Category: Rotor

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.

Rotorcorp Names Bill Sengstacken as Vice President of Marketing

Rotorcorp, an Authorized Robinson Helicopter Company service center recently announced that they have named B2B marketing veteran, Bill Sengstacken, as vice president of Marketing. Serving more than 1500 customers in 45 countries worldwide, Rotorcorp is the largest seller of parts, overhaul kits, engines and major components for Robinson helicopters. In his new leadership role, Sengstacken will develop and execute Rotorcorp’s overall marketing strategy with the aim to build Rotorcorp’s brand recognition and increase online revenues. 

“No matter if the person looking to buy Robinson Helicopter parts is shopping for themselves or for a fleet of helicopters, it is clear that our customers want a better online shopping experience,” said Sean Casey, president of Rotorcorp. “We’ve all shopped online and know when a shopping experience is good or bad. While Rotorcorp maintains the only e-commerce website focused on Robinson Helicopter parts, we’re looking to Bill to both provide a more intuitive way to buy Robinson helicopter parts and overhaul kits. We also want to give people a reason to keep Rotorcorp.com bookmarked in their browser and to come back for parts as well as insights and expertise we intend to share.”

Sengstacken brings more than 20 years of branding and B2B marketing expertise to Rotorcorp with branding and marketing leadership roles at JBoss, Red Hat, Lancope, and Terracotta. He plans to build recognition of the Rotorcorp and to position the company to be seen as more than just a tools and parts supplier for Robinson Helicopters and Fleets. He says that the key to this will be by building better connections that resonate with the customer.

“Having parts for the R22, R44, and R66 in stock to buy and ship today is the easy part,” Sengstacken explains. “Rotorcorp needs to give a reason for our customers to stick around and come back for a consistent repeatable experience. We need to make smart investments if we want potential buyers of Robinson parts and tools to visit our Robinson Helicopter parts store.”

“Rotorcorp’s current customers are loyal because they know they can trust us to deliver both the parts and the know-how they need to keep flying. A big reason why I took on this role was because of Rotorcorp’s expertise and knowledge of Robinson Helicopters. By sharing that knowledge on Rotorcorp.com and beyond, we can help the people who work to keep Robinson Helicopters flying, and give them a reason to come back for more.”

While Rotorcorp’s track record supplying Robinson helicopter parts to customers is well established, the company sees eCommerce and online sales of parts, tools, overhaul kits and components to be critical to its growth. 

“It’s not unusual for a customer to be on our website looking to buy an overhaul kit for an R44 that’s about to hit the 2200 hour mark to give me a call,” Rotorcorp VP of Operations Tracy Jensen commented. “In my nearly 10 years at Rotorcorp, customers tell me that they keep coming back because they know Robinson Helicopters and compatible engines are our focus. I can’t wait to see Bill take our ‘insider knowledge’ and share it with those searching for help with an engine overhaul or to be sure that they are getting everything they need to service their helicopters.”

Sabena technics Acqui Heli-Union Group

Sabena technics, supported by its shareholders Sagard, BPI France and Towerbrook,
completes the full acquisition of the Héli-Union Group and strengthens its position as a key
player in the military helicopter maintenance sector.

The acquisition of Héli-Union is fully in line with the Group’s strategy to build a leading European
player in the market for the supply and maintenance of helicopters. This strategy initiated 10 years
ago through organic growth then accelerated in 2020 – thanks to the acquisition of Aeromecanic in
Marseille-Marignane- is now taking on greater scope with the creation of a helicopter division, which
will represent a third of the Group’s turnover.

With its 350 employees, Héli-union is a French Group with a long-standing expertise originally known
as a worldwide helicopter operator. It has since also become a major player in the maintenance of
rotary wings, carrying out numerous operations, particularly for the French State.
Thanks to the consolidation with the activities of Sabena technics, half of the French military
helicopter fleet will now benefit from the services provided by the Group. A strong reference, on
which Sabena technics wishes to rely on for its export development.

“The acquisition of Heli-Union represents a major strategic step for Sabena technics. We are now
able to provide a rotary wing offer similar to our fixed wing offer for military aircraft. Doing so, we are
strengthening our position as an independent European MRO provider of efficient and robust
solutions in line with the growing expectations of our customers,” said Philippe Rochet, CEO of
Sabena technics. “Our two Groups share a similar culture and human values. We are fully confident
in our ability to achieve a perfect integration and are convinced that this merger will create value”.
Through this acquisition, Sabena technics also strengthens its training capacities, especially for
pilots, as well as its international presence through locations in six new countries.

For the sake of business continuity, Patrick Molis will join the board of directors of Sabena technics
while Jonathan Cosson will take over the general management of Héli-Union, with the aim of
expanding their scope by integrating the helicopter activities of Sabena technics.

