CAE Seeks To Enhance Evidence-based Training Offerings

CAE has tapped The LOSA Collaborative to perform line operations safety audits (LOSA) of CAE customer-operators in an effort to enhance the former’s evidence-based training offerings. Data gleaned from the LOSA audits will allow CAE to offer tailored pilot training programs and benchmarked operational and training performance insights to operators.

“This partnership brings safety auditing expertise to our customers and will also reinforce our CAE Rise Training System,” said Nick Leontidis, CAE’s group president for civil aviation training solutions. “Collecting data and insights from line operations and training is key to the development and assessment of pilot competencies.”

Leontidis said this brings pilot training full circle by closing the loop between operations and training data. “This enables us to further build a robust data-driven training ecosystem that will support continuous improvement, provide a true measure of the effectiveness of training, and have a positive impact on aviation safety worldwide,” he added.

The LOSA Collaborative, which is dedicated to the continuous improvement of global aviation safety, also provides threat and error management education, implementation, and benchmarking. “With our partnership with CAE, we are formally bridging the gap between proactive safety data and training solutions,” said The LOSA Collaborative founder and CEO James Klinect.

Metrojet Tackles Bizjet Mobile Install on Global 5000

Metrojet Hong Kong is the first MRO to complete the installation of the Iridium-based Bizjet Mobile System (BMS) on a Bombardier Global 5000, allowing passengers and crew to communicate via mobile devices on board without the need for a broadband system and network.

The company noted that on-site support from Bombardier was not available during installation because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, but its avionics technicians still managed to complete the project in two weeks, including coordinating draft and design with experts online, as well as finishing wire routing and installation work and receiving final authority approval.

“It was a great achievement by the team,” said Metrojet Hong Kong MRO general manager Dave Yip. “Though a few difficulties regarding wire routing and connector location were encountered during the project, our avionics supervisor, Perry Law, and the team finished the job on schedule and fulfilled the client request.”

Honeywell, Curtiss-Wright Certify 25-hour Voice Recorder

EASA has granted technical standard order approval for a new 25-hour cockpit voice recorder (CVR) developed by Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright for air transport-category aircraft weighing more than 59,500 pounds (27,000 kg). In addition to recording data, the CVR is also able to transmit data while airborne for flight and maintenance analysis and to speed up post-accident investigations.

The new Class 6 CVR—the Honeywell Connected Recorder-25—meets and exceeds EASA’s new 25-hour CVR mandate for that class of aircraft. Equipped with a 90-day underwater locater beacon, the new CVR weighs less than 9.5 pounds, “substantially less than early-generation, rack-based, solid-state recorder alternatives,” Honeywell said. It is also a form-fit replacement for Honeywell’s HFR-5 CVRs and flight data recorders (FDRs). The Connected Recorder-25 is available as a standalone CVR, FDR, or combined CVR/FDR, according to Honeywell. 

“The importance of reliable cockpit voice and flight data recorders cannot be overstated,” said Amanda King, v-p and general manager of Aerospace Connected Secure Solutions for Honeywell Connected Enterprise. “That’s why we are working alongside Curtiss-Wright to design and develop the next generation of recorders that leverages our full hardware and software expertise to meet the 25-hour requirement and identify the right information and make it available to accident investigation agencies when it’s most needed.”

FAA Opens Mx, Pilot Workforce Development Grant Program

The FAA is soliciting applications for maintenance and pilot workforce development grants. Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants of between $25,000 and $500,000 are available for programs that are designed to expand the pilot workforce and educate students to become pilots, aerospace engineers, or unmanned systems operators.

Similar Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants are available for programs that prepare an inclusive base of aviation maintenance technicians. Applications will be accepted through March 22. The estimated total funding for each program is $5 million.

Both grant programs were created under a measure included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. Industry groups, grappling with looming workforce shortages, had strongly supported the measure. “These grant programs will not only ensure our workforce is properly skilled to operate and maintain the safest aviation system in the world, but will also provide important re-training and re-skilling opportunities for workers who have been displaced during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said National Air Transportation Association president and CEO Timothy Obitts. “Our industry has eagerly awaited the launch of these programs—prime examples of public-private partnerships leveraging federal investment. We are pleased to see the funding made available as we start the new year.”

True Blue Power Unveils New Li-ion Chargers

True Blue Power has unveiled two intelligent battery chargers—the True Blue Charger Pro and True Blue Charger Mx—that it claims will simplify the charging of lithium-ion aircraft batteries.

