Duncan Unveils Eyecatching Paint Job

Duncan Aviation recently put its aircraft customization skills to the test on one of its own company jets. The Cessna Citation 560XLS, recently unveiled in a private ceremony, carries an elaborate paint scheme from artist Nancy Friedemann Sánchez, who like Duncan itself, is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was commissioned by Robert Duncan, the family-run company’s chairman emeritus, and his wife Karen, who had admired Sánchez’s work at an art show.

The design process took an entire year, as Sánchez began with small sketches of various elements, which were eventually added over the Citation’s medium blue base color by stencil or hand drawing. Altogether, the flying canvas required 23 specific aviation paint colors and a team of six workers masked and unmasked areas as needed, explained paint master specialist Stacy Finch. “Since everything is covered it was a challenge to remember where each color went,” Finch explained. “It’s like working on a big puzzle.”

The cabin interior received a refresh as well, with new headliner, window panels, lower sidewalls, seats, and carpeting, while a cockpit upgrade featured the Garmin G5000 avionics suite (Duncan's first installation of the system).

“It’s a flying, traveling billboard that catches people’s attention and shows them that Duncan Aviation is different,” said Robert Duncan. “It’s a great way to share our innovation and creativity as a company.”

FAA Bans Flight over Iran, Iraq, and Some Gulf Waters

Following Iranian missile attacks on U.S. bases in Bagdad, the FAA last night issued a trio of emergency Notams—KCIZ A0001/20, A0002/20, and A0003/20—that prohibit U.S. civil operators from overflying the airspace in Iraq and Iran, as well as the overwater airspace above the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

“These are significant airspace bans, particularly given that the entire overwater airspace in the region is now unavailable as well,” said flight-planning company OpsGroup. “The FAA’s previous Notam for the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman applied only to the portion that falls within Iran’s OIIX/Tehran FIR, but the new ban applies to the entire overwater airspace; this includes the entire overwater portion of the OKAC/Kuwait, OBBB/Bahrain, and OMAE/Emirates FIRs. Flights headed to/from the main airports in the region such as OMDB/Dubai will now need to route through Saudi Arabia’s airspace.”

In the Gulf of Oman, OpsGroup said the FAA Notam is unclear about where the boundary of the prohibited airspace lies because the Gulf of Oman merges with the Arabian Sea off the southern coast of Pakistan. However, the company has published a blog that includes a map of the prohibited airspace with its best-guess of the restrictions over the Gulf of Oman.

Air Service Basel Adds Cirrus SF50 Authorized Mx

Air Service Basel has been approved to provide authorized maintenance and Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) services for the Cirrus Vision Jet SF50, making it the first authorized service center for SF50s with either European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) or FAA registrations. “It is important for us to be prepared to serve the new Vision Jet SF50 owners and to provide the most sophisticated and personalized aviation experience across the Cirrus aircraft series,” said Air Service Basel CEO Claudio Lasagni.

The Switzerland-based MRO has been a certified Cirrus Partner for 15 years, offering full service for the Cirrus SR22 series, including full Garmin avionics services. It also has EASA Part 145 approval for full line and base maintenance and received FAA repair station approval at the end of last year.

The addition of SF50 service was the logical next step, according to the company. “We are looking forward to supporting the Cirrus Vision Jet customers,” Lasagni added.

Eastern, Central Europe Seeing Bizav Fleet Growth

While economies remain uncertain in the overall European market, the business aviation fleet is continuing to expand in Central and Eastern Europe, according to an analysis from aircraft broker Colibri Aircraft. The Central and European region fleet has grown 16 percent since 2017, reaching 172 aircraft by late last year, Colibri said, noting it now accounts for 7.6 percent of Europe’s fleet. This is up from 6.3 percent two years ago.

The largest jump has come in the Czech Republic, which is up 41 percent from 2017. Poland follows with a 37.5 percent growth in the business aircraft fleet. In the first 10 months of 2019, Romania led the increase at 19.1 percent. Fleets grew 5.1 percent in Slovenia and 4.5 percent in Serbia. By comparison, the business aircraft fleet declined 1.7 percent on average for the entirety of Europe.

Colibri credited economic growth in parts of the region for this change. “In recent years, economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe has consistently exceeded that of the eurozone,” said Colibri Aircraft sales director Marian Jancarik. “Some Central and Eastern European countries are now vibrant market economies that are immersed into the supply chains of Europe. It is the European Union’s fastest-growing region, and this has resulted in strong growth in its business aviation market.”

The broker based its analysis on WingX and Amstat data.

New SierraTrax Service Shops Mx Rates for Customers

Maintenance tracking outfit SierraTrax has unveiled a new service for its customers that shops the best rate for maintenance on their turbine aircraft, the Wichita-based firm announced. Called Maintenance Marketplace, SierraTrax co-founder and CEO Jason Talley told AIN that the service allows multiple MROs to bid on scheduled maintenance “and kind of automates that [process] for our subscribers and customers.”

