Category: BizJet

Textron Aviation’s Company-Owned Service Centers Receive Recertification as a Green Aviation Business from NATA

Textron Aviation’s commitment to sustainability was recognized as its global service network received recertification as a Green Aviation Business from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA). This recognition is part of NATA’s Sustainability Standard for Aviation Businesses program, which encourages environmental sustainability within the industry.

Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct support, maintenance and modifications by Textron Aviation Inc. through its global network of service and part centers, mobile service units and 24/7 1CALL AOG support.

Four of Textron Aviation’s 20 company-owned service centers — Singapore, Paris, Zurich and Indianapolis — recertified their Tier 1 status, going above and beyond NATA’s certification requirements and implementing additional sustainable practices.

This includes phasing out single-use plastic items, installing motion-sensor lighting and ensuring energy-efficient kitchen appliances and plumbing fixtures. These locations have also developed policies to reduce idling in ground support equipment. For the first time this year, the company’s Valencia Service Center achieved Tier 2 status.

“We continue to invest in our processes and facilities to encourage sustainable solutions across the globe, because we understand the importance of driving economic growth while preserving our natural resources,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, Customer Support.

To achieve base-level certification, all facilities must establish a baseline carbon footprint and work toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They must also offer recycling programs, implement paperless systems, install LED lighting and reduce the use of plastic water bottles. The company is actively supporting the development of sustainable propulsion solutions, such as hydrogen electric and hybrid electric, and remains actively engaged in sustainability initiatives within the aviation industry.

Sustainability at Textron Aviation

Textron Aviation is committed to environmental sustainability and natural resource conservation and supports the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change. Aligned with the overarching vision of Textron Inc., Textron Aviation has set forth enterprise-wide goals, spanning a five-year horizon, to forge a path towards a greener future. By the close of 2025, the company aims to curtail greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, while concurrently striving to achieve a 10% reduction in energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation.

Additionally, Textron Aviation has harnessed the power of renewable wind energy to meet nearly all its electricity needs in Kansas. This blend of sustainability and innovation serves as a testament to the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Robust investments in Textron Aviation’s products and facilities encourage sustainability in its designs and operations. The Beechcraft Denali and Cessna Citation Ascend embody the company’s dedication to reducing emissions and enhancing efficiency through its aircraft projects. Customers are offered the opportunity to take delivery of their aircraft utilizing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and they can refuel their aircraft with this environmentally friendly alternative at the company’s service center in Wichita, Kansas.

Duncan Aviation’s Houston Satellite Installs Starlink

Duncan Aviation announced recently that its satellite shop in Houston, Texas, has installed its first Starlink in-flight, internet connectivity system in a GL-XRS. “The customer couldn’t be happier as the installation proceeded without a hitch, and once installed, Starlink fired up immediately,” a company statement said. “Not only that, but as he flew home, the customer streamed three movies simultaneously and Facetimed with his wife. He couldn’t have been happier with the speeds achieved or the bandwidth that allowed so much activity with virtually unnoticeable latency.”

“Although this was our first installation, the avionics and structures teams were impressed by the well-organized Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) and kit that allowed us to perform the installation well within the three weeks we had allotted,” said Mark Winter, Houston satellite manager. “We expected to encounter some problems since it was our first Starlink installation, but it couldn’t have gone more smoothly.”

The Duncan Aviation Satellite shop in Houston has seven more Starlink installations planned in the coming weeks and months, including two additional aircraft for the GL-XRS customer.

One of the reasons the Starlink installation requires relatively short downtime is because it’s an internet-only system. While it does have the capability to integrate with Cabin Management Systems (CMS) or any other system on the aircraft, it doesn’t need to. Using their own devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, passengers may connect to their office’s Virtual Private Network (VPN), stream media, play games, or Facetime with family and enjoy uninterrupted coverage around the world.

The Duncan Aviation team in Houston has been installing avionics systems in aircraft for the better part of three decades, and they’re “pretty amazed by how revolutionary this system is in terms of ease of use.”

“We performed power and ground checks, and as soon as we powered up the Starlink system and sent the serial numbers for the aeroterminal to Starlink, the system was active within minutes, and we ran our tests,” Winter said. “We achieved significantly faster up- and download speeds than Starlink had told us to expect, and our customer was extremely pleased by that.”

