Category: Rotor

Constant Aviation Expands Capabilities to Include Helicopter MRO Services

Constant Aviation has expanded its MRO capabilities beyond its portfolio of business jets, commercial airliners and other fixed-wing aircraft to include rotorcraft such as helicopters, drones and other Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).

“We have striven to be at the forefront of aviation technology in all its forms, including servicing helicopters and emerging technologies such as Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” said David H. Davies, Constant Aviation’s CEO. “Our expansion into these sectors positions us well for the future, including our ability to serve even newer emerging technologies such as Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. We are fully staffed and equipped to service any private aircraft that can fly, from fixed-wing aircraft such as business jets to helicopters, drones and other rotorcraft.”

As part of this initiative, Constant is completely refurbishing the Sikorsky S-76 helicopters flown by Flexjet’s new private helicopter division. The interiors of each helicopter are being refurbished in Flexjet’s LXi custom cabin interiors, with the first being the “Phantom” interior theme. All veneers are being refinished and all soft goods (seats, carpets and side walls) are being restored with new materials rich with texture. The newly painted livery was designed by Constant Aviation to pay homage to Flexjet’s distinctive business jet liveries which include a chameleon paint with an added carbon fiber accent on the upper cowling and leading edge on the vertical tail.

The private helicopter division refurbishments are being performed at Constant Aviation’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Orlando Sanford International Airport (ICAO: KSFB).

“We are proud that Flexjet has chosen us to ensure that its private helicopters meet its exacting standards,” said Davies. “The refurbishment demonstrates how we have successfully expanded our offering to include providing maintenance, repair and overhaul services to helicopters and other rotorcraft.”

Constant Aviation says its expansion into helicopter MRO services is “a natural step in ensuring the company remains at the forefront of aviation maintenance needs across the full range of aircraft.” The company also believes the expertise developed with helicopters and other traditional rotorcraft systems strategically positions it to serve emerging technology areas such as UAS and eVTOLs, which employ similar engineering, materials and systems.

“The aviation industry is evolving quickly, with new systems coming to the fore, especially in vertical flight and unmanned systems,” said Davies. “We want to be positioned as the leader in servicing these newer forms of flight, and have been expanding our capabilities to offer them the same levels of skill, speed and quality that we have long provided to business jets and other fixed-wing aircraft.”

In recent years, Constant Aviation has been dedicating additional resources towards these platforms, including adding even more FAA-authorized capabilities to its repair station certificates. These have the express purpose of working tip-to-tail on today’s helicopters, UAS and, eventually, eVTOLs that require specific expertise that frequently is not aligned with standard repair station capabilities and issued ratings.

For example, in 2021 Constant Aviation renewed its partnership with Robotic Skies, a global marketplace for drone maintenance services, to support next-generation aviation sector UAS. With one of the nation’s largest aircraft-on-ground (AOG) mobile fleets, Constant Aviation can repair drones wherever they may be, an important consideration given how widely such vehicles are now used in business and industry. The continuation of this partnership, which resulted in Constant Aviation becoming an authorized UAS service center in 2017, positioned the two companies at the forefront of these emerging markets.

Deadline Closing in for FAA Aviation Workforce Development Grants Application

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration is seeking applications for two Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs aimed at developing and inspiring a more diverse pool of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians to join the next generation of aviation professionals. This is the FAA’s second funding opportunity for these programs. A total of $10 million is available for the grants.

The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants will educate students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or unmanned aircraft systems operators. The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants will prepare aviation maintenance technicians. Eligible entities can submit applications at www.grants.gov through June 10, 2022.

Eligible entities may apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 for each grant per fiscal year. Last year, the FAA awarded $10 million in grants to more than 30 schools and organizations.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity for each grant provides detailed information on eligibility, deadlines, evaluation criteria and application procedures. To ensure fair and open competition for the grants, answers to public questions will be posted on the FAA website at www.faa.gov/go/awd. 

Potential applicants should visit the site to review answers to frequently asked questions, eligibility requirements and guidelines that may assist them to complete their grant application.

