Category: BizJet

Interiors Pioneer Franz List Dies at 76 

High-end interiors company F/LIST announced the death of its supervisory board chairman and interiors visionary, Franz List. Franz List passed away on March 23 at the age of 76 after a serious illness. He leaves a big gap not only in his family and the international organization but also in the world of high-end interiors.

List’s vision transformed F/LIST from a small joinery founded by his father in 1950 into a pioneering global business designing, creating and producing luxury interiors for exclusive business and private jets as well as residences. His legacy spans decades, during which he not only developed novel luxury interior products but also achieved numerous milestones in the industry. “His relentless ambition, innovation and passion have made F/LIST what it is today,” a company statement said.

In October 2017, List handed over the management of the company to his daughter Katharina List-Nagl (CEO) and has since served as chairman of the supervisory board of F/LIST. Katharina List-Nagl will continue running the company with the support of the existing leadership team. Together, they remain committed to continuing the growth of the business portfolio, defining game-changing products, and deploying imaginative new solutions for interior design, all of which will build on the exceptional foundations laid by Franz List. A new supervisory board chairperson will be announced in due course. 

“Franz List will be greatly missed not only by his family and friends but also by his dedicated employees and business partners. His leadership, love of craftsmanship and innovative spirit will continue to be the cornerstones of the F/List corporate culture,” the company’s statement said.

Duncan Aviation Reorganizes and Expands Turbine Engine Leadership as Part of Growth Strategy

Duncan Aviation is pleased to announce leadership changes to its Turbine Engine Services in Lincoln, Nebraska. Scott Stoki, Brad Wales, and Tyler Spurling have been named Managers of Engine Services for Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, and Line Services, respectively.

Duncan Aviation’s engine overhaul services has experienced significant growth since 2015 as the company’s Honeywell service authorization was extended to include HTF7000 (AS907) Series Minor. Then again, in 2017, with the designation as a Honeywell TFE731 Heavy Maintenance facility.

Most recently, an announcement was made during the 2023 NBAA BACE convention in Las Vegas by Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC), designating Duncan Aviation’s MRO facility in Lincoln as a DOF (Designated Overhaul Facility) for PW300 and PW500 turbofan engines.

Scott Stoki—Manager of Engine Services, Pratt & Whitney

In 2005, Scott Stoki joined Duncan Aviation as an Engine Line technician, where he demonstrated his natural leadership abilities, taking on positions with more responsibilities. He then transitioned into the Quality department as an inspector, gaining a new appreciation for detailed paperwork. He returned to engine services in 2019 to manage the Honeywell engine overhaul shop.

With the new DOF announcement, Stoki shifted his focus and has assumed leadership of P&WC overhaul capabilities. He has been instrumental in identifying and purchasing advanced machinery, planning for shop safety enhancements, and guiding team member training and growth.

Duncan Aviation will break ground this summer on a new state-of-the-art, 36,000-square-foot DOF featuring 12 engine maintenance bays, dedicated storage racks, a new parts inventory warehouse, and an expanded backshop area.

Brad Wales—Manager of Engine Services, Honeywell

Brad Wales started his career at Duncan Aviation in 2015 as a technician in the Engine Line Shop. He quickly progressed through the ranks and became a Project Manager before returning to the Engine Line Shop as the Manager.

Wales’s transition to the Manager of Duncan Aviation’s Honeywell overhaul services gives him day-to-day leadership over the company’s 40,000 sq.-ft. Honeywell engine complex, which features TFE731 Series Heavy and HTF700 Series Minor Authorization services.

In-house engine capabilities such as a clean room, media blasting machines, shot peen equipment, a paint booth, NDT capabilities, and a balance room are improving, expanding, and centrally located to facilitate maintenance team efficiencies between all OEM-authorized operations.

Tyler Spurling—Manager Engine Line Services

Since Tyler Spurling joined Duncan Aviation in 2007, he has worn many hats, beginning as a technician in the Engine Line Shop. Within six years, he became a team leader and again in 2016, leading an engine RRT (Rapid Response Team).

In 2019, he took over the LNK MRO airframe and engine RRT, eventually consolidating the mobile airframe AOG and inspection services based at Duncan Aviation’s three MRO locations in Battle Creek, Michigan, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Provo, Utah. He served as Manager of MRO RRT for three years before returning to the shop, where he was originally hired as Manager of Engine Line Services.   

