Category: Commercial

Robinson Helicopter Company Acquires Ascent AeroSystems, Adding Tactical Uncrewed Solutions Portfolio

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) has acquired Ascent AeroSystems, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Robinson Helicopter Company. This acquisition reinforces Robinson’s dedication to scaling innovation, accelerating new rotorcraft developments, and supporting diverse missions worldwide. By leveraging the expertise and resources of both companies, Robinson reinforces its leadership in the future of vertical flight systems and utility missions.

Ascent AeroSystems, recognized for its efficient and compact coaxial helicopter drones designed for industrial, public safety, and defense applications, brings a wealth of technological synergies that align with Robinson’s strategic vision for growth and expansion into new markets. Through the acquisition, Ascent can now grow and scale by building its UAVs at Robinson’s cost-effective, vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Torrance, CA.

Ascent AeroSystems’ expertise in autonomous electric flight technology and modular design philosophy will enhance Robinson’s offerings. The integration of emerging technologies and a diverse ecosystem of payloads, power sources, and launch methods will further enhance the company’s mission-focused offerings, including crewed-uncrewed teaming and interoperability across product families.

“This strategic acquisition is in line with our vision to broaden our offerings and meet increasing global demand for enhanced mission capabilities in law enforcement, public safety, firefighting, utility, and defense,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. “Ascent’s advanced technologies and versatile designs complement our ability to be the preeminent choice in global rotorcraft.”

Ascent AeroSystems’ unique cylindrical, coaxial airframes stand out from competitors in each weight class, offering unparalleled flight performance, payload capacity, and reliability compared to conventional multirotor configurations. Included on the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS Cleared List, the flagship Spirit is a compact, modular, rugged, all-weather platform engineered to operate reliably in the most challenging environments, including high wind, heavy rain, sleet, snow, and blowing sand. The larger NX30 offers more than twice the payload capacity in a heavy lift variant, or it can be configured with additional batteries for flights exceeding an hour.

“Drones based on consumer-grade electronics will never be able to provide the safety and dispatch reliability needed to support operations at scale,” said Peter Fuchs, Ascent AeroSystems’ CEO. “They will ultimately require a type certificate for the aircraft, a production certificate for the factory, an operating certificate for the network, and a maintenance certificate for the repair station. That is the standard that has provided the foundation for civil aviation for the last eight decades. It’s a rigorous process, and there are no shortcuts. The laws of physics and aerodynamics favor coaxials, and with Robinson’s fifty years of experience, there is now no better domestic source for reliable, mission-critical UAV platforms.”

UAS are increasingly integrated into traditional rotorcraft operations in sectors including defense, public safety, agriculture, energy, utilities, construction, logistics, shipping, and surveying. Ascent AeroSystems will maintain its headquarters near Boston.

AFI KLM E&M Continues Collaboration with Transavia 

Following the launch of Transavia France’s A320neo and Transavia Netherlands A321neo operations, AFI KLM E&M announced the extension of their partnership with the signing of two new component support contracts and engine support agreements for the CFM56-7B and LEAP-1A, further solidifying a longstanding relationship. AFI KLM E&M says the newly inked component and engine support agreements underscore their commitment to delivering tailored solutions aimed at enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of Transavia’s fleet. These agreements encompass a wide array of services designed to ensure flight readiness and optimize maintenance operations for the airline’s A320 and A321neo and Boeing 737 aircraft.  

Comprehensive Support Solutions

Key components of the support package include repair services, access to component pools, and the provision of a Main Base Kit (MBK). In addition to Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), the support will extend by offering comprehensive coverage and support for Transavia NL and Transavia France’s entire A320 and A321 neo fleet. Furthermore, AFI KLM E&M takes great pride in unveiling the finalization of a significant engine agreement encompassing the CFM56-7B with Transavia France and LEAP-1A engines with Transavia NL, Transavia France and KLM. This pivotal contract not only underscores AFI KLM E&M’s deep-rooted ability to provide comprehensive engine support services.

“As we embark on the next phase of our fleet modernization journey with the introduction of the A321neo aircraft, we are confident in AFI KLM E&M ability to provide comprehensive support that aligns with our operational objectives,” said Marcel de Nooijer, CEO at Transavia NL. “This partnership reinforces our commitment to delivering a seamless and reliable travel experience for our customers and our commitment to reduce noise and CO2. We are excited to leverage AFI KLM E&M’s expertise to maximize the efficiency and performance of our fleet.”

Olivier Mazzucchelli, CEO at Transavia France said, “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with AFI KLM E&M through the signing of the new component and engine support contracts. At Transavia France, operational reliability and efficiency are paramount, and we trust AFI KLM E&M’s expertise and commitment to support our fleet’s maintenance needs. These agreements underscore our shared commitment to delivering exceptional service and value to our passengers, and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with AFI KLM E&M.”

