Category: General Aviation

Wings of Hope Airplane Raffle Open

The annual Wings of Hope airplane raffle has gone live today, Monday, September 9, 2024 at 12am Central Time. There are only 5,000 tickets being made available. The cost for one ticket is $100 and three tickets is $275. Each ticket has a chance to win one of the following prizes:

  1. Grand Prize: 1964 Piper Cherokee 235 (N8623W)

The 1964 Cherokee 235 is an example of Piper’s top of the line four-place, fixed gear design. It has the performance to carry four people, full fuel (84 gal in four fuel tanks), and more than a hundred pounds of luggage (via a large baggage door) with a cruise speed of 150+ mph. It can do this while still taking off and landing on short strips and having a service ceiling of 14,500’ (at gross weight)! The 235 is also known for its reliability incorporating a Lycoming O-540 engine with 2,000 hr TBO, a McCauley fixed pitch propeller, a quickly removeable top cowling, manual flaps, and a center-mounted hand brake lever. To top it off, this 235 has been totally updated including recent overall silver paint, 2-tone leather interior, all windows replaced, along with engine and propeller overhauled. Then avionics technicians and volunteers updated the avionics with the following all new Garmin equipment:

  • G3X and G5 STBY
  • GMA-345 Audio Panel
  • GNX-375 GPS/Transponder
  • GNC-215 NV/COM
  • GTR-205 COM
  • Remote Units:
    • GAD-27 Power Supply
    • GSU-25 ADAHRS
    • GEA-24 Engine Sensor
    • GMU-11 Magnetometer

  1. Second Prize: a PPL or Advanced Training Scholarship
  2. Third Prize: a Bose A30 aviation headset

In order to purchase tickets, go to the Wings of Hope website at https://wingsofhope.ngo/raffle/. Purchases can be made with any major credit card, no other forms of payment will be accepted.

Grupo EULEN Appoints New VP of Aviation Operations for U. S. and the Caribbean

Grupo EULEN announced the appointment of John Jones as vice president of aviation operations for the United States and the Caribbean.

In his new role, Jones will lead and support Grupo EULEN’s aviation division in the U.S., overseeing a team of highly skilled professionals who serve at ten airports in the USA and Jamaica. Jones will be responsible for driving the strategic growth plan to further expand the company’s aviation division.

“I am excited to join Grupo EULEN in the United States and work with such a talented and dedicated team,” said Jones. “My vision for this role involves a multifaceted strategy that focuses on building an exceptional leadership team in the U.S., where all leaders are equipped and motivated to nurture our most valuable asset: our workforce.”

Jones brings more than 27 years of experience as a leader in the aviation industry, known for building strong customer partnerships, forming successful leadership teams and promoting a culture of continuous and sustainable improvement. Before joining Grupo EULEN in the U.S., he held various leadership positions, including HUB director, regional director, senior vice president, and chief operating officer at Dnata USA. He also served as senior vice president of the international division at Aeroméxico (dba Aeroméxico Connect), overseeing the airline’s regional operations, commercial, marketing and personnel management in the U.S. His aviation career began at Conquest Airlines in Texas, where he served as director of stations, developing the company’s domestic and international network. Jones holds a degree in business management from Texas A&M University.

“We must provide development opportunities to help our leaders manage and support our workforce, genuinely showing our employees that we value them and care about their well-being,” said Jones. “We want to instill the concept of operational excellence and deliver a best-in-class service to our aviation business partners.”

In addition to optimizing current operations at the ten airports in the U.S. and Jamaica, Jones will focus on generating opportunities to expand Grupo EULEN’s aviation portfolio in the U.S., collaborating with both current and potential business partners.

“Challenges exist, as the aviation ground handling industry is highly competitive; however, Grupo EULEN has successfully built a new and solid leadership in the U.S. I am confident that our new management team is equipped with the skills and technology needed to achieve our goals of growth and operational excellence,” said Jones.

Jones is planning to visit each airport location in the coming weeks to meet with operational leaders and frontline employees, aiming to fully understand each operation and provide solutions to the specific complexities and challenges of each station.

EAA Recognizes Rep. Sam Graves for Spearheading Bipartisan Efforts for FAA Reauthorization

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) recognized U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) for his bipartisan efforts, working with leaders in the House and Senate, to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was signed into law this past May by President Biden. The EAA recognition came during Rep. Graves’ annual congressional update to aviators held at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest fly-in convention.

“In his role as Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves conveyed to Congress the necessity of giving the FAA its roadmap for the next five years, so the agency can plan and execute its important mission of keeping the American aviation system the safest and most active in the world,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. “It is especially gratifying to see general aviation represented as an essential, stand-alone title within FAA reauthorization, a provision that exists because of the direction and support of Chairman Graves.”

The FAA Reauthorization Act includes the first-ever general aviation title, a specific section that encompasses numerous provisions supported by EAA that benefit general aviation growth. Of note, the bill mandates the expansion of BasicMed, increasing the size of covered aircraft to 12,500 pounds, the number of allowable passengers to six, and the number of seats to seven. Another provision provides a 24-month maximum deadline for the FAA’s completion of the MOSAIC final rule. While the rule is expected significantly sooner — likely in 2025 — a congressional deadline highlights the importance of the rulemaking.

