Source One Aircraft Repair (SOAR), an aftermarket leader in AOG and Field Repair Services, has added Duncan Aviation, an FAA CRS/OS certified aircraft service provider for business and government operators, to the SOAR Network for AOG and Heavy Repair Services globally.

“We are pleased to include Duncan Aviation as part of our comprehensive network,” stated Jim Jijawi, managing director of SOAR. “Alongside Duncan we efficiently and economically provide AOG services for business aircraft such as Bombardier, Falcon, Gulfstream, Hawker, Embraer, Learjet and much more.” The renewable cooperative working agreement between SOAR and Duncan Aviation creates a globally positioned dedicated partnership to bring aircraft operators, owners and insurance providers responsive aftermarket field service.

SOAR is the single most experienced provider of AOG Field Services such as Recovery and Repair, apart from the aircraft OEMs. Its core team possesses decades of field experience, such as evaluation, recovery, repair and modification, gained from McDonnell Douglas Recovery and Modification Services (RAMS) and Boeing AOG organizations.

Duncan Aviation’s comprehensive services encompass most major makes and models of business aircraft in operation today. Its team is amongst the most experienced in the industry, and the quality of Duncan Aviation is among the best in the world. Its complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Battle Creek, Michigan. Additional locations include a maintenance facility in Provo, Utah, more than 20 satellite avionics facilities and eight engines Rapid Response Team launch offices strategically located for worldwide support.

Together, the two companies say they can quickly and more affordably dispatch teams, with distinct core capabilities such as business aircraft, to AOG Incidents globally.

BASF will exhibit new materials and technologies for the aerospace industry at the 2012 Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas show in Seattle from Sept. 25 to 27 at the Washington State Convention Center.

The Aircraft Interiors Expo showcases the very latest in aircraft cabin design and innovations, featuring cabin management systems, seating products, soft furnishings and more.

The materials that BASF offers provide superior performance characteristics while meeting the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry. Visitors to BASF booth #230 will see a broad portfolio of products that address a wide range of applications including cabin interiors, structural materials, seating components, fuel and lubricant solutions, coatings and specialty pigments, and flame retardants and fire protection.

BASF will demonstrate products that can help aircraft manufacturers to improve safety, cost and comfort in structural materials, seating components, cabin interiors and other applications, including:

•Ultrason E and P high temperature thermoplastics that offer excellent heat-resistance and fire, smoke and toxicity properties, and are easy to process and recyclable. Shapes made from reinforced Ultrason polysulfones can be used as structural materials in applications requiring high strength and impact resistance and offer strength-to-weight advantages over aluminum.

•Deoxo dual ozone/VOC catalytic converter, a technology that reduces both harmful ozone and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in aircraft cabin air by removing certain hydrocarbon compounds responsible for unpleasant odors, such as jet fuel smell in the aircraft cabin while at the gate, taxiing and during take-off.

•Basotect UL melamine foam, an ultra-light insulation material that offers excellent thermal insulation and sound absorption properties while meeting the rigorous aerospace fire, smoke and toxicity requirements. It weighs just six grams per liter (0.37 pounds per cubic feet) to contribute to lower aircraft weight but delivers high protection against noise.

•Cellasto microcellular polyurethane elastomer, which can be used to replace rubber in shock-absorbing applications due to its progressive load-deflection characteristics, smaller space requirements, lower weight and superior durability.

•Stimulite cushions by Supracor, Inc., San Jose, CA, which can increase passenger comfort and extend the cushion’s useful life, while decreasing the weight and amount of room needed for the seat. Stimulite cushions are made using a unique fusion bonding process with BASF’s Elastollan® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). BASF’s TPU is efficient to process, resistant to puncture, tear and abrasion, and has a natural resistance to fungus and microbes.

Wake Forest, NC – BTC Electronic Components (BTC) – a 100 percent franchised/authorized connector, backshell and interconnect accessories distributor to the aerospace, military and commercial industries announced they have successfully completed the requirements for AS9100 Rev C recertification, the Quality Management System (QMS) for the aerospace and defense industries.

In September 2011, BTC elected to upgrade to Rev C to meet the industry’s highest standards and became one of the first connector distributors to earn that certification. The audits were conducted by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., an internationally accredited registrar for management systems standards who verified that BTC’s quality system fulfills the requirements for the AS9100C:2009-01, EN9100:2009 and JIS Q9100:2009 standards. For the second year, the company successfully completed the requirements on their first attempt.