CWIs/SCWIs Can Get Certification Endorsement to Perform Welding Procedure Qualifications 

The American Welding Society (AWS) has introduced the Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement, developed for existing Certified Welding Inspectors (CWI) and Senior Certified Welding Inspectors (SCWI) who want to conduct Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) qualifications. .

The WPS is a key component to ensuring weld quality; its qualifying process is a complex mixture of engineering, metallurgy, welding capability, and inspection. When a problem exists in any of these areas, the result can be failure of the weld to meet specified service conditions. To meet code requirement, the WPS must be properly qualified by a relevant engineering authority.

While Certified Welding Inspectors have a fundamental knowledge of WPS qualification,” commented Denny Smith, managing director of Certification, “they require further training and assessment. CWIs or SCWIs who hold the Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement have demonstrated that they are able to qualify WPSs with appropriate engineering oversight.”

Prior to sitting for the endorsement exam, candidates are encouraged to participate in either an in-person or online training seminar; 16 hours of instruction provided in two and four days, respectively. “The Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement Seminar covers activities related to the qualification of Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS)” Alicia Garcia, Director of Education, stated. “Participants will learn how to assess project requirements, demonstrate knowledge of process variables and relevant documents, evaluate mechanical and nondestructive testing for procedure qualification purposes, prepare a PQR, establish ranges for prequalified WPSs, and list ranges for WPS qualified by testing.”

The group says CWIs and SCWIs who hold the Welding Procedure Qualifier Endorsement will better be able to:

  • Differentiate between codes, standards, specifications, and other documents commonly used in a welding environment
  • Evaluate the various documents reviewed by the welding inspector prior to fabrication
  • Discuss the role of the welding inspector
  • Examine the role of procedure qualification records in the welding process
  • Assess control of materials and explain the importance of material control in meeting standards or specifications for production
  • Analyze alloy identification and material specification within welding inspector responsibilities
  • Navigate and identify pertinent information in the AWS D1.1 and B2.1 codebooks
  • Apply the necessary documents for a particular procedure qualification.
  • Explain the process of procedure qualification
  • Develop welding procedure specifications using real world examples
  • Analyze prequalified WPS’ and understand how they are developed
  • Analyze how Standard Welding Procedure Specifications are developed, qualified, and used

CWIs seeking to take their career to the next level and become a SCWI, can use this all-new endorsement to help reach their goal. Their added skillset will also contribute to their company’s QA program.

MD Helicopters Announces New Ownership and Leadership

MD Helicopters (MDH) announced new ownership and leadership. An investment consortium led by MBIA Insurance Corp., Bardin Hill, and MB Global Partners has acquired the company and established new leadership.  

Brad Pedersen, President and CEO of MD Helicopters

Brad Pedersen will lead the team as MD Helicopters’ President and CEO. Brad brings over 35 years of aerospace experience delivering accelerated growth and financial performance in leadership positions at Boeing Rotorcraft, Sikorsky Aircraft, Breeze-Eastern, and other aerospace and defense companies.  Pedersen started his career at Hughes Helicopters and has almost 20 years of Engineering and Leadership experience with the MD Helicopter product lines.  Brad has also led the turnaround of several private and publicly owned companies making him the ideal choice to lead MD.

“MD Helicopters has been an iconic name in the rotorcraft industry, and we will build on this rich heritage to serve and support our customers worldwide,” said Pedersen. “Our immediate focus is to dramatically improve customer support, foster strong supplier relationships, and implement an aggressive aircraft sales plan.”

Pedersen will be supported by a highly experienced board of directors comprised of aerospace & defense executives and significant financial expertise:

Edward Dolanski, Chairman of the Board, MD Helicopters

Edward Dolanski, chairman of the board: Fortune 50 business executive with 30+ years of experience leading organizations through performance turnarounds and into sustained growth.  Dolanski’s experience includes president, Boeing Government Services, president & CEO Aviall (a Boeing company), and vice president, Raytheon Aircraft Company (Hawker Beechcraft Customer Support / Aftermarket).

GEN (ret.) Gustave Perna, board member (chair, governance & compliance committee):  served as chief operating officer for Operation Warp Speed, in which he co-led the partnership of government, academia, and industry to successfully accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics for the Nation.  As Commander of U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), one of the Army’s largest commands with over 190,000 military, civilian and contractor employees, he was responsible for installations, logistics, sustainment, and materiel readiness around the world.

Paul “Flip” Huffard, board member (chair, audit committee): 30+ year restructuring veteran with extensive financial management experience including as senior managing director at Blackstone’s Restructuring and Reorganization Group.

Anthony McKiernan, board member: chairman and chief financial officer of MBIA Insurance Corp.

Daniel Avitabile, board member: president and chief risk officer of MBIA Corp.

