Category: Military

GDC Technics Announces New Ownership And Strategic Vision

GDC Technics announced a new company ownership structure and shared strategic vision with new partners Oriole Capital Group, Trive Capital and MAZ Aviation.

“Over the last five years GDC has made tremendous strides to become the industry leader in aircraft completion and modification services, with engineering and certification capabilities that are unmatched in the industry,” said Mohammad Alzeer, chairman of MAZ Aviation. “With recent signature contract wins and new ownership that broadens GDC’s market reach and industry expertise, we believe 2019 will be a transformative year for the company.  We are pleased to welcome both Oriole and Trive Capital’s support of GDC,” added Alzeer.

“As a Dallas-based firm, Trive has tracked GDC’s momentum closely and has seen firsthand the confidence aircraft manufacturers and key customers place in the company,” Conner Searcy, Trive’s managing partner, commented, “We look forward to working with both Oriole and MAZ to continue GDC’s trajectory and help identify and collaborate on new ways to unlock value from the platform that GDC has created.”

Brad Foreman, COO of Oriole Capital Group added, “Our involvement in the aviation industry spans more than 35 years and we are excited to be part of GDC; GDC possesses, in addition to their completion capabilities, excellent aircraft engineering, modification and certification capabilities, as well as unmatched facilities in North America. These capabilities, in combination with GDC’s strong track record and significant high profile 2018 contract wins, ideally position the company for continued completions and modifications leadership and expanded services growth. Investing in GDC complements our other aviation investments and we look forward to actively participating, alongside our partners MAZ and Trive in the continued global growth and development of GDC,” added Foreman.

With the addition of GDC’s new ownership partners, the company plans to maintain its industry leadership in VVIP modification services, while leveraging the firm’s comprehensive capabilities in design, composite/structural engineering and certification into new markets such as commercial and military modifications, communication and avionics upgrades, structural modifications and support services.

PPG Aerospace Conversion Coating Qualified to U. S. Military Specs

PPG announced that PPG RECC 3007 aerospace conversion coating has been qualified to U. S. Military Specification MIL-C-81706, Type II, Class 3, Form IV, Method A. It is the first non-chrome aerospace pretreatment coating to be qualified to the U.S. Department of Defense’s specification for chemical conversion coatings applied to aluminum. The coating is listed on the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency’s Qualified Product List.

PPG RECC 3007 pretreatment is formulated without chrome as an intentionally added ingredient. It is sprayed onto bare aluminum alloy aircraft surfaces to help protect against corrosion and improve adhesion for surfaces on which primer is subsequently applied. The pretreatment is supplied in an aqueous solution and formulated without volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

PPG says the coating offers low electrical resistance, allowing for some electrical continuity of aluminum surfaces that cannot be painted. These include aluminum and aluminum-coated electrical connectors, avionics surfaces and boxes, and materials and equipment that interface with aircraft surfaces, such as antennas, doors, seals and windshields. As a Class 3 conversion coating with low electrical resistance, PPG RECC 3007 pretreatment may have corrosion resistance uses for non-aircraft applications, such as electronic circuit boards and other aluminum substrates and equipment.

“A key initiative for PPG is to offer aerospace coatings formulated without chromates and other chromium compounds that provide anticorrosion performance comparable to corrosion-resistant products formulated with chromium,” said Randall Brady, PPG global segment manager, aerospace pretreatment solutions. “This military specification qualification enables all U.S. military branches and subcontractors to purchase PPG RECC 3007 pretreatment. It also enables commercial and general aviation aircraft manufacturers, operators and subcontractors that purchase qualified coatings to order the product.”

PPG RECC 3007 pretreatment is available through PPG’s global network of aerospace application support centers listed at http://www.ppgaerospace.com.

 

AAR and Lake Superior College Expand Partnership

AAR and Lake Superior College (LSC) announced expansion of their partnership to further enhance instruction and career prospects for students enrolled in the aviation maintenance technician program at the college’s Center for Advanced Aviation.

The new AAR EAGLE Career Pathway program will expand LSC’s aviation maintenance technician (AMT) program to include job shadowing and mentoring opportunities, as well as academic support and monitoring. Students who pursue the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft mechanic’s certificate are eligible for up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursements.

AAR and LSC have collaborated since 2013 on marketing and recruiting, and to extend apprenticeship opportunities. “Lake Superior College and AAR already have been working closely together to serve our students and help prepare a highly-skilled workforce. This new EAGLE Career Pathway program will make our connection even stronger and offer increased opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Patrick Johns, president of Lake Superior College. “EAGLE will provide additional marketing and recruiting opportunities and should result in more students enrolled in our program, give them a clear career path and provide additional resources to support their success.”

