Embraer Executive Jets is doubling its maintenance service network in the U.S. from three to six facilities “to support the continued growth of its executive jets customer base,” the company announced today. The three new factory-owned service centers—to be based at Dallas Love Field, as well as in Cleveland, Ohio, and Sanford, Florida—are scheduled to open in the second quarter of next year.

“We are pleased to offer additional service locations for our customers as we will significantly expand the capacity, capability, and footprint of our MRO network in the U.S.,” said Embraer Services and Support v-p of MRO services Frank Stevens. “Our Executive Jets fleet has been growing rapidly over the last several years as strong demand continues across the entire product portfolio. This expansion will provide immediate additional capacity and ensures that we are poised to care for our valued customers and strategically grow for many years to come.”

In addition, Embraer will also “substantially increase” its mobile response network by 28 teams and enlarge its capabilities—including access to cabin completions, paint, and component repairs—as part of this expansion.

The expansion will augment the company’s three owned, U.S.-based service centers for its business jet customers in Mesa, Arizona, and Melbourne and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as 24 factory-authorized service centers in the U.S.

Belgian police successfully stopped Code Red climate activists from occupying the runways at several airports during their “mass action against aviation” on December 16 and 17, preventing possible damage to business aviation aircraft at the airfields. Several hundred protesters were arrested, according to local media.

Code Red, a civil disobedience group, organized protests at Antwerp, Kortrijk, and Liege airports this past weekend as part of its #PeopleNotFlights campaign, which denounces the aviation sector as “a polluting industry that disrespects human rights and whose growth seems unstoppable.”

The industry had expected Brussels International Airport to be the focal point of the protests. The activists, however, opted to target the country’s regional airports that handle private aviation or boast steep growth. According to EBAA data, Antwerp Deurne accommodated 6,692 business aviation flights in 2022, followed by Kortrijk-Wevelgem at almost 4,000 and Liege at about 3,100.

The group’s protesters tried to enter the airport from different sides on Saturday but were prevented from doing so by police. About 30 people managed to get onto the airport tarmac after cutting the fence, but they were detained before reaching parked aircraft or the runway. Nonetheless, no business aviation flights departed or landed at the airport on the day of the protest.

The FAA has issued the first-ever repair station certificate covering all of a company’s facilities, in this case to Duncan Aviation. The single certificate incorporates under its Lincoln, Nebraska repair station certificate all of Duncan’s satellite facilities and additional fixed locations in Oxford, Connecticut; Bedford, Massachusetts; Teterboro and Morristown, New Jersey; and White Plains, New York. Other satellites and fixed locations—as well as its Battle Creek, Michigan, and Provo, Utah locations—were consolidated on December 10.

“Now, instead of consulting dozens of FAA Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) representatives in dozens of different locations throughout the country, every Duncan Aviation location will consult the FSDO in Lincoln, Nebraska,” according to the company. 

The repair station consolidation will help Duncan deliver the same level of service to customers and enable FAA inspectors to focus more on safety rather than administrative issues. 

“Theoretically, the service we provide has been the same no matter the location, but with each location dealing with different FAA personnel, there was always the possibility of slightly different interpretations of rules,” said enterprise quality manager Mike Mertens, who led the transition. “Now, with only one person, there will be one interpretation. As a result, we will be even more consistent in providing the same service at every location.”

On Tuesday night, the U.S. Senate voted to extend authorization of FAA operations, pushing the decision on a five-year FAA reauthorization bill to March 8. The House of Representatives voted for the extension on December 11. This second extension funds FAA operations based on the terms of Congress’ five-year reauthorization bill of 2018.

“We thank lawmakers for extending FAA authorization into 2024,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “However, an ongoing series of extensions creates the potential for disruptions to long-term planning for the FAA and to the operational, safety, and other agency services needed by the aviation sector, which is among the nation’s most highly regulated industries. We will continue working with Congress to pass a multi-year authorization bill as soon as feasible.”

“Allowing the FAA’s authorization to expire is a nonstarter,” said Aerospace Industries Association president and CEO Eric Fanning, “but an extension through March only delays the inevitable: Congress must reauthorize the FAA to strengthen our global leadership in aviation, maintain the gold standard for safety and certification, and unleash innovation that will fundamentally transform the way Americans travel. Safety is the industry’s top priority, and we cannot allow a pattern of short-term extensions to continue.”

The extension prevents the halting of airport construction projects, aviation trust fund spending on projects, airline ticket tax collection, special drone authorizations, employee furloughs, and other spending measures.

Semi-private conversions remain a niche market with only a few MROs providing conversion and upgrade services. As one of those MROs, we often get asked about the available semi-private options – from basic interior refurbishment to the complete luxury VIP experience.   

Aero-Dienst, a Nuremberg, Germany-based business aviation and air ambulance services company, is marking its 30th anniversary as a designated Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) service provider. Initiated in 1993, this partnership positioned Aero-Dienst as one of the first European maintenance facilities recognized by P&WC for the PT6, JT15, and PW300-series engines.

