Airinmar Signs Extension of Aircraft Warranty and Engineering Services with Philippine Airlines 

 AAR subsidiary Airinmar, an independent provider of component repair cycle management and aircraft warranty solutions, has signed a multi-year support services extension with Philippine Airlines (PAL). 

Working in conjunction with PAL’s Aircraft Material Management team, Airinmar will provide a full suite of support services covering both aircraft warranty and value engineering. The services will supplement PAL’s current activities and continue building on the successful recovery of the Philippine flag carrier’s aircraft warranty entitlements and reducing the cost of component repair. 

“Since we implemented Airinmar’s services at the start of 2020, Airinmar has been a trusted partner. We appreciate their commitment to value engineering and solid warranty management, which has contributed to meeting Philippine Airlines’ safety and efficiency goals,” said Alvin Kendrich Limqueco, PAL SVP – Supply Chain Management Group. “We will continue to leverage Airinmar’s comprehensive engineering knowledge and expertise to help drive down PAL’s operational maintenance costs and thereby contribute to our overall sustained improvement goals.” 

Airinmar’s value engineering support will continue to deliver cost savings through supplier compliance with PAL’s contracted component repairs and minimize component flight-hour out-of-scope repair charges.

Airinmar’s aircraft warranty management services cover the identification, claim, and recovery of the multiple aircraft warranty entitlements provided by Airbus, Boeing, and de Havilland and their suppliers. 

“We are delighted to extend our successful relationship with PAL and continue working alongside their Aircraft Material Management team to reduce maintenance costs across PAL’s multiple fleet types,” said Matt Davies, Airinmar’s general manager. “We are excited to be part of PAL’s growth strategy as their fleet expands with new aircraft deliveries in the coming years.”

New K-TC Thermocouple Data Loggers From Influx

CAS DataLoggers introduced their new K-TC range from Influx Technology for standalone temperature data logging. The K-TC unit is available with 8, 16, or 32 channels; these can be stacked and daisy-chained to meet your requirements and capture data from an unlimited number of thermocouples. The K-TC has galvanic isolation across USB, CAN, Power, and TC boards to ensure the protection of all devices.

Experience the versatility and reliability of the K-TC range with three seamless modes:

Mode 1 – Standalone Temperature Data Logging

Say goodbye to the need for a PC! Store your thermocouple data directly within the device using the internal 8GB eMMC storage, recording many months of data. This standalone data logging mode ensures user-friendliness and

efficiency, enabling extended logging periods without requiring human interaction.

This capability can be used simultaneously with Mode 2.

Mode 2 – Temperature Data to CAN

Connect and transfer thermocouple data onto the CAN bus using Influx Technology’s
Rebel or ReXgen series, or another CAN bus logger. Use a Rebel series, ReXgen series, or an existing CAN bus data logger, to integrate the K-TC devices. Extend your capabilities by connecting the CAN bus output to a ReXgen Air and remotely collect your thermocouple data on an AWS S3 server.

Mode 3 – USB to PC

Witness thermocouple data come to life on your PC screen. Use the integrated oscil- loscope feature of K-CAL to visualize and interpret your measurements in real-time. This mode provides a dynamic and user-friendly way to capture, view, and export your data to third-party formats for in-depth analysis.

Features:

  • 8, 16, or 32 thermocouple connections
  • 20Hz sampling rate
  • Supports K, J, and T-type thermocouples
  • Simple signal configuration using a DBC file
  • Supplied with K-CAL configuration software for Windows
  • Stackable ABS enclosure The Influx K-CAL software is specifically designed to ensure you harness the full potential of the K-TC with precision and convenience. This powerful software allows for the con- figuration of up to five K-TCs at once and supports CAN message transmission with an oscilloscope for live data viewing. It also includes a DBC file for easy integration.

ITPS Canada and Airbus Sign a Multi-year Agreement for Flight Test Training

The International Test Pilots School (ITPS Canada), an independent school of experimental flight testing, announced the signature of a multi-year contract with Airbus, for the provision of flight test training services. ITPS says this agreement is “a testament to the relentless pursuit of flight test and academic excellence, high-quality instruction and the commitment to delivering superior flight test training for which ITPS is renowned.”

The agreement builds on Airbus the experiences of the two since 2017 training individual fixed and rotary wing test pilots and flight test engineers from its multiple European divisions at the ITPS and cements ITPS’s position as a provider of advanced flight test training to European and the global aerospace industry. The training to be provided includes EASA approved CAT-1 and CAT-2 Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers courses, including the master of science degree option and numerous short courses for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), for fixed wing and rotary wing students.

“I am delighted and honored at the trust placed in ITPS by Europe’s biggest aerospace manufacturer and that ITPS graduates will continue to make invaluable contributions to industry flight testing,” ITPS’s CEO Giorgio Clementi stated.