Also included are sections that provide for the continued availability of avgas, direct a review of the process for reserving aircraft registration numbers to reduce unfair profiteering, and spur development of a suitable position reporting system for voluntary use in non-rule airspace. In further efforts to protect pilots from unfair enforcement, language is included that prohibits the use of ADS-B Out data by the FAA to initiate an investigation, and additional sections amend the Pilot’s Bill of Rights to ensure pilots have adequate time to respond to a letter of investigation.

A longtime pilot himself, Chairman Graves has emerged as a leading voice in Congress in support of aviation. He continues to be active at aviation events throughout the country and as a member of the EAA Warbirds of America board of directors, as that organization is dedicated to the preservation of historic military aircraft.

Elevate MRO, Elevate Jet, Expand to Denver, Boosting Western U. S. Presence

Elevate MRO, a division of Elevate Aviation Group (EAG), has announced the opening of a new aircraft maintenance center at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) in Denver. This expansion includes increased staff and maintenance teams to support the existing client base and enhance aircraft maintenance service availability while supporting Elevate Jet’s management, charter and aircraft sales capabilities.

The 17,000-square-foot facility provides essential hangar and office space, allowing Elevate to expand its MRO aircraft maintenance and management. Notably, the MRO will introduce much-needed avionics services, including custom installations and maintenance. Elevate MRO was recently selected by SpaceX as an approved dealer and installer of Starlink for business aircraft.

With other companies closing their Denver operations, Elevate aims to tap into the region’s talented pool of aviation technicians and industry veterans, offering aircraft owners a new local management option. With a mobile AOG team capable of quickly restoring an aircraft to service, Elevate provides support to the Denver metropolitan area and surrounding resort airports.

“In addition to expanding our MRO footprint, this new facility will provide Elevate clients a home for owners who are looking for aircraft management services,” said Jim Slack, president of Elevate MRO. “With its savage client-centric approach, Elevate MRO maintains a wide array of current airframes representing 43 unique aircraft models across 11 manufacturers. This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering top-tier services and innovative solutions to the private jet community.”

Getac’s Next Generation F110 Tablet for Field Professionals

Getac has launched the next generation F110 tablet, which combines fully rugged reliability with a host of powerful new upgrades for exceptional performance and efficiency in the field.

Getac’s flagship F110 model has long been at the forefront of rugged tablet design, making it incredibly popular with customers across multiple sectors and industries. The new F110 builds on this legacy, offering upgraded processing power, brightness, and connectivity, alongside excellent energy efficiency, for full-shift performance in a variety of challenging indoor/outdoor working environments.

Powerful and Versatile

Key features include an upgraded Intel Core 13th Gen i5/i7 processor, with Intel UHD Graphics offering new levels of processing speed and graphical performance. Elsewhere, the ultra-bright 1,200 nit LumiBond screen, with multitouch modes (touch, glove, pen) – the brightest ever available on the F110 – optimizes productivity in weather conditions ranging from full sun to rain and snow. For maximum mobility and productivity, the F110 can be used with a wide range of Getac accessories, including detachable keyboard, hard carry handle, and secure vehicle docks. 

Connectivity Options

Fast and reliable remote communication is a critical part of field operations in industries such as defense and oil & gas production/exploration, which is why the next-generation F110 offers a wide array of outstanding connectivity options as standard. These include Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211, 802.11ax, and Bluetooth 5.3, enabling personnel to quickly communicate with colleagues and share data as needed. Connectivity can be enhanced even further with optional 4G LTE and 5G Sub-6 modules (dual sim design including a physical sim and an e-sim), while a 5MP webcam provides clear and detailed pictures during video calls and remote guidance activities.

Energy Efficient and Reliable

Field professionals in industries like utilities and manufacturing need digital devices they can rely on for the full duration of shifts, even when access to power points or recharge facilities is limited. The next generation F110 features DDR5 memory (up to 32GB), which offers higher base speeds and lower power consumption than previous generations, making it ideal for full-shift operation. Its user-friendly hot-swappable batteries can also be easily replaced in the field if needed. If even more operation time is required between charges, the F110 is compatible with Getac’s optional high-capacity Li-ion batteries as well.

The F110 also boasts rugged reliability. MIL-STD-810H and IP66 certification, a 6ft operating drop rating, and optional salt fog resistance make it ideally suited to operations in challenging work environments where the risk of accidental knocks, drops, and spillages is much greater.

“The F110 has been a mainstay of our fully rugged tablet portfolio for a long time, and for good reason. Its combination of laptop-level performance and tablet convenience makes it the ultimate field device for customers across sectors and industries where challenging operating environments are par for the course every day,” says James Hwang, president of Getac Technology Corporation. “The next generation F110 boasts new features and enhancements that help field professionals get the job done at first time of asking, even when faced with adverse conditions and locations.”

