Category: Commercial

Gogo signs Falcon as first charter fleet customer for multiple Gogo Galileo HDX installation

Gogo announces today at EBACE 2025 – booth 320 – that Falcon, part of Alex Group Investment, is the first charter fleet operator to commit to multiple installations of its Gogo Galileo HDX system. The mixed fleet operator has confirmed an initial purchase of five terminals for its Bombardier Global 5000 and Global Express aircraft as part of a strategic program to redefine the passengers’ onboard experience. Based in Dubai, the Falcon deal also represents the first Gogo Galileo customer signing in the Middle Eastern region.

Falcon (operating under the Alex Jet AOC) selected the compact, advanced antenna system to bring fast, reliable connectivity to the cabin. Powered by the Eutelsat OneWeb constellation, it allows passengers to stay connected and productive throughout their flight to give an on-the-ground digital experience at altitude. “Our clients expect more than just connectivity; they want streaming-speed internet that travels with them. Galileo HDX lets us exceed expectations and offers a unique onboard experience that sets Falcon apart,” says Aziz Turan, Executive Director Alex Jet (part of Alex Group Investment). “This brings us a competitive advantage in a dynamic global charter market and adds valuable operational advantages to our crew.”

Each aircraft will be upgraded with the Gogo Galileo half-duplex ESA and AVANCE SCS systems to deliver unlimited global access to calls, messaging, and high-speed internet. Passengers can enjoy in-flight entertainment and interactive moving maps through Gogo Vision, while crews benefit from real-time flight data, live weather updates, and automatic system updates. To support operations around the clock, Falcon crews will also have access to 24/7 multilingual technical support.

“We are committed to meeting the needs of aircraft operators seeking genuine global coverage and are excited that we are working with Falcon to fulfill their customer demand for access to reliable enterprise-grade broadband globally,” says Dave Falberg, Senior Vice President EMEA APAC, Gogo. “The antenna design adapts to the evolving connectivity landscape and simplifies management, ensuring Falcon will always be providing the latest streamlined connectivity experience to its passengers.”

Gogo is working with MROs to generate more than 40 STCs for the business jet market, with Bombardier Global family STCs expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

L2 Aviation Honored with James A. Wuenker Growth Award by REDI Cincinnati

L2 Aviation, a leading supplier of global avionics services including engineering, certification, installation and manufacturing is proud to announce it has been awarded the prestigious James A. Wuenker Growth Award by REDI Cincinnati, recognizing the company’s strategic investment, job creation, and transformational impact in the Cincinnati region. The award was presented during REDI’s Annual Meeting, which celebrates outstanding companies and leaders helping drive regional growth and innovation.

The James A. Wuenker Growth Award, named after the late visionary economic developer Jim Wuenker, honors businesses that demonstrate a lasting commitment to the regional economy through job creation, capital investment, and community partnership. L2 Aviation earned the distinction for its decision to establish a new engineering and manufacturing facility at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Erlanger, Kentucky, a move that solidifies its role as a leader in avionics engineering, modification, and product development.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this award and be recognized alongside other innovators and changemakers in the region,” said Tony Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of L2 Aviation. “Our relocation and expansion into Northern Kentucky was a strategic decision aimed at aligning our growth with the right partners, workforce, and community. REDI Cincinnati, BE-NKY Growth Partnership and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development have been instrumental in supporting our journey.”

Since announcing the move to Boone County, L2 Aviation has quickly scaled operations, transitioned its leadership and manufacturing footprint, and launched the development of proprietary L2 branded products. The company’s presence is expected to create dozens of high-paying, skilled positions and attract further investment in advanced aviation technologies to the region.

“The James A. Wuenker Growth Award is a testament not just to what we’ve done—but to where we’re going,” said CEO Mark Lebovitz. “We’re building more than avionics solutions. We’re building an ecosystem of innovation, technical excellence, and opportunity right here in Northern Kentucky.”

L2’s award-winning expansion underscores the strength of regional collaboration between industry, government, and local communities. The company remains focused on long-term investment, operational excellence, and fostering a people-first culture across all locations.

Founded in 1997, L2 Aviation is a global leader in aircraft modification, avionics integration, certification, and engineering services. With the support of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region, L2 is positioned to scale its manufacturing capabilities, grow its workforce, and bring cutting-edge products to market, faster and more reliably than ever before.

Aeva Selected by World’s Largest Commercial Aircraft Manufacturer

Aeva announced that it has been selected by Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned Airbus subsidiary created to explore innovative technologies, to supply its cutting-edge 4D LiDAR technology for the Optimate smart automation demonstrator.

