StandardAero To Acquire Signature’s Engine Repair Biz
StandardAero will acquire the engine repair and overhaul (ERO) business of Signature Aviation for $230 million under a definitive agreement between the two companies. Signature’s ERO portfolio includes Dallas Airmotive, H&S Aviation, W.H. Barrett Turbine Engine Co., International Governor Services, and International Turbine Service. The deal comes as Signature itself is an acquisition candidate.
Based in Dallas, Signature’s ERO comprises engine overhaul facilities in Dallas and Portsmouth, England, 10 regional turbine centers, one component MRO site, and two parts/distribution facilities. Combined, the ERO employs 1,100 people and generated $500 million in 2020 revenue.
StandardAero said the Signature ERO facilities provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the majority of turbine engine models found on fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft used in business aviation, as well as in government, military, and commercial applications. Specifically, the acquisition will expand StandardAero’s MRO capabilities on a number of Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, and General Electric engines, including services for PW200, PW500, Spey and Tay engines, and PW901 APUs. StandardAero’s component repair capabilities, parts distribution channels, and mobile field services also will increase from the acquisition.
“ERO is a terrific and complementary fit for StandardAero, expanding our portfolio with more volume of the engines we support today, while also growing our service base with a significant number of new engine platforms and customers,” said StandardAero chairman and CEO Russell Ford.
Tech Mahindra Joins Spike Aero’s Supersonic Bizjet Team
Spike Aerospace’s efforts to develop the supersonic S-512 business jet are receiving a boost under a partnership with Indian technology giant Tech Mahindra. Through the partnership, Tech Mahindra will bring engineering, optimization, and composites expertise to the low-boom Mach 1.6 jet.
"I’m very much looking forward to working with Tech Mahindra and their experienced team of engineers,” said Spike president and CEO Vik Kachoria, noting Tech Mahindra’s Aerospace and Defense Group has provided engineering support to a number of commercial, business aviation, and defense programs. This has included design and analysis, verification, testing, and certification support. “Spike will be able to leverage their expertise in composite airframe design, stress analysis, and optimization.”
Spike has outlined a vision for an 18-passenger supersonic business jet that will provide a lower boom to mute the effect of sound reaching the ground. Spike’s ambitions further are to develop a pathway to zero-carbon flight by 2040.
"Tech Mahindra is excited to be working to advance aviation with a program that will enable passengers to reach destinations in just half the time it currently takes, certainly this will bring a revolution in the aviation industry,” said Lakshmanan Chidambaram, Tech Mahindra’s president of Americas Strategic Verticals. “In this collaboration, Spike and Tech Mahindra will work together to refine and optimize the aircraft design.”
Dassault Taps TAG Hong Kong for Falcon 7X/8X Servicing
Dassault Aviation has appointed TAG Aviation Hong Kong as an authorized service center (ASC) for the Falcon 7X and 8X, complementing Dassault’s other regional ASCs. “The new Hong Kong line service capability is the latest of a series of measures intended to reinforce our worldwide Falcon product support network,” said Jean Kayanakis, senior v-p of Dassault’s worldwide customer service and maintenance network. “It will provide further service options for our Falcon 7X and 8X customers while strengthening our longstanding relationship with TAG Aviation.”
For nearly a decade, TAG Aviation has offered MRO services in Asia through maintenance bases in Hong Kong and Macau. Engineering and grooming teams at those locations provide maintenance and cleaning services that include internal and external aircraft cleaning, MicroShield 360 disinfectant, and Permaguard paint protection, as well as regional mobile repair services.
“We look forward to providing our high-quality maintenance support to Falcon operators in the region,” said TAG Aviation director of maintenance Phil Balmer. “This welcomed service center status further increases our existing range of maintenance and cleaning services.”
Duncan Provo Establishes Cabin Interior SWAT Team
Duncan Aviation has established a “SWAT” Team—to survey aircraft interiors; write prompt quotes; artistically clean, touch up, and dye; and transform appearance and functionality—at its full-service maintenance facility in Provo, Utah. Provo was the last of its three main facilities—the others are in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Battle Creek, Michigan—to add SWAT services.
“We are excited to add the SWAT capabilities as part of this phase of our growth in Provo,” said Duncan modification manager Jeff Schipper. “We'll continue to bolster our modifications capabilities as our teams grow to meet the ever-increasing demand for modification services.”
The MRO provider said SWAT is synonymous with preventive maintenance. Making small improvements to well-maintained and cared for aircraft interiors through repair of nicks, scuffs, and scratches go a long way to maintaining the value of an aircraft, Duncan said.
Scottish Operator Latest To Exit Brexit with EU AOC
Brexit restrictions have prompted UK private jet operator Air Charter Scotland to secure a European Union (EU) air operator's certificate (AOC) in Malta. The company now has two of the 10 aircraft in its fleet on the Maltese register to be able to continue flying between the 27 EU states, which is no longer possible for UK operators.
The Glasgow-based company now has a Cessna Citation CJ3+ based in Malta and a Bombardier Challenger 350 at Nice in southern France. It also employs three flight crew residing in the EU to support these aircraft formerly based in the UK.