StandardAero Enters 40th Year Supporting Airbus Helicopter Dynamic Components MRO Services

StandardAero’s Airbus helicopter dynamic components MRO facility, located in Richmond, BC, Canada, recently celebrated the company’s 40th year of supporting Airbus Helicopter dynamic components services.  The facility is a full-fledged, D Level rated, MRO shop, supported by Airbus factory trained technicians covering all MRO, VDI and BBOV disciplines for servicing Airbus helicopters.   

The Richmond site offers full repair and overhaul, including testing, of AS350/H125, AS355, H130/EC130 Dynamic Components.  On-site capabilities include cleaning/stripping, Level II NDT covering MPI, FPI and in-house ECI, CNC CMM measurement, coatings, a clean room for bonding and a full complement of traditional and CNC machines to support our in-house Reworks.  StandardAero also performs R&O on small components such as shock absorbers and TGB spiders. 

“Our Richmond team of technicians and engineers has a lengthy history when it comes to Airbus components, dating back to the mid-1980’s,” said Andy Wong, general manager of StandardAero’s Richmond site.  “Additionally, we authorized to perform balancing on tail rotor short shafts.  This is a direct result of our OEM partnership which is a cornerstone of our business philosophy.” 

The Richmond Airbus shop boasts an extensive in-house repair catalogue for singular piece parts.  All of the company’s inspectors and certified machinists have successfully completed the requisite Airbus BBOV training.  This provides StandardAero the ability to salvage parts with Airbus specified repairs contributing to a faster turnaround times while returning the original parts back to the customer. 

To continue to maintain alignment with the OEM, the Richmond Airbus MRO shop completed the Airbus Special Process Audit in 2023 and is certified for more than a dozen critical Airbus Special Processes. 

“We believe nothing is more important than ensuring the customer is mission ready and we have openly made our extensive Rework capability available to all other dynamic component repair shops who do not possess in-house capability,” added Wong.  “Our Richmond site also welcomes piece part repair requests directly from customers and our engineers work closely with the engineers at Airbus to make every attempt to repair rather than replace parts in order to keep operator costs low and reliability high.”

Props & Hops Selection Committee Announces the 2023 Aviation Scholarship Recipients

The Props & Hops Selection Committee is thrilled to announce the four recipients of the 2023 Props & Hops Aviation Scholarships: Jacob Boehm, Clint May, Andrew Orstad, and David Pethel. Each recipient received $4,000.

The Seventh Annual Props & Hops event, held last October at the Mandan Aero Center, was attended by over 250 local folks and raised $16,000 for scholarships. The Advanced Pilot Scholarships and Advanced Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarships were created in honor of North Dakota aviators Mark Sundby and Darrel Pittman, who both recently passed away. Funds are dedicated to helping aspiring pilots and maintenance technicians earn their licenses and start their careers in the aviation industry.

“This accomplishment reflects not only on these young aviator’s academic excellence, but also their commitment to personal growth and community involvement. Our scholarship award winners have passion, drive, and have clearly made a lasting impression on the selection committee.” says Shannon Boehm, a member of the Selection Committee. “We look forward to witnessing their continued success and the positive impact they will undoubtedly make in their academic and professional pursuits.”

Jacob Boehm, Advanced Pilot Scholarship Recipient

Jacob is a native of Mandan, ND, and a current student in the Commercial Aviation program at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. After graduation, he hopes to secure a position as an airline pilot. He is also currently serving as a certified Aircraft Structural Repairman in the North Dakota National Guard.

Andrew Orstad, Advanced Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship Recipient Andrew is a Bismarck, ND, native and first year student at Northland Community & Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN. He is pursuing a certification in the Aviation Maintenance & Technician Program. After graduation, he hopes his certification will serve as the foundation for professional growth and development within the aviation industry.

Clint May, Advanced Pilot Scholarship Recipient

Clint served for almost eight years in the United States Army, gaining a background in rotor-wing aviation. He moved back to North Dakota with his family and is currently working as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in the Bismarck-Mandan area. He plans to obtain his Airplane Multi-Engine Rating to further his understanding and technical aptitude in the aviation industry and as a CFI.

David Pethel, Advanced Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship Recipient

David, a native of Jamestown, ND, is currently a student at Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD. He has completed his first year of school and earned his airframe license, as well as interned at the Bismarck Aero Center. After he completes the Aviation Maintenance

Technology Program, he plans to move to the Bismarck-Mandan area and work in the aviation industry.

Props & Hops is a state and federally registered 501c3 nonprofit organization that was founded in 2017. The organization’s mission is to bring positive attention to the aviation community by showcasing the benefits that the airport brings to local communities and raise funds for aviation related causes that are tied to Bismarck/Mandan and surrounding area. The organization designates a selection committee, made up of five local aviators, to determine an annual beneficiary within the surrounding aviation community. Props & Hops has been able to donate over $100,000 to selected causes over the years.

