Category: BizJet

FlightSafety selected by Dassault as factory Authorized Training Provider for Falcon 10X

FlightSafety International announced that they have been selected by Dassault Aviation as the exclusive training provider for the entry into service of the new Falcon 10X aircraft.

FlightSafety will initially design and manufacture two full-flight simulators for the Falcon 10X – one located in the U.S. and a second in Europe. Specific FlightSafety learning centers will be determined at a future date.

“FlightSafety is excited to extend its 50-year partnership with Dassault to become the Original Equipment Manufacturer authorized training provider for the Falcon 10X,” said Nate Speiser, EVP of Sales & Marketing at FlightSafety. “The premium experience, performance and quality of the Falcon 10X and FlightSafety’s industry-leading training are a perfect match. FlightSafety will work closely with Dassault to provide simulator testing for aircraft development and certification, and upon aircraft launch will provide the highest quality training for 10X pilots, maintenance technicians and flight attendants around the world.”

The new FlightSafety FS2500 simulators built for the Falcon 10X will be equipped with the company’s latest advancements in technology. They include the VITAL 1100 visual system, electric motion control and cueing, and advanced instructor operating station. 

The training will coincide with the aircraft’s entry into service and will feature MATRIX, FlightSafety’s integrated training technology. MATRIX features desktop simulators for classroom instruction, and Flight Training Device simulators for instructor-led and self-paced learning. It also includes SimVu which enables pilots and instructors to review flight simulator sessions.

“The Falcon 10X will feature unprecedented aircraft technology and performance,” said Jean Kayanakis, SVP, worldwide customer service and MRO network, Dassault Aviation. “Our partnership with FlightSafety will complement industry-leading aircraft design with the most innovative training solutions, and ensure the highest level of readiness and efficiency in the operation of the Falcon 10X.”

FlightSafety provides training for Falcon aircraft using a fleet of over 24 full flight simulators and other advanced training devices at its learning centers in Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Teterboro, New Jersey; Wilmington, Delaware; and at the Paris-Le Bourget airport. FlightSafety offers more than 220 Falcon pilot courses and 100 Falcon maintenance courses.

Saint-Gobain Films and Fabrics Rebranding as Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions

Saint-Gobain Films & Fabrics, a global leader in high-performance, technology-driven materials, is rebranding as Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions to better position the business for changes in the marketplace and to more closely align with its core values. Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions will encompass the company’s familiar, yet refreshed brands SHEERGARD, SHEERFILL, ONESUIT and VERSIV—a new brand that represents true versatility of its products and solutions.

“Corporate and product branding is more than just a logo or a tagline. It’s a promise to our customers, and it is ultimately defined by them — in how they perceive our company and our products,” says Dale Thomas, general manager, Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions. “We are excited to announce the change of our business unit and our product brands as we are re-envisioning our brand to better reflect who we are and our unique ability to deliver extraordinary performance across a spectrum of demanding settings.”

The new Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions brand signals the coming together of multiple materials and unified teams in a streamlined approach to solve customers’ challenges. By employing its deep technical expertise, drawing on proven products, and working in tandem with engineers, R&D, procurement, and professionals throughout the supply chain, Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions is committed to innovate and deliver composite materials that protect safety, release easily, insulate with integrity, and control friction.

Saint-Gobain Composite Solutions encompasses three existing brands which have strong global recognition:

  • SHEERGARD, which provides highly customized communication solutions that seamlessly protect the reliability of electromagnetic signals in cutting-edge and mission-critical applications.
  • SHEERFILL, which offers high-performance permanent tensioned membrane products that help architects and designers create structures that are uniquely contemporary, energy-efficient, and immediately iconic.
  • ONESUIT, which provides protective solutions to professionals in a variety of industries where maximum safety in the presence of hazardous chemicals is critical.

The rebrand also establishes a new product brand, VERSIV, which represents the company’s ability to provide versatile, innovative solutions. The new brand combines and replaces the CHEMFAB, CHEMFILM, NORFILM, FLUOROWRAP and CORETECH product brands, and encompasses the broadest range of high-performance material solutions on the market.

Designed and manufactured with the most demanding applications in mind the V represents the company’s ability to provide versatile, innovative solutions. The VERSIV line provides:

  • Protection applications that require the best optical clarity and the longest-term resistance against harsh chemicals.
  • Release applications for the cleanest, most consistent release performance possible.
  • Electrical applications where the best signal integrity under harsh conditions is vital.
  • Friction and wear applications for components that deliver the best energy-efficiency.