Aeva’s unique 4D LiDAR technology uses Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) sensing to simultaneously detect precise distance and velocity for each point in a scene — a major advancement over traditional LiDAR systems. Its ability to deliver high-resolution data at long ranges of up to 500 meters makes it ideally suited for the complex and dynamic environments of airports, including runways and taxiways.

Optimate is an innovative project that aims to assist pilots in their mission and to support their decision-making. In this frame, several sensor technologies including multiple Aeva 4D LIDAR are tested on an Airbus A350-1000 flight test aircraft and on an electrical truck during hundreds of hours in taxi operation at Toulouse-Blagnac airport and a more complex international airport.

“Airbus has a proven history of innovation and introducing next-generation technologies to the air transportation industry at scale,” said Soroush Salehian, co-founder and CEO at Aeva. “This collaboration is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the transformative potential of Aeva’s 4D LiDAR technology in the aviation industry. We’re excited to support the Optimate team in their smart automation technologies exploration.”

Western Global Airlines Inaugurates New Base Maintenance Operation in Blytheville, Arkansas

Western Global Airlines announced that it has opened a new base maintenance facility at Arkansas International Airport in Blytheville, Arkansas. The new facility includes a 50,000 ft2 hangar, 40,000 ft2 of stores capacity, and is adjacent to a premier suite of aviation component repair, sheet metal and machine shops. Maintenance operations for WGA at the site are expected to commence in June 2025.

“We are pleased to announce the relocation of our base maintenance operations from Shreveport, Louisiana, to Blytheville, Arkansas,” said James K. Neff, WGA’s CEO and founder. “With its access to outstanding back shop capabilities, a highly supportive airport authority, and a much more attractive cost of living, BYH will be a huge improvement for our fixed base maintenance operations going forward.”

In addition to its new base maintenance operation in Blytheville, the company will continue to maintain line maintenance operations at airports across the world, including Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Myers, Florida; Ostend, Belgium; and Shenzhen, China.

StandardAero Adds Lease Engines To Its CFM International LEAP-1A And LEAP-1B Service Offering

StandardAero has recently expanded its CFM International LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B service offering to include lease engines. StandardAero has partnered with some of the world’s leading engine leasing companies to support the needs of Airbus A320neo (LEAP-1A) and Boeing 737 MAX (LEAP-1B) customers worldwide. Engines have already been contracted and are available to support the global LEAP operator community through short-term leases, helping them avoid unwanted aircraft downtime and maximize asset utilization during LEAP MRO events.

StandardAero supports the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B as a CFM LEAP Premier MRO provider, having signed the first non-airline CFM Branded Service Agreement (CBSA) in the Americas for the LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B in March 2023. The company’s 810,000 sq. ft. San Antonio facility provides both LEAP quick-turn shop visit (QTSV) and LEAP performance restoration shop visit (PRSV) services, supported by test cells which have been correlated for both engine variants.

“StandardAero is pleased to partner with some of the industry’s foremost engine leasing providers to expand our Total Engine Asset Management (TEAM) service offering for the global LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B customer base,” said Commenting on the announcement for StandardAero, Will Pitcher, senior vice president – sales, marketing and customers. “By facilitating the availability of lease engines during MRO shop visits, StandardAero is able to help customers maximize the operational availability of their aircraft, thereby minimizing the overall cost impact associated with maintenance events.”

AFI KLM E&M and Cebu Pacific Air Sign Extended Component Contract for A320/A321 Fleet

Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) iannounced the extension of its components maintenance contract with Cebu Pacific, for ten years. Cebu Pacific is one of the fastest-growing low-cost airlines in the Asia-Pacific region. This extended contract covers the comprehensive maintenance, logistic, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for Cebu Pacific’s A320/A321 CEO & NEO fleet, together with the implementation of the Prognos predictive maintenance system, powered by AFI KLM E&M, for CEBU Pacific Air’s components and APUs.  

This agreement underscores the renewed trust and strong partnership between AFI KLM E&M and Cebu Pacific Air. This collaboration plays a pivotal role in strengthening AFI KLM E&M’s position as a leading MRO provider in the region, particularly on the A320 platform.

Cebu Pacific Air, which recently placed the largest aircraft order in the Philippines’ history with 102 confirmed and 50 optional A320/A321 NEO aircraft, continues to scale up its operations, further solidifying its status as a major player in the low-cost airline market.

In line with this contract extension, AFI KLM E&M will also be expanding its local footprint. The development of its warehouse and MRO shop in Singapore will be accelerated, enhancing our inventory and service capabilities to better support Cebu Pacific Air and other clients in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aireon Announces Partnership with Thales to Advance Strategic Air Traffic Flow Management

Aireon announced a new partnership with Thales to accelerate innovation in strategic air traffic flow management, addressing the growing global demand and complexity in airspace operations.