In the early 1990s, Aero-Dienst’s operation of two P&WC PW305B-powered Hawker 1000s and a PT6A-60A-powered Beech King Air 350 laid the groundwork for an enduring relationship, with maintenance handled by its in-house engine team. Aero-Dienst became a P&WC premium service provider in 1996. In June 2020, the company was appointed as a designated maintenance facility for PW300-series engines.

Dennis Baker, a licensed inspector for PW300-series engines at Aero-Dienst, has been part of the team for more than 30 years. Commenting on the milestone achieved with P&WC, he said, “All totaled, our team can boast 86 years of straight technical experience with P&WC engines.”

Aero-Dienst's proficiency extends to post-rental inspections for P&WC lease engines. The engine shop team in Nuremberg has conducted 455 inspections, servicing a range of aircraft such as the Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X, and Bombardier Learjet 60/60XR. This service complements the numerous AOG and MRO support events they have completed across Europe, Africa, Australia, and Middle East.

A Philadelphia-based news helicopter crashed in a remote area of New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest shortly after 8 p.m. local time yesterday, killing the pilot and photographer onboard. The 2013 Airbus Helicopters AS350B2, registration N606HD, was being operated by U.S. Helicopters on behalf of Philadelphia television station WPVI and was returning to the Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE) from an assignment over Galloway Township near Atlantic City.

Nearly three hours after the accident, the New Jersey state police were first notified that the helicopter was missing. The wreckage was located shortly after midnight, and the FAA arrived on the scene at 3 a.m. The NTSB is expected to join the investigation today.

FlightAware data shows the helicopter beginning a gradual descent approximately three minutes before the crash from an altitude of 625 feet with a progressively increasing rate of descent, followed by a mild ascent, then a sharper, unstabilized rate of descent of 273 to 375 feet per minute.

During the final 40 seconds of the flight, the helicopter departed its direct heading back to KPNE on a more westerly heading. Aerial video from a competing television station showed a widespread debris field with part of the wreckage still burning. Weather in the area at the time of the accident was reported as 4,500 feet overcast to clear with visibility of 10 miles.

Duncan Aviation has received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for the installation of Gogo Business Aviation Avance L3 air-to-ground connectivity systems on Falcon 2000s. The work was completed at Duncan’s satellite facility in Chesterfield, Missouri, at Spirit of St. Louis Airport.

The upgrade gives passengers and crew on the aircraft access to Gogo’s long-term evolution (LTE) network and replaces legacy Gogo ATG equipment. The older equipment runs on Gogo’s evolution-data optimized (EV-DO) network, which is being phased out in early 2026. Installation of the Avance L3 LTE system can in “most instances” use the same antennas as the legacy EV-DO system, according to Gogo. The upgrade takes five days.

Duncan is warning customers that upgrade slots are filling up. Gogo is also offering incentives to upgrade to the Avance system. These include rebates of $25,000 for L3 (Max and Plus versions only), $50,000 for L5, and $100,000 for L5 and Gogo 5G, the new high-speed network that is scheduled to be switched on in mid-2024.

Turnkey hangar builder and operator Sky Harbour has acquired leases for the construction of two new complexes in the hangar space-constrained Northeast U.S.

At Connecticut’s Bradley International (KBDL), it will develop an eight-acre parcel on the north side of the field near the New England Air Museum. Meanwhile, at Hudson Valley Regional Airport (KPOU) near Poughkeepsie, New York, it obtained seven acres split between the north and south sides of the airport.

At both locations, the company will construct approximately 90,000 sq ft of hangar space capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets, along with adjoining high-end office space and private parking. It expects to break ground on both projects in late 2024, with anticipated completion in early 2026. 

“Bradley International Airport and Hudson Valley Regional are among the best-managed airports in the U.S. and serve the country’s top business aviation market,” said company chairman and CEO Tal Keinan. “Sky Harbour is honored to be joining the BDL and POU community and is committed to maximizing the long-term benefits of a Sky Harbour campus to Connecticut, Dutchess County, and the New York metro area.”

The company operates hangar complexes at Houston’s Sugar Land Regional (KSGR), Nashville International (KBNA), and Miami-Opa Locka Executive (KOPF) airports, with facilities under construction at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (KDVT), Denver Centennial Airport (KAPA), and Dallas-area Addison Airport (KADS).

A limited number of seats remain for AIN’s Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) West, to be held January 8 to 10 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The all-expenses-paid, peer-to-peer networking summit for U.S.-based corporate flight department leaders will address emergent topics, strategies, and solutions in business aviation.

The summit is attendee-centric and serves as an educational and social platform, connecting select corporate aviation professionals with colleagues, industry experts, and solution providers in a relaxed, informal environment. Topics at the upcoming event will include recruiting, training, data security, sustainability, and budget issues related to business aviation.

U.S.-based corporate flight department leaders have until December 31 to apply to attend the senior-level and laser-focused peer-to-peer networking summit. However, seats are very limited, so don’t wait to apply. AIN Media Group is covering all costs for approved CALS West attendees, including airfare, hotel, meals, and entertainment.