Category: General Aviation

Sherwin-Williams Launches New Aerospace Conductive Coating

Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings added a new aerospace conductive coating (CM0485115) to its line of undercoats, enabling aircraft owners to impart conductivity onto aluminum and composite substrates. The coating offers high conductivity to non-conductive substrates by producing an anti-static conductive film on their surfaces with a resistivity of 0.1 to 100,000 ohms per square meter to help static charges dissipate from antennas and radomes. The coating is designed with excellent adhesion and offers excellent fluid resistance.

Conductive coating (CM0485115) is designed to work with Sherwin-Williams topcoat systems. Using a 1:1 mix ratio, the product is simple to mix and apply. It is compatible with all non-electrostatic spray equipment and can be applied onto pre-primed aluminum and composite substrates to achieve high conductivity. For the best results, the company says the conductive coating should be applied in one singular, continuous closed film or one cross coat. The application can happen in a wide range of environmental conditions, and the coating can be air cured or force dried, providing flexibility for applicators. Drying times vary based on the dry film thickness.

“As composite substrates continue to grow in popularity in the aerospace market, it’s important for our customers to have ready access to a robust conductive coating that can meet their requirements for functionality, durability and ease of application,” said Julie Voisin, market segment manager, aerospace, OEM interior and commercial vehicle refinish. “Our new conductive coating is a perfect complement to our product offering and commitment to deliver high-performing products to the aerospace marketplace.”

FlightSafety International Expands PC-24 Training Capacity in Europe

FlightSafety International, in partnership with Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, announced they will deploy a fourth full-flight simulator (FFS) for the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet to meet the growing demand for training in Europe. 

This simulator will be the second PC-24 simulator in the FlightSafety Paris Le Bourget Learning Center. The new simulator is planned to be ready for training during the second quarter of 2024. The other two simulators for this specific aircraft are located in the FlightSafety Dallas-Fort Worth North Learning Center.

“FlightSafety is pleased to offer expanded capacity to meet the demand in Europe for the growing fleet of PC-24 operators,” said Nate Speiser, executive vice president of FlightSafety sales and marketing. “FlightSafety has trained over 1,000 PC-24 pilots since introducing training for this aircraft in 2013 and we are excited to continue to advance our partnership with Pilatus for this program.”

“Pilatus’s continuous work and close collaboration with FlightSafety International has led to a consolidated solid partnership and professional training of PC-24 pilots. We are pleased to welcome the fourth PC-24 flight simulator in the PC-24 community. A great opportunity to fulfill future training demands while improving availability for all our current customers and operators,” commented Ignaz Gretener, VP general aviation.

The PC-24 Super Versatile Jet is a uniquely designed aircraft providing a highly desirable set of comforts and benefits to its passengers and operators. The PC-24 offers a larger passenger cabin with a continuous flat floor and a pressurized baggage compartment. Its excellent short-field performance combined with its capability to operate from both paved and unpaved runways make the PC-24 a unique business jet capable of exploring locations and airfields not easily accessible by other similar class aircraft.

Eaton Rolls Out Green Motion Air, Electric Aircraft Charger to Help Airports Reduce Carbon Footprint

Eaton is rolling out of Green Motion Air to airport operators across Europe, starting with a demonstration of the technology at the 2023 Paris Air Show this month.

Green Motion Air is built on Eaton’s proprietary DC charging technology, bringing unrivaled conversion efficiency of 96% to charging electric planes and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

“This latest version of technology that was formerly called SKYCHARGE was initially developed by Green Motion — now part of Eaton — and Pipistrel, the company that made history with its Velis Electro by obtaining the first-ever type certificate for electric propulsion in aviation,” said François Randin, business development director, Energy Transition, Digital and Services Eaton. “Green Motion Air is already well-proven after becoming the world’s first to be approved by EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

“We will display Green Motion Air at the Paris Air Show to show its versatility as a standalone charger either stationary or mounted on wheels for ultimate mobility on airside. We will explain to airport operators and OEMs alike the role it will play in a broader strategy of airport electrification thanks to its online and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality.”

Airports can be transformed into energy hubs through Eaton’s Buildings as a Grid approach to the energy transition, which unites the power needs of buildings and electric vehicles with on-site renewable energy generation.

Explaining how this approach works at an airport, Randin said, “Buildings as a Grid is strategic so it could mean coupling on-airport renewable energy generated from assets such as solar panels, with EV charging stations in airport car parks, Green Motion Air, and other electrical equipment too.”

