Business aviation services provider Comlux signed an agreement with Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) to develop a 12,000-sq-m (130,000-sq-ft) hangar facility at the site in Dubai South, due for operational launch in mid-2023.
Comlux will provide EASA and UAE Part 145-approved maintenance services and cabin upgrades as well as refurbishment for VIP aircraft at the hangar, which will be equipped to accommodate two ACJ or BBJ family aircraft types simultaneously.
Comlux Tech will manage the project for the Comlux Group, to develop synergies between Comlux Aviation’s operations and Comlux Completion’s know-how in VIP cabin engineering, particularly for the ACJ TwoTwenty, which is due to enter service based in Dubai in 2023 with hotels operator Five Group.
“MBRAH’s organization at DWC provides us with the ideal location for our expansion in the immediate future,” said Richard Gaona, executive chairman and CEO, Comlux. “Our goal is to offer our Middle East customers convenient, high-quality, and cost-efficient solutions for their VIP cabin upgrades at DWC during their stay in Dubai or during maintenance ground time.”
Comlux Aviation operates a fleet of 20 VIP aircraft, including several Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Comlux Completion, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is an approved ACJ and BBJ cabin outfitter and service center and will be the exclusive completion center for the first 15 ACJ TwoTwenty cabins.
Russian officials showcased a new bizliner version of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ), the Aurus, during the recent Dubai Airshow, saying the aircraft's competitive pricing should draw steady demand.
Sergei Chemezov, head of the Rostec state corporation, said prices for the Aurus will vary from $39 million to $50 million, depending on the configuration, significantly cheaper than other major bizliners.
So far, interest in the new business jet has been expressed by representatives of some large Russian companies and business leaders. Russian analysts believe the new business jet will be in high demand at least in the local market, mainly due to its domestic origin.
The Aurus has a range of more than 7,000 km (3,800 nm), Chemezov said. Cruise speed is 830 km/h (about 448 knots) and top speed is 950 km/h (513 knots). Maximum takeoff weight of the 98-foot-long aircraft, meanwhile, is 49,450 kg (109,000 pounds). Its cabin spans 20.48 meters (67 feet).
Anna Serejkina, executive director of the United Business Aviation Association, told AIN that since the SSJ has already been operated by Russian domestic airlines, she expects the Aurus to have easier market entrance as a Russian-made aircraft that does not need to be imported.
“It can fly freely throughout the country without restrictions on changing loads and approvals,” Serejkina said, adding that the “long-range, taking into account Russia’s territory, is a big plus.”
Charter operator and aircraft management firm Priester Aviation has begun offering a parts-procurement program for its managed fleet through JSSI Parts & Leasing, which has more than 38,000 stock lines of inventory that it said supports nearly every make and model of business jet.
“Many of our managed aircraft already leverage JSSI, so this is a natural partnership,” said Priester v-p of maintenance Dave Prescott. “Our customers will benefit from efficiencies in JSSI Parts & Leasing’s extensive parts procurement and logistics support, freeing our team to focus on delivering the personalized services customers have come to expect.”
JSSI Parts & Leasing chief commercial officer Jim Sellers said his unit of Jet Support Services Inc. supports 10,000 maintenance events each year, and the deal with Priester will allow its managed customers to benefit from its expertise, buying power, and industry relationships that allow it to expedite the sourcing of parts at a lower cost while reducing aircraft downtime.
“JSSI has enjoyed a long relationship with Priester Aviation, and we look forward to working closely with its proven team to support parts orders, enhance maintenance planning, and provide detailed cost projections for customers,” Sellers added.
Bombardier has established a line maintenance station that includes AOG capabilities at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South for Challenger and Global owners and operators. The move is part of Bombardier’s investment in the aftermarket business in the Middle East, where it sees “considerable potential” and “significant future growth opportunities.”
The station has two mobile response team trucks and nine technicians, with plans to add up to three more technicians by the first quarter of 2022. Additionally, Bombardier has secured a 3,000-sq-ft facility that includes office space, stores, a tool room, and a general workshop.
Thus far, EASA and aviation authorities in the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Guernsey, San Marino, United Arab Emirates, Bermuda, and the Isle of Man have awarded repair station certificates to the Dubai facility. Bombardier anticipates additional certifications soon from the FAA and the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia.
FlyExclusive has added 70 pilots to date in the fourth quarter in response to an increase in business for the Kinston, North Carolina-based wholesale and retail charter operator.
“The demand for private jet travel continues to accelerate and made the market for top talent more competitive than ever,” said flyExclusive senior v-p of operations William Whitford. “Our floating fleet makes flyExclusive a premiere destination for pilots and crew members, who get the convenience of a set schedule and the ability to stay close to home...As we continue to grow our fleet, we continue to build our team with those who want to join us on the journey to becoming a leading brand in private jet experiences.”
The six-year-old company’s owned, floating fleet has grown to more than 70 business jets, including Gulfstream IV-SPs and Cessna Citation Xs, Sovereigns, Excel/XLSs, CJ3s, and Encores.
Air bp has entered a commercial joint venture to provide aircraft refueling, ground handling, and support services at Iraq’s Baghdad International Airport, the company revealed at the Dubai Airshow. Operating as the United Iraqi Company for Airports and Ground Handling Services, Limited (under the name Masil) in partnership with Iraqi Airways, the Al Burhan Group, and Menzies Aviation, the JV has already received an operating license.