Bluetail Introduces MACH Conformity Which Will Dramatically Reduce the Time Required to Conform PART 135 CHARTER Aircraft

Bluetail, (NBAA Booth #2421), the aircraft records platform for business aviation, has announced that it has completed developing MACH Conformity, the newest module within the Bluetail software portfolio, which will help reduce the time it takes to perform conformity inspections by up to 50%.

“The recent unprecedented growth of the Part 135 on-demand charter market has put pressure on operators to onboard additional aircraft onto their certificates faster and more efficiently than ever before,” stated Stuart Illian, COO of Bluetail. “Just doing all the paper records search and conformity steps required by the FAA can add weeks to the process and cost the operator tens of thousands in lost revenue.”

“Bluetail is building an impressive customer list of charter operators, and they rely on our industry-leading software innovation team to create a way for them to handle all of their conformity requirements more efficiently and effectively,” continued Illian. “The result is MACH Conformity, purchased as a software subscription, which includes new features such as task management, an FAA binder builder, manage AD and SB lists, deep search, with the ability to digitally paper clip any FAA forms to other documents, and export the resulting binder for sharing with the appropriate FSDO.”

About MACH Conformity:

Based on Bluetail’s industry-leading secure and scalable software platform and MACH Search capability, MACH Conformity delivers a host of timesaving and revenue recapture features, including:

• Easy-to-use conformity binder builder needed for the applicable FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

• Digital paper clip-related lead documents, including Form 337s with supporting 8130-3 forms, into single units of work.

• Upload Airworthiness Directives (ADs), as well as Chapters 4 and 5 requirements, and link supporting documents to the appropriate AD and OEM requirements.

• Track the status of each binder chapter through a color-coding task manager.

• Easily save the final conformity binder for future use and export the documents into a standard format for the FSDO’s review.

“The MACH Conformity Module has been created to fill a particular need,” stated Greg Baynham, Bluetail’s VP of Applications and Delivery. “And its development would not have been possible without the cooperation of our development design partners Solairus Aviation, Wheels Up, Jet It, Wing Aviation, and Mach Point Aviation. We are extremely grateful for all the industry knowledge our respected partners so generously shared with our development team.”

“These leading operators and management companies were able to confirm that our new MACH Conformity Module would help reduce their conformity processes by up to five days,” Baynham said. “According to the data supplied by the various participants, that time savings alone would translate to tens of thousands of dollars in added revenue per each newly-conformed aircraft.”

New Program Launch by IIM Ahmedabad & ENAC France Offers Advanced Management Program for Professionals in Aviation and Aeronautics

The Indian aviation and aeronautics sector has emerged from a challenging pandemic period and is flying high once again. The number of travelers is expected to double to 400 million in the coming years and the market size is anticipated to grow to US$ 4.33 billion by 2025. 

To meet the needs of this rapidly expanding sector, premier B-School IIM Ahmedabad, in association with Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC) France, has launched a program that aims to equip new-age management professionals with skills necessary to lead the sector through its next phase of development. 

This six-month program is curated to offer a comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices and policies relevant to the aviation and aeronautics industry, including technical aspects as well as leadership and business management dimensions. 

Participants from a wide range of aviation, aeronautics and allied industry sectors will learn airline and airport operations & management, multi-modal logistics, infrastructure development, public-private partnerships; mergers & acquisitions in aviation, ESG, sustainability, IT strategy & applications, and various other topics from distinguished IIMA faculty.

Further, this limited seat program includes industry leading global exposure at the state-of-the-art campus at ENAC, Toulouse, France. Participants will learn about the emerging technical and operational aspects covering aviation and air transportation operations & management, big data applications and optimization, maintenance and safety issues, drones and UTM, and air traffic management. 

“The Indian aviation and aeronautics sector is growing, and so is the need for experts with techno-managerial skillsets,” said Prof. Debjit Roy, IIM Ahmedabad. “We are pleased to offer this program to those who can steer the sector towards a more disruptive future. While the sector’s future may present many challenges, participants will have the chance to envision and reinvent how the sector should operate in line with the government’s objective of making India a worldwide aviation hub.”

Prof. Sandip Chakrabarti, IIM Ahmedabad, added, “The aviation and aeronautics sector in India has outstanding growth prospects. Our unique custom-designed program is backed by strong academic research and deep insights from the industry. Our program faculty have extensive global experience in business management as well as aviation technologies. We will focus on the changing dynamics of the sector and introduce to participants the latest global innovations in the field.”

