Bombardier Completes 100th Global 7500 Wing Shipset

Bombardier is continuing the ramp-up of its Global 7500 flagship with the completion of the 100th wing shipset for the model. The milestone follows the recent delivery of the 50th of the ultra-long-range twinjet.

“This is an important milestone for our Global 7500 program,” said Paul Sislian, executive v-p of operations and operational excellence for Bombardier. He added that the wing is what helps make the Global 7500 a flagship model, delivering the “smooth ride” and performance of the 7,700-nm aircraft that can fly up to Mach 0.925.

The wing is produced in Bombardier’s Red Oak, Texas facility, which the company acquired from Triumph in early 2019. Bombardier has since built up a talent base at the location, which now employs more than 600. In 2019, the Montreal-headquartered company established a Bombardier Aviation Apprenticeship Program (BAAP) in association with Texas State Technical College to provide a source for future growth and support of the wing. “The BAAP program is critical in keeping up with increased customer demand,” Bombardier said.

As it works through the Global 7500 backlog that extends to 2023, Bombardier executives say the program is continuing to attract steady market interest.

Duncan Marks Winglet Install Milestone on Falcon Jets

Duncan Aviation recently handed over its 100th Dassault Falcon with Aviation Partners’ (API) blended winglets. Two Bear Management accepted its API winglet-equipped Falcon 900EX at the MRO provider’s Lincoln, Nebraska facility following a 2C inspection on the trijet, as well as installation of a Gogo Avance L5 connectivity system and cabin and flight deck USB ports, new exterior paint, a partial interior refurbishment, and landing gear overhaul.

Thirteen years ago, Duncan partnered with API and Dassault Aviation to install the winglets on a Falcon 2000EX for an STC certification flight test. A year later, API appointed Duncan’s facilities in Lincoln and Battle Creek, Michigan, as the first authorized installers of its Falcon winglets. Those two facilities host nine maintenance teams with more than 10 years of experience installing API winglets on all series of Falcon 50s, 900s, and 2000s.

API president Gary Dunn noted that, since the mid-1990s, Duncan has installed his company’s winglets on several Gulfstream IIs and “dozens” of 800-series Hawkers, for which Duncan is also an authorized installer. “With 100 Falcon winglets now complete, Duncan Aviation is both our longest-standing and by far our most prolific authorized installation partner,” said Dunn.

Duncan’s 101st Falcon winglet installation is expected next month.

Sheltair Named Official Fuel Supplier at SNF Expo

Sheltair has formed a partnership with the organizer of the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo and will be the official fuel supplier for the 2021 airshow, which opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday at Central Florida’s Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL). Sheltair already operates the sole FBO at LAL, though an on-field competitor is expected to open soon.

The FBO chain will also be supporting the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), which is run year-round by the airshow organizer to “engage, educate, and accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals” and is primarily funded by proceeds from the expo. In addition to an in-kind contribution, Sheltair will donate 10 cents per gallon on all uplifts during Sun ‘n Fun to ACE's Project Skylab, a STEM learning center designed to provide hands-on activities for kids.

As an Avfuel-branded FBO, pilots flying to Sheltair Lakeland for Sun ‘n Fun will receive triple Avtrip points on fuel and service purchases. Sheltair will also offer more streamlined services at the event this week, including invoicing at the refueling truck. The FBO expects to serve upwards of 6,000 aircraft movements over the six-day show, it said.

“We always look forward to serving the airshow, but furthermore are proud to align with [ACE’s] mission and inspired to support the next generation of aviators,” said Andy Castro, Sheltair's general manager at LAL.

Leonardo Opening Philadelphia Training Center

Leonardo Helicopters is planning to formally open its new training center in the coming weeks, putting the finishing touches on the facility as it navigates through the pandemic. “It’s been a tough year, but we've continued moving the business forward,” said William Hunt, CEO of Leonardo’s AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp. “We continued being successful with our customers and especially around the customer support training.”

The center represents the bulk of an $80 million investment Leonardo is making in its Philadelphia operations, where it is consolidating training activities to better provide a one-stop-shop approach. Hunt noted how customer support training “has continued to be a growing part of our business in a lot of different ways” and said having its range of activities on one campus in Philadelphia has been part of its strategy for some time. This includes the ability to show all of the training capabilities in one place, he said.

Leonardo moved the level-D AW139 simulator from Whippany, New Jersey, to Philadelphia and brought in a new AW609/AW169 trainer that features roll-on/roll-off capabilities for quick interchange between the two flight decks. The company also made space available and provisions for a third potential trainer down the road. As for that third trainer, the AW109 Trekker is one possibility, he said, adding, “No decision has been made about that. We're just staying flexible.”

