Category: BizJet

C&L Aviation Group Installs Starlink Through STC Development for ERJ 140/135/145/Legacy 600

C&L Aviation Services, a C&L Aviation Group company, has completed the installation of a SpaceX Starlink satcom system on an Embraer ERJ 140 aircraft. C&L, an authorized Starlink dealer,partnered with Aerospace Design & Compliance LLC to amend its existing ERJ 135/145 supplemental type certificate (STC) to install Starlink connectivity on ERJ 140. This recent installation paves the way for future installation projects on ERJ 140/135/145/Legacy 600 aircraft. 

“Developing this STC and installing Starlink on ERJ aircraft points C&L in the right direction for future connectivity support,” said Charlie Carrol, Avionics Sales Manager for C&L Aviation Services. “Starlink is gaining traction in the aviation world, and we at C&L look forward to growing our relationship with them.” 

Starlink provides global coverage via the world’s largest satellite constellation and features high-performance connectivity, including content streaming and video calls in addition to talk and text. Their technology allows for up to 220+ Mbps for downloading and up to 25+ Mbps for uploading.

Teledyne CML Composites Transforms Digital Manufacturing with iBase-t’s Solumina

iBase-t, the global leader in cloud software for Aerospace and Defense industries, announces Teledyne CML Composites, UK has chosen iBase-t’s Solumina Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Enterprise Quality Management System (EQMS) to revolutionize its shop floor operations. This partnership will enable Teledyne to identify and implement opportunities for cost and cycle time reduction while addressing key challenges in technician hiring and training.

“At Teledyne we understand the critical importance of digital transformation,” Brian Hynes, NPI & engineering manager, at Teledyne CML composites stated. “By leveraging iBase-t’s extensive domain expertise, Teledyne is advancing its objectives of increasing production capacity, enhancing data integrity and availability, improving on-time delivery, and meeting stringent quality requirements.”

Achieving Business Goals Through Digital Transformation

Both Teledyne and iBase-t recognize that aligning process and solution initiatives with core business objectives ensures a higher degree of success, a shorter time to value, and greater returns on investment. Solumina’s ability to unify digital workflows across design, manufacturing, and quality disciplines is instrumental in enabling Teledyne to:

•  Support increased annual production demands.
•  Enhance data quality for better reporting, searching, and traceability.
•  Reduce engineering change backlogs, improving compliance and overall quality.
•  Reduce nonconformance rework by 80%.
•  Reduce scrap by 50%.

Addressing Workforce Challenges with Solumina

In an environment where competition for skilled technicians is fierce, Teledyne is leveraging Solumina to create a modern work environment where every necessary piece of information is available at employees’ fingertips. By ensuring data is entered only once, validated in real-time, and readily accessible, Solumina simplifies training and reduces the learning curve for new technicians.

“Solumina not only simplifies how technicians interact with complex data but also ensures that insights are actionable and aligned with business objectives,” said Naveen Poonian, CEO of iBase-t. “This approach fosters a smarter, more agile workforce equipped to meet the demands of Aerospace and Defense manufacturing.”

Becoming a Model-Based Enterprise

With Solumina, Teledyne is on the path to becoming a model-based enterprise. This approach unifies digital workflows and production data specifications across all critical disciplines, fostering collaboration and streamlining operations. By embracing digital manufacturing, Teledyne is setting a new standard for operational efficiency and quality in the A&D sector.

“Teledyne’s adoption of Solumina demonstrates a commitment to leveraging necessary technology to achieve measurable business outcomes,” added Poonian. “We are proud to support them in their journey toward a model-based enterprise.”

JSSI Announces Key Executive Appointments to Shape the Future of JSSI Aviation Capital

JSSI, a global business aviation maintenance and financial services company, announced executive appointments within its aircraft financing division, signaling the next chapter for JSSI Aviation Capital (JAC). Since launching its financing business in 2023, the company has demonstrated the unique value that financing solutions deliver to aircraft owners when coupled with JSSI’s broader portfolio. JAC’s approach leverages JSSI’s capabilities, data and global reach to provide creative asset-driven finance structures that few in the industry can offer. Under new leadership, JAC will seek to scale its operations and diversify into new products and structures that reflect a strong understanding of operator requirements and asset values, underpinned by JSSI’s 35 years of maintenance intelligence.

Ben Hockenberg – Chief Investment Officer

Aligned with JSSI’s focus on delivering flexible financing solutions and acquiring strategic assets, Ben Hockenberg will assume a new role within the organization as chief investment officer. In this capacity, Hockenberg will shape the aircraft finance strategy and provide leadership, while managing transactions and investments across JSSI’s portfolio, designing the vision and execution model for JSSI Aviation Capital.