John Greene, board member: partner and portfolio manager at Bardin Hill Investment Partners

Southeast Aerospace Receives STC for Bell 407 Operator Station

Southeast Aerospace, Inc. (SEA), has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certification (STC) number SR04546AT for the installation of their SEA special mission operator station in the Bell 407 helicopter.
Southeast Aerospace designed and manufactured the operator station as an ideal mounting solution for housing mission equipment in the Bell 407 helicopter to support Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) missions. Obtaining STC certification for the operator station provides a seamless path to meeting the regulatory and safety requirements of an FAA-approved installation in the Bell 407, mitigating additional costs or requirements for both the customer and installation facility.
The operator station was designed to support the Tactical Flight Officer’s (TFO) mission as a primary focus. Dual monitors provide an extended viewing area for mission sensor and mapping data, and the operator station cabinet offers ample space for housing a fully integrated mission suite of their choosing.
The operator station cabinet provides mounting provisions for electrical equipment such as video monitors, communication control panels, and recording equipment to be installed by the end-user. The mission panel includes provisions for DZUS mounted equipment as well as a dedicated panel for circuit breakers, switches, and maintenance ports. In addition, it is equipped with a fold-down keyboard tray, installed on the left side of the operator station, which can be securely folded up and stowed with a quarter-turn latch for taxi, takeoff, and landing operations.
The standard configuration provides provisions for two Macro-Blue MB15W 15” tactical displays. The two identical monitor frames are independently adjustable. In addition, each monitor pivots at the center of the assembly allowing the monitors to be independently rotated towards the operator, up to a maximum of 20°. Once adjusted, the monitor can be locked in any position within the range of motion. The monitor mount assembly also features a tilting function controlled through a knob below the monitors, giving the monitor mount assembly a tilt of up to 25° to customize the TFO’s viewing angle.
The SEA operator station replaces the left-side aft-facing passenger seat in the Bell 407, maintaining three aft cabin passenger seats. The existing left-side aft-facing passenger seat is removed and replaced as part of the modification.
No changes to the rotorcraft interior are required as the operator assembly poses no interference with the existing interior design. Permanent modifications are negligible during this installation so the aircraft can be returned to its original configuration if desired. The operator station was also designed to utilize an integrated electrical disconnect panel allowing for quick and easy removal of the entire cabinet for maintenance and inspections.
“With a dedication to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, SEA is proud to announce STC certification for the latest addition to our special mission product line, the Bell 407 operator station. We worked closely with some of the finest TFOs and our engineering team to design a comfortable, effective, and practical operator workstation. By having certified options, we can help agencies access high-quality products while still working with their local avionics’ modification team. We look forward to providing more options to the ALE community as we continue to develop and certify additional products,” stated Nathan Hernandez, business development manager.

Empire Screen Highlights Wide Range of Warning, Danger and Safety Decals

Empire Screen Printing, a leading manufacturer of screen-printed products, highlights its warning, danger, and safety decals that keep people safe by warning them of potential hazards. The application of these products is in line with Empire’s own commitment to the safety of its employees, with its proven safety record as an organization.

These warning, danger, and safety decals are compliant with a range of standards, including ANSI, UL, CUL, RoHS, Prop 65, and REACH. This allows organizations to promote a safe working environment across a range of industry verticals, from OEM and sporting goods to medical device and electronics manufacturers. They come in multiple languages, allowing them to be employed by organizations across the world.

The decals are offered in custom shapes and sizes. They are created from a variety of materials, including vinyl, polycarbonate, and polyesters, as well as rigid materials, such as aluminum, and Sintra. Sintra, a lightweight PVC board that is waterproof and unaffected by heat and weather conditions, is particularly ideal for outdoor and indoor signage. The decals are printed via screen, flexo, or digital output.

Easy to peel and apply, with a wide range of materials and printing methods, organizations can choose the option that best fits the specific application they have in mind. These can be indoor and outdoor applications including everything from equipment warning decals, product safety labels, hazardous warning decals, and signage. Some customers also dome their decals to provide extra protection and scratch resistance.

Empire itself has a commitment to safety across its organization, with its safety committee established in 2005. The organization provides CPR and First Aid Training, and has a record number of days with no loss time accidents, specifically, 1,437. Empire’s recent safety awards include the 2020 EHS Safety Standout Awards and M3 Insurance Nominee Letter for the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year. This experience gives Empire a deep appreciation for the value of warning, danger, and safety decals, which play a crucial role in keeping people safe.

Textron Supports AOPA You Can Fly High School Aviation Stem Curriculum with $1 Million Donation

The AOPA Foundation announced a $1 million donation from Textron in support of the AOPA You Can Fly initiative and its High School Aviation STEM Curriculum. The gift will enable You Can Fly to further introduce high school students to rewarding career opportunities in aviation through the free curriculum that will help ensure a bright future for general aviation.

