Bombardier Global Assembly Moving to Toronto Pearson

Bombardier will move final assembly of Global family aircraft from Toronto Downsview Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport in early 2023, the company announced today. It cemented the deal this morning, signing a long-term lease with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority to build a one-million-sq-ft Global Manufacturing Centre on a 41-acre lot at Toronto Pearson, which is located some 12 miles from Downsview in Mississauga, Ontario.

The relocation “is a strategic move for Bombardier and a strong commitment to Ontario’s aerospace industry,” said Bombardier Inc. president and CEO Alain Bellemare. He added that the facility will be equipped with modern production methods and tooling, including an automated positioning system that uses laser-guided measuring to accurately join together major aircraft structures, such as the wing and fuselage.

According to Bombardier, preliminary site work is now under way in Mississauga, with first production activities on the Global 5500, 6500, and 7500 set to begin there in 2023. Production capability at the new facility will be 100 aircraft a year, a Bombardier spokeswoman told AIN.

Meanwhile, Bombardier will also leverage significant recent R&D investments and a continued collaboration with Ontario’s colleges and universities for training, research and development. It will also make a multimillion-dollar contribution to the Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research Consortium to develop an aerospace hub for academic research and training activities.

Gulfstream Aerospace Opens New European Parts Center

Gulfstream Aerospace has opened its European customer support parts distribution center after moving it from the London area to a 25,000-sq-ft (2,323-sq-m) facility in the Fokker Logistics Park adjacent to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the Savannah, Georgia-based airframer announced today. The facility, which is now fully operational, has already received more than $20 million in inventory. By the end of the year, it will carry $28 million in inventory, according to Gulfstream.

“We made this move to ensure the continued speedy delivery of parts and materials to customers in the EU,” said Gulfstream Customer Support president Derek Zimmerman. “In preparation for Brexit, we began moving parts from our London Heathrow-area distribution center into Amsterdam several months ago.” He added that the stock already in Amsterdam has been customs-cleared into the EU.

Zimmerman also noted that UK-based customers will continue to receive support from the OEM’s service center at London Luton Airport, which has $45 million in parts inventory. “Parts supply and availability in the UK remain a high priority for our organization as the larger European market evolves,” he said.

Fagan To Lead Interior Design of Aerion AS2

Aerion has lured a key aircraft interior designer away from Bombardier as the Reno, Nevada-based supersonic business jet designer works toward the development of its AS2 supersonic business jet. Tim Fagan, who led the industrial design of Bombardier’s flagship Global 7500, has joined Aerion as chief of industrial design, Aerion announced on Monday. In that role, Fagan will steer the interior design of the Mach 1.4 AS2.

During his time with Bombardier, which spanned much of the past two decades, he also oversaw the industrial designs of the Premier cabins for the Global 5000 and 6000, as well as for the Bombardier Vision Flight Deck. In addition, he has had experience with commercial interiors with the Dash 8 Q400, has held customer-facing roles in business jet completions, and helped design the 2010 Olympic Torch.

Fagan outlined his ambitions for an AS2 interior that “will be a unique vision of beauty and luxury, featuring visionary technologies, intelligent functionality, and genuine comfort—fusing emerging tech with exquisite handcrafted materials, and delivered with a relentless attention to detail."

Aerion, which formed a partnership with Boeing in February 2019 for the continued development of the AS2, is hoping to begin flight testing of the supersonic business jet in 2024.

C&L, Electromech Ink New Parts Agreement

C&L Aerospace will provide more than 70 different aircraft components through a new partnership with Wichita parts manufacturer Electromech Technologies, the Bangor, Maine-based MRO provider announced this week. The parts include blowers, motors, valves, and actuators for a variety of business aircraft, including Beechjet 400As, Beech 1900s, Cessna Citations, Hawkers, King Airs, Learjets, Pilatus PC-12s, and Premier Is.

“We see considerable opportunities for both companies opening up as a result of working together,” said Electromech actuation and position sensing business manager PJ Tos. Many of the parts included in C&L’s acquisition of Global Parts’ Beechjet 400 rotable inventory earlier this year were manufactured by Electromech.

“This program will help us increase our support and ability to provide quality tip-to-tail parts availability throughout the market,” said C&L director of business development for corporate aircraft Brad Vieux. Both companies are also looking at how they might collaborate in other ways to increase their marketplace competitiveness.