“We see a strong future for aviation in Iraq and are excited to be involved in this market and contribute to its future development success,” said Duce Gatora, Air bp v-p of strategy and sustainability. “Fuel supply is a vital component of the airport operation that will add value to airline operators.”
Masil will bring “world-class standards and global expertise to further improve the customer experience, safety, and operational standards at the airport,” according to Air bp, which will also provide workforce training and advice on product quality, maintenance, and health, safety, security, and environmental issues.
“Over time, Air bp and its partners aim to build a strong and sustainable business in Iraq, drawing upon the global expertise of the partners combined with the local skills of Iraqis,” said Gatora.
Air bp claims almost 90 years of history providing fuel for general, commercial, and military aviation customers in the Middle East. The company has a presence in Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, either directly or through JVs.
Bristow’s fleet of Leonardo helicopters has amassed more than 500,000 flight hours, with 300,000 of that coming in AW139 medium twins. Bristow operates more than 90 Leonardo helicopters in markets including North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Australasia in support of offshore energy and medevac/search-and-rescue missions. The operator flies the AW139 and super-medium AW189 and is an early customer for the AW609 civil tiltrotor, which is still concluding flight testing.
“We’re excited to celebrate this important moment with Bristow," said Leonardo Helicopters managing director Gian Piero Cutillo, “particularly after the challenging pandemic time we’ve been facing, when we have joined forces to guarantee the level of service expected to respond to the requirements of end-users and the served communities globally, either connecting mainland and rigs offshore or saving lives. We look forward to reaching one million flight hours.”
Separately, Leonardo announced the first sale of a medium-twin AW169 into Africa, to Angolan operator Bestfly. The company, which has ordered three additional AW169s, plans to use the helicopters for both onshore and offshore operations. Overall, Leonardo has received orders and options for nearly 290 AW169s from 90 customers in more than 30 countries. More than 130 of the models have been delivered and the fleet has accumulated 90,000 flight hours.
Aviation Maintenance Professionals (AMP) in Arlington, Texas, has renewed its Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil certification to offer full maintenance and repair of Mexican-registered aircraft through September 2023, the company announced last week.
Under the authorization, AMP will continue to provide full-suite airframe and engine maintenance and repair services to XA, XB, and XC-registered aircraft that include Gulfstream, Bombardier Learjet, Hawker, and Dassault Falcon airframes, as well as Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and GE Aviation turbine engines. AMP has maintained its Mexican repair station certification for the past consecutive eight years.
“Our initial goal in 2013 was to provide reliable, convenient, and superior quality aircraft maintenance services for Mexican operators,” said AMP COO Jim Balzer. “Our renewed AFAC certification confirms our commitment to our Mexican clientele.”
Requires modifying the helicopter by installing a certain engine combustion chamber D1 drain assembly, as specified in an EASA AD. The AD was prompted by a report that a number of fairleads that support the engine combustion chamber D1 drain hose showed evidence of heat damage.
Requires replacement of affected tail rotor gearbox assemblies with a serviceable part, as specified in an EASA AD. The was prompted by reports that certain tail rotor gearbox assemblies were installed on Model A109E helicopters with parts that were not approved for installation on that helicopter model. Because those assemblies are not part of the type design for Model A109E helicopters, there are no overhaul or life limits included in the applicable maintenance manuals.
Requires a modification to the oxygen service compartment door to introduce a means of water drainage. During production activities on multiple aircraft, significant water accumulation was discovered in the oxygen service compartment. An investigation concluded that this compartment had insufficient means of water drainage. If left uncorrected, the freeze/thaw cycle of accumulated water may damage oxygen connections inside the compartment, leading to oxygen leakage and risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Requires a visual inspection of the main rotor (M/R) clevis, rod end, and a certain part-numbered universal bearing, performing a purge grease, and performing a magnetic particle inspection of each M/R clevis. Depending on the visual inspection and magnetic particle inspection results, this AD requires removing certain parts from service, replacing certain parts, and performing additional actions. This AD also requires recurring inspections of each M/R clevis and each universal bearing. This AD was prompted by an in-flight failure of the M/R pitch link clevis due to fatigue damage and excessive wear.
Requires replacement of certain affected parts and engine logbook correction. This AD also provides conditions and clarifications for parts installation. This AD stems from the determination that the life limit for affected parts was not published in the applicable ALS for certain M601 engines models. In addition, it was found that, following rework of certain compressor cases from P/N M601-154.6 to P/N M601-154.51, no proper re-identification was done and relevant engine logbooks have not been updated. Consequently, a part could inadvertently remain in service beyond its applicable life limit. This condition, if not corrected, may lead to failure of an affected part, possibly resulting in engine mount failure and/or high energy debris release.
Requires a one-time inspection of each affected part to detect finish paint on top of the primer layer, and, depending on findings, the accomplishment of a repair (repainting with primer layer only), or replacement of the affected part with a serviceable part. Following an investigation of an engine compartment fire, Airbus Helicopters found that some internal parts of the engine fixed cowling were painted with finish paint on top of the primer layer. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to fire propagation in case of exposure to high temperatures, possibly resulting in damage to the helicopter and injury to occupants. To address this potential unsafe condition, Airbus Helicopters issued the applicable ASB, as defined in this AD, to provide inspection instructions for the engine fixed cowlings.
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