Category: PRs

West Star Aviation has successfully reached an investment partnership with Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a leading middle market investment firm founded in 1961.

Norwest has made a significant investment in West Star Aviation, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing independent providers of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) and related services to the business aviation industry. The transaction was completed on April 28, 2016.

“On behalf of the entire West Star team, we are confident that our new partnership with NEP will help us successfully achieve our next level of growth. In partnership with NEP, our operating philosophy will remain grounded in our strong technical expertise, experienced employees, attention to detail, and a constant focus on customer service and satisfaction,” stated Robert Rasberry, West Star Aviation CEO.

Tim DeVries, NEP Managing General Partner, stated, “West Star’s solid business model and industry leading management team have helped to establish extremely high barriers to entry within the business aviation maintenance market. West Star has done a great job to earn a global reputation as a highly valued, ‘go-to’ MRO services provider, and we’re going to work hard to leverage their existing growth momentum along with our combined NEP capital and resources to further build and grow the company.”

In addition to its facilities in East Alton, IL; Grand Junction, CO; and Chattanooga, TN, West Star Aviation runs maintenance operations at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport in Aspen, CO; Chicago Executive Airport in Chicago, IL and Centennial Airport in Denver, CO. The company also provides complete FBO services for transient aircraft at its newly remodeled East Alton and Grand Junction facilities.

“From expanding service capabilities and facilities to key contracts and strategic growth initiatives, West Star is well-positioned for continued success. The right team is also in place to help lead the way,” Todd Solow, NEP Partner, said.

2015 proved to be another strong year for CFM orders with the company booking a total of 2,154 engines, including 736 CFM56 engines (commercial, military and spares) and 1,418 LEAP engines (including spares).

The company says 2016 is already off to a good start, with nearly 600 engine orders received in January. At the same time, the LEAP engine has now surpassed 10,000 total engine orders and commitments (excluding options) at a value of $140 billion U.S. at list price.

CFM continues to achieve historic production rates for the CFM56 product line. The company produced 1,638 CFM56 engines in 2016, compared to 1,560 engines in 2014 and 1,502 in 2013. CFM maintains the highest production rate in the industry and has consistently built more than 1,000 CFM56 engines per year since 2006.

“We are honored that airline customers around the world continue to show a preference for CFM engines,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International. “The CFM56 family is still going strong and we believe LEAP orders raise even higher as our technology choices prove themselves out in the flight test programs at Airbus and Boeing.

“Our 2015 orders bring the current backlog to more than 13,400 engines and our biggest challenge now is building them all. To meet that challenge, GE and Snecma have invested nearly $1 billion U.S. to date in new and upgraded facilities that incorporate today’s most advanced manufacturing technology. Our goal is to ensure that each new LEAP engine is delivered on time with the same level of quality and reliability our customers have come to expect from a CFM product.”

This year makes the start of the transition to LEAP engine production, with more than 140 units in the plan. The company expects to complete the transition by 2020 with an annual production rate of more than 2,000 engines. CFM will continue to build CFM56 spare engines for many years to support the in-service fleet and plans to produce spare parts for the program until around the year 2045.

Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings JCX polyester urethane is a high-performance, high-productivity coating designed for exterior use on commercial aircraft. It features simplified packaging as well as faster dry times. These features all lead to improved productivity for the paint shop.

JCX is specifically focused on productivity improvement for MRO commercial airline application. Whether a commercial aircraft is in for regular maintenance or being serviced to reflect a livery’s updated brand look, a new paint job not only enhances a plane’s aesthetics, it also plays an important role in protecting the aircraft’s surfaces from wear, tear and corrosion.

The best commercial aircraft paint schemes must always look their best to symbolize their respective brands. This requires a durable coating system to provide crucial protection against corrosion and damage even in the most punishing environments.

With JCX, commercial aircraft can now get an outstanding finish in a simpler, faster-to-dry product. This durable, long-lasting coating improves livery brand image and MROs can increase their profits by delivering more planes, faster.

JCX delivers faster processing time, while providing excellent color, gloss retention and DOI. It’s a “painter-friendly” coating that is easy-to-spray and comes in a simple ratio 2:1:1 pre-packed kit. It meets AMS-3095 performance requirements, provides chemical resistance to Skydrol and other hydraulic fluids and is free of lead and chromate hazards.

Sherwin-Williams JCX Product Benefits Include:
• Fast drying
• Easy to apply and repair
• Excellent color and gloss retention
• Comprehensive color palette
• Good buffing characteristics
• Excellent flow and leveling
• Contains less than 3.5 lbs/gal VOC
• Special activated reducers to handle varied temperature/humidity conditions

Need Aerospace Coatings? ASK Sherwin-Williams
Today’s aviation coatings specifiers and painters ASK Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings to provide quality coating systems and technical support to the global commercial, military, general and business aviation markets. Sherwin-Williams is an industry leader in innovation and technology solutions with its certified products, top-rated service and knowledgeable team of field technicians.