Schaeffler Announces New Automotive Manufacturing Facility 

Global motion technology company Schaeffler announces the expansion of its operations in the U.S. with the addition of a new manufacturing facility focused on producing automotive electric mobility solutions. This announcement represents the company’s commitment to innovation and growth in the Americas region.

Schaeffler is investing more than $230 million in building the new greenfield manufacturing facility, strategically located in Dover, Ohio, as well as future expansions in the state until 2032. As part of an agreement with the State of Ohio and JobsOhio, the company will receive incentives via grants and tax credits for these investments that will create 650 jobs in the state. These jobs will lead to growth at the company’s current facility in Wooster, Ohio, and the new manufacturing facility in Dover.

Construction of the new facility will begin in mid-2024 with an estimated completion in the third quarter of 2025. Once complete, the first phase of the facility will boast roughly 130,000 square feet of advanced manufacturing space dedicated to electric mobility solutions for the automotive industry. Products manufactured at this site will include electric axles for light and medium-duty vehicles.

“Our new plant will play a pivotal role in shaping our future in the Americas region,” said Marc McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of Schaeffler Americas. “Dedicated to advancing our innovative product offering, our new Dover, Ohio facility will feature state-of-the-art production processes so we can better serve our customers, while also adopting sustainable practices, as we continue to pioneer motion,” continued McGrath.

The new facility will produce products with cutting-edge technology, featuring Schaeffler-designed and manufactured tools and equipment. The products include electric axles, showcasing Schaeffler’s dedication to delivering sustainable and efficient high-performance solutions for the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. Beyond innovation, sustainability is at the core of Schaeffler’s operations. The new facility will incorporate eco-friendly practices, aligning with the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and to be climate neutral by 2040.

West Star Aviation Awarded 2023 FAA Diamond Award of Excellence at Multiple Locations

West Star is pleased to announce that several locations in their network have been awarded the FAA Diamond Award of Excellence for 2023, including four of their full-services locations: East Alton, IL (ALN); Chattanooga, TN (CHA); Grand Junction, CO (GJT) and Perryville, MO (PCD).

The Diamond Award is the FAA’s highest achievement for technicians and employers who initiate and sustain highly effective training programs. To qualify for this award, 100% of the AMTs had to participate in specialized training that included safety, technical knowledge, aircraft systems, aviation regulations and FAA rules. Additionally, the technicians completed a minimum of 12 hours of structured FAA training, earning each of them individual awards as well. 

“As West Star grows, training will continue to be our top priority. We have increased our financial investment in training substantially year over year. Training is an investment in our people and our people are my top priority. It’s a great honor to recognize their continued hard work and overall accomplishments,” said Allen McReynolds, COO. “This award also confirms to our customers that West Star’s aircraft technicians are the best in the business and take pride in their work and achievements,” he said.

Pratt & Whitney Canada Selects Latecoere to Design and Build Structural Composite Assembly for RTX Hybrid-electric Flight Demonstrator Program

Latecoere and its subsidiary company Comtek Advanced Structures have been selected by leading engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Canada to design and build a major structural assembly for the RTX Hybrid-Electric Flight Demonstrator program.

Pratt & Whitney Canada is leading a cross-industry collaboration to develop hybrid-electric propulsion technology which aims to support the industry’s goal of net-zero CO2 emissions for aviation. Latecoere will design and build the underwing fairing, an all-composite 2-meter-long and articulated assembly mounted with the hybrid-electric propulsion system on the starboard inner wing of the experimental aircraft testbed.

“Our aerostructures engineering track record, Comtek’s long history of collaborating with Pratt & Whitney Canada, and our newly combined composite expertise since Latecoere acquired Comtek in 2022, were key assets to win this business,” Greg Huttner, CEO of Latecoere, said. “This further validates our M&A strategy to create value and is fully aligned with our purpose to deliver innovative solutions for a more sustainable world.”

Combining the efficient Pratt & Whitney Canada thermal engine with an industry-leading 1 MW motor developed by Collins Aerospace, also an RTX business, this new hybrid-electric propulsion technology will drive significant improvements in aircraft efficiency by optimizing performance across different phases of flight. The project is targeting a 30% improvement in fuel burn and reduced CO2 emissions, compared to a modern regional turboprop aircraft.

“This project draws together collaborators from around the world, strengthening Canada’s leadership in aerospace innovation,” said Jean Thomassin, executive director, new products and services introduction, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Since completing our first engine run in December 2022, we continue to make good progress towards flight testing, and welcome the expertise of Latecoere and their Canadian division Comtek Advanced Structures to help realize that goal.”

