprehensive 3-year General Terms and Aircraft Engine Lease Agreement (GTA/ELA) with a major North American Part 121 carrier, effective immediately. The initial ELA establishes the lease of one serviceable CFM56-5A1F engine for a 36-month term during a crucial period of projected air traffic recovery and growth.  

This lease agreement represents PTS Aviation’s first publicly announced transaction since StandardAero signed a definitive agreement to purchase the company last month, a deal which marked StandardAero’s tenth acquisition since March 2015. Founded in 1995, PTS has more than 150 years of combined aviation management experience and significant expertise buying, leasing and selling engines, modules and used serviceable material (USM).

“The team here at PTS Aviation continues to offer creative engine leasing solutions tailored to specific airlines and A320/B737 operators worldwide, as we work to support the efficient and effective recovery in air travel,” said David Blackburn, senior vice president – Asset Leasing & Trading for PTS Aviation. “We look forward to offering our customers additional solutions by leveraging our USM capabilities in support of the comprehensive CFM56-7B maintenance repair and overhaul services offered by StandardAero.”

PTS Aviation, headquartered in Miramar, FL, is a worldwide supplier of used serviceable material for the CFM56-3, -5 and -7B.  StandardAero is an OEM authorized independent MRO provider and GE Designated Fulfillment Center for the CFM56-7B from its 162,000 square foot facility in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Cementex Highlights Contractor Series of Arc Flash PPE Task Wear

Safety tool specialists Cementex is highlighting their Contractor Series of Arc Flash Protective Clothing PPE, an option the company says does not sacrifice quality or safety.  Cementex offers Arc Flash Task Wear with reliable, classic protection for the safety of personnel in environments in and around energized equipment.

The company says their Contractor Series provides a total system of arc-rated protective clothing with kits that include hood, hard hat, coats, pants, coveralls, ear canal hearing protection, and safety glasses or goggles, as well as optional gloves and hard hat liners or balaclavas as needed.

This PPE is available in 8 CAL/cm² and 40 CAL/cm² levels of protection and complies with the NFPA 70E and CSA Z462 standards. It covers Category 1 and 2 with the 8 CAL/cm² and Category 3 and 4 with the 40 CAL/cm² for complete protection with minimal redundancy.

The 40 CAL/cm² Contractor Series of Arc Flash PPE Task Wear is compatible with an innovative ventilation system that ensures greater air circulation, provides cooling, reduces the risk of dehydration, and makes long-term wear easier and safer for users.

In addition to the Contractor Series of Arc Flash Protective Clothing PPE, Cementex also offers the Feature Series for the next level of comfort, safety, durability and protection and the UltraLite Series, with innovative design and materials for the lightest, most comfortable Arc Flash PPE Task Wear available. All Cementex PPE is made in the USA.