Anne Brachet, EVP Air France- KLM Engineering & Maintenance said: “In forging these latest component and engines support agreements, we are proud to emphasize our continued dedication to delivering unparalleled support and cutting-edge solutions to our esteemed partners. We remain steadfast in our mission to meet the evolving needs of our customers, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability across all aspects of our partnership with Transavia NL and Transavia France.”

Hayes to Lead Airbus in North America 

Airbus has announced that C. Jeffrey Knittel is retiring as chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas, Inc. effective June 3, 2024, after serving as the region’s top executive since 2018. He will remain with Airbus through a transition period. Robin Hayes, former CEO of JetBlue Airways, has been selected to succeed him. 

Hayes brings 35 years of global aerospace leadership to Airbus having served in a series of  senior executive roles at British Airways over the course of his 19-year tenure, and JetBlue, where he was CEO for nine years. From 2020 to 2022, Hayes was chair of the IATA’s Board of Governors, where he championed the association’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Hayes will report to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.  

“I am delighted to welcome Robin to Airbus,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “Together with the leadership team we’re looking forward to having Robin and his vast industry experience onboard to further deliver on our strategic objectives for the region across all the Airbus businesses and further grow our North American footprint. I want to thank Jeff for his many contributions to Airbus’ success over the years, and I wish him all the best for a well deserved retirement.”

As chairman and CEO, Hayes will lead the commercial aircraft business, and will have responsibility for coordination among the company’s helicopters, space and defense businesses in North America. The region has more than 10,000 Airbus employees across 50 sites. Additionally, Airbus spends $15 billion annually with more than 2,000 U.S. suppliers in over 40 states.

“After some time off, I am excited and energised to join Airbus and build on the incredible success in the region. I have known Jeff and the Airbus team for well over a decade and I believe they have done a terrific job leading Airbus in the Americas. It is an honour for me to take up this opportunity to be part of the Airbus team,” said Hayes. “Airbus’ commitment to safety and decarbonisation is incredibly important to me personally, and I am both motivated by and committed to contributing to the Airbus purpose to pioneer sustainable aerospace.” 

During Knittel’s tenure, Airbus has grown its presence in the Americas and expanded its industrial and manufacturing footprint, doubling the region’s commercial aircraft deliveries. Knittel brought 40 years of aviation finance, leasing and manufacturing experience to Airbus, previously serving as president of CIT Aerospace and CIT Transportation Finance. 

“My time at Airbus has been a privilege and I am immensely proud of what the team has accomplished during our time together. We significantly increased revenues, grew market share and expanded our presence and operational footprint across all three Airbus businesses,” said Knittel. “The future is bright for Airbus in the region, as it is well-positioned to continue on its growth trajectory. Robin’s vast aviation experience, depth of knowledge and industry relationships make him the right choice at the right time to lead the organization into the future in line with the Company’s global ambition. I look forward to watching the team reach new heights under Robin’s leadership.” 

Jamco Corporation and JAXA Collaboratively Design Metamorphic Lavatory Concept for Passengers with Reduced Mobility

Jamco Corporation has designed its next generation lavatory aimed at solving the long-standing difficulties of passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) as a part of “Jamco Vision 2030”. This project is an ongoing collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Japanese national research and development agency for air and space.

PRMs requiring total assistance can find it difficult to use the lavatory during flights due to the confined space being too narrow for caregivers to enter the lavatory and assist PRMs. The inclusive “Metamorphic Lavatory” concept temporarily combines two adjacent lavatory units and a connecting cross aisle, resulting in the creation of an unprecedented spacious environment without necessitating a reduction in seat capacity.

Upon a PRM’s request to use the lavatory, cabin crew can maneuver the lavatory into expansion mode, where the doors blocking the cross aisle are closed to create a closed space. Odor and sound containment, as well as user privacy, are ensured through the use of a partition wall instead of a curtain. The door of the lavatory unit and the internal partition are moved together, and this space enables PRMs to get close to the toilet in their on-board wheelchair while providing space for two caregivers to stand in supportive positions in front and to the side of the toilet.

This concept can cater to a variety of passengers’ needs beyond the primary function. The lavatory houses a changing table for children and can support the setup of a simple bed that also serves as an adult changing table. A small folding shelf above the toilet can serve as a convenient place for ostomy appliances while allowing passengers to see themselves in the mirror. The multipurpose space is ideal for nursing activities and can also serve as a tranquil space for children to calm down.