This collaboration, announced during Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, brings together the AireonFLOW air traffic management data stream with Thales’ TopSky – Flow Manager. The partnership aims to deliver optimized air traffic flow solutions that reduce congestion, enhance predictability, and support more sustainable flight operations for Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP), airlines and airports.

Both Aireon and Thales share a commitment to supporting the airspace management sector as it faces increasing traffic volumes and operational complexities. By leveraging their complementary digital technologies, the two companies will offer a cybersecured information sharing platform designed to enhance predictability and ensure continuity of air traffic services.

By integrating Thales’ Topsky Flow Manager with AireonFLOW, the two companies will provide unmatched accuracy in demand forecasting and flight trajectory prediction. This will enable smarter flow regulation decisions, strategic resolution of congestion across and within Flight Information Regions (FIR), and scalable cost savings beyond fuel efficiency improvements.

Aireon and Thales will also offer a secure information-sharing platform that enhances situational awareness during disruptions caused by weather, technical issues, or other events. This shared common operational picture will empower stakeholders to make informed decisions, coordinate contingency plans, and minimize operational impacts on passengers.

Additionally, the partnership will foster collaborative use communities of ANSPs and airlines to co-develop solutions using real-life scenarios and “what-if” testing in a safe environment. This approach supports cost-effective technology acquisition and cooperation across the aviation ecosystem.

This partnership builds on Aireon and Thales’s ongoing commitment to transforming global aviation safety and efficiency through innovative space-based surveillance technologies and reflects their shared vision for a seamless, collaborative, and sustainable global airspace.

“AireonFLOW offers best-in-class data to ANSPs to better manage their airspaces, providing a single-source of reliable and position data that extends well beyond any one FIR. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Thales to provide the most advanced ATFM services aimed at creating the aviation environment of the future,” said Peter Cabooter, executive vice president, customer affairs, Aireon.  

Working with a range of partners allows us to offer the most comprehensive, reliable, and innovative solutions to the air traffic management sector. Partnerships like these are crucial for the industry to thrive. By collaborating closely with Aireon, we can immediately deliver practical, forward-looking solutions that address growing air traffic demand, enhance safety, and support more sustainable transport options for the future,” Jeremy Hooper, vice president air traffic control segment at Thales.

LAUNCH Announces Promotion of Mike Reporto to Group President

LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions, announced the
promotion of Mike Reporto to group president of the company. In his elevated role, Reporto will
report to the board of directors and will assume the responsibilities of LAUNCH’s daily
operations and the oversight of all staff. He will continue in his role as Chief Commercial
Officer for the company.
Jeff Martin, executive chairman of LAUNCH, said, “I am looking forward to partnering closely
with Mike and the senior staff as we guide LAUNCH into the next chapter of growth and
continued success as an organization. Mike’s personality, leadership skills and passion will
ensure that our internal and external customers continue to value the uniqueness of
LAUNCH. His dedication to LAUNCH’s employees and partners is unwavering and I know his
leadership will guide us to achieve the goals we have set for our future expansion.”
“I am thrilled to be taking on this elevated role at LAUNCH. We have many exciting plans for
our growth ahead, and I appreciate the faith the Board has placed in me to lead that charge.
I am honored to work with the best in the industry and know we will continue to be successful
together,” said Reporto.
Mike Guagenti will continue to serve in a key role as a LAUNCH board member, assisting in
pursuing strategic acquisitions and remaining a liaison with our key customers. Reporto’s
knowledge and passion for pursuing new investment opportunities is a key element of our
future growth plans, and LAUNCH is fortunate to retain his talents.
Jean Rollo’s title and scope of responsibilities will also change as she shifts to an integral
role as a strategic advisor and board member with a key focus in assisting the Executive
Chairman and Board on matters related to people, systems and operations, including
acquisition integration. Jean’s unwavering passion for our people, values and quest for
excellence will continue their importance in her new role.
The recent investment by Capitol Meridian Partners is allowing LAUNCH to pursue new
organic and non-organic growth opportunities. Both Rollo and Reporto are actively involved in
these activities and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience. They will remain key
contributors to the execution of the LAUNCH strategic growth plan. The promotion of Mike
Reporto will allow our founders to step back from their daily duties and assist LAUNCH and
Capitol Meridian in evaluating and onboarding new growth opportunities and expanding the
LAUNCH business portfolio.
“To achieve our high-growth targets, it is important to transition now from a founder-led
organization and to empower Mike Reporto and the corporate leadership team with the
decision-making authority necessary to attain these goals. With growth comes expanded
opportunities for our employees – this is an exciting time as we move into the next chapter
of LAUNCH’s journey,” commented Jean Rollo and Mike Guagenti.