AAR is introducing EAGLE Career Pathway at schools near its five U.S. aircraft repair stations. EAGLE demonstrates how students can earn portable, stackable skills credentials to earn a two-year associate degree or enter a management track. The stackable skills enable students who are interested to pursue the coveted position of FAA-certificated airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic. There is a predicted shortage of 189,000 new AMTs in North America through 2037, according to a Boeing study.

“We are proud to extend our current partnership with Lake Superior College to now include the EAGLE Career Pathway program. EAGLE partner schools like Lake Superior College provide additional training beyond the FAA minimums,” said Ryan Goertzen, vice president of Aviation Workforce Development. “The specific coursework developed by AAR with Lake Superior College focuses on repair station and air carrier operations, which allow for a smooth transition into AAR’s workforce. Students will be guided through a five-year career path showcasing job opportunities beyond a technician, including roles in management and quality control.”

 

 

Airbus Defence and Space Chooses Ampex to Support Canada’s Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement

Ampex Data Systems, a division of Delta Information Systems Inc.,  has been awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space to supply TuffServ222 (TS222) Multi-channel Video Recorders, in support of the Government of Canada’s Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) project.

The CC-295 variant of the Airbus C-295 will be the new FWSAR aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force, replacing the CC-115 Buffalo and the legacy CC-130H Hercules fleets. The turbo-prop C-295 is in use in 28 countries, mostly for military transport, but also for maritime/overland surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.

Ampex’s TS222 Video Recorder records, encodes, reproduces and streams SD & HD-SDI video with embedded metadata. The TS222 Video Recording System is designed to support simultaneous recording, reproduction, and streaming of both high-definition and standard-definition video. For this project, the TS222 will include capabilities such as multiple input and output video interfaces, additional video channels, and slow-motion replay at different speeds.

“Being selected for this important program confirms our commitment to delivering rugged, reliable, and high-performance video recorder solutions for critical air missions,” said Jim Orahood, vice president and general manager of Ampex Data Systems. “The TS222 consistently delivers an outstanding video recording capability to our customers in support of their advanced mission requirements,” Orahood went on and added, “In addition to our TS222, our TuffServ product line provides excellent performance and functionality in addition to flexible and cost-effective system architecture.”

Skeyos Celebrates First Year

Skeyos, the online marketplace for aircraft components, marks its first-year anniversary. The company says it will use the occasion to introduce the platform’s latest features and celebrate achievements during the past 12 months. They say their online marketplace is transforming the procurement process in the MRO industry by enabling a streamlined one-stop platform for purchasers and suppliers of aircraft components worldwide.

The online marketplace went live in January 2018 and has been extending its network with focus on the Americas and Asia-Pacific. It recently secured numerous new suppliers and purchasers from Asia- Pacific while expanding its regional presence to provide better customer experience onsite and reinforce regional growth.

Starting February 2019, four pricing models are available to customers: Fixed Price, Fixed Price with Exclusion, Time & Material, and Fixed Labor. These will provide users with different alternatives to choose to meet their needs. Users can find capabilities with pricing from different suppliers, place orders directly online and manage payment through the platform. The new streamlined process replaces the slow and therefore inefficient Request for Quotation procedure. Moreover, Skeyos offers transparency throughout the whole service process by providing real-time tracking.

“Based on market demands and customers’ feedback, we are now offering different pricing models, billing options and, most recently, the availability to connect to standard systems like AMOS,” commented Hans Bernd Schmidt, CEO of Skeyos. “At Skeyos we aim to make the life of purchasers and suppliers of aircraft components easier by simplifying the traditional RFQ process through our next level MRO procurement solution.”

Revima Acquires Chromalloy France

Revima has acquired Chromalloy’s facility in Saint-Ouen l’Aumône, near Paris, France with the objective of reinforcing its component repair offering. The facility specializes in engine parts repairs and special coatings.

Revima says it aims to offer its customers, through this acquisition, significantly enhanced component repair capabilities, serving both Chromalloy France’s legacy market, which supports several main engine platforms and extending its APU component repair capabilities for various APU platforms already supported by Revima, as well as other main engine development opportunities.

Chromalloy France will adopt the brand Revima and its services will be marketed under the commercial brand name Revima Engine Parts Repair.

The Saint-Ouen l’Aumône facility employs around 80 people, with annual sales of approximately $15 million. It operates a “state of the art” facility, equipped with significant special coatings, brazing, welding & machining capabilities. The site has recently invested in additive manufacturing capabilities and is progressively qualifying new repairs with this technology.