Bluestreak I Bright AM Achieves CMMC Registered Practitioner Organization Status

Bluestreak Compliance, a division of Bluestreak | Bright AM, a quality management and manufacturing execution system software company, proudly announces its approval as a CMMC Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (Cyber-AB). This significant achievement enables Bluestreak Compliance™to offer expert consulting services to defense contractors and suppliers aiming to comply with CMMC cybersecurity standards and prepare for their Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) audits.

In January 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) introduced the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program to ensure that contractors have implemented adequate security measures to protect sensitive data across its extensive 300,000-contractor supply chain, known as the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The CMMC 2.0 framework includes three certification levels, from Foundational to Expert, covering 14 control families and 110 practices aligned with NIST SP 800-171 R2.
Although CMMC 2.0 has not been fully released, the DoD plans to implement the CMMC program under a four-phased plan starting as early as Q1 2025, with all new solicitations for contracts involving Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) by October 1, 2026, to secure DoD contracts.

“CMMC certification is critical for your business because it sets clear and rigorous cybersecurity standards, ensuring that all contractors meet essential security requirements to protect sensitive information and strengthen our national defense,” said Joe Coleman, cyber security officer, CMMC-RPA. “If you do any work for a DoD contractor or handle CUI in any way, you must become certified.”

Happy Charles Taylor Day!

Charles Taylor, who was the Wright Brothers’ mechanic and is considered the father of aviation maintenance, was born on May 24th. AMT Day is celebrated each year in the aviation maintenance industry and honors Charles Taylor on the date of his birth. Like Taylor, aircraft mechanics are truly the unsung heroes of the aviation industry. Congress passed a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National AMT Day in 2008. After several years of continuous effort, Senate Resolution #SRES335 passed in December 2016, joining Congressional Resolution #RES#444, recognizing May 24 as AMT Day, and the day is now observed in many states in the U.S. Here’s to all the people who work selflessly to ensure the safety of our air transportation system.

CustomCells Strengthens Commitment in eAviation

CustomCells, a leading innovator in the development of premium lithium-ion battery cells, announces its strategic move towards achieving Design Organization and Production Organization certifications from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This landmark initiative underscores CustomCells’ commitment to advancing the electrification of aviation and setting new standards for airworthy battery solutions. CustomCells is deepening its involvement in the e-Aviation ecosystem exhibition and conference season, starting by taking part in the aviation show “AERO Friedrichshafen” this week together with its partner VÆRIDION. Finally, the company’s new white paper will be presented there. Entitled “The Enabler of eAviation: Advanced Batteries for a Cleaner Sky”, CustomCells provides an overview of the status of current developments and how its high-performance battery cells will help electric flight achieve a breakthrough. 
 
A Milestone for CustomCells 
 
The pursuit of EASA certifications marks a significant milestone in our journey, reinforcing our dedication to excellence, safety, and innovation in designing battery cells that meet the rigorous demands of electric aviation applications. By meeting EASA’s stringent standards, CustomCells aims to provide the aviation industry with battery cells that offer unmatched reliability, performance, and safety. As we embark on this certification process, CustomCells is committed to transparency and collaboration with regulatory bodies, industry partners, and stakeholders.

Advanced Batteries for a Cleaner Sky
 
While the electrification of road transport is making steady progress, a comparable technological change in aviation has yet to materialize. Together with its customers, CustomCells is driving the transformation to environmentally friendly battery-electric drive systems – paving the way for sustainable and climate-neutral aviation.

“As a company dedicated to the development of advanced energy storage solutions, we are happy to share our insights and expertise with industry representatives, cooperation partners and the interested public – and with all aviation enthusiasts who, like us, have a vision of a sustainable, electrified future for air travel,” says Dr Dirk Abendroth, CEO of the CustomCells Group.

With the white paper, CustomCells provides an overview of the technological future of aviation. Particular attention is paid to the crucial role that lithium-ion batteries will play in the electrification of aviation. The paper outlines the current eAviation landscape and the highly dynamic development in this area, presents the different types of electric aircraft and the different battery form factors and also describes the certification of electrically powered aircraft.

The Central Part of the Electric Transformation of Flying

As one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of lithium-ion battery cells in the premium segment, CustomCells is significantly shaping innovations in the eAviation sector. “CustomCells is a pioneer and technological trailblazer in the battery industry. The electrification of aviation calls for innovative solutions that have not existed until now,” says Abendroth. “Our cutting-edge battery cell solutions are the key to unlocking the immense potential of electric flight and ushering in an era in which aircraft are emission-free, quiet and efficient. We are the co-pilots of the next century story.”

Eric Swedersky, Senior Vice President Commercialisation at CustomCells, adds: “The use of high-performance battery cells enables the next generation of flight – from electric vertical take-off and short take-off aircraft to conventional take-off and landing aircraft. For short distances, the first battery-electric aircraft of this type are already in the starting blocks, equipped with state-of-the-art battery cell technology from CustomCells – including Lilium and VÆRIDION, for example. This opens up a completely new segment of urban and regional mobility.

Sustainable, digital and electrically powered eAviation offers innovative solutions for modern mobility requirements. CustomCells is driving this development forward with high-performance, German-engineered battery cells.”

Air Plains Services Named Authorized Garmin Dealer  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avotek Publishes ACS-Centered Book Series

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

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

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

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

The books are available for ordering now.