The live interactive classes will be held online and can be accessed remotely every Saturday for 6 months on VCNow platform. Another highlight of the live online blended learning program are the two short in-campus modules at IIM Ahmedabad and a five-day Campus at ENAC France. The latter will cover industrial visits for networking and business development. Participants who complete the program successfully will receive joint certification and dual alumni status by IIMA and ENAC, France. 

The eligibility criteria for the program allow graduates/postgraduates in any discipline with 50% or more marks and a minimum of 5 years of work experience in the relevant sector. The last date to apply is October 31, 2022, and the course will commence on November 10, 2022.

Snap-on Industrial Introduces New 12 V Engine Starter Plus with AGM

For portable power on the job, Snap-on Industrial has introduced the new 12 V Engine Starter Plus with 33 Ah AGM (EEJP700). Its high output sealed 33 Ah AGM provides 550 cranking amps and includes a convenient replaceable internal battery and a charger that won’t overcharge the battery, giving it a longer lifespan. 

The rotary switch along with the low voltage/high current parameter allows this engine starter to connect and start with no sequencing required. The battery, cables and charger are all field-replaceable so your device can be repaired right away, eliminating the need to be sent in for replacement parts.

The clamps are quickly and easily secured to the device with patent-pending magnetic side clamp holders. Its long reach, 65” field-replaceable cables use tough, high current flow 2-gauge wire that can deliver power where it’s needed. 

Made in the USA, Snap-on Industrial says their 12 V Engine Starter Plus with 33 Ah AGM is “versatile, dependable and convenient,” and has these in-demand features and benefits:

  • Digital display indicates coded messages such as charging, full charge, bad internal battery, failed internal charger, reverse polarity and more
  • An easy-to-use “Volts” button displays the DC voltage of the internal battery, or shows when connected to a vehicle (A) or blended jump ready (J)
  • Instant-on USB ports, 5V 2.4A USB-A and 5V 3A USB-C, to charge or power phones and devices
  • Icons light up for reverse polarity, when USB ports are on, or when the clamps are live
  • Safe and convenient separate on/off switch for engine start
  • Internal battery charged via 110 V AC using a heavy-duty, shop-owned cord (that plugs into the back of the unit)
  • Optional USB light keeps the work area lit 
  • Operating temperature range of 0–122 °F (-18–50 °C)
  • Field-replaceable battery (EEJP700-BAT), cables (EEJP700-NEGCC, EEJP700-POSCC) and charger (EEJP700-CHARGER) can be ordered as backup components

Michael Damiana Joins MicroCare; Will Lead Global Sourcing Efforts

MicroCare announced that Michael Damiana has been appointed the director of Global Supply Chain for MicroCare. Damiana comes to MicroCare with more than 20 years of experience in sourcing and supply chain management.

In his new role, Damiana will drive operational excellence by developing and executing a company-wide strategy focused on procuring services, raw materials and finished good supplies to ensure adequacy of manufacturing process and timely customer response on a global scale. 

“We’re very excited to have Mike on the MicroCare team,” announced John Stardellis, MicroCare chief financial officer. “MicroCare is growing globally and Mike is going to be focused on integrating our supply chain with our four logistics centers and our evolving production needs.”

Prior to MicroCare, Damiana held senior sourcing management positions at Ikonisys, Medtronic, Hobson & Motzer, and most recently as Procurement and Lean Programs manager at Okay Industries.  

He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biological Sciences from Central Connecticut State University and is PMP (Project Management Professional) certified.

“I’m ready for new challenges and new opportunities,” Damiana said. “I’m really looking forward to making significant contributions to the MicroCare team as the company adds new products, new customers and reaches into new industries.”

Aviation Maintenance Training Offered in Gorge

By Dan Spatz Columbia Gorge Community College

Columbia Gorge Community College is home to America’s newest aviation maintenance technician training program upon official recognition this month by the Federal Aviation Administration. (FAA)

The achievement follows nearly four years of research and development as the college worked with industry partners and the FAA to validate job demand for aviation technicians, then developed a curriculum to meet the rigorous technical requirements of “Part 147 Airframe & Powerplant” training.

Students graduating from the program will be prepared for their FAA licensing test as aviation maintenance technicians. Licensure will allow them to maintain fixed-wing aircraft — jets as well as prop planes — and helicopters across the Pacific Northwest or anywhere in the United States.

America’s aviation industry faces an estimated shortage of 79,000 maintenance technicians by the year 2039, according to a 2020 estimate by the Aviation Technician Aviation Council (ATEC). The global aviation industry will need 626,000 technicians over the next 20 years, according to a 2021 projection by Boeing. Existing training programs do not have the capacity to meet that demand, ATEC determined. Demand is driven by growth of civil aviation and an aging workforce.

