Category: BizJet

Sherwin-Williams JetPen Makes Small Touch-Ups Easier

Protect your aircraft integrity and aesthetic with JetPen, a 2K fully-reactive paint that delivers the same exceptional strength and crosslinked durability found in aircraft paint but with the application ease of using a pen. This new touch-up pen from Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings is ideal for use on aircraft exteriors and interior cabins at any point during the application or maintenance process. JetPen allows aircraft owners, operators, and service personnel to save time and money on most any aircraft with quick and easy touch-ups on chips, dings, and scratches.

Once activated, JetPen can be used in multiple places on an aircraft before it dries. It also is available in a variety of colors and meets the needs of small area corrosion control and critical rework on general aviation, business jets, commercial airline, and military aircraft. An inexpensive alternative to buying a full gallon of paint, the disposable design of JetPen allows for improved inventory control.

JetPen features a spring-loaded valve to provide excellent material flow control and the applicator can hold up to 10cc. It’s easy to activate and comes complete with a chisel and brush attachment. Within the paint pen, the hardener is separated by utilizing a capsule, which ensures the shelf life and integrity of the product. A nice advantage of JetPen is the one-year shelf life for topcoat colors.

“Customers will love the simplicity of the product; just break it, shake it, and then repaint it,” says Julie Voisin, Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Global Marketing Manager. “No special equipment or training is required for application – the JetPen controls the amount of coating applied to the aircraft surface.”

The brush and chisel tip applicator are perfect for small-scale touch-up jobs on all types of aircraft, exterior or interior. Its fast-drying characteristics streamline the process even further – if a mechanic must go out and apply a quick repair, it can be touched up before the aircraft even takes off.

JetPen is ideal for rivet heads, bolt heads, scratches, edges, access panels and much more. It can be color-matched – perfect for most any aircraft livery or fleet – and is available in Sherwin-Williams AMS 3095 certified Jet Glo Express™ High Solids Polyurethane topcoat and JetFlex® Polyurethane cabin coatings, as well as Sherwin-Williams Chrome Hazard Free primer CM0483787.

Cementex Announces Range of T-Handle Tools Including Hex Wrenches, 6-Point Socket Wrenches, and Drivers

Cementex, the safety tool specialists, announced the availability of its T-Handle Driver Tools, including Hex Head Wrenches, 6-Point Socket Wrenches, and Drives. All of the T-Handle tools incorporate the superior Cementex 2-layer insulation system and solid core handle to distribute pressure evenly through the gloved hand. Made in the USA featuring hardened American steel, the T-Handle tools rigid construction prevents twisting and flexing while providing the quality customers rely on from Cementex as the industry leader.

The T-Handle Hex Wrenches are available in multiple shaft lengths and a range of combinations in order to meet each application’s unique insulated hand tool needs. The wrenches can be purchased individually or in kits, and can be added to custom Cementex insulated hand tool kits. Additionally, the T-Handle 6-Point Socket Wrenches and Drives are available in a range of sizes and lengths to meet users’ needs.

 

Pacific Coast Avionics Receives Garmin Platinum Award

Dewey Conroy, vice president and COO, Pacific Coast Avionics, announced that the company had received Garmin’s 2019 Platinum Award for Elite Performance for the 25th consecutive year.

“Even though we have received this prestigious award each of the past 25-years, every time we receive the plaque, it becomes an even more special reason to celebrate the achievement,” Conroy said. “Knowing that we are among the very top sales performers out of Garmin’s 1,000-plus global dealers, makes receiving the award that much more special.”

Conroy said that Garmin’s wide array of products is one of the main reasons Pacific Coast Avionics continues its hold its place as a sales leader among all of Garmin’s global dealers.

“With products ranging from smartwatches to a broad selection of advanced avionics for experimental and certified aircraft, Garmin’s product line continues to be the preferred solution for so many of our customers,” he said. “When you put Garmin’s array of products in the hands of our talented installers and fabricators, the combination helps to make Pacific Coast Avionics the go-to shop for so many pilots and aircraft owners and builders.”

“Garmin takes great pride in its products, and everyone here at Pacific Coast Avionics takes equal pride in representing these outstanding products to our wide customer base,” he added. “With the way Garmin product line continues to set the standard for avionics performance, capabilities and value, we’re well on our way to making it 26 wins in a row.”

