Bombardier Announces New Roles for Wichita Site

After pushing out its final production Learjet 75 a few weeks ago, Bombardier announced at a ceremony yesterday that the business jet OEM’s Wichita site will serve as the Montreal-based company’s U.S. headquarters and will be home to its newly named Bombardier Defense unit, which will be led by v-p Steve Patrick. In concert with the defense unit, Bombardier confirmed that it received additional firm orders for modified Global 6000s from the U.S. Air Force, part of a potential $465 million order for the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node program.

As part of the changes to the Wichita site, v-p of Wichita operations Tonya Sudduth will remain at the site but assume a new role as head of U.S. strategy.

What isn’t affected by the changes is the company’s Wichita service center, which has grown from three hangars to seven in the past four years and provides maintenance to Bombardier’s Learjet, Challenger, and Global business jets. Also remaining is its flight test center, which is currently handling flight testing of the Challenger 3500.

Additionally, Bombardier is looking to fill 180 positions in Wichita and nearly 500 across the U.S.

MRO Insider Expands Network of Mx Providers, FBOs

Over the past 12 months, MRO Insider has added more than 70 business aircraft maintenance locations in the U.S. from 14 companies providing AOG, scheduled maintenance, and parts. The additional locations push the total number of provider locations to 350 in the U.S., UK, Mexico, and Brazil, the company said this week.

The Michigan-based provider of app-based maintenance quotes also reported adding six FBOs to its platform—for a total of 14—since unveiling a new feature late last year. This feature allows these FBOs to provide MRO Insider users quotes on fuel, hangar services, transportation, aircraft lavatory servicing, and other assistance.

“2022 has shown our company incredible growth on the service provider side, along with requests sent by aircraft operators,” said MRO Insider president Andy Nixon. “Our team has been focusing on increasing the win percentage through the app and we are now reporting a 35 percent acceptance rate in 2022, even reaching more than 50 percent in March. What that tells us is over one-third of requests are selecting a service provider that uses our platform—a crucial statistic for our growth.”

MySky, Aviowiki, and FL3XX To Form Tech Hub at EBACE

Business aviation digital technology companies MySky, Aviowiki, and FL3XX are joining forces during EBACE next month in Geneva to demonstrate to visitors the difference technology can make to their operations. At the May 23 to 25 show, the trio will display their wares in an exhibit dubbed the “technology hub.”

The collaboration between financial management platform MySky, global aerodrome database Aviowiki, and aircraft management software firm FL3XX is designed to “highlight the benefits” of digital technology to all business aircraft operators and users and to grow their customer base. “We all recognize the importance of using technology in business aviation and the benefits it can have,” said Chris Marich, co-founder and global strategy director at MySky. “Working together to bring the technology hub to EBACE puts the spotlight on how tech can benefit this sector and advance the whole aviation ecosystem.”

According to the companies, the EBACE partnership is completely agnostic and they welcome other digital platforms to join their initiative at the show. “We are happy to partner with any data or software provider that would benefit from sharing data,” said Marich.

FAA Outlines Key Deadlines in Part 147 AMT School Rule

The FAA has included several key deadlines as part of an interim final rule overhauling aviation maintenance technician school regulations under FAR Parts 65 and 147. The rule is expected to be officially published in the Federal Register in mid-June, after which the public will have 30 days to submit comments. The rules will become effective in mid-October, or 120 days after they are published in the Federal Register.

Under one major revision, the FAA is transitioning from using the mechanic practical test standards (PTS) as the testing standard to obtaining a mechanic certificate. As a part of this transition, the FAA developed mechanic airman certification standards (ACS), which add task-specific knowledge and risk management elements. That will result “in a comprehensive presentation that integrates the standards for what an applicant must demonstrate to pass the written, oral, and practical tests for a certificate or rating,” the agency said.

To allow for each school to train its students under the curriculum aligned with the ACS, the FAA will use the PTS as the testing standard until July 31, 2023. Starting Aug. 1, 2023, the FAA will use the ACS to conduct mechanic certification tests.

Enhancing Performance Now; Increasing Value in the Future

With a customer fleet comprised of over 3,600 aircraft and 7,200 engines, Rolls-Royce Business Aviation has developed a portfolio of services that ensure its customers get the most availability from their aircraft now and top dollar at resale time.