In a separate announcement, C&L has recently signed an exclusive supplier agreement with Thai Aviation Industries, which allows it to better support the Royal Thai Air Force’s Saab aircraft fleet.

JetSuite’s Stephanie Chung Among WAI 2020 Keynotes

JetSuite president Stephanie Chung is joining a slate of speakers scheduled for the 31st Annual International Women in Aviation Conference scheduled for March 5 to 7, 2020, at Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Chung, the first female African American to lead a major private business aviation company, oversees all aspects for the business jet operator, including sales, marketing, revenue management, performance, and guest services. She has more than a 30-year background in commercial and private aviation.

Joining Chung on the speaking roster is NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, who became the first female to pilot a shuttle mission in 1995 and the first female pilot commander of a space shuttle.

Maj. Gen. Jeannie “Tally” Leavitt, who has a more than 25-year career in the U.S. Air Force and more than 3,000 hours of flight time, including more than 300 in combat flight, also is on the slate. In 2012, Leavitt became the first woman to command a combat fighter wing. The roster further includes Joan Robinson-Berry, Boeing Global Services v-p and chief engineer who was recognized this year by Black Enterprise as one of the most Powerful Women in Corporate America.

In addition, famed aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff will speak during Girls in Aviation Day Orlando, scheduled for March 7 on the final day of the WAI conference.

Metrojet Completes First Gulfstream G650ER 4C Check

Business aviation services provider Metrojet has completed its first 4C maintenance check on a Gulfstream G650ER. Conducted at the company’s headquarters MRO facility in Hong Kong, the job was completed within the approved 11-day downtime and on budget.

This was accomplished despite the aircraft being required for three ad hoc flights during the scheduled maintenance period, with Metrojet’s maintenance team ensuring the big twinjet was really to go on 24-hour's notice. That arrangement, according to the company, kept the operator on schedule with no compromise to safety or quality.

“This inspection was an amazing experience for both our team and the flight crew, as we were able to complete the scheduled maintenance while not disrupting any of the flying trips in between,” said Phil Roberts, the facility’s operations manager. “Giving our clients peace of mind is always one of Metrojet’s goals."

Elliott Sees More Than 600 Installs under Its ADS-B STC

More than 600 business aircraft have been equipped with Elliott Aviation’s remote-mount, Garmin-based ADS-B Out STC, the Moline, Illinois-based MRO provider said this week. Those aircraft include Beechjets, Challengers, Citations, Falcons, Hawkers, and Learjets.

The STC integrates with existing cockpit controls including aircraft equipped with TCAS II. It also offers ADS-B In through a Bluetooth-compatible device via Garmin’s Flight Stream wireless platform. Remote-mount Garmin GTX-3000 smart transponders replace an aircraft’s transponders as part of the STC, which Elliott said doesn’t require any modification to a current avionics package nor upgrades to current equipment. Operators who choose the STC can also receive a $50,000 credit toward a future Garmin G5000 installation on Beechjet 400A/XP or Citation Excel/XLS twinjets.

“Our Garmin ADS-B STCs have been extremely popular because, in many instances, they can save operators tens of thousands of dollars,” said Elliott director of avionics sales Conrad Theisen. “Most of our customers are looking for cost-effective ADS-B solutions that do not require additional upgrades, and that is exactly what we provide.”

Air Methods Moves To Address Patient Cost Concerns

Helicopter EMS provider Air Methods is expanding its in-network health insurance agreements and partnering with the American Red Cross to carry blood and plasma on its aircraft. Air Methods also said it is refunding fees for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in its advantage membership program, which was terminated in April. The company was one of several air ambulance operators selling annual “memberships” to the public that guaranteed they would not be billed beyond the amount of their insurance reimbursement.

Air Methods noted that Medicare Part B beneficiaries are already covered for air medical services without a membership and that in 2018 the average out-of-pocket cost for Medicare patients transported by Air Methods was $280, including copays and deductibles. The company said it now has 47 in-network agreements with health insurers across the U.S. and that 75 percent of its patients are covered for its services through commercial insurance, Medicare Part B, or Medicaid. 

Further, Air Methods will continue to work with patients to settle insurance claims that are denied or underpaid, in or out of network. Air Methods’ moves come as the air ambulance industry continues to face scrutiny for charging privately insured and uninsured patients substantially more than it charges Medicare and Medicaid patients and more than private insurance often covers.

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