Constant Aviation Offering $15k Bonus to Military Techs

Constant Aviation is offering a $15,000 signing bonus to experienced military aircraft mechanics as part of a multi-pronged effort to increase the MRO provider’s recruitment and retention efforts in a tight labor market. Constant CEO David Davies told AIN that the new incentive program will supply the company with the technicians it needs while at the same time balance the experience level of its maintenance workforce.

“The primary goal is to put experienced technicians in our hangars,” said Davies. “Right now, we have an excellent program in place to bring new talent in and foster them up all the way from off the street with no experience all the way through getting their A&P. But we need to make sure we cover the top end as well.”

The incentive program builds upon other efforts by Constant for technician recruitment and retention, including the apprentice program it launched last year. Under that program, Constant covers the cost of training apprentices to get their FAA licenses, and they are paid while going through the program.

Also, Constant continues to offer a $2,000 signing bonus for other technical positions within the company, as well as awarding up to $8,000 for AOG technicians who complete their first year of employment. Additionally, it is increasing technician pay by 10 percent this year.

ALPA Rips FCC, Wireless Lobby Anew over 5G

Following its participation at a related House transportation subcommittee hearing last week, the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) this week launched fresh fire at both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and wireless industry representatives over the continuing quagmire regarding 5G C-band aircraft radar altimeter interference and related safety issues.  

Via a scorching letter to subcommittee chairman Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Washington), ALPA president Joe DePete wrote, “Given that the [FCC] completely failed to provide critical information relevant to the safety of the U.S. airspace system and voluntary dialogue by private sector companies did not begin until the precise time their actions posed catastrophic harm to public safety, it is clear there is a systemic failure of governance over the wireless industry’s use of spectrum, disclosure of information, and licensing.” Further, he noted that the “FCC not only failed to heed our concerns, but they willfully neglected to carry out their regulatory responsibilities and ask licensees for critical data needed to plan for launching 5G while maintaining aviation safety.”

But DePete’s harshest comments were reserved for CTIA, an organization that represents wireless carriers. He accused it of providing an “inadequate level of meaningful data” to “evaluate the 5G signal impact on radar altimeters” and said CTIA ignored aviation safety concerns.

Leather Institute Opens Colorado Repair Satellite

The Leather Institute, a Part 145 repair station for aircraft interior leather and soft goods, has opened a satellite location at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC) in Broomfield, Colorado. Its new facility will allow the New Jersey-based company to provide its services from KBJC and to regional clients using its mobile repair services.

“Our newest location enables us to provide the highest-quality services in another location on the local level for Denver-area-based clients while giving our national and international clients an additional service location for their immediate and planned interiors needs,” said Leather Institute president Sean Dorgan.

The Colorado facility is the fifth satellite location for the more than 35-year-old company, which also has operations in South Florida; Chicago; Cincinnati; and Savannah, Georgia. The Leather Institute is an OEM-approved supplier to Boeing, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Textron Aviation.

Italy’s Milan Sees Bizav Resurgence

SEA Prime, which manages business aviation infrastructure in Milan under the brand Milano Prime, reports that it saw more than 27,000 private aircraft movements last year at the city’s two airports—Linate and Malpensa. That represents a 74 percent increase over 2020 and an 11 percent boost over 2019, underscoring the strong rebound much of the business aviation industry has experienced in the post-Covid environment. During events such as Milan’s fashion and design weeks, the gateways saw daily peaks exceeding 160 movements.

According to SEA Prime, two-thirds of the traffic handled at its facilities was international, with a “significant recovery in traffic” from the Middle East, Russia, and the U.S. Combined, the FBOs have more than 320,000 sq ft (30,000 sq m) of hangar space.

CEO Chiara Dorigotti said the growth of business aviation at Milano Prime is consistent with global trends in the industry. To help meet this rising demand, the company expects to complete a nearly 48,500-sq-ft hangar at Linate, which would be its 11th aircraft storage facility on the field. “The master plan foresees new hangars dedicated to private jets in response to the strong demand for infrastructures for the development of our business,” she noted.

New Standards Proposed for Engine Emission Testing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to adopt particulate matter emissions standards and test procedures to replace the existing smoke standard for large subsonic jet airplanes. The proposal also includes applying a smoke number standard for smaller turbine aircraft.