As scheduled maintenance on a customer’s jet comes due, SierraTrax sends out a request for maintenance proposal to participating MROs. Responses from those MROs are then passed on to the customer who can follow up directly with the MROs. “It makes it very easy for them to solicit four, five, or six different proposals without having to deal with the sales pressure…and to be able to understand what the pricing looks like in the marketplace,” he said. 

So far, SierraTrax has about a dozen MROs participating in the new service, according to Talley. There is no cost for MROs to participate and no additional cost to SierraTrax customers. “We don’t get a piece of the maintenance cost,” he explained. “We’re just trying to connect two groups of people that need each other.”

Founded in 2017, SierraTrax primarily serves individual turbine aircraft owners and operators, as well as operators of fleets of 15 or fewer aircraft. It is a recommended service provider for Textron Aviation.

Garmin Ups Performance with GTN 650/750Xi

Garmin’s new GTN 650/750Xi GPS navcoms have received FAA STC approval and are now available for immediate shipping. The Xi units replace the original GTN 650/750, which entered service in 2011, bringing touchscreen control to panel-mounted avionics. The new GTNs are slide-in replacements for the previous versions. Prices are $12,495 for the GTN 650Xi and $17,995 for the GTN 750Xi. 

The main upgrade to the GTN Xi is faster dual-core processors, which allow for quicker startup, faster map rendering, a “more vibrant display and vivid colors,” and smoother touchscreen map panning. Advanced navigation features include LPV approaches and Garmin’s visual approach plus support for radius-to-fix approaches. The Xi series also adds terrain alerting, with audible and visual terrain proximity alerts and optional helicopter terrain awareness and warning system, TAWS-A, and TAWS-B.

Like the earlier GTN, the Xi series can integrate with remote audio controls or transponders and display that information on the GTN screen. Fully coupled IFR approaches and VNAV profiles can be flown when the GTN is paired with Garmin’s GFC 500 or 600 autopilot. Other available features include using Garmin’s Telligence voice control when the GTN is connected to a GMA 35c audio panel, global voice calling and texting on the GTN display with a GSR 56 Iridium datalink, and wireless connection to mobile devices with the optional Flight Stream 510.

Elroy and Embraer Launch Cargo eVTOL Partnership

Elroy Air is partnering with EmbraerX to develop a cargo-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft called the Chaparral. The companies said the autonomously operated aircraft, which will have a hybrid-electric propulsion system, will be able to deliver payloads of up to 300 pounds over distances of up to 300 miles.

Announcing the partnership today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Elroy said it intends to complete type aircraft certification in 2022 under the U.S. FAA’s Special Class 21.17(b) rules. According to the California-based company, Embraer will be involved in the program in an advisory capacity “in the areas of engineering, business, and certification.”

EmbraerX president and CEO Antonio Campello told AIN that Embraer’s experience in providing aftermarket support once the Chaparral enters service could be valuable and that it is investing in developing an “ecosystem” to support eVTOL aircraft entering service.

Elroy has not disclosed any details of major suppliers for the program but said it will produce the Chaparral itself. The aircraft’s propulsion system consists of a forward propeller and vertical flight rotors driven by electric motors, with a turboshaft engine and electrical generator. Elroy intends the Chaparral to be flown fully autonomously, but there will be an option for it to be remotely piloted.

Private Equity Firm Acquires AeroRepair

Private equity firm GenNx360 has acquired a controlling ownership stake in Manchester, New Hampshire-based AeroRepair Corp., a specialist in wheel and brake MRO services to business, commercial, and general aviation. “There is immense growth potential in the airline MRO sector and we have already identified several organic and inorganic growth initiatives along with AeroRepair's management,” said GenNx360 managing partner Daphne Dufresne.

AeroRepair also offers landing gear, battery, and other component MRO services through sister company Hemico, which also provides parts manufacturer approval (PMA) engineering services and designated engineering representative (DER)-approved repairs. Besides Manchester, AeroRepair operates five other locations—Atlanta, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Montreal, and Calgary—and employs nearly 200 workers.

“[GenNx360’s] expertise in business services and deep industry knowledge in this space will be a great asset as we continue to build our portfolio and expand into new markets,” AeroRepair CEO Daniel Bell said. “With extensive experience in airline MRO, GenNx360 has a team of talented professionals with strong technical and operational backgrounds.” Bell is among the current management team that will continue to operate AeroRepair going forward, according to GenNx360.

Tomorrow’s Aviation Challenges

AIN is developing a 14-part series of articles and infographics that speak to “Tomorrow’s Aviation Challenges.” Drawing on the knowledge base of experts at Honeywell Aerospace, AIN will explore a variety of topics over the coming weeks, including safety in the world of autonomous flight, harnessing the power of big data, beyond the 2020 ADS-B mandate, and reducing pilot fatigue to increase productivity and safety.

Sign up today to have these in-depth articles and infographics delivered directly to your inbox!