Ramco Systems Extends Aviation, Aerospace and Defense Software Service to Brunei Shell Petroleum

Global aviation software provider Ramco Systems announced that it will implement its Aviation, Aerospace and Defense software for Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), Brunei’s largest oil and gas company. Ramco’s full suite Aviation, Aerospace and Defense Software will fully integrate and automate aviation operations at BSP.

Ramco’s Aviation Software will offer BSP modules covering Maintenance, Maintenance Inventory for Aviation, Flight Operations, Safety & Quality, CAMO and Technical Records, providing BSP with a next gen digital platform for real-time data visibility across organization and aircraft readiness management. The solution will also provide in-depth analysis on BSP’s complex helicopter operations.

In addition, with its digital enablers like state-of-the-art mobile apps, HUBs and Dashboards, Ramco will help BSP manage its remote operations, enhance process efficiencies, improve productivity and go paperless.

“We are happy to partner with BSP as a part of their digital transformation journey,” said Manoj Kumar Singh, chief customer officer – Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, Ramco Systems. “Ramco’s deep domain expertise bundled with intuitive features will not only integrate and automate BSP’s processes, but will also improve productivity, enhance user experience and ensure timely decision making, thereby bringing in greater efficiency and effectiveness in delivering value. With an excellent track record in the heli space, and our ability to provide a single source of information in real time, we are confident that Ramco Aviation software will offer a digital edge to BSP and help the company reach great heights on their path to digitization.”

Norton Launches New Multi-Air Blaze A995 Sanding Discs

With the cost of materials and labor ever rising, it is now vital for workshops to arm themselves with the right tools to save both time and money without compromising on quality. To support its customers, Norton has launched a new range of sanding discs, the Multi-Air Blaze A995.

Adding to Norton’s vast array of tried and tested abrasive products, the Multi-Air Blaze A995 prides itself on its sharp design, smooth cut, fast finish, and ultimate strength – all of which contribute to cost and time savings.

Less sanding time and more material removal are the two biggest factors to consider when choosing a tool that will reduce labor costs. The A995 disc features ultra-premium ceramic grain and extremely sharp abrasive grains, which boost performance and remove over 30% more material than other products, with considerably less dust.

The Multi-Air Blaze A995’s all-new exclusive backing design provides extraordinary strength, with tear resistance well beyond any flexible paper on the market. This super-tough hook and loop backing is reinforced with polyester to provide exceptional edge adhesion of the grain. Even in the most demanding sanding jobs, grain loss is virtually non-existent, resulting in outstanding durability.

Dust extraction is another crucial factor to consider when sanding. When mounted on a DA Sander, Norton’s unique Multi-Air hole configuration provides a consistent cut throughout the Multi-Air Blaze A995’s lifespan and creates a cleaner work environment. Minimizing dust will reduce the risk of contamination in the shop, improve operator safety, and reduce the time spent cleaning up after a job. All these benefits encourage optimum productivity for the user.

The Multi-Air Blaze A995 range also features Norton’s No-Fil® water-based stearate coating. The No-Fil® coating prevents clogging and ensures users get the superior finish they need while minimising user fatigue, rework, and endless consumption of discs.

Perfect for coarse and medium sanding jobs, the Multi-Air Blaze A995 can be used in automotive, marine, composite, and many more industrial applications.

“Our customers are always our top priority. We’re passionate about creating well-priced, high-quality products that operators love to use again and again,” said Jonathon Sanders, national sales manager at Saint-Gobain Abrasives. “Norton is tried and trusted by the industry, and the new Multi-Air Blaze A995 range is no exception. Available in 150mm, with a grit range from P40 to P400, this new range is designed for longer life, consistent sanding quality, and unrivalled performance to help users produce great work and generate more profit.”