CIRCOR Appoints Theodore Damaskinos, Jr. as Vice President and General Manager of NY Facility

CIRCOR International, manufacturer and marketer of differentiated flow control products and sub-systems, announced the appointment of Theodore (Ted) Damaskinos, Jr. as vice president and general manager of the company’s Hauppauge, NY facility, which operates under the aerospace & defense segment. Ted will report directly to Tony Najjar, president & CEO of CIRCOR International.

Damaskinos joins CIRCOR with more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry. He has held senior leadership roles at Frontgrade Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, and Northrop Grumman, where he was responsible for managing multi-site operations, growing complex businesses, and leading high-performance teams across engineering, operations, and commercial functions.

“Ted brings a deep understanding of our industry, a clear vision for growth, and a leadership style that reflects CIRCOR’s values,” said Tony Najjar. “His ability to empower teams, drive operational excellence, and build customer trust will be instrumental as we continue to grow our aerospace & defense segment. We’re excited to welcome him to CIRCOR.”

As general manager, Damaskinos will oversee all aspects of the Hauppauge operation with full P&L responsibility. He will lead efforts to advance CIRCOR’s strategic priorities, including expanding customer partnerships, accelerating new product development, and strengthening the business’s performance and culture.

“In aerospace, precision and accountability are everything,” said Damaskinos. “I’m excited to lead a team that takes ownership of the mission and powers critical systems that help our customers go further, faster.”

Damaskinos’s appointment underscores CIRCOR’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and innovation within the aerospace & defense sector. His leadership at the Hauppauge facility will play a key role in advancing the company’s strategic priorities and delivering value to customers and stakeholders.

Muirhead Avionics/AMETEK MRO Supports New Initiative with The Royal Mint to Extract Gold from e-Waste

Muirhead Avionics/AMETEK MRO is the first specialist avionics MRO business to trade with The Royal Mint’s new factory that has been set up to extract precious metals from circuit boards. On average, Muirhead Avionics near London, generates around 100kg of e-waste per month and this now goes to The Royal Mint in Llantrisant, South Wales, for processing.

David Bentley, divisional vice president at Muirhead Avionics, says the Company has a strong focus
on sustainable practices and when it moved into its new facility some 18 months ago, an energy neutral system to minimize the organization’s carbon footprint was established from the outset. “Finding an innovative, viable and practical way to recycle our waste circuit boards has always been high on our list of priorities. So, we are delighted to partner with The Royal Mint, Britain’s oldest company with a history spanning more than 1,100 years, and the original maker of UK coin,” he says.

Globally, a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022, up 82% from 2010 and this is
set to rise another 32% to 82 million tonnes in 2030. “If we can play our part and help preserve rare
and precious metals for future generations but reducing dependence on traditional mining and encouraging more sustainable practices, then in our small way we are demonstrating to the aviation
industry that there are innovative solutions out there if you look for them,” enthuses Bentley. The Royal Mint’s 3,700 square meter facility uses world-first patented chemistry from Canadian clean tech company Excir. This extracts gold from printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in everyday items, such as TVs, laptops and mobile phones, in minutes. Excir’s chemistry works at room temperature, creating a more energy efficient and cost-effective method of gold recovery.

The boards go through several processes to be reverse engineered, and the different materials are separated into groups. The gold-rich components are then sent to the chemical processing line, where gold is extracted from the circuit boards within minutes via a liquid process called leaching. The
leached gold is then removed from the liquid solution via precipitation and filtration. These processes
produce a gold powder, which is further refined and melted in a furnace at approximately 1100
degrees Celsius, to create an ingot with a purity of 999.9.

The Royal Mint’s facility has the capacity to process up to 4,000 tonnes of circuit boards per year,
recovering gold and other precious metals such as copper, silver and palladium.

“The amount of gold, platinum and silver within avionics equipment has increased with technology
advances due to the superior conductive and corrosion resistant properties,” continues Bentley. “The
process with The Royal Mint was easy to set up and manage. We let them know what we have by
sending photographs and weights, and they collect the batch of circuit boards and attached accessories such as connectors and heat sinks from all of our scrap units and replaced components.”

Bentley goes on to say that this innovative activity complements the Muirhead Avionics’ sustainability program at the new facility near Heathrow Airport. It forms part of a continuously evolving range of initiatives which includes solar panels, green living walls, electric vehicle chargers, smart lighting and electronic insulating blinds on the windows.