Category: Commercial

The Blackhawk Group Expands Maintenance Capabilities with Acquisition of Glendale Aero Services’ Maintenance Division

The Blackhawk Group (TBG), a premier provider of sales, services, and upgrades for the light turbine aircraft market, today announced its acquisition of the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) business of Glendale Aero Services (GAS). This acquisition, the company’s fifth, strengthens The Blackhawk Group’s Performance Center network and underscores its commitment to exceptional service and innovation in aircraft modernization. The GAS MRO business joins an existing network of Blackhawk and AVEX Performance Centers located across the US and will be rebranded under The Blackhawk Group umbrella as a Blackhawk Performance Center (BPC) to further align with the TBG enterprise mission. The Blackhawk Group is a portfolio company of New State Capital Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Located in Glendale, Arizona at the Glendale Municipal Airport (KGEU), BPC-Glendale specializes in servicing Cirrus SR series and Vision Jet aircraft, as well as Cessna aircraft. The Part 145 certified repair station, an authorized Cirrus and Textron service center, boasts impressive capabilities, including Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) services and state-of-the-art avionics installations as a Garmin dealer. The GAS director of maintenance, John Fisher, will remain at the helm of BPC-Glendale, to maintain the high quality of service that his customers have come to expect.

“Partnering with The Blackhawk Group is a significant achievement for our business,” said Fisher. “Our dedication to high quality service and customer-centric operations makes this a natural fit and a mutually beneficial partnership. I’m excited about BPC-Glendale’s future and continuing to service the Cirrus and Cessna communities and beyond for years to come.”

“Gallery in the Sky” – Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings Showcases Great Aircraft Paint Schemes in New 2025 Calendar

Featuring a distinctive combination of the most elaborate and classic aircraft paint schemes produced in North America this past year, the annual Aerospace Coatings calendar from The Sherwin-Williams Company recognizes the exceptional creative craftsmanship of aircraft painters and designers across the country.

Its new 2025 calendar is no exception.

Highlighting 12 unique paint schemes that grace the sky, all paint designs featured in the new calendar utilize Sherwin-Williams aerospace coatings in their maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) facilities.

“We were again amazed with the quality and variety of the calendar submissions we received, from kit planes to military aircraft to large business jets,” said Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams Segment Manager, Aerospace, OE Interior and Commercial Refinish. “It is truly amazing the design quality and what the painters are able to accomplish. We are looking forward to the aviation industry enjoying these flying works of art throughout the coming year.”

“No doubt this year’s calendar demonstrates one of the most inspiring collections of aircraft paint schemes, and we are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings calendar contest.”

The 2025 Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings calendar cover features, for the first time, three aircraft in flight –all airborne Northrup F-5 fighter jets from Tactical Air Support, Inc., Reno, Nev. These aircraft were painted by CC’s Custom Aircraft Painting, Inc., in Ogden, Utah and their amazing paint schemes were designed by Scheme Designers in Cresskill, NJ. This cover image showcases just several of the dozen visually amazing paint schemes showcased in the annual collection. Other calendar-selected aircraft painted include the following companies and aircraft types:

• FlyExclusive – Hawker 800XP
• Regent Aircraft Services – DeHavilland DHC-6 300 Series
• North Idaho Aircraft Refinishing – Cessna 182 King Katmai
• C&L Aviation – Hawker 900XP
• Ballard Aviation – Beechcraft King Air B200
• Midwest Aircraft Refinishing – Cirrus SR22
• CC’s Custom Painting – Northrup F-5
• Corrigan Aircraft – Daher TBM 850
• FlyExclusive – Beechcraft 350
• Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems – Socata TBM 700
• Hawk Aircraft Painting – Van’s Aircraft RV-14
• First Class Aerospace – Mooney M20K

The wall calendar showcases Sherwin-Williams aerospace topcoats featured in designs that vary from single-stage systems such as AcryGlo, JetGlo, and JetGlo Express and even the new 850 and 855 Series SKYscapes basecoat-clearcoat systems.