Hockenberg has worked across financial services and alternative investments throughout his career, including investment banking, private equity and credit investing. Hockenberg joined JSSI in 2020 and has been instrumental in growing JSSI’s parts and engine leasing business. He most recently served as chief operating officer; and president of JSSI parts and leasing.

Andreas Mauritzson – EVP, JSSI Aviation Capital

JSSI also welcomed Andreas Mauritzson as executive vice president of JSSI Aviation Capital. Mauritzson brings leadership experience across business aviation and demonstrated success driving growth and operational efficiency. Previous roles include president and chief operating officer at XOJET Aviation, and vice president of business strategy at Sun Air Jets.

“Andreas has a remarkable vision of what best-in-class customer experience looks like, and how to marry financing solutions with each operator’s unique requirements,” said Hockenberg. In his new role, Mauritzson will oversee operations and strategy for JSSI Aviation Capital.

Neil Book, JSSI president and CEO, commented, “JSSI is responsible for maintaining thousands of aircraft, and supporting those owners and operators with lease engines, parts, maintenance tracking software, and white glove service. Our product portfolio, combined with a talented and dynamic team, positions JSSI Aviation Capital to deliver tailored solutions to owners, operators, brokers, and beyond. I am confident that Ben and Andreas will lead our financing business into its next phase of growth, collaborating closely with the rest of our business and industry partners to maximize value for clients.”

Tim Elberfeld – Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Tim Elberfeld, who joined the company in 2022 as chief financial officer, will now also serve as chief operating officer. Over the past three years, Elberfeld has added value to JSSI, driving organizational excellence and operational efficiency. In his expanded role, he will continue to oversee all aspects of finance and accounting while managing operational and customer support functions, including maintenance technical services, parts procurement, client services, underwriting, and information technology.

Merlin and Quikjet Partner to Conduct In-Flight Pilot Fatigue Study

Merlin, developer of autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, announced a study in partnership with leading cargo airline, Quikjet, to assess pilot fatigue levels while in-flight. The intent of the study is to assess how wellness factors impact pilot performance, informing both new standards in safety and operational efficiency across airlines and the aviation industry as well as the ongoing design and development of the Merlin Pilot.

The study consists of gathering physiological data from a pool of Quikjet’s commercial pilots in-flight to track health factors such as stress levels, sleep quality, body temperature, heart rate, and more. The data will be captured using WHOOP wearable devices, which are renowned for their accuracy and ability to track key vitals in real-time, combined with a modified Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), which evaluates a human’s ability to sustain attention. Together, the two outputs will provide a data-rich fatigue assessment as well as create predictive models that can forecast pilot fatigue based on established flying schedules.

“Merlin is committed to enhancing aviation safety, with a core focus of our work being to understand all facets of the pilot experience during flight operations, from crew workload to personal health impacts,” said Matt George, CEO and founder, Merlin. “The uniqueness of this study is that we are analyzing pilot fatigue both in and outside of flight operations, versus other studies done in simulated environments. This data provides us with a deeper, more accurate representation of pilot wellness in real-world conditions, which is pivotal to enhancing aviation safety. The study also supports our ongoing focus on human factors-driven innovation, where we’re continuously looking at how advanced automation can be a collaborative technology for pilots.”

Textron Aviation to Open New Service Facility at Essendon Fields Airport, Expanding Capabilities in Australia

Textron Aviation announced an expansion of its footprint in Australia with the construction of a larger and modernized service facility at Essendon Fields Airport in Melbourne to maximize support for Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker customers in the region. The new facility will add more space for servicing aircraft, aiding in faster scheduling with minimal down time to keep customers flying. Construction is set to begin March 2025 and Textron Aviation expects to be fully functional in the new facility by early 2026.

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

The new facility will more than double the square footage of the company’s current facility to more than 35,000 square feet (3,343m2). Based on customer feedback, the new facility will be in a more central location within the airport, add a Textron Aviation parts stockroom leading to faster shipping for customers and add a more comfortable lounge for customers to utilize while aircraft is being serviced.

“Building this new facility to support the more than 1,400 aircraft operating in the APAC region demonstrates our commitment to providing the strongest combination of factory-direct maintenance and service solutions available for our customers,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, Global Customer Support. “This investment will grow our capacity and help us to better assist customers with scheduled maintenance, modifications and aircraft-on-ground support.”

This news follows Textron Aviation’s announcement in June 2024 that the company moved to a larger, modernized facility at Jandakot airport in Perth, and added a parts warehouse at Essendon Fields airport to grow service capacity and support parts availability in the region. In addition, Premiair Aviation Maintenance, an Australian service center acquired by Textron Aviation in 2020, has changed its name to Textron Aviation Australia Pty Ltd. to fully integrate the Perth, Gold Coast and Melbourne facilities into the company’s comprehensive global service network.