PSA Airlines extends $15,000 sign-on bonus for experienced Aviation Maintenance Technicians who join Ohio maintenance base – Up to $32,500 in bonuses available

PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines and leading regional airline, has announced the extension of a series of bonuses totaling up to $32,500 for experienced aircraft maintenance technicians who join its Dayton maintenance base by May 13, 2024.
Bonus opportunities include a $15,000 sign-on bonus for joining as an aircraft maintenance technician or lead in Dayton, as well as the following that apply to candidates hired at any of PSA’s maintenance bases:

• An experience bonus for qualified aircraft maintenance technicians
o $12,500 bonus for over three years of experience
o $10,000 bonus for over two to three years of experience
o $7,500 for one to two years of experience
• A $5,000 toolbox or cash-in option
• A $7,500 in relocation assistance for non-local candidates who are hired

To apply, candidates should visit PSAairlines.com/mechanics-maintenance.

About PSA Airlines
PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, operates an all-jet fleet consisting of exclusively Bombardier regional jet aircraft. The company’s nearly 4,600 team members operate about 600 daily flights to nearly 100 destinations. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, PSA has flight crew bases in Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Dayton; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C. PSA has maintenance facilities in Dayton; Canton/Akron; Cincinnati; Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth; Greenville, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Pensacola, Fla.; and Savannah, Ga. PSA owns 51 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft and 80 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. For more, visit www.psaairlines.com.

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.

Abaco Systems Unveils SBC3513L: Next-Gen 3U VPX SBC optimized for FPGA-Based TSN Endpoint Solutions

AMETEK Abaco Systems announced the release of the SBC3513L Single Board Computer (SBC), a groundbreaking solution optimized for the growing demands of modern military and industrial applications. Developed in alignment with the SOSA Technical Standard, the SBC3513L delivers exceptional yet balanced processing power and optional FPGA-based Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) Endpoint capabilities for mission and safety-critical systems.

“Our approach is to develop products which support TSN as flexibly as possible, combining Abaco’s FPGA hardware with FPGA IP Cores to create TSN Switched Endpoints in our SBCs,” said Alan Hislop, division vice president of business development & sales for AMETEK Abaco Systems. “We believe the FPGA-based approach will be key to delivering both full TSN compliance and the 10G bandwidth requirements of major new programs such as the US Army’s Ground Combat Systems Common Infrastructure Architecture (GCIA), Future Vertical Lift (FVL) applications, aviation upgrades, and technology insertion.”

Featuring the Intel Xeon W processor, 100GbE data plane, and onboard Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ FPGA for additional programmable capabilities, the rugged SBC3513L offers exceptional performance and reliability for demanding command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (C5ISR) applications. With its seamless upgrade path and advanced thermal management design, the SBC3513L sets a new standard for rugged computing solutions in space-constrained environments.

AAR Breaks Ground on MRO Facility Expansion in Oklahoma City

AAR broke ground on the expansion of its maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in Oklahoma City earlier on April 5, 2024.

More than 150 representatives from AAR, Alaska Airlines, state and local government, and partner organizations supporting the efforts gathered to celebrate groundbreaking on AAR’s new three-bay facility that is being constructed adjacent to the Company’s existing facility at Will Rogers World Airport.

The new facility has been designed to provide AAR an additional 80,000+ square feet of hangar and warehouse space and to accommodate all 737 variants, including the 737-10. AAR’s growth in Oklahoma City supports a recently expanded maintenance commitment from Alaska Airlines, a valued customer of AAR for more than 20 years. The new airframe MRO facility is expected to be operational in January of 2026.  

Considerable funding for the project was made possible through a grant secured by Oklahoma legislators, with the balance expected to be funded through rent concessions from the airport.

Speakers at the groundbreaking celebration included John M. Holmes, AAR’s Chairman, President and CEO; Don Wright, Alaska Airlines’ Vice President of Maintenace & Engineering; Grayson Ardies, State Director of Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission; Lt. Governor Matt Pinell; Senator Paul Rosino; Jeff Seymour of Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development; Terry Salmon, Chair of the Oklahoma City Airport Trust; and Jeff Mulder, Oklahoma City Director of Airports. 

Holmes shared, “Today’s groundbreaking has been made possible thanks to collaborative efforts across AAR and Alaska Airlines, partnerships with Oklahoma City Airport Trust, and state and local representatives who are passionate about expanding aviation in Oklahoma. We are especially excited about creating 200 additional full-time careers with AAR, which we expect to fill through local technical schools and workforce development partners who create opportunities though aviation-centric programming, such as Choose Aerospace.”

“The Oklahoma City Airport Trust is excited to partner with AAR to expand its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operation at Will Rogers World Airport. This expansion of AAR’s MRO operation provides more hangar capacity at OKC, along with more aviation jobs for our community,” said Jeff Mulder, Oklahoma City’s Director of Airports.