AI Boosts Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Oil Analysis Technology for Its Helicopter Customers

Pratt & Whitney Canada is combining artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with its innovative oil analysis technology to further increase the solution’s precision, predictive and preventive maintenance capabilities for helicopter engines. The use of AI and machine learning is another example of how the company continues to innovate its aftermarket solutions to help customers move to 100% planned maintenance environments – avoiding unplanned events and reducing costs.

“Through AI we are further enhancing our capabilities to see patterns and preventive maintenance insights in the massive data set our oil analysis technology provides,” said Irene Makris, vice president, Customer Service, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “With this deeper understanding of what’s going on inside the oil-wetted components of the engine, we are able create a ‘know early, respond early’ environment for the customer that helps manage risk, and prevents disruptions in service.”

This kind of preventative maintenance allows customers to avoid unscheduled engine removals and other maintenance events by providing visibility on potential issues as much as a thousand hours in advance. The oil analysis technology is available on a majority of Pratt & Whitney Canada engine models including the PW210 and has analyzed over fifty-five thousand oil samples from customer engines. Based on the guidance provided by the oil analysis technology, dozens of events across the fleet have transformed into scheduled interventions, dispatch availability has increased, and the solution has saved PW210 customers over US$1 million in averted secondary damage.

“Our oil analysis technology was launched in 2017 and enables proactive and predictive maintenance by identifying potential issues before they occur without intrusive inspection,” said Nicolas Chabée, vice president, Marketing, Helicopters, Pratt & Whitney Canada, “AI makes the task of comparing oil samples with past data simpler, more efficient and easily scalable.”

Oil analysis technology is part of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s suite of digital engine services and is another proof point to the company’s one-stop shop approach to simpler, more cost-effective maintenance management, designed to maximize aircraft availability, upkeep and planning, and reduce operating costs.

StandardAero Recognized by Rolls-Royce for the 2022 “FIRST Class Service” and “Outstanding Partnership” Awards During Annual FIRST Network Recognition Event

StandardAero was recognized by Rolls-Royce during its annual FIRST (Fully Integrated Rolls-Royce Support Team) NetworkRecognition event with the 2022 “FIRST Class Service” and “Outstanding Partnership” awards on March 7.  The awards program, held during the annual HAI/HeliExpo show, recognizes significant achievements of authorized maintenance service centers that provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for M250 and RR300 helicopter engines operated by thousands of customers worldwide.

StandardAero was awarded two out of four Rolls-Royce awards this year with the legacy StandardAero Helicopters business unit winning the “FIRST Class Service” award and the newly acquired H+S Aviation (a StandardAero company), receiving the “Outstanding Partnership” award.  2022 marked the 13th consecutive year that StandardAero has received one or more Rolls-Royce FIRST Network awards.  

The 2022 “FIRST Class Customer” award represents the facility that continually goes above and beyond to meet Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 engine MRO customers needs and that continually demonstrates a “can-do” mind set; proactively working with customers to overcome challenges, anticipating their needs and implementing creative solutions to keep their customers in the air.

The 2022 “Outstanding Partnership” award recognizes the facility that is an enabling partner and integral to the overall success of the Rolls-Royce FIRST Network.  This facility is critical to market success by consistently developing innovative and cost-effective capability to support the operators the FIRST Network and Rolls-Royce.

“Standard Aero continues to provide world-class service and reliability that is synonymous with the Rolls-Royce brand.  We appreciate the creative solutions Standard Aero brings to our M250 and RR300 customer base.  Standard Aero can always be trusted to offer quick and effective plans to keep our customers flying and therefore have earned a strong reputation in the MRO business.  Rolls-Royce looks forward to our continued partnership with the outstanding team at Standard Aero,” said Scott Cunningham, Rolls-Royce program director, helicopters. 

“We are extremely appreciative and also humbled to be recognized again this year by our trusted partners and customers at Rolls-Royce,” said Peter Wheatley, vice president & GM of StandardAero’s helicopters business unit.  “The awards are a testament to the hardworking teams in our shops around the world and recognition of their commitment to operational excellence, quality and outstanding customer service.”