Marshall University Launching Maintenance Training Program Soon

The Marshall University moved a step closer to the takeoff of its new aviation maintenance program, a joint academic endeavor with Mountwest Community and Technical College. The program will be housed at Tri-State Airport.

The two-year degree program, which President Jerome A. Gilbert says is the first of its kind in West Virginia, means students will receive a diploma with both schools’ names.

“We are working with Tri-State Airport to put the final ink on the lease for this program, which we hope to begin in fall 2021,” Gilbert said. “We plan to have two hangars; one will undergo renovation, while the other is in pretty good shape.”

Gilbert also reported to the board on continuing talks with Yeager Airport about housing for students entering the fixed wing commercial pilot four-year degree program that will be housed at both Yeager and Marshall’s South Charleston campus.

Western Aircraft Grows with Two Key Hires

Western Aircraft announced it has hired two individuals to fulfill key roles within its management team.

John Kochel has been hired as the director of Parts and Logistics business unit for Western Aircraft. Kochel began his career with GKN in the International Leadership Development Program and assumed various leadership roles including program manager for HondaJet, business development for GKN Transparency Systems, and general manager of the Transparency Aftermarket Services business unit in Garden Grove, California. Most recently, he managed the western territory for GlobalParts.aero. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and Business. Additionally, he completed the UCLA Financial Leadership Program.

With its recent expansion announcement, Western Aircraft continues to establish its team for its ever-growing Gulfstream services with Russell Crouch being selected as its new Gulfstream service manager. Having served in the Army as an aircraft mechanic, Crouch furthered his aerospace career with Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Georgia. During his more than 25 years with the company, he served in a variety of roles there including mechanic, crew chief, crew lead, mechanical team lead, operations manager, service team manager, senior internal sales manager and most recently as senior PS sales program analyst. He is airframe and powerplant licensed and is currently approaching the completion of a bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

BBGA to Conduct Brexit Info Webinar

The British Business General Aviation Association (BBGA) will host a 90- minute webinar dedicated to all matters Brexit on Tuesday, 22nd September from 11:00hrs to 12:30hrs.

BBGA and its panel of expert speakers will discuss the impact of Brexit on the aviation industry as the countdown starts to leaving the EU.  How will our industry adapt in the short term?   Can and should the Government help in this transition? This webinar is open to members and non-members.

Topics and speakers will include:

Introduction – UK business aviation and scheduled airline outlook since March 2020 – Richard Koe, Managing Director, WINGX.

A legal perspective and what face right now leading up to 31st December – Aoife O’Sullivan, Partner, The Air Law Firm.

How Brexit will impact taxation – Adrian Jones, Chartered Tax Adviser and Aviation Specialist, Martyn Fiddler Aviation.

How are we going to make UK aviation a global force with our position in the world post Brexit.   David Harding, Deputy Director, General Aviation, Safety, Skills, DfT

What does Brexit mean to us – in all that we do? Marc Bailey, CEO, BBGA.

Focus on Unilateral policies / Maintaining global access /More stringent measures in security / Regulatory oversight in a different Brexit and COVID world. Rob Bishton, Director of Safety and Airspace Regulation & David Kendrick, Head of Airline Licensing UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Industry perspective from an operator’s perspective – Alex Durand, CEO, SaxonAir.

The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.  Participants are invited to submit any questions before, or during the webinar.  BBGA will aim to answer a many as possible. Please send any questions to Rachael Paskin.  Rachael@bbga.aero

To register for the event please use this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5zUSKL6iSRemWW0PH2OulQ

North American Aerospace Industries Announces Merger with Aircraft Interior Recycling Association (AIRA)

North American Aerospace Industries (NAAI, Kinston, North Carolina, USA), a provider of sustainable end-to-end aircraft recycling, has merged with Aircraft Interior Recycling Association (AIRA, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom), a total aircraft interior support company. While the news is formidable for both organizations, it also offers new opportunities for airlines, aircraft owners and OEMs to generate new revenue streams, gain savings, reduce their carbon footprints, and help address critical social needs; all of which have become more important in today’s post-pandemic period.