Air Elite Network Adds Three More FBOs

The Air Elite Network, backed by World Fuel Services (WFS), has now reached 80 members with the addition of three new FBOs.

California-based Clay Lacy Aviation, which recently renewed its fuel supply contract with WFS at its flagship Van Nuys Airport location, has now had its second FBO, at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA), accepted as a member. The company, which was selected as one of two service providers at SNA last year, is currently operating from an existing FBO as it builds a new 42,000-sq-ft facility designed with Air Elite standards in mind. It will also have 110,000 sq ft of hangar space on 14 acres.

Meanwhile, two additional Jet Aviation locations—in Bozeman, Montana, and Scottsdale, Arizona—were also accepted into the group, whose members must maintain audited facility and service quality standards to maintain their status. Jet Aviation Bozeman is the closest full-service FBO to Yellowstone Park, Big Sky, and Paradise Valley. It features a conference room, pilot lounge with flight planning room, kitchenette, and concierge services, while the company’s Scottsdale location offers a modern facility with a full slate of amenities for passengers and crew alike in the Sonoran Desert.  

Airbus Lands Asia-Pac O&G Launch Customer for H160

Derazona Helicopters in Indonesia has ordered an Airbus Helicopters H160 intermediate twin to service the local oil and gas sector. The deal will make Derazona the launch oil and gas customer for the H160 in the Asia-Pacific region. Ramadi Widyardiono, Derazona's business development manager, said the order was part of the strategy to expand the company. This news comes two months after Airbus announced that operator PHI would fly four H160s in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico from its base in Houma, Louisiana. 

The helicopter received EASA type certification in July following a 1,500-hour test campaign with three aircraft that began flying in 2015. FAA type certificate validation is pending. The company’s order book for the aircraft currently stands at approximately 40.

The H160 makes extensive use of carbon-fiber composites in the fuselage and main rotor blades that enhance the helicopter’s corrosion resistance, especially in maritime operations. Power comes from a pair of Safran Arrano engines. Its Helionix avionics system incorporates the world’s first ground helipad-assisted takeoff procedure, a vortex ring state pre-alerting system, and a recovery mode to automatically regain stabilized flight.

Jet Aviation Approved for New NDT Technique

Business aviation services provider Jet Aviation has been approved by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation to use infrared thermography for non-destructive testing (NDT) at its Basel maintenance facility. The technology complements other NDT techniques Jet Aviation uses in Basel such as liquid penetrant, X-ray, magnetic particle, eddy current, and ultrasonic testing.

Infrared thermography converts heat energy to a temperature that can be depicted as an image of temperature distribution. Employed in medicine to detect cancer, the technology is used in aviation for testing the structural integrity of airframes and components.

“Like all NDT techniques, infrared thermography provides a non-invasive means of detecting problems before they escalate and potentially cause catastrophic results,” said Jet Aviation Basel NDT and components shops senior manager Frédéric Westpalm van Hoorn. As an example, he said, it can detect water collecting in the elevators or rudder and prevent the in-flight freezing and expansion that might lead to ruptures.

During scheduled maintenance, Jet Aviation will use infrared thermography for detecting delamination, defective bonding, water ingress, corrosion, and material thinning, as well as inspecting composite materials.

Foresight MX HUMS Approved for Bell 212/412

GPMS has received FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for its Foresight MX health monitoring system on the Bell 212/412. This STC was done in partnership with Alaska-based Pathfinder Aviation, the launch customer on the platform, and the installation was done at Oregon-based Precision Support Services, an FAA Part 145 repair facility. The Foresight kit has an STC weight of 7.41 pounds and cable weight of 7 pounds, and the system is sold on a HUMS-as-a-service model.

“This STC furthers our mission to provide a cost-effective, integrated flight and health monitoring solution for light and medium aircraft,” said GPMS CEO and chief engineer Dr. Eric Bechhoefer. Foresight MX provides predictive engine and drivetrain monitoring with remaining useful life estimates on all monitored components with features including rotor track and balance and flight data monitoring with exceedance alerting. GPMS says the system helps maximize readiness, lower maintenance costs, and enhance safety.

“We are seeing more and more of our end customers demanding safety-enhancing technology and selecting operators who invest to keep their aircraft current,” said Pathfinder CEO Rogan Parker. “Foresight MX will give us a leg up in a competitive market and—given its predictive capability—we believe it will also help us speed and streamline our maintenance process.”

Eval Flights All In a Day's Work for EIC Matt Thurber

AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber is an experienced pilot with type ratings in two business jets. He’s traveled around the world to conduct evaluation flights in new aircraft and flight deck systems. In this video, he explains how he prepares for these exciting opportunities.