StandardAero Starts Phase 2 Airframe/Drivetrain Mods for the Pinal Co. Arizona Sheriff Department UH-1H Helicopter

StandardAero has begun phase 2 for the Pinal County Arizona Sheriff Department UH-1H helicopter upgrades as part of a three-phase modification program to enhance the performance of this special purpose helicopter and is expected to be completed within 150 to 180 days.

StandardAero defines this three-phase modification as its UH-1H3 upgrade also known as “Hot, High & Heavy” upgrade.  The upgrade is offered to qualified operators who fly in the harshest conditions in the hottest and highest flying environments with significant increased lifting capabilities to successfully complete their critical missions.

The phase 2 effort includes installing airframe modifications to the liftbeam, mainbeams, tailboom attach area and engine mount and main transmission mount areas.  It also includes upgrading main transmission and drive shaft assemblies.  These airframe modifications are designed for increasing horsepower and torque required for the improved lift capability of 5,000 lbs. external cargo capacity and a 10,500 lbs. external gross weight limitation.

The airframe modifications are being completed at StandardAero’s helicopter airframe facility located in Langley, British Columbia, Canada, where the company maintains the certified fixtures, specialized tooling, training, data and experience to complete this modification.

StandardAero completed Phase 1 in July 2021 providing upgrade modifications to the UH-1H Tailboom and Airframe.  Phase 1 benefits included improved hover-hold tasks, yaw control, high DA capability, reduced torque, reduced tail rotor power requirements and reduced fuel consumption.  Phase 1 also included an upgraded Engine/Transmission cooling system.

“Since initiating development back in 1992, we have been actively performing these UH-1H airframe modifications specifically for public use.  We have successfully performed upgrades on over 150 military and restricted category UH-1H operators to provide significant safety and performance enhancements so they can conduct their highly specialized missions with confidence,” said Elvis Moniz, Vice President of Business Development Airframes of StandardAero’s Helicopters business unit.  “For the Pinal County Sheriff department, the additional external lift capabilities will enable them to more effectively operate this proven UH-1H utility helicopter configuration when performing critical firefighting, search and rescue and police operations with the increased performance and external payload capabilities that StandardAero’s upgrade provides.” 

Phase 3 is being considered for this same UH-1H helicopter in 2023.  The Phase 3 modification will install 212 blades MRH for an improvement to provide 10,500 lbs. internal/11,200 lbs. external gross weight.

“StandardAero continues to support this legacy utility helicopter and to work with the aviation industry and suppliers to incorporate modern innovations that provide improvements specific to customer operations and mission profiles,” concluded Moniz.

Falcon Aviation Services goes live on Rusada’s ENVISION

Emirati Oil & Gas and business aviation services operator Falcon Aviation Services has gone live with Rusada’s ENVISION software.

Falcon Aviation Services provides bespoke charter services to the Oil & Gas industry, as well as VIP and Helicopter Sightseeing Tours using a diverse ultra-modern fleet consisting of 29 helicopters including Bell, AgustaWestland and Airbus, and 6 fixed-wing aircraft including De Havilland, Gulfstream, and Embraer. It also offers a wide range of operational and aviation support services including, MRO, CAMO, FBO, Aircraft Management and Heliport Management, amongst others.

After a successful implementation project conducted by Rusada’s Middle East division, Falcon Aviation Services are now live on the system. They will use ENVISION to manage their airworthiness, maintenance planning, maintenance execution, and inventory through its Fleet Management, Base Maintenance and Inventory Management modules.

“We selected ENVISION because we needed a system that could effectively link our airworthiness, maintenance and inventory activities. Previously, these functions were working in isolation and weren’t benefiting from the shared knowledge that ENVISION provides,” said Captain Ramandeep Oberoi, chief operating officer at Falcon Aviation Services “Migrating to a new software platform can always be challenging but the team at Rusada and our team here have gone above and beyond to make the transition as smooth as possible and guarantee this project’s success.”