CAAS, EDB and Supernal Ink Strategic Partnerships

Supernal – Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company inked two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) respectively to further develop AAM capabilities and expertise in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region today at Singapore Airshow 2024. The partnerships will drive a variety of activities, including developing research and development (R&D) initiatives, identifying potential use cases, exchanging information to support safety regulatory framework and standards development, and driving public engagement for AAM.

Under the MOU between EDB and Supernal:

  • Both organizations will focus on identifying opportunities to enable R&D activities that can build capabilities in key electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology areas.
  • EDB and Supernal will also share knowledge and resources to support the development of AAM operational strategies. This includes conducting market analyses and viability studies to assess the feasibility of AAM in Singapore and  focuses on identifying unique applications in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Both organizations will also evaluate the requirements  needed to establish a presence in Singapore and collaborate on feasibility studies concerning operational-readiness activities such as assembly, vehicle operations, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).

Under the MOU between CAAS and Supernal:

  • Both organizations will  exchange information to support CAAS’ development of a framework for aircraft certification, validation, acceptance and entry into service, and shaping interoperability requirements at vertiports to support seamless integration of ground and air operations.
  • CAAS and Supernal will also explore developing standards for AAM infrastructure, charging and electrical energy storage solutions, airworthiness of aircraft and components, and operations.
  • In addition, the two organizations will coordinate efforts with other AAM ecosystem stakeholders to raise public understanding of AAM.

“With the Asia-Pacific region’s growing prominence in the aviation industry, we see the area as vital to Advanced Air Mobility’s future,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal. “These partnerships mark the latest in Supernal’s growing list of collaborations that are designed to advance its mission of making AAM an efficient and reliable option for everyday transportation. Such partnerships will not only allow us to contribute to AAM’s development and growth while deepening ties with key stakeholders, but they are also essential for using AAM as a catalyst to fuel sustainable economic growth in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.”

“Working with EDB and CAAS exemplifies how collaboration between government and industry can help make AAM a reality,” said Shin. “Our approach is to develop mutually beneficial partnerships like these to create a tenable business and operational case for stakeholders across the value chain – from manufacturers and regulators to operators and passengers. Insights from both entities will maximize outcomes and prove the value of AAM, especially in a forward-thinking market like Singapore.”

Ms Jacqueline Poh, managing director, Singapore Economic Development Board, said: “Advanced air mobility has the potential to be a new and exciting niche in Singapore’s aerospace sector, creating good business opportunities while also opening new alternatives for getting around the region. As one of Asia’s leading aerospace ecosystems, Singapore offers global companies established capabilities, including a strong talent pool, to undertake a spectrum of activities across Research and Development, manufacturing, and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). We are delighted to partner with Supernal and welcome more players to join us as we grow the AAM ecosystem here.”

Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, said: “The development and deployment of AAM will require new rules and regulations that allow us to leverage technology while ensuring security and public and aviation safety. Collaboration amongst regulators and with industry to pool expertise and resources and to identify and mitigate risks will help us put in place the necessary regulatory requirements in a more effective and efficient manner. In November last year, CAAS convened the first-ever meeting of Asia-Pacific regulators and engagement with industry for this purpose. The CAAS-Supernal MOU builds on this and is a pathfinder for the larger effort.”

APG Launches NaviGuard, a GPS Anomaly Detection App to Enhance Aviation Safety Amid Growing Spoofing and Jamming Threats

Aircraft Performance Group (APG), a leading provider of performance, weight and balance, and flight planning solutions for the aviation industry, introduces NaviGuard, a free, standalone GPS anomaly detection and verification iOS app designed to address the growing concern of GPS spoofing and jamming incidents that threaten aviators and passengers in crisis zones across the world.

The FAA recently published a Safety Alert for Operators, advising flight crews to monitor their onboard equipment and to be prepared to fly without satellite navigation. NaviGuard offers a crucial solution to safeguard commercial and business flight operators from spoofing threats. The app detects abnormal GPS readings on iPads and verifies GPS data using radio navigation.

Notable features of NaviGuard include:

  1. Anticipate Problems: Real-time monitoring of problem areas enables pilots to foresee and circumvent issues stemming from GPS spoofing and jamming before they occur.
  2. Set Active Alerts: Proactive in-app notifications alerts pilots of known danger zones during flights, presenting the option to reroute or proceed with complete awareness of potential hazards.
  3. Plot & Confirm: In-flight GPS coordinate verification by mapping relative to Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs), removing any uncertainty about location accuracy.

“By launching NaviGuard we reinforce our dedication to safe and precise flight planning across the aviation industry,” said Shawn Mechelke, president of APG. “This groundbreaking software offers peace of mind to pilots and flight operators, assuring that their navigation remains secure and accurate at all times.” The stand-alone iOS app is available for download at the app store.

APG is also integrating NaviGuard technology into other applications such as RocketRoute FlightPlan. APG acquired RocketRoute in 2021. NaviGuard does not store or share users’ GPS data.