Gogo|Satcom Direct Renews Three-Year Preferred Supplier Agreement with Luxaviation Group

 Gogo Business Aviation|Satcom Direct has signed a second three-year preferred supplier agreement with Luxaviation Group, continuing the close relationship first forged between the business aviation operator and Satcom Direct in 2021. The new deal provides even greater flexibility and resilience for Luxaviation, as it includes access to Gogo Galileo phased array antennas and its North American Air-to-Ground connectivity network, following the recent transaction combining the two connectivity providers. 

Luxaviation Group will continue to benefit from SD’s hardware, including the SD Plane Simple terminal series, Software-as-a-Service applications, flight deck connectivity solutions and 24/7/365 customer support. With the renewed agreement, Luxaviation customers will also be able to maximize the connectivity supported by the Gogo Galileo half-duplex, HDX, and full-duplex FDX phased array terminals, all from a single source. 

“The Gogo|SD offering brings real value to our business and, more importantly, our customers by enabling us to deliver broadband connection, regardless of aircraft size. This service differentiation means we can support our customers’ seamless transition from digital life on the ground to the skies,” says Stuart Williamson, MD of Luxaviation Technical Services. “Customers expect to be connected all the time, and with this renewed agreement, we have the confidence that we can provide uninterrupted broadband to our customers wherever they travel. This is backed by the assurance that if a problem occurs, a human expert is at hand; this is invaluable for a company like ours where customer-centric service is at the core of all we do.”

Gogo|Satcom Direct facilitates seamless multi-orbit connectivity through its long-established relationships with major satellite operators, including Intelsat, Viasat, and Eutelsat OneWeb. It offers primary, backup, or supplemental service through GEO, LEO, or ATG, plus optimized service quality depending on customer requirements.

“The expanded portfolio means we can help our customers curate multi-band, multi-orbit connectivity to support all their connectivity needs,” Dave Falberg, SVP Sales, EMEA APAC at Gogo|Satcom Direct, added. “All the technology has been purpose-built for business aviation and is future-proofed to ensure our customers can keep pace with the rapidly changing connectivity landscape. We are proud to continue providing world-class connectivity to the Luxaviation Group across its fleet of large, mid-range, and small business aircraft. Our existing relationship has demonstrated that we can meet and exceed their customer needs, and we look forward to supporting its customers now and in the future.” 

StandardAero Developing Gogo Galileo HDX STC for Challenger 600 and Global Series Aircraft

In response to strong demand for Gogo Galileo HDX, StandardAero is developing an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for select Bombardier Challenger 600 & Global series aircraft models with estimated availability this year. 

Gogo Galileo, the latest innovation from Gogo Business Aviation, will provide operators worldwide with global, high-speed inflight internet for every size of business aircraft.  The compact, fuselage-mounted, phased array antenna will leverage Eutelsat OneWeb’s enterprise-grade Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite network, which is designed for mobility to deliver low variability and consistent performance across all routes globally.  The Gogo Galileo HDX will deliver fast, low-latency performance across the full breadth of business aviation aircraft worldwide. 

“We’re excited to further expand our partnership with Gogo by developing Galileo HDX STCs onboard select Challenger and Global aircraft,” Tony Brancato, StandardAero Engine Services – Business Aviation division president said.  “This is a testament to Gogo’s trust in our airframe modification certification services and the StandardAero team as a whole to deliver quality avionics support to our customers.”

StandardAero’s Gogo Galileo STC will cover over 2,000 aircraft, including Challenger 601 / 604 / 605 / 650 and Global Express XRS / 5000 / 6000 / 6500 / 7500 series aircraft models.  The initial STC will be obtained via the FAA, with EASA and TCCA validations to follow.   

“There are over 300 Gogo Avance-equipped Challenger 600 and Global aircraft in the market that could easily make the next step to upgrade to Galileo and achieve maximum inflight internet performance onboard for their passengers,” Brian Campbell, SVP of Sales, Marketing & Customers for StandardAero, Business Aviation said.  “We’re excited to provide Challenger 600 and Global operators with another avionics solution to enhance their aircraft operations.”

TASKING Acquires LDRA to Speed Development and Verification of Critical Embedded Applications

TASKING has announced the acquisition of 100% of LDRA, a provider of software tools for code analysis and software testing for safety-, mission‑, security- and business-critical markets. 

LDRA has been a privately owned company with a team of more than 100 employees distributed across the United Kingdom (headquarters), United States, India and Germany. LDRA’s tools achieve early error identification and elimination by enabling bi-directional requirements traceability, static and dynamic code analysis, and unit- and system-level verification on a wide variety of hardware and software platforms. LDRA’s extensive reporting capabilities help critical application development teams to mitigate risk and demonstrate compliance to functional safety and security standards. LDRA’s certification services complement the LDRA tool suite offering with industry-specific subject matter expertise.