“As an organization we are dedicated to achieving the highest operational standards through quality management excellence,” noted Chuck Grimm, Chief Operating Officer. “By once again passing the rigorous standards of Rev C demonstrates our unending dedication to quality, customer service and continuous improvement.”

AS9100 is the QMS standard for the aviation, space, and defense industries and is governed by the IAQG of SAE International. The mission of the IAQG is to improve product quality and on-time delivery of products. This is achieved through the implementation of initiatives intended to make significant improvements in quality and reductions in cost throughout the value stream.

Headquartered in Wake Forest, NC, BTC is a franchised/authorized interconnect supplier to the aerospace, military, and commercial industries. In addition to the AS9100 Rev C. certification, the company is also ITAR and CCR Registered and considered a small business by the U.S. Small Business Association.

 

American Airlines let more than 11,000 of its employees know that they may be laid off in the coming months as part of the requirement by law to notify workers 60 days prior to being laid off. This effort is part of their Chapter 11 restructuring efforts to reorganize. The company predicted that only about 40 percent of those receiving the notice would actually be laid off in November or December. It is being reported that the company will also cut flights in these restructuring efforts.

Union, Boeing to Offer Wichita Workers Jobs in San Antonio, Again

Concorde announced FAA approval of STC ST01646WI for the Bombardier CL-600-2B16, CL-600-2B19, CL-600-2C10, & CL-600-2D24 to convert from nickel-cadmium or existing lead acid to Concorde’s valve regulated sealed lead acid recombinant gas (RG) batteries.

ST01646WI permits the replacement of the main battery alone, the APU battery alone or both batteries. The main battery is replaced with Concorde’s NEW design RG-223 (17Ah) battery and the APU battery is replaced with the popular RG-380E/44L (42Ah) battery. Both batteries have passed rigorous TSO C-173 testing for duty cycle, electrical performance, temperature extremes, shock/vibration and environmental requirements and are FAA-TSO authorized.

CL-600 Series aircraft are equipped with a variety of dedicated chargers for each battery. Concorde batteries require the Securaplane Model BC-1306 (P/N 100-1084-01) charger. BC-1306 is FAA-PMA approved and is included in the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) of each aircraft model covered by this STC. Installation of the BC-1306 battery charger is not included in this STC since they are already covered by the aircraft IPC. With the BC-1306 installed, RG-380E/44L and RG-223 are drop in replacements for the original equipment nickel-cadmium batteries and no modification to the aircraft is required other than replacing temp sensors with those included in the STC kit.

Concorde’s valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) recombinant gas (RG®) absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology has been proven as reliable, durable and safe for over 30 years. Superior performance can be attributed to unique design features such as proprietary PolyGuard® separators (an additional layer of protection against shorting, unique to Concorde) robust plate construction, over the cell wall intercell connections for reduced internal resistance and a commitment to quality standards.

The advantages of converting from nickel-cadmium to Concorde include lower cost of acquisition, zero maintenance and reduced battery costs per flight hour. Concorde batteries do not require deep cycling to remove the “memory effects” seen in nickel-cadmium batteries, do not require water or electrolyte replenishment and have no risk of thermal runaway. With the benefit of RG® Series batteries shipping Hazmat Exempt, transportation is less costly regardless of whether shipping by land, sea or air.

Concorde announced it has received FAA STC SA01633WI (Brazil ANAC No. 2012S04-08) for the Phenom 100 (EMB-500) and installation of the reliable RG-390E battery.

SA01633WI replaces both of the OE lead acid batteries with two of Concorde’s popular RG-390E, 28 AH sealed lead acid, Recombinant Gas (RG®), Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. With proven reliability and excellent performance, the RG-390E is the choice as Original Equipment on numerous corporate aircraft. Concorde’s superior performance can be attributed to unique design features such as proprietary PolyGuard® separators (an additional layer of protection against shorting, exclusive to Concorde) robust plate construction, over the cell wall intercell connections for reduced internal resistance and a commitment to quality standards. Concorde batteries have been proven reliable, durable and safe for over 30 years.