“The designs chosen for 2025 represent all sizes and types of aircraft, provided by paint shops from all over the country,” added Voisin. “In addition to several of our previously featured MRO customers, we are pleased to note there are a number of new shops selected as well.”

The 2025 Aerospace Coatings calendar is available in early January 2025. If you would like to receive this new edition, contact your local/regional Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings representative or distributor.

Greene Tweed Highlights Innovative Arlon 3000XT Thermoplastic for Industry’s Most Demanding Applications

Greene Tweed, manufacturer of high-performance seals, thermoplastics, composites and engineered components, is highlighting its innovative Arlon 3000XT thermoplastic for a wide range of industries and applications. The company says Arlon 3000XT provides excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance, very low moisture absorption, remarkably low wear and high-impact resistance.

Backed by 30 years of experience in high-pressure, high-temperature oilfield applications, Arlon 3000XT is the world’s first crosslinked PEEK-based polymer that delivers proven stability in some of the harshest industrial conditions in the world, delivering superior high-temperature performance over other plastics at up to 300°C. Due to its salient dielectric properties, this remarkable thermoplastic can provide better electrical insulation and dissipation, reliable signal throughput, and superior noise-abating characteristics over existing materials, and is capable of load bearing over the glass transition point (Tg). It also delivers significantly reduced susceptibility to moisture and steam.

Arlon 3000XT’s chemical and creep resistance, mechanical strength at high temperatures, and capacity for high-volume manufacturing make it an attractive solution for key components of hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers, as well as oil and gas applications. This thermoplastic can also be molded into custom seals, insulators, stock shapes, electrical connectors, and other custom geometries.

Greene Tweed combines expertise in high performance materials with advanced engineering design skills to provide custom solutions to market leaders for their most challenging and critical applications.

Lufthansa Technik Celebrated Ten Years of Nacelle Support with Collins Aerospace

November 2024 marked a decade of successful collaboration between Collins Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik, celebrating ten years of jointly providing Boeing 787 nacelle services. During the past decade, this collaboration has enabled Lufthansa Technik to deliver comprehensive life cycle support for these complex aircraft components.

The license agreement, signed in November 2013 and started in 2014, paved the way for Lufthansa Technik to deliver comprehensive repair and asset provision services for nacelles on both engine types available for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with workshops located in Hamburg, Shenzhen, and Dubai, serving a diverse range of customers. Over the past decade, Lufthansa Technik has successfully completed more than 100 MRO events for Dreamliner nacelles.

In addition to its work on Boeing 787 nacelles, Lufthansa Technik also holds MRO licenses for Airbus A350 and A320neo nacelles. These licenses grant the company access to technical and repair process information, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) tooling, and rotable asset pools, enabling it to offer a complete suite of nacelle MRO services. This capability allows Lufthansa Technik to provide its customers with a comprehensive range of life cycle support, including advanced exchanges, lease and loan options, high-tech repairs, modifications, and OEM-approved on-site repairs globally, ensuring swift resolutions to Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.

“We were honored when Collins Aerospace invited us in 2013 to join their new network. Since the beginning of this collaboration, we have worked together to support our customers, leveraging the strengths of each partner and continuously learning from one another. We look forward to continuing our successful work with Collins Aerospace and serving the aviation industry for many more years,” commented Sven Duve, senior director aircraft related components at Lufthansa Technik.

TAAG Angola Airlines Selects Lufthansa Technik for Various Technical Services

TAAG Angola Airlines and Lufthansa Technik have recently signed a long-term agreement on aircraft component services for the Angolan flag carrier’s brand-new fleet of Boeing 787 long-range aircraft. Starting with the arrival of the first aircraft in January and spanning a dozen years, both the airline’s Boeing 787-9s and -10s will receive the MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) specialist’s proven Total Component Support (TCS). In addition, Lufthansa Technik will support Angola Airlines with an Aircraft Production Inspection Program (APIP), which does not only cover the newly built 787s, but also the Airbus A220 fleet the carrier is currently building up.

