StandardAero Launches Engine Exchange Program

StandardAero has launched a program that in effect will keep older turbofan-powered business aircraft flying longer, especially those aircraft whose overall values make it almost cost-prohibitive to do a complete engine overhaul. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based MRO provider’s engine exchange program lets aircraft owners exchange their engines or purchase replacement engines with less flight time to extend the life of their aircraft.

Other program options allow StandardAero to purchase older engines, enabling aircraft owners to recoup some value, as well as lease engines to owners and operators who choose to do extensive engine overhauls but need their aircraft flying in the interim.

“As aircraft get older you can see engine events where to get the engine back into full-flying condition, it’s going to cost more money than the whole aircraft is worth,” StandardAero business aviation division president Marc Drobny told AIN. “So situations like that are really incumbent upon folks like us to come up with options so we can keep the aircraft flying.”

Currently, the program applies to specific engine models—Honeywell TFE731 and CFE738 and Pratt & Whitney PW305—as well as Honeywell 36-100/150-series APUs. But “we definitely will be expanding this into other engine variants over time just as the interest from the market [grows],” Drobny added. A “couple dozen” engines and APUs are in StandardAero’s inventory with plans to build on that, he added.

Harrods Temporarily Closing London FBO/MROs

Harrods Aviation is taking “the unprecedented and regrettable decision to temporarily close its FBO and maintenance facilities at its London Luton and London Stansted bases” in response to the UK government’s Covid-19 guidelines. Its two locations will close this Friday—effective at 6 p.m. local time at Stansted and 11:59 p.m. local time at Luton—through at least April 17, when Harrods said it will review the situation.

“This is clearly a very serious global situation, and as an organization, we felt the right action to take was to close our operations at both bases,” said Harrods Aviation managing director Paul Norton. “Using the philosophy of people before profit, the safety and well-being of our staff, our customers, and the wider community becomes our primary focus. This decision has, of course, not been taken lightly. We believe our customers will understand and appreciate the seriousness of the situation and our positive response to it.”

Earlier this month, the company announced an investment in new services and equipment at its FBOs in response to rising customer demand. They included electric car charging points at its Luton facility and a VIP private ambulift at Stansted.

Deadline Extended for Piaggio Aero Sale

The notification deadline for groups interested in purchasing Piaggio Aero Industries and its subsidiary, Piaggio Aviation, has been extended because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it announced on Tuesday. Formal notifications of interest in acquiring the Italian companies, under what officials call an “expression of interest,” will be accepted until May 4. The original deadline for submitting an EOI was April 3.

The deadline was extended “in view of the ongoing Covid-19 epidemiological emergency,” according to extraordinary commissioner Vincenzo Nicastro. The two companies operating under the Piaggio Aerospace brand were placed into “extraordinary administration” after declaring insolvency in November 2018 and undergoing a year-long restructuring process.

Piaggio Aerospace, which also controls U.S. subsidiary Piaggio America, does business in the aviation and engine segments. The former focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of civil and military aircraft, while the latter builds and maintains aero engines. The companies were officially put up for sale in late February. At the time of that announcement, Piaggio Aerospace said it had approximately €450 million ($485 million) of orders in hand, with an equal amount pending.

Constant Sees Big Demand for MicroShield Applications

Constant Aviation has seen demand jump rapidly in the past few weeks for its MicroShield 360 antimicrobial protective coating service, with more than 250 aircraft receiving the treatment from the MRO provider and its authorized partners since March 9. FDA-approved, MicroShield 360 antimicrobial coating kills 99.99 percent of bacteria for one year after application and is clear, colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic.

The company said it has been working around the clock to treat business aircraft and application crews are now present at more than 150 airports nationwide. Meanwhile, the process has been streamlined to less than two hours, including on large-cabin aircraft, Constant said. The entire Flexjet fleet was among those that had received the MicroShield 360 treatment.

“We recognize the urgency operators have to treat their aircraft to help protect passengers, crews, and maintenance technicians from bacteria and germs,” said Constant Aviation CEO David Davies. “That’s why we have dedicated more resources to this program. Our objective in expanding the applicator network to airports nationwide is to make it as convenient and efficient as possible for aircraft to be treated.”

The treatment involves three steps: application of an electrostatic disinfectant to all surfaces, a specially formulated disinfectant, and finally a proprietary coating that provides a biostatic finish to treated surfaces to prevent pathogens from living on them.