Malta has proved to be an attractive location for companies seeking EU registrations and AOCs. Of the 569 aircraft registered on the Mediterranean island, 168 are business jets owned by 37 different operators.
Malta’s Civil Aviation Directorate has been active in attracting non-EU aircraft to its jurisdiction, with the promise of credible regulatory oversight and user-friendly administrative efficiency. “We set up the registry 10 years ago, but the last four years have become exceptionally busy and we now have to control the expansion,” said Charles Pace, director general of Transport Malta. He said 10 more operators are now seeking to add aircraft to the Maltese registry, including three more from the UK.
NATA’s Compliance Services (NATACS) organization has rolled out a CDCCheck System that is designed to help operators comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) testing and documentation requirements for all inbound international flights. Under a CDC order that took effect late last month, all passengers flying in from international destinations must show documentation of a recent Covid-19 test or recovery from the virus.
In compliance with the order, CDCCheck digitizes documentation and record-keeping requirements for the operator. The system is further designed to protect the privacy of the passenger information, NATACS said.
Under the system, passengers can enter their own information, electronically sign their attestations, and upload their test results ahead of their flights. Passengers are then assigned a validation number for the crewmembers to review and confirm before they board their flight to the U.S.
As NATA worked to develop an offering that could help with the testing mandates, the association welcomed indications from U.S. government officials that similar testing would not be required for domestic flights. The association had urged administration officials in a letter last week to avoid burdening the industry with such requirements, saying a mandate could hinder essential services.
PHI will operate four Airbus H160 intermediate twin helicopters for Shell in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the entry of the H160 into the oil and gas market. Airbus will initially provide one H160 to PHI and Shell for a year-long route-proving program and to mitigate normal challenges from entry into service.
The H160 will be domiciled at PHI’s Houma, Louisiana base. PHI currently operates a large fleet of Airbus H125 and H135 helicopters in its air medical division, as well as four H145s for pipeline survey and harbor pilot shuttles.
“Emissions reductions that the H160 provides help us continue to deliver crude and natural gas with the smallest carbon footprint of our global deepwater portfolio,” said Shell general manager-supply chain deepwater Viet Van, “and are another important step to meeting our goal of zero net emissions by 2050.”
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.
Summit Partners with Cabin Crafters for Interiors Work
Summit Aviation has partnered with Cabin Crafters of New Jersey to supply the helicopter and fixed-wing MRO provider, manufacturer, and FBO operator with interior refurbishments. A specialist in aircraft interiors for more than 35 years, Cabin Crafters is a Part 145 repair station operating from a 25,000-sq-ft facility adjacent to Teterboro Airport.
Under the partnership, Cabin Crafters will provide services from its location, as well as at Summit’s Middletown, Delaware facility. “Cabin Crafters has robust capabilities and an excellent reputation for providing quality interior refurbishments and cabin reconfigurations,” said John Gonsalves, Summit sales and marketing director. “We believe our customer base will benefit substantially from its years of experience with both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.”
Cabin Crafters president Mario Diaz noted that while both companies have worked together in the past, the partnership will streamline processes and offer advanced solutions and incentives for customers. “The extensive experience and history offered by each company will enhance our abilities to exceed customer expectations in interiors, paint, and maintenance,” Diaz added.
BJT Webinar: Basics of Flying Privately
AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler is holding a free webinar on March 3 about how to get started with flying privately. Hosted by AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber and veteran business aviation journalist Charles Alcock, the webinar will feature EBAA COO Robert Baltus and NATA senior v-p Ryan Waguespack in an unbiased and invaluable conversation through the basics—from charter, jet cards, and flight clubs to fractional aircraft shares and full ownership. Register now
Model(s): Global Express, XRS, 5000, 5500, 6000, 6500
Published: February 15, 2021
Effective: March 1, 2021
Requires inspection of the forward and aft engine mount systems to verify the proper installation of the bushings and rectification as required. Prompted by reports that the sliding bushings in the forward engine mount system were found missing.
Requires replacement of each Decomatic titanium screw with serviceable parts. Prompted by an investigation determining that an improper heat treatment process was applied during the manufacturing of these parts.
Requires inspecting each sliding door and replacing the upper rail or front roller or removing the front roller from service if necessary. Prompted by the in-flight loss of a sliding door.
Model(s): AS350B/BA/B1/B2, AS350D/D1, AS355E, AS355F/F1/F2, AS355N/NP, EC130B4, and EC130T2
Published: February 16, 2021
Effective: March 2, 2021
Requires the application of alignment markings on, and repetitive inspections of, the main rotor pitch rod upper links to visualize any rotation of the screw, washer, or nut connecting the pitch rod to the horn of its upper link due to loss of torque and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action(s). Prompted by an occurrence was reported where increased vibration was experienced by the crew of an AS365 helicopter during flight. A subsequent investigation determined a total loss of tightening torque of one screw connecting the main rotor pitch rod to the horn of its upper link, which had led to abnormal wear of the screw and increased the vibrations coming from the main rotor control chain to the pilot’s flight controls.
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