The TCS will grant the Luanda-based airline access to the worldwide spare parts pool of Lufthansa Technik, through which it will increase the availability of components for its Dreamliner fleet and leverage significant cost-benefits. The respective contract does not only cover classic component MRO services, but also an AOG (Aircraft On Ground) support as well as various parts-pooling and logistics work scopes. The close cooperation between the two companies will enable the airline to maximize efficiency in its technical operations.

Knowing the technical characteristics of latest-generation aircraft types inside out, experts from Lufthansa Technik are moreover contracted to ensure the quality of Angola Airlines’ most-modern flying assets right from the start – even before they are handed over. In line with an APIP, they will scrutinize the entire production process directly at the aircraft manufacturing site, right through to the acceptance of the aircraft. Lufthansa Technik conducts this service not only for the aforementioned 787s, but also for Angola Airlines’ new Airbus A220 fleet, of which the first aircraft was received in September.

“With no less than two modern aircraft types joining our fleet at nearly the same time, we are happy to rely on the renowned engineering expertise and the wealth of experience only Lufthansa Technik’s experts can provide,” said Nelson Oliveira, CEO and accountable manager at TAAG Angola Airlines. “With their strong support, we are looking forward to a quick ramp-up of our new 787 and A220 operations. Our partners’ reliable component support will moreover ensure a smooth 787 Dreamliner operation from day one.”

“The new contract with Angola Airlines marks one of our biggest contracts for Dreamliner component services in subsaharan Africa. Hence, I congratulate everyone involved on reaching this significant milestone,” said Kai-Stefan Roepke, vice president corporate sales Europe, Middle East and Africa at Lufthansa Technik. “My sincere thanks go out to the entire team of our valued customer for entrusting us with these important work packages, which are crucial for a smooth entry-into-service and seamless operation of their brand-new fleets. With our enormous experience in new aircraft types we look forward to supporting Angola Airlines in the best possible way.”

Lufthansa Technik Invests Millions in New Location in Portugal

The construction of a new facility roughly 35 kilometers south of Porto will further expand Lufthansa Technik’s capacities for the repair of engine parts and aircraft components in line with the company’s strategy. The future plant of Lufthansa Technik Portugal is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and will be equipped with the latest technologies in the MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) industry. The company will create more than 700 jobs which interested candidates can apply for as early as next year. Lufthansa Technik recently acquired the 230,000 square meter property in the “Lusopark” business park in Santa Maria da Feira and acknowledged the signing of the purchase agreement together with representatives from politics and business in Portugal.

“A new chapter begins today for Lufthansa Technik: For the first time in the company’s history, we are building and opening our own location in Portugal. It is a great pleasure to have been welcomed with open arms here in Santa Maria da Feira,” said Harald Gloy, chief operating officer of Lufthansa Technik. “Lufthansa Technik is pursuing ambitious growth targets and we want to further expand our position as the global market leader in the MRO sector in the future. That is why we have already started to expand our capacities by adding strategically important locations to our global network, to ensure we will continue to best satisfy the expectations of our more than 800 international customers in the future.”

Teams from Lufthansa Technik worked for several months to find the ideal location for this multi-million euro investment. “We are convinced that Santa Maria da Feira is the perfect choice. Great things will be created here – for the region, for Lufthansa Technik, and for our employees and customers. This investment is also a sign of the Lufthansa Group’s commitment to Portugal,” Harald Gloy continued. Cooperation with the Portuguese government, represented by the trade and investment agency AICEP (Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal), and with the city of Santa Maria da Feira was extremely collaborative – both organizations provided Lufthansa Technik with strong support in an intensive process.

The Portuguese Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, acknowledged the importance of the project for the country: “This significant investment by Lufthansa Technik in Portugal, which creates more than 700 jobs, is highly welcome. It represents a further step toward the reindustrialization of our country and demonstrates the strong confidence in our national infrastructure and human capital, particularly in our highly skilled engineers and technicians in the aeronautics sector. It also shows that we are taking the right steps towards attracting foreign investments, which will help propel the growth of the Portuguese economy,” said Reis. “Portugal and Germany together, through strategic projects and alliances such as this, can certainly help Europe accelerate its sustainable growth towards a bolder future for our economies and companies,” added the minister. 