Embraer Sends Brazilian Workers Home

Embraer sent its employees in Brazil home on paid leave through March 31 as it attempts to protect the well-being of its employees during the Covid-19 pandemic, the company said this week. Others who are able to and already working remotely will continue in their duties. The airframer has about 16,000 employees in Brazil, about half of whom had been working remotely.

The measure applies only to Brazil and not to the company's international locations, including its Phenom assembly facility in Melbourne, Florida. Embraer employs approximately 2,500 in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Those sites have been operating according to the direction of local authorities, Embraer said, but also noted it is evaluating the situation in other countries. 

Embraer added management is analyzing the situation overall and “and, together with local government and union representatives, [will] make the most adequate decision to protect its employees from the coronavirus contagion and, at the same time, protect its business, in a manner in which all parties will suffer the least impact possible.”

The company said only its “essential activities” remain in operation in Brazil.

DC Aviation Deal Expands Comlux Mx Support in Europe

Comlux selected DC Aviation Group to perform line maintenance and warranty work for its customers based in Europe and the CIS. Under the agreement, DC Aviation will provide line and base services for Comlux customers who operate Airbus ACJ and Bombardier Global 5000/6000 and Challenger 604/605 business jets. The MRO will provide the services from its 5,700-sq-m (61,300-sq-ft) facility at Stuttgart Airport in Germany. That facility further houses a parts inventory, battery and tire shop, and maintenance logistic center.

According to Comlux COO Arnaud Martin, the agreement “allows us to serve our worldwide customer base even better. While Comlux has strong expertise on VIP interior upgrades and heavy maintenance in our facilities in Indianapolis, DC Aviation offers our European and CIS customers a closer-to-home solution for their line maintenance and warranty needs.”

DC Aviation completed two A-checks for Comlux customers last year, said Juergen Sehne, v-p of maintenance and CAMO for DC Aviation, adding, “We are very happy that, with this agreement, we can continue and consolidate our excellent cooperation with Comlux.”

ATC-Zero: What That Means for Business Aviation

Speculation that U.S. airspace would be shut down due to the coronavirus crisis are unfounded, according to an NBAA webinar, “When Covid-19 Causes 'ATC-Zero' Disruptions–Planning Considerations,” held yesterday. Webinar hosts NBAA COO Steve Brown, NBAA director of air traffic services Heidi Williams, and NBAA air traffic services specialist David Villegas reassured the audience that such a shutdown is not likely.

“There is little need to talk about that kind of shutdown on a national basis,” said Brown. While there have been some “ATC-Zero” events or closures of air traffic control facilities or elements in those facilities due to Covid-19, he said, “The FAA has taken steps to prevent the spread [of the virus]. We have a robust system with many backups, and the FAA administrator has communicated to us in the last day that there is no ongoing discussion about [a national airspace shutdown].” 

“We’ve seen an organized job on the FAA Command Center floor,” said Villegas. “They’ve done a considerable job of [maintaining] continuity.” He explained that the FAA has contingency plans for issues that might force closure of facilities or portions of facilities. FAA personnel rehearse and use these plans so they are prepared for eventualities such as weather events, a fire, or now, the coronavirus.

Elliott Aviation Expands Mobile Mx Capabilities

Elliott Aviation has added mobile maintenance capabilities to include aircraft inspections and due items, the Moline, Illinois-based business aviation MRO provider announced this week. Its mobile maintenance is available for maintenance events, involving those for the Beechjet 400A/XP, Bombardier Challenger, Cessna Citation, Hawker, Beechcraft King Air and Premier, Embraer Phenom, and Daher TBM.

“We understand how challenging this time [during the Covid-19 pandemic] can be for customers, including how difficult it can be to logistically plan an inspection or other maintenance events in this environment,” said Elliott Aviation v-p of maintenance, paint, and interior sales Michael Parrish. With the company's mobile maintenance solutions, “customers can ensure their aircraft stays current on a number of calendar or flight time and cycles maintenance items without having to leave their hangar,” he said.

The same safety precautions for mitigating Covid-19 that Elliott Aviation uses at its three MRO facilities to ensure employee and customer safety are used by its mobile maintenance teams. That includes extensive, documented cleaning, social distancing, and the highest level of cleanliness, according to the company. In addition to Moline, Elliott Aviation operates MRO facilities in Des Moines, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.