Engine Line Services has a dedicated 4,050-square-foot shop just off one of Duncan Aviation’s 40,000-square-foot maintenance hangars, where engines are torn down and built up free from aircraft moves and unnecessary interruptions. 

Thirty-five years ago, Doug Alleman, Vice President of Engine Services, joined Duncan Aviation as an A&P mechanic in the engine shop. He has witnessed first-hand the growth and expansion of the company’s engine capabilities and shop facilities and says this growth is a testament to Duncan Aviation’s 30+ year relationships with Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

“The rapid expansion of our turbine engine overhaul services underscores our commitment to our OEM partners, including Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, their engines, and mutual customers.”

He goes on to say that with each year passing year, the demand for Duncan Aviation’s engine maintenance services continues to grow. “Nearly 63% of the engines sent in for inspection, repair, and overhaul are shipped in from aircraft located at airports worldwide. Our engine RRTs (Rapid Response Teams) network will be vital in supporting the increased business.”

In addition, Duncan Aviation is authorized by GE, Williams International, and Rolls Royce to perform a broad spectrum of engine services and inspections.

CIRCOR Announces Partnership with FLYING WHALES for the LCA60T Program

CIRCOR International, a manufacturer and marketer of differentiated technology products and sub-systems, announced that its subsidiary CIRCOR Industrial has been chosen by FLYING WHALES, a pioneering aeronautical company, as its partner for the development and production of critical helium valves essential for the LCA60T airship. These valves facilitate the controlled release of helium from the airship’s cells as needed during operations. A total of twenty-eight such valves will be meticulously integrated into the airship’s helium cells.

This strategic collaboration is the culmination of an extensive and collaborative effort spanning over a year between the dedicated teams at CIRCOR and FLYING WHALES, culminating in the signing of the contract in February 2023. A crucial co-engineering phase in 2021 allowed for precise specification and alignment regarding this pivotal helium management component within the airship.

“We are delighted to seal this partnership with a major aeronautical industrial player. The proactivity of CIRCOR’s teams was decisive in our choice. For example, the creation of a scale model of the valve allowed us to anticipate the problems related to the size and optimization of the equipment,” explains Benoit Beaubier, program director at FLYING WHALES.

Furthermore, CIRCOR has been entrusted with providing a comprehensive integrated fuel distribution, storage, control, monitoring, and gauging system for the LCA60T turbine generators. The fuel management system will also be compatible with the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The collaboration discussions commenced in August 2021 to evaluate potential synergies for the fuel management system supply. Extensive dialogue and assessments led to the identification of optimizations to harness the innovations presented by CIRCOR. The proposal put forth by the CIRCOR team emerged as the most effective, ultimately resulting in the contract’s signing in September 2023.

Frédéric GREHAL, VP and general manager at CIRCOR, expresses pride and enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are really proud to be given the opportunity to be on board of such a disruptive project whose development represents a major step for us. All our employees are excited about it, and we have full support from our corporate.”

Image Caption: L-R: Mr Gréhal, VP General Manager of CIRCOR France, and Mr Guibout, Vice CEO of Flying Whales, signing the helium valve contract.

Lincoln Electric Launches Sprinter 180Si 

Lincoln Electric introduces the Sprinter 180Si stick welder. This versatile machine delivers superior arc performance for stick welding combined with advanced TIG functionality, all wrapped up in a portable, lightweight package, thanks to the newest inverter technology. 

The 180Si is designed with a maximum output of 180 amps to enable exceptional stick welding quality. Operators can weld up to 5/32-inch electrodes (6010/7018) and can even choose a dedicated 6010 mode for cellulosic stick electrodes. 

But the 180Si is more than just a stick welder. It also delivers 200 amps for TIG welding and offers a variety of advanced TIG features: 

  • Pulse mode with options ranging from .1-100 pulses per second 
  • A choice of high-frequency or lift start options at the push of a button 
  • TIG-ready capabilities with an 8-pin connector for foot pedals, hand amptrols and other devices  

The 180Si is also portable and versatile. Weighing in at less than 20 pounds, it goes anywhere easily and the dual-input voltage enables the operator to plug into any common power supply. Once it’s up and running, the simple user interface provides an easy-to-read seven-segment display and easy push-button controls. And it all packs up neatly in an ergonomically designed case with a handle and shoulder strap that make it easier to carry and move – around the shop or to any location. 

Stick or TIG, in the shop or on the move, the Sprinter 180Si is ideal for welders of every kind – home hobbyist, professional, or both. And it’s ready for every type of work – maintenance and repair, farm, light industrial, shipbuilding and more. 