These proposed standards would be applicable to aircraft engines with a maximum thrust available for takeoff greater than 26.7 kilonewtons (6,000 pounds). The standards would apply to both new type design and in-production engines starting on Jan. 1, 2023.

Standards for in-production airplanes would have different emission limits than would the standards for new type designs, and those limits would depend on the rated output of the engines. The smoke number standards would apply to engines less than or equal to 26.7 kilonewtons. Comments on this proposal are due by April 4, 2022.

This proposal is separate from the recently adopted EPA regulation that established carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards on large jets and turboprops. The action does not require aircraft or engine manufacturers to reduce their actual emissions but rather aligns U.S. standards with CO2 emissions standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2017 and revised in 2020.

Dart Floats Approved for Airbus Five-blade H145s

Dart Aerospace was awarded U.S. FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for its emergency float system with integrated life rafts for five-blade Airbus Helicopters H145s. This certification follows Transport Canada and EASA approvals. The floats were previously approved for the Airbus four-blade H145 and EC145 models and feature a tri-bag design for stability in water up to sea state 6. The design includes two externally-mounted life rafts delivering a 45 percent weight reduction over other externally mounted life-raft options while saving cabin space, the company said. 

“We are grateful to Airbus, FAA, TCCA, and EASA for their support as we pursued this STC during a particularly challenging time so that we could provide this critical system to the five-blade H145 operators,” said David Shepherd, v-p of certification at Dart. “We also received great support from Airbus as we worked together to complete flight testing in Germany in the midst of a global pandemic.” 

Dart holds more than 1,000 STCs and offers mission equipment and related services, replacement parts, and tooling for civil and military operators, completion centers, MRO facilities, and all major rotorcraft OEMs. Products include aerial firefighting systems, flotation systems, landing gear, interior, and exterior accessories, cargo expansion, cable cutters, and filters.

L.A.-area Airports Offer SAF Options for Super Bowl Week

With hundreds of private aircraft expected to arrive at Los Angeles-area airports in the days leading up to Sunday’s Super Bowl game, aviation fuel providers and local FBOs are working to accommodate anyone wishing to fill up on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Signature Flight Support—which already offers SAF at nine other locations—has now introduced its continual supplies of the renewable fuel blend this week at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY), one of the busiest general aviation gateways in the country. It received two 8,000-gallon tanker loads just in time for one of the busiest periods in the business aviation calendar.

Signature joins Clay Lacy Aviation and Jet Aviation in offering permanent supplies of SAF at KVNY, and Castle & Cooke reported last week that it will also have the fuel to meet demand in the days before and after Super Bowl.

According to aviation sustainability solutions provider 4Air’s SAF tracking map, other nearby options for those seeking the environmentally friendly fuel include Atlantic Aviation at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX), which recently began retail sales of SAF; the Clay Lacy and ACI Jet FBOs at John Wayne-Orange County Airport (KSNA); Million Air Burbank at Bob Hope Airport (KBUR); and Sun Air Jets at Camarillo Airport (KCMA).

CCX T-RX Avionics Tester Approved for Sale in Europe

The CCX Technologies T-RX Avionics Radio Tester has been approved for sale in Europe, having met European regulatory requirements and granted CE certification.

A portable, touchscreen tablet device, the T-RX Tester can be used to test a variety of aircraft radios, from VOR/LOC/glideslope to VHF com radios (including 8.33-kHz spacing), marker beacon receivers, HF com, Selcal, 406 MHz ELT, TCAS, transponders, both bands of ADS-B Out and In, and Arinc 429 RX. More than 100 tests are available, eliminating the need to use a variety of testing devices. CCX also updates the T-RX’s testing capabilities as requirements change via software, either over the air or on the web.

“We have hit another important milestone in our aim to make the T-RX even more widely available,” said Chris Bartlett, president of CCX Technologies. “The CE certification is required for sales across the European Community, and we are pleased to achieve this designation because it will open up access to modern avionics testers not previously available to maintainers and technicians in Europe. Incorporating this powerful, intuitive tester into their routine will help streamline their testing processes, saving time and money.”