Ricardo Arroja, chairman & CEO of the Portuguese economic development AICEP, said: “We are delighted with Lufthansa Technik’s decision to locate its new industrial facility for the repair of engine parts and aircraft components to Portugal. Lufthansa Technik is a worldwide player renowned for its role in the aviation industry. The aerospace industry in Portugal is on the upward path, as our country is now hosting an increasing number of key players in the industry, contributing to a full production cycle that ranges from development to production and overhaul. The capacities and know-how Lufthansa Technik will bring to Portugal with this new facility will boost our country’s competitiveness for the aviation industry in Europe and contribute to consolidating the group. AICEP remains committed to supporting Lufthansa Technik throughout the different stages of the project life and to ensure that the cooperation between all parties remains a successful one. Willkommen, Lufthansa Technik!” 

“We are delighted to welcome Lufthansa Technik in the municipality of Santa Maria da Feira,” said Amadeu Albergaria, mayor of Santa Maria da Feira. “This investment is also a commitment to the future of the region and the country, creating specialized jobs, strengthening the economic community, and adding value. We remain at your complete disposal to closely accompany this large-scale project, as we are convinced that it will be a driving force for the economic and social development of our entire region.” 

Recruitment of employees in Portugal to start soon

Important criteria for the choice of location were Portugal’s position in the European Union and the stable political framework conditions. Equally important: the good infrastructure and the attractive labor market in particular. Lufthansa Technik will set up a training center in Santa Maria da Feira in the coming year to train the future employees of Lufthansa Technik Portugal so that production can begin upon completion of the new 54,000 square meter facility. The first jobs for the new location will be advertised online in the coming weeks. The positions being sought include mechanics, electronics technicians, engineers, process and human resources managers (of all genders, of course). Further information will also be available in due course on the website of Lufthansa Technik Portugal and on LinkedIn. The transfer of ownership of the property in Santa Maria da Feira is still subject to conditions, such as planning decisions by the municipality.

Joby Completes First FAA Testing on Major Aircraft Aerostructure

Joby Aviation announced it has completed a landmark series of major aerostructure tests for certification credit with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Joby has successfully completed static load testing of the tail structure, marking the first time the Company has tested a major aerostructure of its aircraft for-credit with FAA representatives present. The tests took place in Santa Cruz, CA, as part of a rigorous testing campaign covering all of the structures, components, and systems on the aircraft, producing data that is required for FAA type certification of the aircraft.

“Completing for-credit static load testing on a major aircraft structure marks an important step towards certification of the Joby aircraft and we’re very pleased with the results. Reaching this milestone is the culmination of years of hard work across the engineering, testing, certification, and manufacturing teams at Joby,” said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby.

“Our vertically-integrated approach to aircraft development gives us the capability to design, build, and test entire aerostructures in-house, providing Joby with a strong foundation to rapidly and efficiently continue to bring innovative technologies to market.”

During the tests, Joby engineers applied loads to the aircraft’s tail structure that far exceed the maximum forces the structure is expected to experience during flight. The FAA-conforming tail structure used in the test, along with the test procedure, instrumentation, and applied loads, are outlined in Joby’s certification documents, which have been approved by the FAA as part of the certification process.

Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

Southwest Aerospace Technologies Expanding Capabilities

Southwest Aerospace Technologies (S.W.A.T.) announced that it has signed a lease agreement with the City of Georgetown, Texas, for the long term lease of a 12,000 square foot hangar and the adjacent area at the Georgetown Executive Airport (KGTU). The additional space will enable S.W.A.T. to expand its service offerings as well as its aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capabilities.

“We are very excited about the expansion opportunities this property gives our business,” said Kurt Encinias, president and CEO of S.W.A.T. “We’re also excited to contribute to the City of Georgetown’s continued growth by providing additional jobs and other tangible economic benefits, including a high-net-worth customer base that will patronize local businesses when their aircraft is at our facility.”