Get out and run with the Sprinter 180Si stick welder. 

ExecuJet MRO Services Making Western Australia a Center of Excellence for Embraer Executive Jets

ExecuJet MRO Services Australia’s Perth site is introducing maintenance services for Embraer business jets within Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region. The Perth facility is now an Embraer Authorized Service Center.

Support will begin with Embraer Legacy 600 and 650 business jets. The Perth facility has invested
in the tooling and training to support these aircraft. “With proximity to Southeast Asia, it made sense to make Perth one of our centres of excellence for Embraer aircraft,” says Grant Ingall, VP Australasia at ExecuJet MRO Services. The facility expects significant business as Embraer models are popular across the region.

ExecuJet MRO Services Australia, including its maintenance center at Perth Airport, is approved
by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), U. S. FAA as well as the civil aviation authorities for Bermuda, Cayman Islands, San Marino, Vietnam, and Indonesia to do airframe heavy maintenance checks on Embraer aircraft.

“Southeast Asia is a key market for us and a focus of our outreach,” says Ingall, adding that the
company has some staff who are fluent in multiple languages. ExecuJet MRO Services Australia’s Melbourne and Sydney facilities have been Embraer Authorized Service Centres (ASCs) since 2010. Being an ASC means we manage Embraer Executive Care and Warranty claims for spare parts and labour directly with Embraer.

Trax Announces Agreement with Archer Aviation


Trax announced that it has entered into an agreement with leading electric aviation  company, Archer Aviation. Archer will leverage Trax’s web-based enterprise eMRO system and eMobility apps and Trax’s cloud hosting services to manage its planned electric air taxi operations. 

Trax’s advanced, modular, web-based solution for aviation maintenance and supply chain management will enable Archer’s real-time administration of production, planning, engineering, inventory, technical records, orders, and reliability processes. Operating in Trax’s secure, reliable, and paperless environment will support Archer’s goals to quickly build a safe, efficient, nimble, compliant and high performing air taxi operation.  

The relationship with Archer expands Trax’s global customer base to include the electric aviation market and holds potential for growth as electric aviation matures and Archer’s air taxi service takes flight.

“Trax will allow Archer to safely and efficiently scale deployment of our electric air taxi service.  Implementation of Trax is a key building block of our operational ecosystem and will provide our technical operations team and pilots an industry leading system to manage the operation,” said Archer’s COO of Urban Air Mobility, Tom Anderson. 

“Trax is pleased to partner with Archer, a leader in the emerging electric aviation aftermarket,” said Andrew Schmidt, Trax’s executive vice president. “Trax’s eMRO and eMobility products will enable Archer’s air taxi service to be completely paperless on day-one and help the company achieve its goals through operational efficiency, streamlined processes, and a highly productive workforce.”

Clark International Airport Targeting Aerospace Companies

The Philippines has launched a campaign encouraging global aerospace companies to establish facilities at Clark International Airport to serve the Asia region and global market. The companies it is targeting includes maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firms, aerospace manufacturers, fixed based operators (FBO), business aviation companies, original equipment makers (OEMs), cargo airlines, logistics companies, regional and international airlines, training organisations and so on.

The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) have come together
for the campaign and will be jointly exhibiting at the Philippine Aviation Pavilion (Hall C
Booth C-E81) at the Singapore Airshow (20-25 February).

Berthaphil Inc, a key stakeholder and pioneer investor and developer in the Clark Freeport
and at Clark International Airport, is also part of the Philippine Aviation Pavilion. Berthaphil
has over 25 years’ experience and is the leading property developer in the Clark Freeport. It
has already completed 12 real estate developments there, including the airport’s first
bonded warehouse and logistics center.

The company is offering a vacant 10-hectare airfield site, with primary runway access, which
is immediately available ‘as is’ or for a build-to-suit project. Berthaphil is now actively
promoting this site to aerospace companies around the world. Clark International Airport is within the Clark Freeport trade zone, so businesses there can receive incentives and favourable tax concessions – up to a seven-year tax holiday and then a 5% corporate income tax rate.

Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK, ICAO: RPLC) is an international gateway to Asia and
capable of handling the largest widebody aircraft. The airport has a 3,200m-long (10,500 ft)
and 60m-wide (196 ft) primary runway. It also has the tallest air traffic control tower and
the newest international airport terminal building in the Philippines with capacity of up to
80 million passengers per year.