It also has invested into significant thermochemical furnaces installations, allowing super alloy coating depositions of multiple kinds, a process which is NADCAP certified.

“We are proud to integrate Chromalloy France into the Revima family,” says Olivier Legrand, Revima president & CEO. “Thanks to this important step we will be able to further develop our APU service offering and continue to develop high value services on main engine platforms. This acquisition fits perfectly in our overall strategy to grow our know-how and expertise and we are very excited with the opportunities ahead of us.”

Garsite Progress Acquires Kansas Operations

Garsite Progress, an entity formed by AFI Partners, announced the acquisition of Garsite and Progress Tank, U.S.-based manufacturers of aviation refueling and liquid waste transportation equipment.

“Garsite and Progress have a combined history of 160 years of experience as the industry leaders in both aviation refueling and liquid waste equipment manufacturing,” E.J. Antonio, managing partner of AFI Partners, said. “This partnership marks a significant opportunity for Garsite and Progress to focus and accelerate on core competencies, including customer service, quality and an increased distribution platform.”

In business for 67 years, Garsite aircraft refuelers, hydrant dispensers, and fueling equipment have been supplying to major in-to-plane fueling companies, oil companies, airlines, freight distribution companies, and fuel marketers around the globe. Garsite refuelers are in-service every day at nearly every major U.S. airport and in over 80 countries on 6 continents, the company says. Additionally, Garsite is a provider to all U.S. military branches through both GSA and DLA HEPP contracts.

Raytheon Wins Retrofit Contract for F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft

El Segundo, Calif.- based Raytheon was awarded $81,224,627 for a modification called P00007 to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target contract (N00019-17-C-0042).  This modification provides for the procurement of 228 configuration components required for completion of Configuration D Retrofit Component engineering change proposals for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft for the Navy and the government of Australia.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the site for the contracting activity.

StandardAero Maryville, Tenn. Facility Celebrates 10,000th APU Repair

StandardAero’s Maryville, Tenn. facility recently completed and shipped its 10,000th auxiliary power unit (APU) repair since the nearly 25 years it has been providing APU MRO services to the industry.

The specific 10,000th repair was on a Honeywell model 36-150RJ APU for a regional aircraft operator.

“This recent milestone helps to cement our overall leadership in servicing the APU regional airline market,” said Randy Mengel, vice president & general manager for StandardAero. “Our experience and capabilities have been proven over a quarter of a century and we are currently processing more than 600 APU repairs annually in our Maryville shop.”

StandardAero’s Maryville facility is an independent service provider for regional aircraft APU MRO support. As an Authorized Repair Facility, StandardAero offers numerous benefits to operators, including OEM technical support and documentation, full OEM warranty processing, access to rental bank assets, component repair and LRU capabilities and coordinated repair development with OEM authorization.

Bell Boeing Awarded $144 million for V-22 Support

The Bell Boeing Joint Program Office has been awarded an estimated $143,863,184 firm-fixed-price requirements contract for performance-based logistics and engineering support for the V-22 platform. This is an 11-month base contract with four one-year option periods. Locations of performance are Texas and Pennsylvania for V-22 aircraft belonging to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“As one of the most in-demand assets for the U.S. military, the V-22 needs a support team that understands the technical aspects of the aircraft as well as customers’ operational needs,” said Pat Walsh, retired Admiral and Boeing vice president for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Services. “Bell Boeing is excited to bring our OEM expertise to the V-22 fleet and deliver solutions that help ensure the aircraft are ready for any mission.”

In July, Bell Boeing received a $4 billion contract that included the manufacture and delivery of 39 CMV-22B aircraft for the Navy; 14 MV-22B aircraft for the Marine Corps; and one CV-22B for the Air Force.

Under this performance-based logistics (PBL) contract, which expands on work done since 2008 and now adds support for the Navy’s CMV-22B variant, Bell Boeing will focus on improving aircraft maintainability and mission readiness for the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps V-22 fleets. The team’s responsibilities include site activation, maintenance planning, training and trainer support, support equipment, and dedicated field personnel for all V-22 squadrons around the globe. Bell Boeing incorporates data analytics into maintenance efforts, yielding innovative approaches such as predictive and condition-based maintenance to improve aircraft availability and readiness.

”The Bell Boeing team is dedicated to providing the safest and most reliable aircraft to the warfighter,” said Chris Gehler, Bell vice president for the V-22 Program. “We will continue to produce innovative solutions and deliver technical expertise, training, and maintenance to enhance readiness.”

Operating as one of Boeing’s three business units, Global Services is headquartered in the Dallas area.