Category: Commercial

GA Telesis is debuting GAT Logistics Solutions Group (GATLSG), a wholly-owned global freight forwarding subsidiary that offers a complete portfolio of logistics services to the aerospace industry and time-critical verticals including healthcare, technology, retail, and beyond. GATLSG has a globally positioned team and a network providing air, sea and inland freight customers with customized worldwide door-to-door services. The new freight forwarding business offers cost-effective logistics solutions to solve customers’ transport challenges from domestic to cross-border needs worldwide, the company says.

“Quality, budget, flexibility, and regulatory requirements are all factors in our logistics solutions, enabling our customers to tackle the challenges of the fast-paced industries we serve,” said Dr. Andreas Bauer, senior vice president & TSA security coordinator. “To maximize return on investment, GATLSG examines supply chain demands and leverages the scale of our air, ocean, land, multimodal, and project cargo services to execute a strategy that leads to on-time deliveries and ultimately, customer success,” commented Bauer.

“We offer our clients a complete portfolio of integrated logistics solutions committed to optimizing each link of their supply chain. In addition, we design freight forwarding solutions our customers have come to trust and rely on to simplify worldwide logistics and facilitate trade,” said Jessica Matthews, Managing Director, GAT Logistics Solutions Group.

A partnership between Jamco America, a commercial aircraft interior and services provider, and Object Theory, a pioneer in mixed reality, has created a new training tool for efficient maintenance service to support customer needs. The augmented reality (AR) technology developed through this partnership provides a much-needed advancement in product maintenance training for the aerospace industry.

Jamco America, a subsidiary of Jamco Corporation in Japan, was established in 1982 as a commercial aircraft interior products and services provider. Located in Everett, WA, Jamco is an experienced interior products supplier and turnkey aircraft interiors integrator.

As part of the Jamco Corporation, Jamco America, has developed premium class seating for commercial aircraft, providing forward facing business class seating, such as their trademarked Journey seats in 2015 and the new Venture reverse herring-bone business class seat in 2019. Alongside the Venture business class seat, Jamco America is introducing the latest AR technology to aerospace interior training and maintenance. Jamco says they understand that overall success goes beyond design and delivery. Current product maintenance training – although effective – relies on video tutorials, face-to-face demonstrations and written training guides with supporting component maintenance manuals. That’s why Jamco is investing in cutting-edge AR technology to develop more efficient maintenance services for its customers.

AR is the process of superimposing a three-dimensional computer-generated image onto a user’s view of the real world. This provides a composite view that can easily guide a user through key maintenance tasks. This technology can be displayed through a variety of hardware, from handheld tablets to the latest Microsoft HoloLens headset.

In 2018, Jamco America established a partnership with Object Theory, apioneer in mixed reality located in Portland, Ore. Object Theory’s founders, Michael Hoffman and Raven Zachary, alumnus of Microsoft and Apple, have built what Fast Company Magazine named one of the “Most Innovative AR/VR Companies.” Jamco America says they are “very excited about this collaboration,” as it will provide a more seamless and repeatable product maintenance training service for their valued customers.

Jamco America’s vision is to ensure that the airlines’ operational efficiency is maximized. With the implementation of the HoloLens, trainee mechanics can work on their product hands-free, in real time, and without the need to refer to a separate manual. This system audibly communicates step-by-step instructions to the user as computer-generated images create a guiding overlay on the product. At the same time, the user has complete control over the pace of their work by selecting when they are ready to proceed to the next step.

In addition, documents like the component maintenance manual will be easily accessible within the AR device. This combination of visual guidance and textual information provides a field ready, efficient, and comprehensive maintenance tool to solve problems as they arise.

Sometimes, aircraft interior products require additional troubleshooting as they travel to destinations across the globe. Jamco America says their AR system will provide the ability for mechanics in the field to access whatever assistance is required, no matter where in the world a problem arises.

AR instruction isn’t the end of Jamco America’s support. A drive for outstanding customer service, paired with this exceptional technology, will allow Jamco America Product Support representatives to communicate in real time with mechanics via remote assist. In those cases, both individuals will be able to see the same product and work together – through AR – to resolve the customer’s concern.

Jamco America says that “delivering a product to its customer is only the beginning. In-service product support for airlines is critical as well.” With the use of AR technology, Jamco says they will improve safety and efficiency for their customers.

C&L Aerospace has signed a distribution agreement with Concorde Battery Corporation for their ERJ 135/145 Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Battery.  

“Concorde is a premier manufacturer of SLA batteries, which is a product we at C&L have been successful in converting fleets to in other airframes,” said Martin Cooper, senior vice president of Sales for C&L Aerospace. “We are excited to provide this solution to our ERJ 135/145 operators and that Concorde has selected us as a valued partner ensuring that airlines and MROs, and military operators worldwide have access to their product.”

Concorde’s SLA batteries are a cost-effective alternative to Nickel Cadmium batteries. Benefits include drop-in battery replacement, lower cost to acquisition, reduced cost per flight hour, no memory effect, cycling requirements, or thermal runaway, hazmat-exempt shipping, and more. They also have a cold-weather performance that is equal to or better than nickel-cadmium. All of this contributes to a lower operating cost for the aircraft.