The airport is 43.2 nautical miles (80.0 km; 49.7 miles) northwest of Manila, and is accessible
to Manila via the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX). A new passenger and cargo rail system
is due to open in 2025.

“Besides world-class airport infrastructure, a strategic location within Asia’s burgeoning
aviation market and a favorable business environment; another key strength of Clark
International Airport as an aerospace center, is the Philippines’ skilled and qualified
workforce,” said Michael Herman, Berthaphil chairman.

“Building a hangar, for example, doesn’t mean you have a MRO business. The key to having
a successful MRO organization is having the skilled and qualified maintenance engineers and
technicians, which is what the Philippines has,” said Herman.

“It is no secret that many of the qualified maintenance engineers and technicians working in
places such as Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East are Filipinos. Any aerospace
company that establishes itself at Clark has a huge pool of internationally certified talent it
can draw up both locally and from overseas,” added Herman.

MRO organizations that have already established operations at Clark include SIA
Engineering, which does airframe maintenance there. There is also Hong Kong’s MetroJet
which maintains business jets at Clark. And, it is a global gateway for UPS, DHL and FedEx.

“We are honored that leading government agencies and prominent figures in the
Philippines’ aviation industry – such as the Secretary of Transportation for the Philippine
Department of Transportation (DOTr), Jaime Bautista; Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP), director general, Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayao; and Clark International
Airport Corporation president, Arrey Perez; as well as senior representatives from the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI ), Bases Conversion Development Authority and
Clark Development Corporation – will be attending the Singapore Airshow and helping to
promote Philippines aviation and Clark International Airport as a centre for aerospace,” said
Herman.

“Their presence at the Philippine Aviation Pavilion demonstrates that we are all committed
to Clark’s success and aviation business success in the Philippines. Together we look forward
to meeting industry partners and future potential partners at the show. In the Philippines
we say: ‘One PH Aviation – Together We Fly’. Come join us at The Singapore Airshow: Hall C
Booth C-E81 on February 20 at 2pm for the Dignitaries’ Reception and opportunity to meet,”
he added.

Aurion Develops Clean-Tech Machining

Aurion Machining Technologies has developed new technology using ionized air as a trailblazing clean-tech alternative for metal working fluids and emulsions in parts manufacturing. Ionized air helps achieve high quality machining results — and it is safe for employees and environmentally friendly
Aurion technology is fully compliant with modern sustainability regulations which require end-to-end clean-tech solutions. Aurion says the technology is the response to increasing concern that metalworking fluids contribute significant carbon emissions on global basis

Disposal of used cutting fluids causes environmental contamination. Global annual consumption of cutting fluids is estimated to exceed two billion liters — although the actual amount of cutting fluids waste is assumed to be up to 10 times higher, as most fluids are diluted before their use. Cutting fluid treatment and their release to the environment leads to significant oxygen depletion and nutrient destruction in surface waters.

Aurion Technology

The core of the Aurion technology is in the ionized air which generates an electrochemical process resulting in electron loss and atomic level transformation of Aurion gas medium at the cutting surface. The electrochemical process acts as a dry lubricant in the cutting process, penetrating the cutting zone and optimising the interaction between the tool edge and the workpiece. This process accelerates oxide layer formation and significantly reduces the friction, thermal stress and tool wear.

The Aurion system consists of three components – ionizer, controller and air-cooling unit. The system is connected to the factory compressed air network and machinery CNC. There is no need for any special safety precautions as ionized air pressure remains at 2 – 3 bar and temperature in the -10°C to +10°C during machining operations.

Aurion technology is the result of years of industrial research and development work. Its technical properties have been proven in thorough tests conducted by authoritative institutions and industrial partners. Most recently the respected Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) of the University of Sheffield in England achieved excellent results in titanium milling trials.

Economically Compelling Solution

Aurion reduces manufacturing costs and cutting lead times in workshop processes. Thousands of validation runs have proven that Aurion technology delivers at least the same machining quality and performance as cutting fluids – measured by cutting speed, tool life and surface quality. Ionized clean air is safe for its operators and the relevant machinery and meets the highest standards for workpiece residuals.

Easy to Use and Integrate

Aurion technology is suitable for all machining applications and materials. It is easy to integrate to both existing and new machines, either by using the external piping to the cutting zone or by using existing coolant channels in standard toolholders and tools.

High integration flexibility and the possibility to use existing machine tool features minimises the up-front investment and limits the transition costs for introduction of the Aurion technology. The payback for the Aurion system is typically three to six months.