For more information about JCX polyester urethane or other Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings visit http://www.swaerospace.com.

HABCO Industries announces the implementation of 48 PinPoint Tool Control Systems (in different configurations) to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the 35th Squadron in Richmond, Australia.

The Pinpoint Tool Control System is a comprehensive product offering designed and developed by aviation professionals for use in all facets of the commercial and defense aerospace environments, to allow for the ultimate 100% solution in tracking predictability and accountability of tools, ground support and other devices. The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed the PinPoint units throughout their maintenance facility in support of their entire C-27J transport aircraft. The implementation was supported by partner company Airflite, the sales representative and distributor for HABCO located in Australia. The implementation includes 29 AeroMASTER tool cabinets, 18 AeroCREW portable tool boxes and one AeroVIEW unit.

“We’re pleased that the Royal Australian Air Force has chosen PinPoint as the tool control system to support their flight operations at the oldest and largest air force base in the country. It is another validation of the value that PinPoint brings to the market by giving users the ultimate 100% solution in tool control and asset management, “stated Brian Montanari, HABCO president and CEO.

The Royal Australian Air Force chose the PinPoint product based upon acquiring an electronic tool control system that could be tailored exactly to their operating and maintenance requirements of the new C-27J fleet. The support capabilities provided by Airflite was critical to securing the order. “Having Airflite in place as our sales and service partner in-country made a significant difference in our ability to both win the bid and to effectively service the customer through to final installation,” added Montanari.

Hush kit manufacturer Alloy Aerospace Inc. has been granted FAA STC approval for their Stage 3 Learjet 20 series (24,25) Hush kits. STC number ST02583LA was issued 20APR2016.

Steve Champness, now in his 25th year as National Accounts Director for general aviation buy/sell publication Trade-A-Plane, has received the 2016 Chairman’s Award from The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.

The award was presented recently at the Hall of Fame’s 2016 Enshrinement Ceremony in the Delta Flight Museum at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The honor was given to Champness in recognition of his lifetime of aviation contributions.

Hall of Fame officials explained that, “From time to time, when the Board recognizes, and a consensus concurs, the Chairman may choose to recognize an individual whose exceptional contributions to aviation in the State of Georgia cause him/her to stand out from his/her peers. This recognition will be in the form of the Chairman’s Award to be presented at the annual Georgia Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony.”

“I want to thank the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Chairman and Board of Directors for selecting me to join the other, previous honorees that have had so much positive influence on the Georgia aviation community,” said Champness. “I’m honored and humbled to be included with this great group of Georgia aviation legends, and I am equally honored to work with the great professionals at Trade-A-Plane,” he continued.

Champness got his start in aviation as an Assistant Flight Engineer in the U.S. Navy, logging more than 2,000 flight hours in P-3 Orion Navy Patrol aircraft. He is a licensed, private pilot with more than 500 hours flight time. The president of the Atlanta Aero Club for 16 years, he is also past president of the Peachtree DeKalb Airport Association and serves on the boards of several aviation organizations.

Regarding the award, Champness remarked, “The knowledge that this award came from my peer group makes me appreciate it all the more.”

Rachel Hill, publisher of Trade-A-Plane, said that Champness is most deserving of the esteemed award. “Steve devotes numerous hours to the aviation community as the president of the Atlanta Aero Club, and I could not be more honored to work with him,” she said.

Trade-A-Plane, known as The Aviation MarketPlace, has been published since 1937 by TAP Publishing Company. The fifth generation, family-owned media company specializes in buy/sell marketplaces for aviation and other industries. The company also has an online weather service, and is a commercial printer.

Founded in 1989, The Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame exhibit is located at the Museum of Aviation at Robin’s Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia.

 

Täby Air Maintenance (TAM) has been approved by the U. S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) to perform a full cargo conversion of Saab 340A and Saab 340B.

“I am very glad that we, as the only company globally, have a dual EASA-FAA approval for our high-end Saab 340A and Saab 340B cargo conversion program,” says Pär Gulle, TAM managing director. “We are now able to offer any US or European operator a first class conversion program, providing a highly cost effective way to convert this well-renowned, fuel efficient passenger aircraft into a profitable freighter capable of carrying 36 m3 (1,280 cu ft) of cargo.”
With dozens of Saab 340A’s and -B’s already converted, the successful conversion package is now being offered for the U. S. market in a joint venture with Kansas city-based Jet Midwest Group. Conversion rebuild of the first U. S.-destined aircraft is well under way at the TAM workshops in Örebro, with delivery scheduled for 2016, Gulle summarizes.