The Buildings as a Grid approach is based on a concept called sector coupling that links energy consumption with renewable energy generation and storage to reduce costs and carbon emissions and lessen pressure on the grid. It is a flexible and scalable approach, so airport operators can start with Green Motion Air, for instance, and plan to expand their infrastructure via Eaton’s related hardware and software at a later stage.

The product benefits of Green Motion Air include a 10″ colour touch-screen display for ease of use, which enables the user to pause and resume the charging session, cybersecurity protection, and secure user authentication. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor mounting, with cable extensions available for enhanced flexibility, or mobile use.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics Relocates Van Nuys, California Facility to Chatsworth 

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics announced the company’s West Coast facility is relocating from its current Van Nuys, California location to a new facility, less than ten miles west, in Chatsworth, California. The move will be completed by May 15, 2023. There will be no interruption to Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics’ customers.  

“We’re keeping things simple for our customers. We’re the same great team, providing the same excellent customer support,” said Bryan Miner, director of the Western Region for Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics. “We’re even keeping the same phone number. We’ll just have a new address at a new and improved facility. It’s exciting!”

EFFECTIVE MAY 15, 2023, customers shipping units to Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics’ West Coast facility must use the following address: 

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics 

9722 Topanga Canyon Boulevard 

Chatsworth, California 91311 

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics’ California facility was established in 1991 to expand the company’s service capabilities and international reach. The West Coast location provides extended hours to customers in later U.S. time zones and around the globe. It offers new product sales and first-class repair services for instruments, avionics, electrical power systems and accessories. The facility is FAA and EASA-certified, provides quick turns and dedicated, one-on-one technical support. Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics has a second location (headquarters) located in Wichita, Kansas.  

Bluetail Introduces MACH 2 Search

Bluetail, the leading Software as a Service (SaaS) aircraft records platform for business aviation, has introduced its second-generation Bluetail MAC 2 Search feature.

“When we introduced our MACH Search engine in 2021, it set the standard as the first machine learning search engine purpose-built to meet the specific needs of aircraft owners and operators,” stated Roberto Guerrieri, Bluetail CEO, and co-founder. “The many improvements we’ve built into MACH 2 are the results of what we’ve learned and what our customers and partners have asked for over these past two years.”

“Today, MACH 2 is the fastest, most logical, and easiest-to-use digital records search engine in aviation,” he continued. “It lets aircraft owners and operators perform faster and more accurate records searches, which in turn allows them to return their aircraft to service faster and at a lower cost.”

To achieve MACH 2’s industry-redefining capabilities, Bluetail’s engineering teams developed a series of enhancements to the search algorithms, creating advanced auto-organization and filters and an enhanced database architecture.

“While the technology behind MACH 2 is proprietary, the real differentiator is just how much it can do to help our customers achieve faster turns on each maintenance, compliance, or conformity event,” added Bluetail VP of development and delivery, Greg Baynham. “There are no cumbersome search filters. MACH 2 auto-recognizes all major filters, so maintenance personnel just have to click on the link to view, search or share logbooks, forms, ATA codes, file names, dates, or whatever the job requires.”

“Today’s aircraft operators and maintainers need tools that make their work more efficient,” he continued. “Bluetail’s new MACH 2 Search is the only solution that has been developed to do just that.”

MACH 2 Search will be available for Bluetail customers by the end of May 2023.

About Bluetail MACH 2 Search:

  • Auto-organizes large files and eliminates all manual indexing of keywords, numbers, or tags.
  • Machine learninganalyzes aircraft records data in real-time for a best-in-class search experience
  • Automatically recognizes all major search filters, including FAA Forms, Logbooks, ATA Codes, project dates, etc.
  • Finds any operations or maintenance records in seconds.
  • Recognizes handwriting of A&P signature or inspector signoffs.
  • Built on the most advanced enterprise security protocols.

Last of the Cayman 10 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles Being Flown to its Final Home in Niagara, NY on a Special Mission

In 1980, the Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter took in a group of young Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in an effort to begin an experimental captive breeding program because the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was on the brink of extinction in the wild. Thanks to international conservation efforts to reduce the main threats to the turtles, the wild population increased and the captive breeding program was abandoned. After a 10 year process, navigating through permits of many different shapes and sizes, international laws, and COVID regulations, we were able to transport the last group of remaining turtles to their new homes in the U.S.