In early March of this year, Duncan Aviation finalized a dealership agreement to sell and install hardware for the Starlink high-speed, in-flight internet connectivity system on a growing list of makes and models. All of Duncan Aviation’s full-service facilities and many of its Satellites shops are qualified and authorized to perform the installations.

PEM-AIR Turbine Engine Services Announces Grand Opening of New Facility, Expanding Capacity and Capabilities for Commercial Aviation Aftermarket

Pem-Air Turbine Engine Services (Pem-Air) announced the grand opening of its brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. The 80,000-square-foot facility represents a significant expansion for Pem-Air, signifying the company’s unwavering commitment to serving the commercial aviation aftermarket with excellence and innovation.

“Pem-Air’s growth is a testament to our team’s dedication to providing our customers with exceptional service and results,” said Virgil D. Pizer, CEO of Pem-Air. “This new facility signifies a giant leap forward in our capabilities and efficiency, allowing us to better serve the needs of our valued clients.”

Seven Times the Capacity

The new facility boasts seven times the capacity of Pem-Air’s previous space. This remarkable expansion includes over 20 engine bays, with the potential to accommodate up to 35 depending on configuration. This expanded capacity allows Pem-Air to cater to a wider range of aircraft engines, particularly specializing in the GE-90 and Trent 800 engines, with the same level of precision and expertise they are known for. Pem-Air will continue to service a comprehensive range of engine types, including CFM56, CF6, CF34, V2500, JT9D, JT3D/TF33, PW2000, PW4000, and RB211.

A New Era of Aviation Excellence

The new facility positions Pem-Air to be at the forefront in the commercial aviation MRO industry. With increased capacity and advanced technology, Pem-Air is prepared to deliver faster turnaround times, exceptional service, and unmatched expertise to its customers.

“We are thrilled to usher in a new era of aviation excellence with the opening of this facility,” said Pizer. “Pem-Air is ready to soar to greater heights and deliver the quality and service you deserve.”

WISER Systems, Inc. Unveils New Software Analytics at MRO Americas 2024

WISER Systems is unveiling its latest graphical user interface (GUI) enhancement for its ATLAS, the enterprise-wide live positioning system. The company says its new GUI is a testament to their commitment to innovation and enhanced customer usability in real-time asset tracking.

The enhanced GUI features improved search functionality, enhanced graphical features for better visualization of thousands of tagged items, upgraded tag reassignment capabilities for faster throughput and enhanced tag rules and notifications.

ATLAS provides precise, wireless location tracking for hundreds to thousands of tagged items in real-time, even within densely packed metallic environments. This advanced system maintains high accuracy while minimizing infrastructure requirements, ensuring easy installation and usage.

Companies of all sizes can benefit from deploying WISER ATLAS site and campus-wide, enabling seamless association of work orders or part numbers with tags via the WISER mobile/desktop app. This association facilitates instant tracking throughout and beyond manufacturing facilities, capturing processes indoors and outdoors.

Utilizing proprietary UWB Redundant Radio Location & Tracking (RRLT) technology, WISER’s ATLAS addresses Industry 4.0 priorities such as smart manufacturing, operational improvements, warehouse management, inventory control, supply chain logistics, and yard management.

Mark Dirks, chief revenue officer at WISER Systems, emphasized the significance of the new GUI enhancement, stating, “Our enhanced GUI will significantly improve the user experience with WISER’s ATLAS. It revolutionizes asset tracking by enabling real-time, high accuracy tracking of thousands to tens of thousands of work orders and assets simultaneously, even in challenging industrial environments. The system offers unparalleled accuracy with minimal infrastructure requirements, making it a cost-effective solution with rapid return on investment.”

WISER Systems’ dedication to innovation continues to propel advancements in real-time asset tracking, empowering companies to optimize operations and achieve greater efficiency.

Air Plains Services Named Authorized Garmin Dealer  

Air Plains Services, a world leader in general aviation engine and avionics upgrades, has been named an authorized dealer for Garmin International avionics components and systems.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer our customers access to Garmin products as an authorized dealer,” said Katie Church, Air Plains president. “Whatever the project – a total engine and avionics upgrade or simply a panel upgrade – we can now supply a cost-effective Garmin solution as part of our one-stop-shop capability.