According to Sven Daniel Koechler, PhD, President and CEO of NAAI, “AIRA is the only aircraft interior recycling company that has developed the scientific expertise and technical know-how to properly recycle end of life aircraft interiors and waste materials from manufacturing. Since our top priority is to provide sustainable aircraft recycling services through which 100% of an aircraft is recycled or up-cycled, gaining the ability to effectively address one of the most challenging aspects of an aircraft’s recycling – its composite plastic interior components – is a major achievement for us. We are very proud of our new alignment with AIRA. Together, we intend to revolutionize aircraft recycling, transforming it into an industry which delivers enormous benefit across the entire chain, from OEMs, MROs, airlines, and leasing companies to the general public and the environment.”

AIRA’s Managing Director Tony Seville stated, “This is two companies coming together with a mutual vision and solutions to the major challenges of recycling aircraft correctly, with all of its many different materials and with the environment foremost in mind. It has taken AIRA six years of research and hard work to develop cost effective recycling processes. We are very proud to be part of this merger with NAAI and now the real work can begin with airlines, lessors, MROs, OEMs and material manufacturers all working with us and making a huge difference to the aviation industry and the environment at the same time.”

Through their merged organizations, NAAI and AIRA will help its customers gain the maximum return on their aircraft investment by recycling interior components often neglected due to the complexities involved in identifying composite materials. With AIRA’s unmatched expertise in this area, the companies will be able to help their customers capitalize on these materials by returning them to the supply chain for use in producing other products. As Koechler sees it, the revenue opportunities can be enormous, but equally important, these materials can be put to good use to help provide clothing, housing and even manufacturing job opportunities for those in need across the world.
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the aviation industry and many other industries, causing wide-scale job losses and leaving many people in severe economic distress,” added Koechler. “Even before the pandemic, many people across the world were living in poverty. Through more sustainable aircraft recycling practices, we can help them achieve a better quality of life and protect our environment by reducing aircraft waste in landfills and aircraft boneyards.”

NAAI says they are building one of the world’s largest hangar systems in North Carolina. The three-part hangar system will house a 357,00 square foot dismantling shop; 151,800 square foot MRO facility; and 102,000 square foot paint shop for narrow and wide body aircraft. Its proprietary processes will enable the company to recycle multiple aircrafts simultaneously for a much faster recycling process. The NAAI facilities will also encompass an 80,800 square foot space designated for storage and offices. The facility’s construction schedule was interrupted by the pandemic and subsequent business lockdowns in the United States, however, Koechler is projecting that the facility will be operational by late 2021.

 

Daubert Cromwell – New OEM Test Results Are In for Safecote CLV

Daubert Cromwell says extensive OEM testing on their Safecote CLV shows it is an excellent long-term corrosion protection option for exposed, threaded areas on machinery, machine parts and equipment stored outdoors.

The company says their product is:

• Environmentally safe
• Water-based, low VOC
• Alternative to tape, caps, and plugs, where corrosion can form underneath
• No removal necessary

The study evaluated options to replace tape, caps and plugs that typically protect threaded areas on machinery and machine parts stored outdoors. When corrosion forms beneath those covers, it can compromise the joint and cause damage. Applying Safecote CLV on internal threads proved to provide long term protection for exposed bolt holes, making it ideal for use on metal parts, components, engines, sub-assemblies and spares.

Environmentally safe Safecote CLV leaves a waxy film on ferrous metal surfaces that hardens to a firm, water- resistant coating in about 90 minutes. The milky taupe- color coating has excellent resistance to high humidity and salt spray, for optimal protection of machinery during export and storage.

Various scenarios of bolt hole testing showed Safecote CLV to be most effective in protecting the threads over long periods of time, with negligible impact on torque coefficient. Further, it does not have to be removed before putting the part back into operation. Rental equipment stored on dealer lots, for example, can be used immediately.

 

Aviation Clean Air Touts Air Purification System

Aviation Clean Air, a system that is designed to immediately improve interior air quality and neutralize pathogens, has undergone a second phase of testing. The company says their NeedlePoint Bi-Polar Ionization (NPBI) technology that powers its airborne and ground-use purification systems “has shown a 99.99% neutralization via ionization of the COVID-19 virus after just 30 minutes.” The ACA airborne system is a patented Ionization Purification System certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on numerous aircraft with STC. NPBI is ozone-free and is the only one in its category to pass the RCTA DO-160 standard for aircraft, the company says.