The lease was officially signed on December 11, and the company has already begun using the hangar, which can accommodate multiple aircraft at a time, for aircraft maintenance activities. Work on the side rooms that will serve as office space is underway and due to be completed by the end of the year. S.W.A.T. is also remodeling the additional space behind the hangar, which will be used for customer offices and other functions. That work is expected to be finished in early 2025. The total footprint of the new space is 41,000, which allows for future growth and enhancements.

S.W.A.T. currently has a 25,000 square foot facility in west Georgetown located in Biz Park 29 which houses its FAA Repair Station, aircraft parts and components inventory, warehouse and the sales and administrative functions. The company’s corporate and administrative offices will be relocating to the new facility, while the repair station, inventory and warehouse will remain at the current location. The company also has a service hangar in Montreal, Canada, that performs maintenance on Rolls Royce BR710 engines.

“The additional space at the Georgetown Executive Airport will allow S.W.A.T. to provide more extensive aircraft maintenance services and gives us more flexibility as we continue to serve the needs of our worldwide customer base,” added Encinias. “We have continuously been committed to supporting our industry and this opportunity for expanding our facilities and capabilities is an important step in our strategic growth. We look forward to the future.”

Guill Launches 10-Day Extrusion Tooling Program

Guill Tool, extrusion tooling expert, has announced its 10-day program. This program applies to eligible tips and dies that will be shipped within 10 business days of receiving the purchase order from the customer. 

The company’s precision tips and dies have been manufactured in the U.S. for 62 years. All Guill extrusion tools are produced using certified and documented quality steel material specifically qualified for the polymer to be extruded. Furthermore, Guill designs tips and dies for any application the customer needs. These feature multi-lumen, stripe, multiple stripe, wire and cable, hose, pipe, tube, fiber optic, blown film, corrugated tube and profile. Dies include face seal, shouldered, snap together, floating, die plates, interchangeable die plate and custom dies. Available tips include single and multi-lumen, threaded style, snap together, fixed center shoulder, profile, tapered style and custom. 

To find out which tools are eligible for the program, check with any sales representative. For all other parts, company personnel will review the customer’s drawing to determine if it is eligible for the program.  

Eligible tips and dies for this program cannot be plated and must have a diameter less than 1.5” and a length less than 4.75.” 

Guill proudly manufactures its products in the U.S. under the quality standards of ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100:2016.

AerFin Named Fastest Growing International Firm in Wales at Fast Growth 50 Awards

AerFin, the aviation asset specialist that buys, sells, leases and repairs aircraft, engines and parts, has been named the Fastest Growing International Firm in Wales at the prestigious Fast Growth 50 awards. This accolade recognizes the hard work and dedication of our team and highlights our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to the aviation industry.

With a global base of over 600 customers across six continents, AerFin’s growth is driven by a focus on helping airlines, lessors and MROs access cost-effective and environmentally responsible solutions. By extending the operational life of aircraft parts, we not only maximize value for our customers, but also contribute to a more sustainable future for aviation.

“This recognition reflects the expertise and passion of our incredible team,” said Simon Goodson, AerFin CEO. “At AerFin, we’re dedicated to delivering smarter, more sustainable solutions that empower our customers and drive positive change in the aviation industry.”

AerFin’s recent milestones include entering the Japanese investor market for the first time, earning Great Place to Work certification, and unveiling our new brand. As a clear signal of future growth, AerFin will move to a state-of-the-art , 116,000 sq ft global headquarters in Newport this January. This move follows the successful establishment of new facilities in Miami, Singapore and Dublin during 2014.

The Fast Growth 50 awards celebrate businesses making a significant impact across the UK. By identifying the fifty fastest-growing companies in seven regions, including Wales, the awards underscore the role of these firms as key drivers of economic growth and innovation. AerFin’s recognition highlights our ongoing leadership on both a national and global stage.