“More and more often, our customers are coming to us with requirements that reach beyond an engine upgrade, whether they are private owners or fleet operators,” Church added. “They see this as an opportunity to completely transform an older Cessna into an aircraft that continues to meet 21st century flight operations. As a Garmin dealer, we can better meet their requirements at a greater overall value.”

Garmin is one of the best-known suppliers of general aviation avionics and offers a full range of products including navigation and communication components, sensors, transponders, weather and traffic systems, and engine monitors.

In addition to its widening range of avionics, Air Plains offers the added benefit of custom powder-coated and laser engraved avionics panels, designed and produced in-house on CNC machines specifically to the customer’s preferred layout.

“When a customer chooses to upgrade the avionics and engine at the same time, we’re able to offer a package price that takes into account the synergy of labor hours required for both,” Church said. “That can translate to a significant cost savings.”  

Air Plains plans to host an event in Wellington, Kansas this summer with Garmin technical experts on hand to answer customer questions. More information will be shared in coming weeks.  

The Av8 Group Announces Penny Tomlinson as New Sales Manager for AOG

The Av8 Group announced it has chosen Penny Tomlinson as the new sales manager for Av8 AOG. Tomlinson will assist Av8 in all facets of the business, but her primary focus will be on continuing to support AOG customers worldwide.

Tomlinson has over 30 years of aviation experience, graduating with her A&P license from the Michigan Institute of Aeronautics. Tomlinson has previously worked for other aviation companies such as Kalitta Air, USA Jet, Mesaba Airlines, Gulfstream, Falcon Jet, Flexjet, Aviall/Boeing and Castle Aviation.She has experience with commercial aircraft as well as several corporate aircraft, including Falcon 20s, 50s and 900s; Gulfstream G150s, G-IVs and G450s all series of Learjets. She is well known in the aviation industry and has many long-term connections that make her a valuable addition to the growing Av8 team, the company said.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to continue my aviation career with Av8, while also gaining additional knowledge from the MRO aspect,” said Tomlinson, Av8 AOG sales manager. 

“As our AOG and part segment continues to grow, Penny’s addition to the team will be a beneficial asset to our valued customers, getting the parts they need as quickly as possible and back in the air,” said Yoel Arnoni, CEO.

Tide Rock Acquires CABLENET Aerospace, Supplying the Space, Aircraft, and Military Industries

Tide Rock, an unlevered buyout firm with a portfolio of diverse economically resilient B2B businesses, acquired CABLENET Aerospace, a contract manufacturer for the aerospace, military, space and OEM industries in Denver, Colorado.

Since its founding in 1990, CABLENET has been supplying the space aircraft and military with quality work in high priority applications.

“We are now uniquely positioned to provide a more complete outstanding service to customers in broad markets where mission-critical solutions are required,” said CABLENET Aerospace CEO and CTO Ray Assayesh. “I am excited to collaborate with the larger team to uphold our commitment to delivering exceptional service and products.”

CABLENET specializes in turnkey applications for GSE (ground support equipment), EGSE (electronic ground support equipment) and space launch infrastructure, including test tooling design, engineering, manufacturing, and prototyping to customer specifications. The company’s 20,000-square-foot facility features state-of-the-art equipment, utilized to manufacture products of the highest quality, with quick delivery.

CABLENET will become a division of Tide Rock company, Interconnect Solutions Company (ISC), a vertically-integrated manufacturing company, specializing in electromechanical assembly, custom overmolded solutions and interconnects for mission-critical aerospace, military, defense and life sciences projects.

“CABLENET serves demanding customers in cutting-edge fields where the stakes are high and quality is essential,” said ISC CEO Nick Kendall-Jones. “Their capabilities complement ISC’s strong reputation in enterprise-level, mission critical interconnect and electromechanical solutions. Together, we can bring more complex and sophisticated solutions to the most demanding customers.”

“We are excited to welcome CABLENET to the Tide Rock family,” said Brooks Kincaid, president of Tide Rock. “CABLENET has earned a strong reputation with its aerospace and defense customers, including many of the leaders in their respective industries. We look forward to adding their advanced skills and experience in critical applications to ISC and to expanding ISC’s footprint into Colorado, a major aerospace hub..”

The acquisition allows CABLENET to add its expertise and service to the growing enterprise customer base of ISC, as well as benefit from complementary businesses, a press announcement stated.