The You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM Curriculum currently engages more than 12,000 students in  44 states – in all four high school grades. The unique program is positioned to address a well-documented and looming aviation workforce shortage in the United States Boeing Co. report suggests a need for 612,000 new pilots and 626,000 new maintenance technicians over the next 20 years.

“We are grateful to our friends at Textron for their tremendous support as we work together to grow the general aviation community, and help young people from all backgrounds discover the incredible opportunities available in aviation and aerospace,” said Elizabeth Tennyson, senior vice president of the AOPA Foundation and You Can Fly. “The You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM Curriculum is a true win-win: it addresses one of the most pressing issues facing the entire aviation industry, and it puts high school students on a solid track to rewarding careers.”

The gift was announced on behalf of Textron and its business units by Scott C. Donnelly, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Textron Inc.  ”As a company with a long history in aviation and a family of iconic aviation brands, we’re very excited to be a part of the AOPA Foundation’s You Can Fly program and expand its reach to even more high school students across the country,” Donnelly said. “This program is a terrific way to encourage young people to learn more about aviation and expose them to an array of career opportunities – whether as a pilot, an engineer or in aircraft operations.”

The first of its kind high school curriculum, including instructional and assessment resources, is developed and continually enhanced by an expert team composed of veteran teachers, curriculum professionals, pilots and flight instructors. The courses are designed to capture the imagination and give students from diverse backgrounds the tools to pursue advanced education and careers in aviation fields. The curriculum, video-based professional development, and ongoing teacher and program support are provided to schools free of charge.

The program, launched nationwide in the 2017-2018 school year, recently celebrated its first graduates, 58% of whom reported that they plan to pursue aviation-related careers in fields such as piloting, aerospace engineering, and maintenance. The You Can Fly team is especially proud that 40% of students in the program come from minority backgrounds, 21% are female, and 54% attend mid-to-high-poverty schools. The initiative directly supports AOPA’s goal to increase inclusion in aviation.

The High School STEM Curriculum is one pillar of You Can Fly, whose mission is to get more pilots in the skies and keep them there safely.  You Can Fly also supports the development of flying clubs to keep flying accessible and affordable; encourages best practices in flight training; and helps lapsed pilots to get back in the air.

You Can Fly is funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

StandardAero Opens Two New Rolls-Royce Approved Facilities Dedicated to Servicing RR300 Helicopter Engines

StandardAero has announced the addition of two new approved facilities for Rolls-Royce RR300 helicopter engine MRO. With this new expanded capability, the company is now able to service this engine type for Robinson R66 helicopter operators in Westminster, British Columbia and Concord, North Carolina in addition to its existing facilities in Winnipeg, Manitoba , Portsmouth U.K. and Singapore. 

While RR300 MRO will now take place at the two new facilities, engine testing capabilities will remain at our locations in Winnipeg, Portsmouth and Dallas. StandardAero also services helicopter engine LRU’s including Fuel Control Units, PT Governors, Fuel Pumps and Starter Generators at its Portsmouth, Hialeah, Florida and Broomfield, Colorado locations.

In addition to its repair and overhaul capabilities, StandardAero says it maintains a pool of engines, modules and accessories for quick exchange services. The company has also made new investments in lease assets and say it feels “well positioned to service this growing market.” 

“StandardAero is pleased to expand our global MRO services for RR300 engines and adding capabilities in Western Canada and the U.S. Eastern coast significantly extends our geographic reach for servicing North American Operators,” said Cory Waldmo, director of Customer Service for StandardAero Helicopters business unit. “We look forward to continuing to provide the industry’s best engine MRO services for RR300 operators around the world.”

MD Receives FAA Approval for MD 500E “Slimline” Glass Cockpit

MD Helicopters (MDHI) has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to install a new “slimline” advanced glass cockpit that modernizes the MD500E platform for increased visibility and field of view.

The slimline cockpit is now standard in all new MD500E aircraft and includes four inches of additional visibility on both sides of the instrument panel when compared to the traditional configuration. The modernized design features the Garmin G500H TXiTM dual touch-screen integrated display system with screens serving as Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD).

Helicopter Synthetic Vision Technology (HSVTTM) and Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) capabilities are also available via the Garmin G500H TXiTM. Dual Howell Instruments displays serve as the Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS), while the liquid crystal display Garmin GTNTM 650H provides navigation and communication functions, while also including moving map for airway and approach procedures.

“We have put considerable effort into listening to our customers these past two years; increasing visibility and field of view, and modernization of the cockpit was a common request,” says Jason Lindauer, vice president business development and Aftermarket. “The slimline configuration received significant positive feedback at HAI HELI-EXPO 2022, from every category of operator.” The company will be installing the slimline glass cockpit into their training aircraft, providing the most current training opportunities for every operator.