Cargo airline Kalitta Air has begun using 8tree’s dentCHECK to enhance the efficiency and quality of its dent-mapping activities. dentCHECK is a handheld-portable, completely wireless 3D scanner tool with integrated AR that is purpose-built for the aviation maintenance industry. It is now used by the commercial, cargo and defense MROs. Delivering real-time ‘go/no-go’ answers at the push of a single-button, the tool significantly reduces damage-mapping and reporting times, compared to traditional manual methods that use depth-gauges and straight-edges.

“With the implementation of 8tree’s dentCHECK technology, Kalitta Air’s dent mapping program will be elevated to the next level. We look forward to working with 8tree in implementing this state-of-the-art technology”, said Zoltan Kocis, vice president of Maintenance, Engineering and Procurement, Kalitta Air.

“We are delighted to welcome Kalitta Air to the rapidly growing global community of dentCHECK users”, said Arun Chhabra, CEO, 8tree. “Kalitta Air joins the ranks of more than three dozen MROs, airlines and OEMs that use dentCHECK daily to disposition dent-damage on aircraft across the cargo, commercial, business and defense aviation sectors. We look forward to supporting Kalitta Air’s maintenance operations and having them experience 8tree’s exceptional customer service.”

dentCHECK is approved and recognized by all major aerospace OEMs (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer) and used by the world’s leading airlines/MROs for fast and accurate damage-mapping and SRM-compliant multi-dent reporting. When compared to traditional inspection methods, dentCHECK delivers a 90% gain in efficiency and 37x better measurement consistency.

VD Gulf, a VDT subgroup company and one of the largest independent MRO service providers in the Middle East, announced the successful completion of a U. S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification audit and the awarding of FAA Air Agency Certificate No. 1VDY605D, giving VD Gulf approval for maintenance services at its main facility in Sharjah, UAE.

Adding FAA approval to VD Gulf’s list of certifications is a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to expand its service offerings to customers who are operating United States-(N) registered aircraft.

“With their persistent efforts and hard work during this COVID-19 pandemic era, our team achieved a major accomplishment and added FAA certification to our 18 other CAA approvals. The approval by the FAA is a significant achievement for VD Gulf, and underscores the diligent work of the VD Gulf team to ensure that our services meet world class standards. We thank the FAA for their professionalism throughout this process. We are confident that our mature processes, procedures and expertise will allow VD Gulf to excel in the global MRO marketplace,” Raed Al-Qutob, VD Gulf’s Director Quality Assurance, said.

“We are delighted with the FAA’s decision to approve VD Gulf’s facilities for maintenance services at Sharjah. This achievement marks a new page in the history of VD Gulf, and we stand ready to offer our high-quality services to operators and lessors of N-registered aircraft,” Ayrat Gilmutdinov, VD Gulf’s Director Commercial, said.

VD Gulf’s maintenance facilities are also certified by the EASA, Bermuda CAA, Saudi GACA, UK CAA, and multiple other civil aviation authorities.

VD Gulf is a leading independent MRO services provider offering unlimited maintenance services on Boeing 747-400/747-8/777/737CL/737NG, and Airbus A320ceo/A320neo family aircraft at its base in Sharjah and throughout its network of line maintenance stations in the UAE and Egypt.

A new partnership agreement was signed between FL Technics and SETAERO, a provider of repair services for aircraft parts and composites.

The scope of the agreement covers advanced maintenance and repair services integrated with a network of FL Technics’ asset trading and management, forming a unique portfolio of tailor-made solutions to repair, supply, and maintain airframes, flight surfaces and nacelles. All these components can be scaled and specialized based on clients’ aircraft type, fleet size and geography of operations worldwide. This is a unique business case strengthening positions of both companies in the market and creating new opportunities to meet the ever-shifting needs of clients across the globe.

Teams behind the milestone boast vast expertise in managing aircraft components and materials, to provide tailored services to the customers. Thus, as off the start of cooperation, the two companies will leverage owned and shared expertise as well as resources to deliver specialised off-the-shelf solutions and products for airlines and operators.

“FL Technics continues decisive expansion of capacity and capabilities as a global one-stop-shop MRO service provider,” said Julius Bogusevicius, head of Engine, Airframe and Materials Services at FL Technics. “In current global circumstances, flexible and efficient supply chain solutions for aircraft parts and materials are one of the key elements for success. Thus, the contract is a strategic achievement strengthening our leading position, pushing us towards future business growth and development.”

David Londono, owner of SETAERO added: “This agreement is an essential part of our mission to build strong partnerships based on trust and performance. This cooperation drives our mutual goals and aligns our strategies. We are pleased to be a partner of FL Technics and are looking forward to making this venture a success.”

FL Technics believes this contract marks an important new stage in mutual business development of both companies and is aimed at meeting the growing demand for tailor-made services within the aviation industry, more specifically, supply chain and trading of aircraft parts and materials, as recovering markets focus on reliable and efficient supply chain solutions to maintain fleets flying in the post-pandemic era.