StandardAero Signed as an Authorized Starlink Dealer for Business Aircraft Operators

StandardAero, a leading provider of business aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, has reached an agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to become an authorized dealer and installer of the company’s high speed internet product onboard select business jet aircraft. 

Starlink’s recent approvals for FAA supplemental type certificates (STCs) apply to Gulfstream G450 (GIV-X), Gulfstream GV, Gulfstream G550 (GV-SP), Gulfstream G650, Gulfstream G650ER, Bombardier Global Express, Bombardier Global Express XRS and Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft. StandardAero can perform Starlink installations on these platforms from its’ aircraft service centers of excellence in Van Nuys, CA and Springfield, IL, both of which specialize in long-range jet maintenance.

“Our new relationship with Starlink echoes the commitment we have made to our customers to provide them with the latest advancements in technology available for their aircraft, and demonstrates the trusted industry expertise we have in providing avionics services and support,” said Tony Brancato, StandardAero Business Aviation president.

StandardAero adds Starlink to its suite of connectivity solutions offered for various business aircraft platforms. Starlink is unique as the first and largest satellite constellation in low Earth orbit to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet anywhere around the globe, onboard aircraft.

“With the increasing dependency of wi-fi onboard business aircraft, we’ve seen customer maintenance schedules and budgets that are driven by connectivity upgrades,” said Brian Campbell, VP of Global Sales & Marketing for StandardAero Business Aviation. “Expanding our services ensures we can continue to deliver custom aircraft MRO solutions fit to each customer’s unique needs.” 

As a Starlink dealer, StandardAero will also provide installation support for upcoming STCs awaiting approval that apply to Bombardier Global 5000, 6500 and 7500, Challenger 300/350/3500 and Gulfstream GIV aircraft.

Gulfstream G700 Earns FAA Certification

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, announced the all-new Gulfstream G700 has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification, paving the way for customer deliveries of the most spacious aircraft in business aviation.

The G700’s FAA certification also confirmed two new performance improvements, giving customers increased flexibility and airport availability: a balanced field length takeoff distance of 5,995 feet/1,827 meters and a landing distance of 3,150 ft/960 m (standard ISA day, sea level), both shorter than originally anticipated.

“We have successfully completed the most rigorous certification program in company history with the G700,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “I’d like to thank our world-class team of flight test, certification and engineering professionals, along with the many others at Gulfstream who have contributed to this accomplishment. The G700 brings a new level of performance and cabin comfort to business aviation and is doing so while meeting the highest certification standards our industry has ever seen.”

In September 2023, Gulfstream announced G700 performance enhancements for range, speed and cabin altitude. The aircraft’s range increased to 7,750 nautical miles/14,353 kilometers at Mach 0.85 or 6,650 nm/12,316 km at Mach 0.90, gaining 250 nm/463 km at both speeds over original projections. The G700’s maximum operating speed increased from Mach 0.925 to Mach 0.935, making it the fastest in the Gulfstream fleet.

Along with the range and speed increases, Gulfstream announced that the G700 cabin altitude, already the lowest in business aviation, was further reduced to 2,840 ft/866 m while flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m, providing even more comfort for passengers. The G700 cabin also features whisper-quiet noise levels, 20 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows and 100% fresh, never recirculated air.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to the FAA G700 certification team for their support,” said Burns. “On behalf of Gulfstream’s more than 20,000 employees worldwide, I am proud and excited to begin our G700 customer deliveries.”

Avotek Publishes ACS-Centered Book Series

Avotek has published a new series of aviation maintenance textbooks that follow the FAA’s Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (ACS). Avotek used the ACS as a roadmap to create more than 2,100 pages of General, Airframe, and Powerplant material.

The current generation of books and handbooks from other publishers and organizations may be missing some of the subjects included in the ACS, and are arranged differently. This causes extra work and jumping around for instructors and students. The new Avotek book series eases the workload for instructors, curriculum designers, and administrators because of the 1-to-1 mapping of ACS subjects to the books.

The four books are:
• Aviation Mechanic — General
• Aviation Mechanic — Airframe Volume 1 and Volume 2
• Aviation Mechanic — Powerplant

As background, the FAA made a huge step forward with the new Part 147 in modernizing the training requirements that aviation maintenance schools must deliver. Avotek created the new book series that is specifically tailored to work with the new requirements.

The books are available for ordering now.