IBAC, USI Partner on RPAS Audit Training

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has teamed up with the Unmanned Safety Institute to develop and implement an auditor training program for IS-BAO for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS). IBAC unveiled the RPAS program in January to accommodate some of its participating IS-BAO operators that have begun using remotely piloted aircraft, as well as standalone operators that have sought out best practices and safety management systems, said IS-BAO program director Andrew Karas.

The RPAS standards were developed through an advisory board that represents a range of industry professionals. IBAC said it is adapting the program to ensure it will be relevant and applicable to RPAS now and in the future.

A key to the implementation is professionally trained and credentialed auditors, IBAC added. “The business aviation industry is filled with highly experienced and knowledgeable operations and maintenance personnel coming from traditional piloted aircraft backgrounds. However, the RPAS operational environment is relatively new with fewer industry experts,” Karas said.

IBAC will require RPAS auditor training as part of the credential program and will oversee the implementation of the training program. USI will create training content, including the coursework materials and online learning management, with the program anticipated to launch later this year.

Garmin Offers Engine Indication System for King Air 200

Garmin has received FAA STC approval for its TXi engine indication system (EIS) display on select Beechcraft King Air 200 twin turboprops. The Olathe, Kansas-based avionics manufacturer said TXi EIS features such as engine timers, exceedance recordings, dynamic engine indications, and wireless data logging are expected to reduce pilot workload, improve engine efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs.

A seven-inch TXi display in portrait mode replaces aging EIS gauges with indicators that show real-time turbine engine information using distinct colors, bands, and radials to depict normal operating ranges and limitations for ease of engine data interpretation. Oil pressure, temperature, fuel flow, and electrical system status are also displayed on the TXi EIS.

The TXi EIS is available for King Airs equipped with the PT6A-41 and -42 engines or retrofitted PT6A-42, -52, and -61 STCs. A dedicated GDU 700P touchscreen display is required. Other turbine aircraft approved for the TXi EIS include the Cessna 208/208B and 425; Piper Cheyenne I and II and PA-46-310SP/350P; Daher TBM 700/850; Beechcraft King Air 90; and Pilatus PC-12/47.

FAA To Provide Online Updates of Aeromedical Apps

The FAA has rolled out a feature on the MedXPress site that enables pilots to track the status of their medical certificate application and review process. Pilots have been able to submit medical applications through the MedXPress system and aviation medical examiners have been able to review that information prior to and during examinations.

However, before the development of the latest feature, applicants had to call the Office of Aerospace Medicine to check on the status of the application. Once the application is submitted, it appears on the pilot’s MedXPress profile. Now the FAA will update the status of that application as it moves through the review process, the agency said. Should an application be deferred or denied, the agency will still furnish detailed information via postal mail.

“If you can track where your ridesharing car is or the status of a company delivering your package, pilots should be able to see online the real-time status of their application,” said Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup. “We will continue to explore how we can be more transparent with the aviation community.”

Sikorsky S-92 To Recover Rocket’s First Stage in Midair

Rocket Lab plans to use a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter to recover the first stage of a reusable satellite launch vehicle in midair. The recovery of the Electron launch vehicle's first stage could occur as early as Friday. Rocket Lab has fitted the highly-modified helicopter with auxiliary fuel tanks and plans to capture the parachuted launch stage with a line hook at a location approximately 150 miles from its Pad A launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.

The mission profile calls for the helicopter to be dispatched to the capture zone one hour before liftoff. First-stage separation will occur 2.5 minutes after liftoff, with the stage falling back to Earth and its main chute deploying at 19,500 feet, slowing the stage’s descent rate to 19 knots as it enters the capture zone where the helicopter will attempt to snag the parachute with the hook and then return the stage to land for reuse.

“We’re excited to enter this next phase of the Electron recovery program,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “We’ve conducted many successful helicopter captures with replica stages, carried out extensive parachute tests, and successfully recovered Electron’s first stage from the ocean during our 16th, 20th, and 22nd missions. Now it’s time to put it all together for the first time and pluck Electron from the skies.”