“This approval by the FAA marks an historic milestone in our college’s history,” said Dr. Marta Cronin, CGCC’s president. “Our goal is to make CGCC a destination institution. Given the vast, unmet need for aviation technicians and the family-wage salaries offered by these careers, we are pleased to be part of the national network of community colleges providing this vital training.”

Cronin cited encouragement from FAA training officials in Portland, industry partners such as Horizon Air, and other colleges as CGCC developed the program. For instance, faculty at Lane Community College provided guidance and site tours of their extensive program in Eugene.

As a new program, CGCC’s Aviation Maintenance Technician training is designed to comply with a recent Congressionally-mandated reform of aviation technician training. The 18-month program comprises 104 credit hours of instruction in 45 subject areas. Students emerge with an associate of arts and science degree, together with airframe and powerplant certificates required to qualify for FAA testing to become licensed aviation mechanics.

Students learn equipment operation, maintenance and trouble-shooting in such varied topics as navigation and communication equipment, oxygen, pressurization, heating, ice and rain protection systems, fuel control, hydraulics, welding and sheet metal fabrication, wood and composite structures, piston and turbine engines, and maintenance record-keeping. Most is hands-on experience.

Enrollment in Airframe and Powerplant pre-requisite instruction is available for the 2022-23 academic year. CGCC joins “A&P” programs offered by Lane and Portland community colleges in Oregon; the closest community college programs in Washington State are in Puyallup, Moses Lake and Spokane.

“I am grateful for CGCC’s dedicated career-tech faculty team and the unwavering support of the local and regional aviation community,” said lead instructor Bryan Despain, who brings three decades of experience with Delta Airlines to the college. Despain designed the curriculum and was instrumental in obtaining equipment for the training lab. “CGCC and I are excited to embark on this wonderful adventure in offering aviation maintenance as part of our suite of certificates and associate degree programs.”

Civil aviation continues to expand in the United States, with more than 5,000 general aviation airports operating and hundreds of thousands of aircraft, according to the FAA.

“The aviation maintenance technician role continues to evolve as new generation airplanes become more prevalent in the global fleet,” Boeing noted in its 2021 annual industry assessment. “With the increasing use of sensors and flight data recorders, the global commercial fleet could generate over 100 million terabytes of data annually by end of the decade. This could enable new predictive solutions, which would drive a need for technicians who can accurately analyze, interpret and act on the information generated. Older aircraft remain in service, which will require technicians with a wide set of skills to maintain aircraft that were built decades ago.”

“We are thrilled to welcome this new program to the aviation mechanic education community,” said Crystal Maguire, executive director of the Aviation Technician Education Council, which is based in Oklahoma. “CGCC will play a vital role in the Northwest, creating sorely needed talent to support industry’s projected growth. Planes cannot fly without maintenance technicians, and those with the requisite skills and certification are and will continue to be in high demand.”

Since embarking upon this new program, the college reached several preliminary milestones: Two aircraft have been donated, and the college secured temporary, leased warehouse space at Port of The Dalles. It has a draft lease with Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, where funding is pending from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to construct a dedicated training hangar and expand the airport industrial park. (The airport is jointly owned by City of The Dalles and Klickitat County, both of which are providing matching funds for the $3.5 million EDA grant.)

In 2021 the college and Horizon Air approved a memorandum of understanding establishing CGCC as an official training partner of Horizon Air. As part of this, students enrolled in the CGCC program are eligible to participate in the “Horizon Technician Development Program,” which provides qualified students with a stipend to complete training in exchange for committing to employment with Horizon for a two-year, six-month period.

This past June the college received aviation maintenance program approval from its accrediting authority, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Students enrolled in the aviation maintenance program as well as other career-tech and general education programs at CGCC may also choose on-campus student housing. Because of the region’s shortage of affordable housing options, the college opened a student residence hall with on-campus meals plan in September 2021, at the same time it opened its Columbia Gorge Regional Skills Center.

Introducing Dassault Aviation Business Services— A New Name for TAG Maintenance Services

As of 5 October, TAG Maintenance Services will be rebranded Dassault Aviation Business Services (DABS). The new name reflects the place this European network occupies within Dassault Aviation’s global MRO support organization, which includes 40 factory service locations and 20 authorized service facilities around the world.