Julian Stourton, CEO at Rusada added, “I’d like to congratulate the teams at Falcon Aviation Services, and here at a Rusada for an incredibly well-executed project. After the inevitable slowdown in implementations due to Covid, we are now seeing projects kick into gear again, with this being our third go-live in the last 3 months. We look forward to even more in the year ahead.”

AMADA WELD TECH Announces MM-410A Handheld Resistance Weld Checker

AMADA WELD TECH announced the new MM-410A handheld resistance weld checker, ideal for both monitoring and troubleshooting issues in production. The compact unit supports a wide range of resistance welding technologies, including AC, DC inverter, AC inverter, transistor, and capacitive discharge. Featuring a simple and intuitive user interface and color touch panel display, the MM-410A provides information on current, voltage, weld time, and force.

The MM-410A is ideal for use in process troubleshooting, where it can be used to correlate waveform and numeric data with process results and provide detailed weld data for process optimization and validation. If used continuously in a production environment, it reduces scrap by detecting drifts in the weld process and alerting operators before process failure. The MM-410A also reduces the frequency of destructive testing and provides an independent way of monitoring the welding power supply by detecting any drifts in welding power supply calibration.

The unit provides ISO17657-compliant measurement for current (when used with available ISO-compliant toroidal coil). It offers easy set up using the 5.7-inch color touch panel. The unique seam welding mode monitors AC current and voltage or DC voltage for up to 5 minutes. Data storage is available using an onboard flash drive. The MM-410A offers Ethernet (TCP/IP), and RS-232/485 communication. Multi-language support includes English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German, and French.

Available accessories for the MM-410A handheld resistance weld tester include toroidal coils, force sensors, and current/force sensors.

Grupo Lomex Goes Live with Ramco

Grupo Lomex,  an important holder of helicopter companies in Mexico, announced that it has successfully implemented Ramco Systems’ advanced Aviation Suite to digitally transform and integrate its business operations into a unified platform for its subsidiaries:

Aeroservicios Especializados, S,A. de C.V. (ASESA)– Helicopter Operator in México.
ASESA MRO, S.A. de C.V. – Helicopter MRO in México
Transpais Aéreo, S.A. de C.V. (TPA) – Fix Wing Operator in Mexico
Heliamerica SAC (HA) – Helicopter Operator in Peru.

Grupo Lomex, through its companies, provides rotary and fix wing services to industries such as the oil and gas, electricity, and VIP among others. Grupo Lomex is also a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) and has maintenance centers for its MRO activities based in Ciudad de México, Monterrey, Ciudad del Carmen and Peru, authorised to support multi-variant fleet including Bell, Leonardo helicopters and Embraer business jets.

Ramco’s fully integrated one-stop solution has replaced Grupo Lomex’s existing legacy application. With modules for Maintenance, Supply Chain Management, Safety and Quality, Flight Operations, Electronic Flight Bag, MRO Sales, and Finance, Ramco Aviation Suite V5.8 is bundled with next-gen innovation around Mobility, Hubs, and Dashboards.

The next-gen features of Ramco Aviation Suite supports Grupo Lomex’s operations such as flight services and charter, MRO and FBO, and offers a next-generation platform that will help to achieve end-to-end visibility and keep up with its rapid expansion plan.

“We are pleased to have embarked on our digital transformational journey with Ramco,” Hector Gonzalez Weeks, CEO of Grupo Lomex Aviation Division, said. “Ramco’s Aviation MRO and air transportation services suites not only integrates all our processes but also introduces us to next-gen technologies such as MAIL IT and dashboards to improve our operational efficiency and increase productivity.”

Manoj Kumar Singh, executive vice president – Aviation, Aerospace & Defense, Ramco Systems, said, “We continuously strive to offer innovative next-gen solutions to our clients that will enable them embark on the digital transformation journey and reap its benefits. Having won the Trust of 7 of the Top 10 Heli-operators in the United States; this successful go-live further reinforces our leadership in addressing the Heli-operator segment with an end-to-end Aviation solution. We are confident that Ramco’s one-stop solution will help Grupo Lomex optimize its time and resources.”