The company specifically designed the TT28-12 Charger Pro to charge, discharge, and test True Blue Power li-ion aircraft batteries and pre-loaded it with all necessary parameters, allowing maintenance personnel to top charge batteries and perform scheduled capacity checks. It also automatically discharges li-ion aircraft batteries to 30 percent state-of-charge, which is required for air shipment.

Meanwhile, the TT28-2 Charger Mx maintains li-ion and sealed lead-acid aircraft batteries of any capacity, while continuously displaying battery voltage. The direct-connect, 2.5-amp charger extends battery life and can be used for standby maintenance without trickle charging.

In a separate announcement, Vertical Flight Solutions by EuroTec received Transport Canada approval for the installation of the True Blue Power TB17 li-ion main ship battery on Airbus H125/AS350 series helicopters. Integration of the battery requires no structural work and includes an NVIS-compatible cockpit annunciator. True Blue Power said it expects other approvals—including from the FAA and EASA—to follow.

“EuroTec continues to build a growing list of True Blue Power battery upgrade STC kits,” said True Blue Power director Erik Ritzman. “In addition to the Airbus H125/AS350 and H130/EC130, STCs for the Airbus H135, Leonardo 109 and Bell 407 Series helicopters are in development.”

Milestone, NHV Partner on Airbus H145s

GECAS unit Milestone Aviation and Belgium-based NHV are partnering to supply two Airbus five-bladed H145 helicopters to support Germany’s Federal Armed Forces’ training program at Laupheim. The new H145 helicopters are the first five-bladed versions to be acquired by Milestone and the first to be operated by NHV. Deliveries began last month. 

In addition to the two five-bladed H145s, Milestone also delivered a four-bladed H145 to NHV in 2020. Milestone now leases eight helicopters into NHV’s fleet and has worked with the company for more than eight years.

Sebastien Moulin, Milestone head of Europe and the Americas, said the helicopters leased to NHV cover “a wide range of missions ranging from oil and gas transportation, emergency services, windfarm maintenance, and now military training. The ability to provide such tailor-made solutions is a key differentiator for Milestone and illustrates the depth of service capability we offer.”

Milestone’s global helicopter fleet is valued at more than $5 billion. The company provides more than 40 customers in 35 countries with products including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, engine leasing, and fleet advisory services.  

NHV is majority-owned by investment firm Ardian. It operates more than 60 helicopters in Europe and Africa and employs 550 flying diverse missions including energy and construction. The company is an Airbus Helicopters-approved training organization and official service center.

F/List Canada Receives Repair Station Approval

Transport Canada has awarded aircraft interiors specialist F/List Canada certification as a repair station for cabin components. The company has operated a production facility and veneer competence center for business jets in the Montreal suburb of Laval since 2017.

“I am pleased that we have achieved this important certification as an approved maintenance organization. As F/List Canada continues to grow and add to our capabilities in aviation, we can now offer full aftermarket refurbishment services for cabin furnishings, seats, and galley and lavatory equipment,” said CEO Sean Johnson. “We’ve already had strong interest from customers in using our expertise for complex refurbishment projects, and this certification will only make it easier for us to meet their expectations for quality and schedule.”

As a subsidiary of Germany-based F/List, F/List Canada’s production facility includes a fully equipped paint shop and employs 60.

FreeFlight Gains Approval for Datalink ADS-B Transceivers

The FAA has granted an approved model list-supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for FreeFlight Systems’ Datalink ADS-B system in more than 400 Part 23 aircraft models, including Beechcraft, Cessna, Cirrus, Piper, and other types.

FreeFlight is offering a $2,500 trade-in for aircraft owners that want to upgrade their FreeFlight Rangr system to the new Datalink ADS-B. The company plans to obtain STCs for Part 25 aircraft early this year.

Weighing less than two pounds, the Datalink ADS-B transceivers have built-in Wi-Fi for sharing ADS-B In information with panel displays and portable devices. ADS-B In capabilities include receiving free Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) weather and Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B), as well as information for surveillance applications. The transceivers can interface with TCAS and TAS (traffic systems) and support Ethernet, RS-232, and Arinc 429 interfaces.

For larger aircraft and those operating outside the U.S., the new units are capable of diversity functionality, allowing for top- and bottom-mounted antennas that facilitate better reception, including Aireon space-based ADS-B in areas without ADS-B ground stations.

Make Your Voice Heard in the 2021 FBO Survey

AIN’s FBO survey is open for year-round feedback, but the deadline to vote in the 2021 survey is February 5. The results will be published in the April issue. The survey takes only a minute, and you can do it while waiting for passengers, on the shuttle bus to/from the hotel, or any other time that is convenient for you. Participants will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card. Log on to www.ainonline.com/fbosurvey to rate your experiences at the FBOs you visit.