Concurrently, Dassault reconfirms its commitment to supporting multiple OEM brands at Dassault Aviation Business Services. The network has broad expertise with Dassault aircraft and other OEM brands built up over decades of dedicated service. The company originated as Aeroleasing in 1966 and was renamed TAG Aviation in 1998.

TAG Maintenance Services was created following Dassault’s purchase of the maintenance operations of TAG Aviation in 2019. Later, the business jet MRO operations of RUAG in Switzerland were acquired and added to the network.

“Customers will see a new name, but the commitment to applying advanced technology and the ultimate in service quality will remain the same as ever,” said Franck Madignier, president of DABS. “In fact, since the acquisition by Dassault, we have invested heavily to expand to new locations, upgrade facilities and, as always, stay at the leading edge of the MRO business.”

Dassault Aviation Business Services runs full-service “one-stop-shop” operations in Geneva and Farnborough and additional service facilities in Basel, Lugano and Sion, Switzerland; Paris Le Bourget; Lisbon, Portugal; Luton outside London; and Luanda, Angola. It also operates a major Fixed Base Operation ranked among the Top 10 in Europe, with two strategic locations on the north and south aprons of Geneva International Airport.

DABS offers a complete range of maintenance capabilities, including major inspections, airframe repairs, avionics and cabin system upgrades, paintwork, and complete interior refurbishments. Its Geneva interior shop recently underwent an extensive modernization to enable it to continue offering a full range of top-notch completion services.

In cooperation with the Falcon Command Center, the DABS Maintenance Control Center based in Lisbon can dispatch a GoTeam to return an aircraft to service as quickly as possible following an Aircraft on Ground incident, wherever and whenever it may occur.

Coleman Jet Solutions Announces New Aircraft Transaction Coordinator

Coleman Jet Solutions announced the appointment of Jordan Rogers in the role of aircraft transaction coordinator. In addition to his extensive business and sales management background in a wide range of industries, Rogers is an instrument rated private pilot and sUAS pilot.

Prior to Joining Coleman Jet Solutions, Rogers was partner and head of Operations for Argentina Beef Company, where he was responsible for handling all aspects of the business, including import/export of perishable goods, communication with suppliers and buyers, market monitoring, and brand support efforts.

Prior to that, he served as a brand marketing specialist for CST Brands, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas and as a territory manager for Wind River Tobacco Company. He graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a dual bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.

“Jordan plays a critical role for Coleman Jet Solutions.” says David Coleman, president of Coleman Jet Solutions. “Our goal is to transform a transaction process that is often choppy and reactionary into an experience that is as smooth and as effortless as possible. We look forward to him translating his extensive business experience into a better product for our clients.” He will be based at Coleman Jet Solutions home office in Highland Park, Illinois.

Gulfstream Customer Support Officially Open Fort Worth Alliance Service Center

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the official opening of its newest Gulfstream Customer Support service center at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. To mark the occasion, federal, state and local dignitaries, community leaders and Gulfstream leadership and employees came together for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting held at the all-new facility. 

Gulfstream invested more than $55 million in the 162,000-square-foot/15,050-square-meter maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Alliance. The building includes hangar space, back shops, support areas and employee and customer offices and can accommodate up to nine Gulfstream G650ER aircraft in the hangar space as well as six aircraft on the ramp. 

Gulfstream’s commitment to sustainability extends to the Fort Worth Alliance facility which was designed to operate with enhanced environmental efficiency. Gulfstream Fort Worth Alliance operates on 100% renewable electricity, uses LED lighting and features energy-efficient HVAC, among other features.  

The Fort Worth Alliance facility complements Gulfstream’s existing presence at Dallas Love Field and will have approximately 200 employees on-site. To help develop and train the local workforce, Gulfstream is partnering with Tarrant County College’s airframe and powerplant (A&P) program to hire new technicians along with several other local educational institutions to build the talent pipeline in the community. 

“The Fort Worth Alliance opening marks another milestone in Gulfstream’s overarching strategy to enhance convenience and increase support offerings for our customers,” said Derek Zimmerman, president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “This new facility will serve our significant customer base in Texas and those traveling in the region from throughout the U.S. as well as the volume of Gulfstream traffic we see in the area coming from Mexico, Central and South America, and around the world.”

In addition to Fort Worth Alliance, Gulfstream Customer Support recently expanded facilities in Farnborough, England; Savannah, Georgia; Appleton, Wisconsin; Van Nuys, California; and Palm Beach, Florida. In November 2021, Gulfstream also announced an all-new expansion in Mesa, Arizona, to support customers operating from and through the U.S. West Coast.