The laboratory tests were conducted by Innovative Bioanalysis, a CAP, CLIA, AABB Certified Safety Reference Laboratory with 75 years of combined experience. The tests were performed in a setting designed to replicate the ionization conditions of business and commercial aircraft interiors.

Pathogens transfer by latching on to a host, the company explains. Viruses expel from a person through mucus or saliva and are airborne for as long as possible. They go even farther if they latch onto airborne particulates. NPBI works by leveraging an electronic charge to create a high concentration of positive and negative ions. These ions travel through the air continuously seeking out and attaching to particles, which sets in motion a pattern of particle combination. As these particles become larger, they are eliminated from the air.

Additionally, positive and negative ions have microbicidal effects on all pathogens, rendering the COVID-19 virus non-infectious, while neutralizing and removing other viruses, allergens, contaminates and even mold spores. The ions produce a natural reaction on the cell membrane of all pathogens so they can’t reproduce and then quickly die.

“HEPA filters that are being used on most commercial aircraft are efficient in removing particulates that are greater in size than 3 microns (3µ), but we know the COVID-19 virus is between .002 – .125µ in size. That means that the HEPA filters may not remove the virus itself if the virus is attached to a smaller airborne particulate,” says Jonathan Saltman of Aviation Clean Air. “Our goal is to partner with airlines to increase the efficiency of the existing HEPA filters being used because our system removes particulates that these filters cannot – in addition to neutralizing airborne and surface pathogens.”

The Aviation Clean Air system is approved and available on all aircraft manufacturer platforms, makes and models. The proactive system, which operates through the aircraft’s existing environmental control system (ECS) and functions automatically whenever the ECS is running, immediately improves interior air quality, eliminates odors and neutralizes all pathogens in the air and on surfaces throughout the entire aircraft, including the cabin, galley, lavatory and cockpit.

“Our system prevents the spread of viruses by aerosolization, which is now being shown as the primary method that COVID-19 spreads,” added Saltman. “This, paired with the results from our second test, is just further proof that the NPBI™ technology is the next critical step to re-instill confidence with the public that it’s safe to fly again with Aviation Clean Air on board,” adds Saltman.

 

 

Bombardier’s Thought-Provoking Safety Standdown 2020 Going Virtual, Shines Light on Elevating Safety Through Keen Focus, New Practices

Bombardier’s 24th annual Safety Standdown, a comprehensive safety conference, is set for October 21. This year’s event will be completely virtual.

The theme for the special, virtual event is, “Safety in Focus 20/20,” and it prompts aviation professionals and organizations to question how to turn their vision of a safer, more efficient organization into reality – turning theory into practice, Bombardier says.

“For more than 20 years, Bombardier has led the industry in providing aviation professionals with knowledge-based aviation training, and this year’s virtual event builds on this very important goal,” said Andy Nureddin, vice president, Customer Support, Bombardier Aviation. “While we have changed the format this year to ensure attendees remain safe and secure, the goal of Standdown remains – to foster a community of aviation professionals who are committed to lifelong learning and to disseminating higher standards of safety and professionalism throughout the industry. I am confident our new format will continue to underscore this essential premise.”

The new virtual format brings together some of the most prominent Safety Standdown presenters from the past – including Dr. Tony Kern, Dr. Amy Grubb, and Dr. Antonio Cortés along with our new addition Dr. Steven J. Stein – to discuss the broader, more abstract concepts of safety that may lack the 20/20 focus to permit maintenance technicians, pilots, dispatchers, safety program managers, or accountable executives to design and implement safety improvements.

Leading up to this virtual event, the Safety Standdown team has organized a series of bi-weekly talks highlighting essential safety topics. For more information on the industry’s most prominent safety conference and to watch previous and live “Safety Talks,” visit the seminar section of Bombardier’s Safety Standdown website here.

About Safety Standdown
Originally conceived in 1996 as a human factors safety-training event for the Learjet flight demonstration team, the conference quickly garnered a reputation for excellence beyond Bombardier’s customer base. In 1999, in response to growing interest within the industry, Bombardier opened the seminar to all pilots. In 2010, Safety Standdown expanded beyond the seminars into a year-round global human factors program offering online resources. Since 1996, more than 10,000 corporate, commercial and military aviation professionals have attended Safety Standdown seminars worldwide, live and through the webcast, including in Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA. Admission to Safety Standdown has, throughout the years, remained free to all aviation professionals as safety is a top commitment to the flying public.