The integration of LDRA technologies further enhances TASKING’s safety- and security-oriented software ecosystem and broadens its capabilities as a trusted partner for embedded software development tools and services. LDRA’s impressive portfolio of software tools that automate code analysis and software testing for safety-, mission-, security‑, and business-critical markets is highly complementary to TASKING’s existing high-quality, functional safety-certified embedded software development tools and compilers.

“TASKING and LDRA have worked together in a trustful partnership for many years,” said Ian Hennell, operations director, LDRA. “We look forward to taking this collaboration to the next level. With the combination of our product portfolios, we enhance the customer experience. Together, we speed development and verification of critical embedded applications using industry best practices even on the most complex applications that leverage multicore processors.”

“With the acquisition of LDRA, we offer our customers a comprehensive portfolio to support the software development for safety-critical applications in a wide range of markets, including aerospace and automotive,” confirmed Gregor Zink, CEO, TASKING.

E-Z LOK  Introduces Ultrasonic Inserts and Heat Staking Kits for Thermoplastics

E-Z LOK, manufacturer and distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood is now offering E-Z Sonic with Threaded Insert Assortment kits. 

E-Z Sonic inserts are designed for post-molding installation in thermoplastic materials such as: acrylic, polypropylene and PVC. Machined out of high-quality brass and available with both inch and metric threads, these inserts are durable enough for the toughest environments and versatile enough to meet the needs of any application. Designs include tapered and straight that can be installed either with an ultrasonic horn or a heat driver. Additional features are superior torque and pull-out resistance, inch or metric threads, tapered design in single and double vane and straight design in flush or flanged configuration. 

Straight inserts provide superior torque and pull-out resistance, while allowing for thinner boss walls. Flush inserts allow for installation even with or below the material surface. Flanged inserts are ideal for electrical connections or for additional pull-out resistance in reverse installations. Furthermore, E-Z Sonic straight threaded ultrasonic inserts feature a lead-in pilot to facilitate installation. Machined out of brass, the inserts are available with internal threads from 2 in. to 3/8 in. 

Tapered inserts are designed to reduce installation time, particularly in production runs, while maintaining outstanding performance characteristics. E-Z Sonic tapered ultrasonic inserts are machined out of brass and are available in single and double-vane lengths for maximum design flexibility. Internal threads from 2 to 3/8 in. and 2.5 mm to 6 mm are available.

Besides being ideal for post-molding installation in thermoplastics, the Heat Staking threaded insert assortment kits quickly add machine threads to 3D printed parts and prototypes. Design engineers and hobbyists alike will find value in the variety of thread options available in the kits. Threaded inserts in the kits are available in tapered and straight designs, with imperial and metric threads. Each kit includes 200 inserts and 5 installation tips for use with a soldering iron.

Veryon Appoints Bethany Little as CEO

Information services and software solutions provider, Veryon announced the appointment of Bethany Little as chief executive officer. Little’s arrival signals a bold step forward for Veryon as it continues to lead the charge in aviation maintenance technology. Little succeeds Norman Happ, who has been appointed to Veryon’s board of directors. “I’m excited to welcome Bethany to the team as she is the right person to lead Veryon’s next stage of growth,” said Happ.

In his new role on the Veryon board of directors, Happ will continue supporting the company’s mission and strategic vision while also serving on the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Board.

Little brings over 20 years of leadership experience in Software as a Service (SaaS)technology business. Most recently, she served as the CEO of PatientNow, a leading provider of medical EMR and practice management solutions, where she optimized growth during a time of incredible market expansion of health and wellness providers in the elective medical market. Recognized for her expertise in customer success, product innovation, and team development, Little is well-positioned to lead Veryon into its next phase of evolution as the company continues to revolutionize the aviation industry with cutting-edge maintenance solutions.

“I am honored to join Veryon at such a transformative time in the aviation industry,” said Bethany Little. “Veryon’s dedication to optimizing aircraft uptime for maintenance teams, coupled with its customer-centric approach, has firmly established it as a leader in aviation maintenance technology. I also have a personal connection to aviation through the Air Force and being part of a military family, so it’s exciting to come back full circle later in my career. I look forward to collaborating with this talented team to drive forward-thinking solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and compliance across the industry.”

Little’s appointment comes during a period of significant growth for Veryon. Over the years, the company has strategically expanded its capabilities through key acquisitions, including RCMBT in 2024, Rusada in 2023, and earlier acquisitions of CaseBank and Flightdocs. Since its founding in 1973, Veryon has continually evolved to offer aviation operators technology to better access publications, fix maintenance issues faster, and operate more efficiently without compromising compliance. The Veryon brand is trusted by over 7,600 customers in 175 countries, including 25% of the world’s largest operators.