On April 14, 2022, the “Cayman 10” as they’ve been dubbed, were retrieved from the Cayman Islands by dedicated Turtles Fly Too Turtle Fliers, Chuck Yanke, Kelli O’Donnel and NOAA Fisheries Veterinarian Dr. Brian Stacy, then flown directly to Orlando for quarantine by SeaWorld Orlando. Since the group were raised in captivity and are non-releasable, they were all sent to zoos and aquariums with high standards of care to live out
the rest of their lives.

This spring of 2023, the very last turtle will be relocated to its final home. SeaWorld Orlando will
transport the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle to Turtles Fly Too partner Sheltair, at KORL, Orlando Executive, where it will be loaded onto a plane and flown by Andy Reinach and his daughter Maddie Reinach to the Aquarium of Niagara, coming into KIAG, Niagara Falls International in New York. There, it will live out the rest of its life in a new habitat, being an ambassador and bringing awareness to the species and the dangers they face in the wild.

Regarding this special mission, Reinach said, “Maddie and I are excited and honored to fly the last of the
Cayman 10 to its new home in the Aquarium of Niagara. We appreciate Turtles Fly Too’s dedication of
this flight to my daughter who is recovering from an accident. Since I began volunteering for TF2,
Maddie has wanted to join me for a mission. With Leslie Weinstein making sure Maddie will be able to fly the last of the Cayman 10, this will certainly be a flight to remember forever.”

Superior Air Parts Announces 2023 Airventure Schedule

Superior Air Parts, Inc., has announced its popular Oshkosh/AirVenture educational forum series schedule for 2023.

“Superior Air Parts’ forum series has become an important part of Oshkosh/AirVenture for so many of our customers,” stated Keith Chatten, CEO of Superior Air Parts. “I think to date we’ve hosted nearly 2,000 aircraft owners and pilots in our AirVenture forum classroom, and we’re grateful for everyone’s continued interest and support.”

“Our goal is simply to help pilots better understand proper engine operations– no matter what kind of airplane or engine they operate – to get the most performance, reliability, and value out of every flight hour,” he added. “If we can help just one more owner get their piston engine safely and efficiently to TBO when we do that, we consider the forums to be a success.”

As in years past, the 2023 Superior Forum Series will be hosted by the company’s VP of Product Support and recipient of the 2023 General Aviation Awards’ National Technician of the Year award Bill Ross A&P I/A.

Superior Air Parts 2023 Oshkosh Forum Series schedule:

• Monday, 10:00 am – Leaning to Save Money

• Tuesday, 8:00 am Tech Tuesday – The Real Cost of Deferring Maintenance

             10:00 am – How to Save Money On Engine Maintenance

• Wednesday, 10:00 am – “Under Pressure”- What Compression Numbers Really Mean

• Thursday, 10:00 am – What an Oil Change Can Reveal About Engine Health

• Friday, 10:00 am – Aircraft Cylinder Anatomy and Durability 

• Saturday, 10:00 am – TBO and Beyond, Now What?

The series of free, 45-minute 2023 Oshkosh/AirVenture Forum sessions will be held Monday through Saturday at 10:00 am at the Superior Air Parts tent (#258), just north of Hangar B.

Superior’s Tech Tuesday returns for 2023.

Chatten also announced that Superior is again hosting its popular Tech Tuesday forum for A&P mechanics and as well as A&P students. 

Tech Tuesday is a unique 90-minute forum created for FAA-licensed A&P mechanics/Aviation Maintenance Technicians to help refresh their piston engine maintenance and operations knowledge.

Tech Tuesday is July 25th from 8:00 – 9:30 am. This year’s topic is The Real Cost of Deferring Maintenance. Attendance earns FAA A&P I/A Renewal Credits.

“As an A&P I/A, pilot and aircraft owner, I am very excited about having the opportunityto talk to my fellow technicians and A&P students,” Ross said. “Their knowledge and skills are key in ensuring that aircraft owners get the most value, performance, and safety out of their piston engines.”

*Note: Forum subjects and schedules are subject to change. 

For more information and a complete forum schedule, visit: https://superiorairparts.com/forums

Schools in U. S. to Receive $10 Million in FAA Grants to Develop the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals

Twenty-three schools will receive $10 million in grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help attract and train students for careers as pilots and aviation maintenance technicians. 
 
Twelve of the schools will receive $5 million from the FAA’s Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Development Grants program. The schools can use the funding to create and deliver curriculums designed to prepare students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or drone operators. 