RG-390E is a plug in replacement for the OE lead acid. No modification to the aircraft is required.

A new chrome free pretreatment for the commercial aircraft maintenance market is being presented at MRO Europe (Hall 9, Booth 9031) by AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings. Under the name Metaflex SP 1050 Pre-treatment, the chrome free, water based product is the most recent addition to the Metaflex brand, AkzoNobel says. Metaflex SP 1050 Pre-treatment offers superior corrosion protection through increased adhesion of paint on metal, meeting the rigorous anti-corrosion requirements of AMS 3095.

A universal pre-treatment for commercial aircraft maintenance, Metaflex SP 1050 Pre-treatment can be applied over several metals and composite. The company says it improves adhesion of the paint system on rivets, compared to traditional conversion coatings and wash primer pre-treatments. A solution to simplify the aircraft maintenance process, the system brings time and cost saving benefits to the paint shop and an innovative approach to the way surface pre-treatment products are utilized in the re-painting process. Reduced VOC emissions by as much as 75 percent also offer an additional advantage, resulting in a non-hazardous, odorless product, further re-enforcing AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings’ commitment to safeguarding the environment.

AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings will also be demonstrating their Aerofine range of aircraft interior coatings, created for the maintenance and refurbishment of aircraft internal cabin surfaces.

Lufthansa Technik AG has begun work on the customized completion of a VIP version of the latest-generation jumbo jet, the Boeing 747-8 VIP. The aircraft belonging to an undisclosed customer landed in Hamburg on  August 30, 2012 and the engineers now begin with the installation of a cabin interior that incorporates the ultimate in interior design. This makes Lufthansa Technik the first company in the world to fit out for a private customer what is currently the longest commercial aircraft.

The contract was signed back in 2011 and in the intervening period Lufthansa Technik has been preparing for this first completion with intensive engineering planning, qualification programs, assembly of all the production resources and implementation of the necessary modifications in the aircraft hangar. The aircraft is expected to be delivered in the summer of 2014.

“In addition to an extensive track record in Boeing 747 completions

we are already looking after the first Boeing 747-8s in scheduled operation with Lufthansa. As a result, we are able to offer our VIP customers the full range of maintenance services over the entire life cycle of their aircraft,” said Walter Heerdt, senior vice president Marketing & Sales at Lufthansa Technik.

The Hamburg-based company has to date completed and modified over 30 widebody aircraft for private and government customers, among them 15 Boeing 747 jumbos, and the company says it has a strong backlog through 2015.

A Gulfstream V received a fresh coat of paint during an Open House ceremony for Duncan Aviation’s newest expansion, an $11.5 million, 45,000-square-foot paint shop at the Lincoln, Neb., facility, recently. The new facility allows input of some of the largest business aircraft in use today, including Gulfstream’s 650, Bombardier’s Global Express, Dassault’s Falcon 7X and Embraer’s Legacy. “Our smaller paint hangar was 22 years old and just wasn’t big enough to accommodate the aircraft our customers now fly,” says Aaron Hilkemann, president of Duncan Aviation.

The GV was the first ultra long-range business jet painted in the facility and the timing just happened to work with the company’s planned customer and public open house event, which attracted roughly 100 attendees from several states. “In addition to a larger footprint for larger aircraft,” Hilkemann continues, “the new facility has the latest in down-draft airflow technology, including automatic monitoring and alarms. Combined with the expertise of our paint specialists, we have created the best environment possible for clean and long-lasting paint protection on aircraft. “The facility is also designed to increase efficiency. With multiple bays and curtains, we can accommodate multiple aircraft at once, utilizing a two-zone airflow system. With this design, Duncan Aviation paint teams can perform stripping, sanding, painting and detail work on multiple aircraft simultaneously.”

Hilkemann says the new facility follows on the heels of other innovative paint developments by Duncan Aviation.

Early last year, Duncan Aviation began using a chrome-free paint process. The process is safer and better for the environment, the painters and the aircraft. The company was one of the first independent facilities in the industry to make the switch to chrome-free products. Also, late last year, Duncan Aviation began offering customers the option to work with three-dimensional renderings while collaborating with Duncan Design on their aircraft exterior paint schemes. Duncan says the design tool helps clients better visualize how a design will wrap around an aircraft before a paint scheme is actually applied.