“This groundbreaking isn’t just about constructing a hangar. It’s about cultivating an excellent experience for all involved. JE Dunn is honored to bring our construction expertise and leadership and partner with The Oklahoma City Airport Trust (OCAT) to support the business growth happening in our city,” said Jason Bishop, JE Dunn’s Vice President – Oklahoma City, who is leading the construction effort.

DDC-I and North Atlantic Industries Announce DAL A BSP Support for Safety-Critical Deos RTOS Running on NAI’s 68PPC2 T2080 Multi-core OpenVPX Single Board Computer

DDC-I, a leading supplier of software and professional services for mission- and safety-critical applications, and North Atlantic Industries, a leading provider of embedded systems for mil/aero applications, today announced the availability of DDC-I’s Deos™ DO-178C Design Assurance Level A (DAL A) verified FACE-conformant real-time operating system and a DAL A Board Support Package (BSP) for NAI’s 68PPC2 T2080 PowerPC OpenVPX single board computer. The BSP provides complete DO-178C/ED-12C DAL A verification evidence, including high assurance boot, multiple Ethernet channels leveraging the T2080 DPAA, PCIe, SATA flash storage, I2C, serial, real-time clock, watch dog timer, SPI, USB, and GPIO, greatly accelerating the development, deployment, and certification of high-performance safety-critical applications for avionics systems.

DDC-I’s approach to building safety critical software mirrors North Atlantic’s approach to configuring boards, with an emphasis on modular, scalable portable DAL-A verification. Deos utilizes a DAL-A linking loader that allows OS binary components and their artifacts to travel separately. NAI’s Configurable Open Systems Architecture™ (COSA®) utilizes highly modular, portable components that can be added or removed, and reapplied to other system configurations with maximum reuse of DAL-A artifacts. This shared commitment to modularity, portability and reuse enables avionics designers utilizing Deos and the COSA architecture to reconfigure their I/O systems with minimal impact on hardware, software and DO-178 recertification.  

“Our SafeMC multi-core technology and reusable verification evidence make Deos an ideal environment for developing, certifying and deploying high-performance, FACE-conformant, safety-critical avionics applications targeting the 68PPC2 and COSA architecture,” said Greg Rose, Vice President of Marketing at DDC-I. “Our SafeMC technology provides unique solutions to address the AC 20-193 multi-core objectives, delivering best-in-class performance and determinism for safety-critical applications running on NXP PowerPC multi-core processors.”

“Deos running atop the 68PPC2 gives avionics developers an integrated platform that combines high-performance multi-core performance with a best-in-class safety-critical RTOS,” added Lino Massafra, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at NAI. “Developers requiring the highest level of design assurance now have a rugged, flexible, off-the-shelf solution with configurable I/O and DAL-A evidence in a compact, low-power package that accelerates deployment of safety-critical systems.”

Deos is a safety-critical embedded RTOS that employs patented cache partitioning, memory pools, and safe scheduling to deliver higher CPU utilization than any other certifiable safety-critical COTS RTOS on multi-core processors. First certified to DO-178 DAL A in 1998, Deos combines DO-178C DAL A artifacts with FACE® Technical Standard support that encompasses the Safety Base and Safety Extended Profiles for the Operating System Segment (OSS). The Safety Base Profile features hard real-time response, time, and space partitioning, and both ARINC-653 and POSIX interfaces. The Safety Extended Profile, which adds support for TCP/IP communications, multi-process support, and expanded POSIX capability (80 extra functions), is a superset of the functionality required by the Safety Base and Security Profiles.

SafeMC technology extends Deos’ advanced capabilities to multiple cores, enabling developers of safety-critical systems to achieve best in class multi-core performance without compromising safety-critical task response and guaranteed execution time. SafeMC employs a bounded multi-processing (BMP) extension of the symmetric multi-processing architecture (SMP), safe scheduling, and cache partitioning to minimize cross-core contention and interference patterns that affect the performance, safety criticality and certifiability of multi-core systems. These features enable avionics systems developers to address issues that could impact the safety, performance and integrity of a software airborne system executing on Multi-Core Processors (MCP), as specified by the FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-193.

The 68PPC2 is a 3U OpenVPX™ NXP® T2080 PowerPC single-board computer that can be configured with up to two NAI smart I/O and communications function modules. Featuring an NXP QorlQ® T2080 Quad Core e6500 Processor running at 1.5 GHz, and consuming less then 25W, the 68PPC2 is ideally suited for rugged Mil-Aero applications that accelerate deployment of SWaP-optimized systems in air, land, and sea applications. The 68PPC2 comes equipped with eight Mbytes of DDR3 SDRAM and 32 Gbytes of SATA II NAND Flash. It also features PCIe, USB, I2C, TTL, and RS-232 interfaces, as well as an optional SATA II for external access to up to 2 Gbytes of expansion memory.