For further information, please contact
Mr Pär Gulle, Managing Director, par@tam.se, +46 19 24 10 88 / +46 706 855 855,
Mr Peter Thume, Maintenance Director, peter@tam.se +46 19 24 10 88 / +46 706 355 355
Mr Kevin Lee, Executive Vice President, Jet Midwest LLC, kevin.lee@jetmidwest.com, +1 310 652 0296

Astronics Corporation is introducing a breakthrough radio test solution for use in commercial aerospace, military, and civil security applications. The new CTS 6000 Series radio test set, which was unveiled at the Army Missions Solution Summit in Atlanta, GA on April 28, 2016, incorporates nine test capabilities into a single tester with an easy-to-use, modern touchscreen interface for testing radio communications systems at the factory, at the depot or in the field.

“Radio communications are the safety net of any security force, and keeping those systems up and running is critical for mission success,” said Brian Price, EVP and GM of Astronics Test Systems. “This new system is the first of its kind in the marketplace and brings radio communications testing into the digital age with intuitive interfaces and synthetic instrumentation to make testing all parts of a radio system, anywhere, much faster, easier and more secure than ever before.”

“Innovasys selected the CTS-6010 to support field radio maintenance activities for its military customers. The ability to collaborate with the Astronics team, plus the Astronics CTS-6000 Series’ unique combination of power and portability, made this the clear choice for a radio test set to boost the supportability of communications equipment at the front line,” said Germeen Kaldas, director of Innovasys Pty Ltd.

An All-in-One Solution

The new CTS 6000 is ideal for use by all branches of the military, TSA, police, fire, private security, airline personnel and other industries requiring secure, reliable radio communications. It provides extensive test capability for any radio system to reduce testing time and cost, maintenance and calibration costs, lifecycle ownership costs, and the number of “no fault found” results. Users can test tactical handsets, amplifiers, antennae and any other component of a radio system.

General specifications include:
• 10.1” sunlight-readable display
• Size: 11.8” x 10” x 3.3” (300 mm x 255 mm x 85 mm)
• Weight: <10.6 lbs. (4.8 kg)
• 2 batteries included
• Windows 7, 128 GB solid state hard drive

This handheld unit also provides over-the-air testing for remote test capability. The synthetic test instrumentation includes:

• RF signal generator
• RF receiver
• RF power meter
• RF analyzers – spectrum, VSWR, cable distance-to-fault
• AF signal generator
• Audio meters – SINAD/distortion, frequency, audio filters
• Oscilloscope
• Reference oscillator
• Tracking generator

The CTS 6000 incorporates a modular, customizable architecture for easy updating and future supportability. Users can rely on the included test program set or create and run their own custom test protocols. With every program, Astronics Test Systems can provide engineer-to-engineer custom collaboration plus optional multi-year maintenance and support services.

Units are in production and available in OEM-customizable and off-the-shelf versions. For more information, including datasheet and a demonstration video, visit AstronicsTestSystems.com.

 

Werner Aero Services has acquired another B737NG aircraft, MSN33879, powered by CFM56-7B engines. This nine year old aircraft was last operated by ANA airlines in Japan. The aircraft will soon enter the disassembly process and components will become available to support Werner’s growing B737 customer base around the world. The CFM56-7B engines are available for immediate sale or lease.

“We are excited about our most recent B737NG addition as it will help strengthen our position in the B737NG market and benefit our customers tremendously. We have made serious investments in this product line and are making sure that the engines and components are certified, and ready for immediate shipment from our distribution centers,” said Mike Cazaz, CEO of Werner Aero Services.

 

Flightdocs, Inc., announced the release of Flightdocs Enterprise. Incorporating  features of the Flightdocs Maintenance Tracking system, Flightdocs Enterprise provides full fleet capabilities, maintenance-inventory-flightlog integration, comprehensive work order management and API integration to customer business systems.

Developed with advanced, production proven systems architecture, Flightdocs Enterprise delivers to its customers a fully integrated aircraft maintenance management system. The web and mobile applications offer vivid graphics, dynamic dashboards, customizable fleet reporting, seamless integration, comprehensive work order management and much more. Corporate, charter, private and commercial aircraft operators will benefit immediately from the efficiency and simplicity Flightdocs Enterprise provides.

“We took the best of our maintenance tracking capabilities and added everything a flight department needs to effectively manage their entire aircraft maintenance operation” said Greg Heine, COO of Flightdocs. “The Enterprise platform delivers a new level of efficiency, effectiveness, and visibility. As soon as you log in you know the exact status of your entire fleet and from that single page you can plan, assign, execute, update in real time completely paperless. The seamless connection between maintenance tracking, inventory, purchasing, work orders, repairs, documentation and personnel will make your operation more efficient than ever before.”

Nicholas Barger, Flightdocs CTO added “We created the most powerful maintenance management system available and made it very user friendly.” In addition to the completely redesigned front-end of the platform, Flightdocs Enterprise is powered by a centralized REST based API (Application Programming Interface). “The API was really important in developing Flightdocs Enterprise,” Barger stated. “Through Flightdocs Enterprise we are able to easily integrate with third party programs such as accounting and scheduling platforms. These types of integrations help streamline workflows, eliminate duplication of work, and can drastically reduce data entry errors.”