Grant recipients include: 

  • AOPA Foundation Institute, Frederick, Md.: $498,100 
  • Black Pilots of America, Seattle, Wash.: $500,000 
  • Broward College, Pembroke Pines, Fla.: $500,000 
  • Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.: $345,711 
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla.: $484,803 
  • Kentucky Office of Employment & Training, Frankfort, Ky.: $500,000 
  • Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Inc, Mount Royal, N.J.: $171,231.80 
  • School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Penn.: $197,180 
  • Sling Flying Club, LLC, Torrance, Calif.: $499,865 
  • Tuskegee Museum, Detroit, Mich.: $500,000 
  • University of Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie West, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands: $499,301 
  • William Jessup University, Rocklin, Calif.: $303,808.20 


The other $5 million will go to 11 schools as part of the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development program. These grants will help build back the pipeline of maintenance professionals; approximately 20,000 fewer people are working in the aircraft maintenance sector than before the pandemic. 

Grant recipients include: 

  • Aviation Technical Services Inc., Everett, Wash.: $459,206.29 
  • Cape Cod Community College, Plymouth, Mass.: $463,304 
  • Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati, Ohio: $423,594 
  • F & E Aviation Maintenance, Miami Springs, Fla.: $500,000 
  • Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, Ill.: $500,000 
  • Nashua Community College, Nashua, N.H.: $456,051 
  • Pearl River Community College, Poplarville, Miss.: $500,000 
  • San Luis Obispo County Community College District, San Luis Obispo, Calif.: $484,299 
  • Tarrant County College District, Fort Worth, Texas: $282,345.71 
  • Technical Education Services Inc, Norfolk, Va.: $431,200 
  • The Fulton Leadership Academy, East Point, Ga.: $500,000 

 
Recipients can use the funding to establish new educational programs; provide scholarships or apprenticeships; conduct outreach about careers in the aviation maintenance industry; and support educational opportunities related to aviation maintenance in economically disadvantaged areas.  

Air Plains Introduces 3-Point Primer for its Lycoming 180hp Engine STC

Air Plains Services, a world leader in general aviation engine and avionics upgrades, has developed a new three-point engine primer kit for its 180hp engine upgrade STC, providing enhanced cold engine starts compared with the standard single-point primer.

“Our new three-cylinder primer is particularly effective in cold-weather locations, but it gives anyone a smoother, quicker start,” said Katie Church, Air Plains president. “If you have an Air Plains 172XP 180hp upgrade that was done prior to 2021, it’s very likely the original primer system was reinstalled with the new engine. While the previous process works just fine for most customers, we wanted to develop an option that was even more reliable for cold-weather customers.”

Air Plains engineers worked directly with Lycoming to develop the new primer system to be compatible with the more than 2,700 existing 172XP 180hp upgrades, and to be an option for new customers. Air Plains also worked with Lycoming to develop the installation manual.

The standard primer uses a single nozzle in the #3 cylinder for priming while the new kit adds nozzles for cylinders #2 and #4.   

The new three-point primer is one of the new products to be featured by Air Plains at the annual Sun ‘N Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Fla., March 28 through April 2. Air Plains will be in a larger exhibit space this year- MD-23 – and will show off several customer airplanes featuring various Air Plains upgrades.

Bluetail Raises Additional $2.2 Million Series A  from Venture Firm AZ-VC to Accelerate Growth

Bluetail, an SaaS aircraft records platform for private aviation, has announced that it closed an additional $2.2 million Series A investment. The round was led by AZ-VC, an Arizona-based venture capital fund that is uniquely focused on supporting emerging technology companies throughout the state.

With its triple-digit growth in 2022, 600M+ in aircraft records managed, and a growing customer base of private, corporate, and charter operators, Bluetail will use the additional funds to expand and scale its market presence, introduce new revolutionary products and integrations, and bring further automation enhancements to its industry-leading solution. All this serves to improve asset value, drive significant cost efficiencies, and reduce friction in maintenance transactions.

“Despite the wildfire spread of software during the 21st century, some pen-and-paper industries are still absent of modern solutions, private aviation included. Bluetail is redefining aviation records management with a cloud platform that is a true 10x solution,” stated Jason Pressman, AZ-VC. “We are eager to support the founder’s ascension as they bring innovative solutions to an industry that is primed for disruption.”

“We are extremely proud that AZ-VC has recognized the value of our significant market growth, expansion of the aircraft records software category, and our unlimited potential as the business aviation industry continues to see the ROI benefits of our platform and digital scanning services,” stated Roberto Guerrieri, CEO of Bluetail.

This current funding is in addition to a previously announced round of $2.1 million from Brookstone VC and angel investors.