Aurion adaptation is moving to full industrial scale – Join for the journey

Following years of development work, Aurion is now ready for full scale industrial use. Attracted by the recent positive tests and validation runs, a number of high-quality manufacturers are engaged as partners in the next steps of the Aurion journey to transform their profitability and accelerate their carbon net zero plans.

PPG Adds Two Adhesives to Aerospace Product Portfolio

PPG announced that it has added two adhesives to its aerospace portfolio: PPG PR-2940 epoxy syntactic paste adhesive (ESPA) for bonding the internal structures of an aircraft; and PPG PR-2936, an adhesive that incorporates the properties of a shim and sealant for attaching the outer skin of an aircraft to the internal structures.

“We are excited to add these adhesive technologies to our product offering,” said Sean Purdy, PPG global director, coatings and sealants, Aerospace. “They will provide our aerospace customers with significant performance benefits as well as sustainability advantages through lightweighting.”

PPG PR-2940 ESPA adhesive is a lightweight potting compound used by both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MROs) customers on secondary aircraft structures. It fills and reinforces the honeycomb structures used to manufacture an aircraft’s internal components, including the inner wing structure, galley, lavatories, overhead bins and flooring.

PPG PR-2936 adhesive is used by OEMs to attach the metallic or composite skin of an aircraft to the internal structures of the fuselage, tail assembly, wings and stabilizers. This epoxy-based adhesive cures at ambient temperatures and is designed to fill gaps or irregularities between the surfaces of the primary and secondary structures. It combines outstanding mechanical strength with flexibility and microcracking resistance across a wide operating temperature window.

“Sustainability is a key priority across PPG, including new product innovations,” said Daniel Sydes, PPG global product manager, adhesives, Aerospace. “These new adhesives offer improved chemistries and low-density properties while maintaining a high strength-to-weight ratio that aids in increasing the fuel efficiency of aircraft.”

Airbus UpNext Flight Demonstrator Successfully Executes AI-based Navigation and Cooperative Control Using CoreAVI’s SafeAI Software Suite

Airbus has announced a successful flight test of their Auto’Mate (autonomous in-flight refueling) demonstrator utilizing CoreAVI’s GPU accelerated AI software stack, including VkCore SC and ComputeCore. The Airbus Auto’Mate represents a significant industry milestone by demonstrating Autonomous Assets Air to Air Refuelling operations flying with three manned drones Airbus DT-25s, and two more digital twins, under the control of an A310 MRTT tanker using an advanced navigation suite, including AI-based detection and cooperative control technologies.

Designed from the ground up for safety certification, CoreAVI’s Safe AI software suite includes
ComputeCore as well as VkCore SC. VkCore SC is a Vulkan SC implementation enabling
low-level high-performance compute acceleration, and ComputeCore is CoreAVI’s AI/ML
acceleration library providing APIs for BLAS, FFT, and a neural network inference engine
implementing The Khronos Group’s NNEF format. The building block nature of CoreAVI’s tools
and libraries provide scalable performance and capabilities making it easily expandable to meet
a wide range of compute algorithms.

“This Auto’mate flight demonstration marks a major success milestone for the growing
partnership between CoreAVI and Airbus for paving the future of AI-based airborne product
developments and certifications. This is the first time that Airbus has ever executed an AI flight
test that’s using a fully certifiable stack for autonomous air-to-air refuelling based on controlling
and guiding multiple drones from the Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft,” said Dan Joncas,
deputy CEO at CoreAVI. “The value of Safe AI to airborne platforms cannot be overstated as it
enhances safety, reliability, efficiency while reducing pilot workload, training costs, and
ensuring more effective operations, especially in situations with low visibility. We’re happy to
work with a future-focused technology leader like Airbus to ensure the best in AI technology is
available to all integrators of safety critical systems.”

“Bringing state-of-the-art GPU compute capabilities to our product portfolio will allow us to
evolve and create new capabilities that put us on the forefront of military aviation technology,”
said David Pérez Amenabar, air refueling software innovation manager at Airbus Defence &
Space. “This successful technology deployment paves the way for a future where parallelization
enables numerous new data intensive applications. AI technology will be quintessential in the
future of our industry and CoreAVI’s SafeAI stack has proven to be an exceptional enabler for
these integrations. This particular iteration demonstrates our commitment to the future mosaic warfare and unmanned/manned aircraft teaming; we are ready for Autonomous Operation and
committed to developing the most capable interoperable system of systems for air
dominance.”